Focusrite Red 8 Classic Dual-Chanel Microphone Pre-Amplifier (RED 8) Review
Focusrite Red 8 Classic Dual-Chanel Microphone Pre-Amplifier (RED 8) Feature
- Hand-made in the UK and crafted to the highest standards, using machine-tooled, half-inch thick claret red anodised aluminium.
- Classic transformer-based pre-amp includes superb common-mode rejection, excellent overload margin, extremely low noise floor and super-wide bandwidth.
- Phase reverse and phantom power available independently on each channel via firm-response illuminated switches.
- Two easily-read illuminated porthole window VUs are provided.
- Mic gain is switched in 6dB steps over a 66dB range, for accurate, precise channel matching and recall.
- Classic transformer-based pre-amp includes superb common-mode rejection, excellent overload margin
- Extremely low noise floor and super-wide bandwidth.
Using the same circuit topology as the original ISA microphone pre-amplifier designs, the Red 1 offers four channels of ultra-high quality Focusrite microphone amplification. Used with high quality ribbon, valve and condensor mics, the Red 1 obtains outstanding results with any sound source, but especially voice, piano and string instruments. The Red 8, with a perfectly matched pair of mic amps, offers identical channel controls to the Red 1, and is especially suited to demanding mono or stereo recording work, such as location classical recording with digital recording media. Each channel offers custom-wound Focusrite input transformers, switchable phantom power, phase reverse, an easily-read illuminated VU meter, and a handy scribble disc for denoting channels. Mic gain is switched in 6dB steps over a 66dB range, for accurate, precise channel matching and recall. The many benefits of the unique Focusrite mic amp topology include superb common-mode rejection, a good overload margin and, with its shared gain structure, (20dB from transformer and up to 40dB from the amplifier) a very low noise floor with the signature wide bandwidth (10Hz to 150kHz). It also maintains this level of performance with a very wide range of impedance across the inputs. In practice, this makes it what one reviewer called, “perhaps the most revealing yet forgiving mic pre-amp in history.” The output stages of both the Red 1, with its custom transformer, will easily drive very long cable runs – up to several kilometers – without significant loss of quality, making them ideal for remote recordings.
