Flagship Firewire audio interface from Presonus

The PreSonus FireStudio is a complete 26x26 24-bit/96k professional recording system combining eight Class A PreSonus microphone preamplifiers, up to sixteen channels of optical ADAT input / output, S/PDIF and MIDI input / output, along with the Control Console - a 36x36x18 zero latency mixer/router. The FireStudio also comes with award-winning recording and production software, virtual instruments, plug-ins, drum loops and samples to get you started making music immediately.

PreSonus Preamplifiers
The FireStudio starts with eight on-board custom-designed Class A microphone preamplifiers. Many other companies offering recording interfaces add the cheapest possible microphone preamplifier as an afterthought to the interface. PreSonus knows that every major component in the signal path from the audio source to the hard drive are extremely important and the preamplifier is a key component.

The job of a microphone preamplifier is to boost microphone level signals to line level so that the signal can be convered from analog to digital. This mic to line boost is generally an preamplification of over 400 times the voltage of the original mic level signal. This preamplification stage is one of the most important stages that the signal will go through before converted to digital, and is why a high performance preamplifier is important to achieving great results. A cheap "off the shelf op-amp" type mic preamp that is found in most interfaces translates into thin, noisy and harsh results.

A PreSonus preamplifier which operates in Class A mode and at higher voltage/current ratings than off the shelf op-amps, is designed for high headroom, low noise, wide dynamic range and wide frequency range, and most importantly, musicality and transparancy - smooth highs, solid deep lows, and everything in between.

Ins and Outs
The FireStudio is loaded with I/O for an extremely flexible and expandable recording system. The FireStudio starts with eight Class A customer designed PreSonus microphone preamplifiers. PreSonus ou can add additional preamplifiers or analog inputs via the dual optical light pipe ports on the rear panel. You add up to two DigiMax FS, for a total of twenty-four microphone preamplifiers all in only three rack spaces! Additionally word/clock I/O for ultra tight syncronization, MIDI I/O and SPDIF I/O are on the FireStudio for further expandability.

JetPLL
The sycronization of the Presonus FireStudio is handled by patented JetPLLTM jitter reduction technology. JetPLLTM incorporates noise shaping to virtually remove all audio band jitter. JetPLLTM ensures the highest converter performance possible, resulting in better stereo separation and clearer more transparent audio. JetPLLTM delivers ultra-fast locking to any digital format, through a wide range of frequencies and is extremely robust, and tolerant of wide variations in clock frequencies. JetPLLTM ensures near perfect clock performance when networking audio devices thus creating the most stable and robust syncronization to the computer and all devices syncronized with the FireStudio.

Control Console - Zero Latency DSP Mixing/Routing
The Presonus FIRESTUDIO also includes the Control Console - a 36x36x18 DSP mixer/router for flexible mixing and direct routing any input to any output including the headphone output, with zero latency. The Control Console software application lives between your FireStudio interface and your DAW software enabling the mixing and rounting of input streams coming into your FireStudio interface and playback stream coming from your DAW software. The Control Console is capable of creating up to nine stereo mixes and then routing to the outputs of your FireStudio for headphone mixes and various aux sends. This way everyone in the band, the recording engineer can have a custom mix.

Optional Monitor Station Remote (MSR)
The optional MSR (monitor station remote) for the FireStudio is a complete surround/stereo speaker manager, input switcher and communication system delivering a more efficient and flexible work flow. The MSR connects to the FireStudio via standard Cat 5 Ethernet cable to keep your work space as clean as possible. There are also two headphone outputs on the FireStudio for even further flexibility and convenience.

Presonus Firestudio Features:

• High-speed FireWire (IEEE 1394) audio interface
• 24-bit resolution, up to 96K sampling rate
• 26 simultaneous inputs and outputs
• 8 Class A microphone preamps w/ trim control
• 8 analog line Inputs, 2 Instrument Inputs
• 16 channels of optical ADAT I/O (8 ch. via 96k dual SMUX)
• S/PDIF I/O, MIDI I/O
• JetPLL™ – jitter elimination technology
• Zero latency DSP full-matrix mixer/router
• Includes PreSonus Studio One Artist Software Bundle

Presonus Firestudio AD DA Specifications:

• ADC Dynamic Range (Awtd, 48KHz Sample Rate): 107dB
• DAC Dynamic Range (Awtd, 48KHz Sample Rate): 110dB
• Bit Depth: 24
• Reference Level for 0dBFS: +18dBu
• Digital Audio Output (2-Toslink™ Connectors, 8 channels): ADAT/SMUX
• Digital Audio Input (2-Toslink™ Connectors, 8 channels): ADAT/SMUX
• Internal Sample Frequency Selections (KHz): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96
• External Sample Frequency Inputs: BNC, ADAT (SMUX),SPDIF
• BNC Word Clock Output Level (75 Ohm load): 4.5V
• BNC Word Clock Input Level Range: 3.0 to 5.5V