Focusrite Red 4 Pre User manual

Red 4Pre
58 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ 2 audio interface – with Pro Tools | HD and Dante™ network audio connectivity
User Guide
FFFFFA001418-01
www.focusrite.com
CONTENTS
Introduction..................................................................5
Key Features...................................................................5
System Block Diagram ..........................................................6
Front Panel ....................................................................7
Rear Panel ....................................................................8
Operation...................................................................10
INPUTS .................................................................. 10
Preamp Overview Screen .......................................................10
Preamp Focus Screen ..........................................................10
Input Functions................................................................11
Encoder Toggle Function........................................................12
Monitor Display ...............................................................14
Mute and Dim .................................................................14
Meter Source Selection .........................................................15
2
Loop Sync ....................................................................17
Global Settings ..............................................................19
Retain....................................................................19
Focusrite Control ...........................................................20
Operation.................................................................20
Device Settings................................................................20
Mixing & Routing ..............................................................20
Monitor Controls ..............................................................21
Appendices..................................................................22
XLR Connectors ...............................................................22
DB25 (AES59) Connector ........................................................22
1/4” Jack Connectors...........................................................23
Pro Tools Interface ............................................................23
BNC Connectors...............................................................23
Ethernet Connector ............................................................23
Sample Rate: 44.1 / 48 kHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Sample Rate: 88.2 / 96 kHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Sample Rate: 176.4 / 192 kHz ....................................................26
Performance and specications ..............................................28
3

About this User Guide

This user guide applies to the Red 4Pre Thunderbolt Interface. It provides information about installing and operating the unit and how it can be connected into your home or studio system.

Box Contents

• Red 4Pre unit
• IEC AC mains cable
• Product registration card – which provides the following important information: Unit serial number Bundle code (for registering your product and for accessing your free software)
Thunderbolt™ and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Dante™ and Audinate™ are registered trademarks of Audinate Pty Ltd.
4

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Focusrite Red 4Pre.
Red 4Pre is a dual Thunderbolt™ & Pro Tools | HD audio interface and preamplifier, suitable for a wide range of audio integration applications.
Featuring Mic, Line and Instrument analogue inputs and fourteen analogue outputs – including independent loudspeaker and headphone monitoring and LCD meter display. Red 4Pre provides an interface for Pro Tools | HD equipped workstations and, with its built-in Dante™ card, is ready for networked audio expansion via the dual Ethernet ports.

Key Features

• Two Thunderbolt 2 Interface ports for direct or chained connection.
• 8 line-level input and output signals via DB25 connectors on the rear panel.
• Four remote controlled microphone preamps providing up to 63dB of gain, each with phantom power, high-pass filter, phase-reverse and ‘AIR’ mode. See Appendix3, page 27 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 dual ADAT I/O and S/PDIF connections.
• Two Primary Mini DigiLink connectors provide up to 60 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 the Red 4Pre to sync or slave to external devices via Word Clock.
• Permanent 8-channel LCD meter display – selectable to show all input types.
• Simple host and sync selection setup.
• Focusrite Control application allows full remote hardware operation, plus mixing and routing control when in Thunderbolt host mode.
5

System Block Diagram

Analogue
Inputs
Digital
I/O
Focusrite
Mic
1-4
Instrument
1-2
Line
1-8
ADAT 1
1-8
ADAT 2
9-16
S/PDIF In
S/PDIF Out
INST
I
2
I
SELECT
3
Input Function
& Gain
2
4
Input Select Output ControlMeters
ch1-4
ch1-2
ch1-8
8
A-D
ROUTER
16
16
2
2
METER
D-A
MONITOR
I
2
Monitor
1-2
Headphones
1-2
Line 3-10
GLOBAL
2
2
2
8
Pre
Analogue
Outputs
Thunderbolt
64
Host
Select
60
DAW
Pro Tools
32
32
Dante
Network
Network
Loopback In
2
Word Clock
Loop Sync
Numbers indicating channel capacities relate to a 44.1/48 kHz sample rate. Refer to the Channel I/O tables on pages 24–26 for the channel counts at higher sample rates.
Sync
6

Red 4Pre Controls and Connections

SELECT
I
3
2
4
I
2
INST
GLOBAL
MONITOR
METER
I
2
Focusrite
Pre

Front Panel

Instrument
Inputs
Input
Encoder
Input Select
Buttons
Input
Display
Level Meter
Display
Output Display
Output
Encoder
Meter & Monitor
Buttons
H/phone
Select
H/phone
Outputs
Power Switch
Instrument Inputs. Two high-impedance inputs on 1/4” jack sockets.
Input Select buttons provide direct access to the menu settings for analogue input channels 1–4.
• The Input Encoder and its associated Display is used to select and adjust the configuration menu settings for the input channels; it also functions as the input gain control.
• The Level Meter is an eight channel, switchable LCD meter which is able to display groups of input signals.
• The Output Encoder functions as the volume control for the monitor and headphone outputs. It is 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 Encoder display.
• The Monitor button assigns the output Encoder to the monitor loudspeaker functions.
Pressing the Meter and Monitor buttons simultaneously enters Red 4Pre’s Global conguration menu, where host, sync, power-up and network 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” stereo jacks.
7

Rear Panel

AC Inlet
Focusrite
WARNING
THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE
EARTHED BY THE POWER CORD
1 2
Dante
Network
Word Clock
WORD CLOCK
Loop
Sync
LOOP SYNC
Thunderbolt 2
IN
OUT
IN OUT IN OUT
OPTICAL 9-16 OPTICAL 1-8
ADAT I/O x2
Interface
IN OUT
SPDIF
S/PDIF
I/O
Pro Tools
Interface
PRIMARY PORT
1
R L
L/R Monitor
2
MONITOR OUTPUTS
Outputs
Line Inputs
LINE INPUTS 1-8
LINE OUTPUTS 3-10
MIC INPUTS
Line Outputs Microphone Inputs
1234
AC Mains Inlet. Standard IEC receptacle for connection of AC mains. Red 4Pre 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 4Pre to integrate 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 Interface. Two Mini DigiLink Primary connectors; use Mini DigiLink cables to connect to the Pro Tools | HD and HDX PCIe card.
Line Inputs on 25-way D-Sub female connector. The line inputs are wired according to the AES59 Standard (also known as the TASCAM Analogue standard).
Note that Line input circuits 1 – 4 can be re-assigned to the Microphone and/or Instrument connectors so may not
always be available in the D-sub. See page 11 for further information.
Line Outputs on 25-way D-Sub female connector.
Microphone Inputs on latching XLR3-F connectors.
Network. Two RJ45 Ethernet connectors for the Dante network. The connectors form an integral 2-port switch, allowing either to be used on the network
ADAT I/O 1 and 2. Two independent 8-channel ADAT optical inputs and outputs using standard TOSLINK connectors.
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 22 for the connector pinouts.
8

Physical Characteristics

300mm / 11.8”
465.0mm / 18.3”
31.8mm / 1.25”
Red 4Pre dimensions are illustrated in the diagram above.
Red 4Pre requires 1U of vertical rack space and at least 360 mm of rack depth, to allow for cables. Red 4Pre weighs 4.97 kg and for installations in a fixed environment (eg., a studio), the front-panel rack mountings will provide adequate support. However, if the units are to be used in a mobile situation (eg., flight-cased for touring, etc.), it is recommended that side support rails or shelves are used within the rack.
Cooling is by fan assistance from side to side; the fan used is low-speed and low-noise. Do not mount the unit immediately above any other equipment which generates significant heat, for example, a power amplifier. Also, ensure that when mounted in a rack, the side vents are not obstructed.
Note. The maximum operating environmental temperature is 40°C / 104°F.

Power Requirements

Red 4Pre is mains-powered. It incorporates a ‘Universal’ power supply which can operate on any AC mains voltage from 100 V to 240 V. The AC connection is via a standard 3-pin IEC connector on the rear panel.
A mating IEC cable is supplied with the unit – this should be terminated with a mains plug of the correct type for your country.
The AC power consumption of the Red 4Pre is 35W.
Please note that there are no fuses in Red 4Pre, or other user-replaceable components of any type. Please refer all servicing issues to the Customer Support Team (see “Customer Support and Unit Servicing” on page 30).
9
Loading...
+ 21 hidden pages