OctoPre Added to Focusrite's Platinum Series

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NAMM 2002 saw the unveiling of the latest Focusrite processor, the Platinum OctoPre. An eight channel Focusrite Mic pre-amp featuring eight pristine Focusrite channels, OctoPre routes directly to any digital audio workstation via analogue outputs or a new 24bit, 96kHz A/D converter. The new OctoPre offers the unique qualities associated with the Focusrite name at an affordable price.

Each channel also features a compressor / limiter circuit, providing a warm-sounding compressor, which morphs into a brick wall limiter to avoid those critical overs, ensuring total control over all eight channels.

The mic pres featured in OctoPre are those featured elsewhere in the award winning Focusrite Platinum range. They are a transistor-based Class A design utilising the same full-bandwidth philosophy as the legendary Red and ISA mic pres, ensuring detail and clarity without colouration. The first two 'super channels' also feature phase reverse, as well as TRS Jack inputs on the front panel for quick and easy, DI-free plug-in. Output can be either analogue or digital; choices include 8 balanced analogue outputs, or an optional A/D, (8 AES, S/PDIF and ADAT lightpipe digital outputs.) An external Wordclock input is also provided (BNC connector.) The AES-EBU and S/PDIF format outputs all operate at up to 24bit /96kHz and can run simultaneously with the lightpipe outputs, giving up to 16 channels of digital output for sample rates of 44.1 and 48kHz, at 16, 20 or 24 bit dithered.

The Platinum Octopre can be used as a partner for any Pro Tools system or any other Digital audio workstation, making multi-channel recording easy. It could also add an additional set of mic pre's for any analoge or digital console, or hard disk recorder.

For more information, visit their web site at www.focusrite.com.