Focusrite Red 4Pre Audio Interface

Focusrite Red 4Pre includes four of Focusrite's digitally-controlled, 'Air' enabled, Red Evolution mic preamps. Thunderbolt 2 connectivity and dual mini-DigiLink ports bring you the best of both Core Audio and Pro Tools | HD workflows, with easy switching between Pro Tools | HD and any Thunderbolt-connected DAW. Featuring 'parallel path summing' conversion and beautiful yet robust design, the Red 4Pre interface is the perfect balance of form and function, delivering the sound quality and versatility engineers and producers expect from Focusrite.

Versatile Connectivity

Focusrite's 58-in/64-out Red 4Pre includes Thunderbolt 2 connectivity for Focusrite's lowest round-trip latency, in whatever DAW you use, enabling you to track and overdub with your preferred plug-ins and effects in real time, simplifying your workflow. Drop the Red 4Pre immediately, directly and seamlessly into any Pro Tools | HD system, or use it with existing Avid interfaces, thanks to its twin DigiLink connectors. Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports allow daisy-chaining of additional components such as hard drives and displays. Plus the Red 4Pre is network audio enabled right out of the box, with dual Ethernet ports for Dante audio-over-IP networking, letting you expand your recording capability over Ethernet for up to 64 additional channels anywhere on your network, with low latency – and lower cost. Additional Red or other Dante-compatible components can be connected to the Ethernet ports of the Red 4Pre to provide additional channels irrespective of the interface used to drive the Red 4Pre.

Simple Switching Between DAWs

Switch between Pro Tools | HD and any DAW connected to the Thunderbolt interface using the Host Mode setting in the included RedNet Control software. For example, you can switch quickly and easily between Pro Tools | HD and Ableton, Logic or Pro Tools software - just keep both connected at all times and make the switch whenever you need.

Focusrite's Lowest Round-Trip Latency

Low latency is a specific Focusrite design goal. Red 4Pre's latency is so low that you can track with your preferred plug-ins and record virtual instruments in real time. This low latency environment simplifies your workflow, allowing you to run a single mix on your DAW for both overdubbing and mixing, with your plug-ins in place, all the time.

Red Evolution Air-Enabled Microphone Preamplifiers The Red Evolution mic pres in the Red 4Pre deliver a clear and honest audio performance with –129 dB EIN and 63dB of gain that allows plenty of room to bring your own sound to life with your choice of external processing. The mic pres can be controlled digitally, for adjusting/recalling settings and stereo linking via RedNet Control software. Focusrite also include the unique 'Air' effect, recreating the sound of the transformer-based mic preamps in the ISA range. When 'Air' is enabled, the microphone impedance is set to 2.1kΩ and the frequency response curve is given a subtle mid-high boost – all in the analogue domain.

Focusrite's Best Converter Performance

Focusrite have been building mastering-quality digital audio converters for decades, and the converters you'll encounter in the Red 4Pre are the best Focusrite have ever made, employing a 'parallel path summing' configuration to lower the noise floor. They have selected high-performance, precision conversion chips and maximized sound quality through premium component selection, advanced design and optimized board layout. Red 4Pre's converter design strikes a precise balance between multiple factors – including dynamic range, distortion, noise floor and conversion latency – for the optimal overall sound. With 24-bit/192kHz sampling capability and 118dB(A-D)/121dB (D-A) dynamic range, it is ideal for high-resolution audio. The Red 4Pre delivers ≤0.0009% THD+Noise and a frequency response flat from 20Hz to 35kHz ±0.25 dB or better.

Expansion Done Right

Connect up to 64 additional channels to the Red 4Pre via Ethernet-based Dante networking - a simple, single connection carrying both audio and built-in clocking. Whether the Red 4Pre is connected to the computer via Thunderbolt, DigiLink or Dante, simply connect units such as two RedNet A16R (32 channels of analogue I/O), four RedNet MP8R (32 channels of RedNet mic pre), or other Dante-enabled products via Ethernet as desired. Place mic preamps where the music is, and outputs where the sound needs to go – wherever there's an Ethernet connection. Unlike daisy-chaining via Thunderbolt, Dante lets you run additional channels over a greater distance, with low latency and lower cost, without wasting money on technology or connectivity that will not be used. And it will only get easier: look out for future enhancements offering complete plug and play Ethernet expansion functionality.

Software Included

Red 4Pre includes the new RedNet Control software, providing a straightforward and intuitive way to set up mixes and monitoring - and more! Control the mic pres – recall settings, assign stereo pairs, adjust gain and enable features such as highpass filtering and phantom power. Easily switch between Pro Tools | HD and any Thunderbolt-connected DAW with the Host Mode setting. In addition, Red 4Pre is packaged with Softube's Time and Tone Bundle – a unique plug-in pack including four of Softube's professional quality plug-ins: Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor, TSAR-1R Reverb, Tube Delay and Saturation Knob. Also in the box is the Focusrite Red Plug-in Suite, which accurately models Focusrite's classic Red range 2 and 3 equaliser and compressor hardware.

Brainworx bx_console

Two of the most revered pieces of recording gear in the history of music production, the Focusrite ISA 110 Equaliser and ISA 130 Dynamics Modules helped to shape the sonic landscape of the 1980s and 90s. They were key components in the original Focusrite Studio Console, their unique specification, exceptional build quality and impressive versatility delivering a beautifully open sound that found favor among audio engineers the world over. With less than ten Studio Consoles still in existence and the ISA Modules commanding sky-high prices on the second-hand market, their very special brand of audio magic has been utterly inaccessible to all but the most privileged of producers… until now!

Designed and coded by the DSP geniuses at acclaimed software house Brainworx, the new bx_console Focusrite VST/AU/AAX plug-in for Mac and PC faithfully captures the sound, feel and styling of Focusrite’s original iconic hardware – and it’s included for free with every Clarett and Red audio interface.

Accurately modeling the full signal paths of the ISA 110 and ISA 130, bx_console Focusrite brings all the analogue character and colouration of the Focusrite Studio Console to your DAW-based productions. Offering four bands of parametric and shelving EQ, high- and low-pass filters, compression/limiting, gating/expansion and de-essing, it’s as powerful a sound-shaping tool today as it ever was – indeed, it improves on the capabilities of the original with modifications including continuously variable THD and Gain controls. And with Brainworx’s Tolerance Modeling Technology providing 72 selectable modeled circuits, you can even recreate the subtle timbral variations between channels that you’d get with the real console.

With bx_console Focusrite retailing separately for $349, its inclusion for free with all Clarett and Red interfaces is a huge deal. To download the plug-in, simply register your Clarett or Red audio interface online, then log into your Customer Portal page, where you’ll see bx_console Focusrite listed in the My Software page among your registered products.