Focusrite Red 8pre User manual

User Guide

A range of up to 64 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ audio interfaces with

Pro Tools | HD and Dante®network audio connectivity

Red 4Pre

Red 8Pre

Red 16Line

www.focusrite.com

FFFA002051-01

CONTENTS

About This User Guide..................................................................... 4

Unit Variances ........................................................................ 4

Box Contents .............................................................................. 4

System Requirements ..................................................................... 4

Introduction ............................................................................... 5

Key Features.......................................................................... 5

Controls and Connections ................................................................. 6

Front Panel (Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre) .................................................... 6

Front Panel (Red 16Line)............................................................... 7

Rear Panel (Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre)..................................................... 8

Rear Panel (Red 16Line) ............................................................... 9

Physical Characteristics..................................................................10

Power Requirements .....................................................................10

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

INPUTS...................................................................................11

Analogue Inputs ..........................................................................11

Input Controls ............................................................................11

Preamp Overview Screen .............................................................11

Preamp Focus Screen ................................................................11

Input Conﬁguration .......................................................................12

Input Functions ......................................................................12

Encoder Toggle Function..............................................................13

Line Inputs ...............................................................................13

Operating Level Selection.............................................................13

DIGITAL INPUTS..........................................................................14

ADAT .....................................................................................14

S/PDIF....................................................................................14

Loopback Input ...........................................................................14

DANTE CONNECTION.....................................................................14

MONITORING .............................................................................15

Monitors..................................................................................15

Monitor Display ......................................................................15

Mute and Dim........................................................................15

Headphones ..............................................................................15

Contents

LCD METER DISPLAYS ...................................................................16

Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre ...................................................................16

Meter Source Selection ...............................................................16

Red 16Line ...............................................................................17

Level Meters 1–8 and 9–16............................................................17

Output Meter ........................................................................17

Meter Source Selection ...............................................................17

ANALOGUE OUTPUTS ....................................................................18

Operating Level Selection.............................................................18

THUNDERBOLT CONNECTION............................................................19

Logic Pro X Setup.........................................................................19

PRO TOOLS CONNECTION ................................................................20

Using Red Range Units with other Pro Tools | HD interfaces .............................20

Loop Sync ...........................................................................20

Pro Tools Setup...........................................................................21

Global Settings..........................................................................22

Host ......................................................................................22

Sync ......................................................................................22

Retain ....................................................................................22

I/O level (Red 16Line only) ..................................................................22

Other Red System Components.....................................................23

REDNET CONTROL 2 .....................................................................23

Tools Menu ...............................................................................24

Appendices...............................................................................26

Appendix 1 – Connector Pinouts ..........................................................26

Appendix 2 – System Diagrams...........................................................28

Appendix 3 – I/O Channel Allocation ......................................................31

Appendix 4 – Air Information .............................................................40

Performance and Speciﬁcations....................................................41

Focusrite Red Range Warranty and Service...............................................44

Registering Your Product .................................................................44

Customer Support and Unit Servicing ....................................................44

Troubleshooting ..........................................................................44

About This User Guide

This user guide is applicable to all units in the Red range of Thunderbolt Interfaces: Red 4Pre, Red

8Pre and Red 16Line. It provides information about installation, operation and how each unit can be

connected into your home or studio system.

Unit Variances

• Where channel quantities differ between each Red range device, the channel counts for all three

unit types will be shown in squared brackets in the order: [Red 4Pre / Red 8Pre / Red 16Line].

Eg., “Connectors for the [4/8/2] microphone inputs are located on the rear panel.”

• Individual speciﬁcation differences will be indicated by notes eg., “(Not available on Red 16Line)”

• Where there are signiﬁcant speciﬁcation variations, a separate page is used for each version.

Audinate® and Dante® are registered trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd.

Thunderbolt™is a trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Box Contents

• Red range unit

• IEC AC mains cable

• 2m Thunderbolt 2 cable (Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre only)

• 2m Thunderbolt 3 cable – 20Gbps, 60W (Red 16Line only)

• Product registration card, which provides the following important information:

Unit serial number

Bundle code – for registering your product and for accessing your free software

System Requirements

• An Apple Mac with at least one Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 3 port, or a Pro

Tools | HD system for mini DigiLink connection

An Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 cable will be required to connect any

Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 ports to a Thunderbolt 3 port

• See https://focusrite.com/downloads/os for information on OS compatibility

• Internet connection for downloading and installing software and driver

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing your Focusrite Red range unit.

Red range interface units combine dual Thunderbolt and Pro Tools | HD audio interfaces with

preampliﬁers, suitable for a wide range of audio integration applications.

All units feature Mic, Line and Instrument analogue inputs with either 14 or 22 analogue output

channels including independent loudspeaker and headphone monitoring, ADAT and S/PDIF digital

I/O plus LCD meter displays. Red units provide an interface for Pro Tools | HD equipped workstations

and, with their built-in Dante card, are ready for networked audio expansion via dual Ethernet ports.

Key Features

• Two Thunderbolt Interface ports for direct or chained connection (Thunderbolt 2 on Red 4Pre & Red

8Pre; Thunderbolt 3 on Red 16Line).

• [8/16/16] line-level input and output signals via DB25 connectors on the rear panel.

• [4/8/2] remote controlled microphone preamps providing up to 63dB of gain, each with phantom

power, high-pass ﬁlter, phase-reverse and ‘Air’ mode. See Appendix 3 on p.28 for further information.

• Two instrument inputs accessed via front-mounted 1/4” jacks.

• Analogue monitoring via dedicated balanced 1/4” jack outputs on the rear panel, plus two

independent headphone outputs on the front panel.

• Digital devices can be accommodated via the S/PDIF and dual optical ADAT I/O connections.

• Two Primary Mini DigiLink connectors provide [60/64/64] input and 64 output channels of I/O to

Pro Tools | HD.

• Dual Ethernet ports provide up to 32 x 32 channels of networked audio expansion over Dante.

• BNC connectors allow syncing or slaving to external devices via Word Clock or Loop Sync.

• Permanent 8-channel LCD meter display (Red 4Pre & Red 8Pre), selectable to show all input types.

• Two 8-channel LCD meter displays (Red 16Line) show 16 Inputs, 16 Outputs or a combined I/O

view.

• Line Input & Output operating levels selectable to +18 dBu or +24 dBu, globally or independently

for each channel (Red 16Line only).

• Simple host and sync selection setup.

• RedNet Control 2 application allows full remote hardware operation and setup, plus control of

mixing and routing.

Channel numbering is indicated as [Red 4Pre/Red 8Pre]

• Instrument Inputs. Two high-impedance inputs on 1/4” jack sockets.

• Input Select buttons provide direct access to the control and menu settings for analogue input

channels [1-4/1–8].

• The Input Encoder and its associated Input Display is used to select and adjust the conﬁguration

menu settings for the input channels; it also functions as the input gain control for the active

channel.

• The Level Meter Display is an eight channel, switchable LCD meter which is able to display

groups of input and output signals.

• The Output Encoder functions as the volume control for the monitor and headphone outputs. It

is also used to conﬁgure the global system settings, control the meter selection and select the

monitor dim and mute features. Its function is determined by the adjacent Monitor, Meter and

Headphone Select buttons.

• The Meter button calls up the selection menu for the level meters onto the Output Display.

• The Monitor button assigns the Output Encoder to the monitor loudspeaker functions.

Pressing the Meter and Monitor buttons simultaneously enters the Global conguration menu, where host,

clock and power-up settings are assigned.

• The Headphone 1 and 2 buttons assign the Output Encoder to the selected headphone control

functions.

• Headphone Outputs are standard 1/4” TRS jacks.

Controls and Connections

Front Panel (Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre)

Red 8Pre shown.

Level Meter

Display

Menu, Meter &

Monitor Buttons

Instrument

Inputs

Input Select

Buttons

Input

Encoder

Input

Display

Menu & O/P

Display

Menu & O/P

Encoder

H/phone

Select

H/phone

Outputs

Power Switch

Controls and Connections . . . Continued

Front Panel (Red 16Line)

• Instrument Inputs. Two high-impedance unbalanced inputs on 1/4” jack sockets.

• Input Select buttons provide direct access to the menu settings for analogue input channels 1&2.

• The Input Encoder and its associated Input Display is used to select and adjust the conﬁguration

menu settings for the input channels; it also functions as the input gain control for inputs 1&2.

• The Level Meter Displays 1-8 and 9-16 are switchable LCD meters able to show inputs, outputs

or a combined I/O display. Display selection is made using the Input and Output buttons –

pressing both buttons simultaneously selects combined I/O.

• The Output Encoder functions as the volume control for the monitor and headphone outputs. It

is also used to conﬁgure the global system settings, control the meter selection and select the

monitor dim and mute features. Its function is determined by the adjacent Monitor, Meter and

Headphone Select buttons.

• The Meter button switches the left and centre LCD screens between: preamp info/meters 1&2,

and, meters 1-8/meters 9-16; pressing a second time calls up the meter source list onto the

Output Display.

• The Monitor button assigns the Output Encoder to the monitor loudspeaker functions.

Pressing the Meter and Monitor buttons simultaneously enters Red 16Line’s Global conguration menu

where host, clock, power-up and I/O linking settings are assigned.

• The Headphone 1 and 2 buttons assign the Output Encoder to the selected headphone control

functions.

• Headphone Outputs are standard 1/4” TRS jacks.

Meter I/O

Select Buttons

Menu, Meter &

Monitor Buttons

Instrument

Inputs

Input Select

Buttons

Input

Encoder

Level Meter

Display 9-16

Input & Level

Meter Display 1-8

Menu &

O/P Display

Menu & O/P

Encoder

H/phone

Select

H/phone

Outputs

Power

Switch

Controls and Connections . . . Continued

Thunderbolt 2

Interface

Pro Tools | HD

Interface Line Inputs

Loop

Sync

Word

Clock

AC Inlet

2 x ADAT

Optical I/O

Dante

Network

S/PDIF

I/O

L/R Monitor

Outputs

Line Outputs

*Microphone

Inputs

Rear Panel (Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre)

Red 8Pre shown:

Channel quantities are referred to in the order: [Red 4Pre/Red 8Pre]

• AC Mains Inlet. Standard IEC receptacle for connection of AC mains. The units feature ‘Universal’

PSUs, enabling them to operate on any supply voltage between 100 V and 240 V AC.

• Word Clock – Input allows synchronisation to word clock.

• Word Clock – Output provides an output of the chosen system clock reference.

• Loop Sync I/O sockets allows integration with a standard Pro Tools system I/O chain.

• Dual Thunderbolt 2 Connection. Two ports allow either direct or chained connection to your

workstation.

• Pro Tools | HD Interface. Two Mini DigiLink Primary connectors; use Mini DigiLink cables to

connect to a Pro Tools | HDX PCIe card or Pro Tools | HD Native system.

• Line Outputs on [one/two] 25-way DB25 female connector(s).

• Line Inputs on [one/two] 25-way DB25 female connector(s).

Note that Line input circuits [1-4/1-8] can be re-assigned to the Instrument (circuits 1&2) and/or Microphone

connectors so may not always be available on the DB25 connector. See page 13 for further information.

• *Microphone Inputs (Red 4Pre) on four latching XLR-3 female connectors.

• *Microphone Inputs (Red 8Pre) on 25-way DB25 female connector.

Note that a DB25 male to XLR-3 female 8-way adapter loom will be required for mic leads with individual XLRs.

• Network. Two RJ45 Ethernet connectors for the Dante network. The ports can be conﬁgured

as either primary and secondary on redundant systems – where two independent networks are

available, or as a two-port switch to allow the daisy-chaining of additional units.

• ADAT I/O 1 and 2. Two independent 8-channel ADAT optical inputs and outputs using standard

TOSLINK connectors. Optical I/O 1 can also be used in ‘Optical S/PDIF’ mode.

• S/PDIF I/O. 2-channel digital interface on RCA (phono) connectors.

• Monitor Outputs. Balanced 1/4” TRS jacks for connection of Left and Right monitor loudspeakers.

Outputs are at line level so unpowered speakers will require external ampliﬁcation.

See Appendix 1, page 24 for the connector pinouts.

Controls and Connections . . . Continued

Rear Panel (Red 16Line)

• AC Mains Inlet. Standard IEC receptacle for connection of AC mains. Red 16Line features a

‘Universal’ PSU, enabling it to operate on any supply voltage between 100 V and 240 V AC.

• Word Clock – Input allows synchronisation to word clock.

• Word Clock – Output provides an output of the chosen system clock reference.

• Loop Sync I/O sockets allow Red 16Line to integrate with a standard Pro Tools system I/O chain.

• Dual Thunderbolt 3 Connection. Two ports allow either direct or chained connection to your

workstation.

• Pro Tools | HD Interface. Two Mini DigiLink Primary connectors; use Mini DigiLink cables to

connect to a Pro Tools | HDX PCIe card or Pro Tools | HD Native system.

• Line Outputs on two 25-way DB25 female connectors.

DB25 connectors are wired according to the AES59 Standard (also known as the TASCAM Analogue standard).

• Line Inputs on two 25-way DB25 female connectors.

Note that Line input circuits 1 & 2 can be re-assigned to the Microphone and/or Instrument connectors so may

not always be available on the input connector. See page 11 for further information.

• Microphone Inputs on two XLR-3 female connectors.