The Focusrite Forte is a professional 2-in/4-out portable USB audio interface for Mac and Windows, designed to deliver analogue sources to your DAW at the highest possible quality. It features two remote-controlled mic preamps with the unrivaled sound quality you would expect from Focusrite. Forte partners these with superb digital conversion at up to 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. Built into a solid aluminum case, Forte features a color OLED display, touch controls and a single large control knob for intuitive operation, with DAW integration transforming it into a control interface.
Get a closer look at the Forte with this video from Focusrite:
Focusrite's history of audio excellence
Forte takes its name from the original Focusrite console that embodied all the fundamental elements of the renowned Focusrite sound. Focusrite's original Forte was the recording console based on the ground-breaking mic pre and compression modules that Rupert Neve created for Air Studios back in the 1980s. Designed to offer the very highest audio path quality irrespective of cost, the Forte console set the benchmarks for mic preamplifiers and dynamic control and that remain unequaled today. The Forte USB audio interface continues this obsession with sound quality.
Two Focusrite mic-pres and world-class conversion
Featuring two of the latest design of Focusrite's remote-controlled microphone preamplifiers, the Forte USB audio interface connects to both Mac and Windows computers via USB 2.0. It incorporates highest-quality precision 24-bit A-D and D-A converters operating at sample rates up to 192 kHz, and the conversion stages have had maximum attention paid to both analogue and digital design to deliver the best possible performance.
The Midnight plug-in suite
The classic Focusrite Midnight plugin suite is also included in the box, accurately modelling the classic ISA110 EQ and ISA130 compressor from the original Focusrite Forte console.
See the Forte in action with this video from Focusrite:
The DAW control interface
Forte includes a color OLED (Organic LED) display to indicate mic, line in, line out and headphone levels, gain structure and other functionality. It features a single, large, smoothly-rotating control knob operated in conjunction with a series of touch-sensitive icons to access preamplifier and output functions -- input, monitor, headphone, and control -- plus the ability to control DAW functions and act as a remote control for your music software. Included with the unit is Forte Control software application, which allows the configuration of low-latency monitoring, mic pre level adjustment and other features.
USB audio interface for MAC or PC
Particular attention has been paid to ergonomic design. A breakout cable with locking connector is used for microphone (XLR) and line/instrument (TRS) inputs, but balanced line and independent headphone outputs are provided on the unit itself, so the breakout cable is not required for playback-only applications. In addition, the fact that the mic and line-level inputs on the breakout cable are separate means that you can keep your inputs connected all the time without having to re-patch when you go from one to the other. Forte can run on bus power in "USB low-power mode" but an included power supply increases the available volume to headphones/line outputs and delivers +48V phantom power to your microphone.
zZounds is an authorized dealer of
Focusrite products.
System Requirements
Mac OS: Apple Macintosh with a USB 2.0-compliant USB port OS: Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) or 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
Windows: Windows compatible computer with a USB 2.0 compliant USB port OS: Windows 7 or Windows 8 (32- or 64-bit)
Top panel: - Large multi-function push encoder - 4 touch sensitive mode buttons - Headphone socket (front panel)
Rear panel: - 2 balanced monitor outputs - 1/4" TRS Jack - Input Loom socket - Power socket - USB 2.0 Port - Kensington Lock slot (rear side)
Included software: - Focusrite Midnight plug-in suite - Forte Control software application
Weights and dimensions: - Unit - Net Weight: 1.04 lbs. - Dims 170 x 116 x 36mm
- Single unit in gift box with contents - Dims 238 x 178 x 102mm - Gross Weight: 2.85 lbs.
- Single Brown Boxed Unit - Dims 197 x 127 x 270mm - Gross Weight 3.04 lbs.
Key Performance Figures: - Measured Real World ADC Dynamic Range: 117 dB (A-weighted) - Measured Real World DAC Dynamic Range: 118 dB (A-weighted) - Chipset ADC/DAC Dynamic Range: 120 dB (A-weighted)
Microphone Inputs: - Gain Range: 0 - 75dB - Mic Input: RedNet remote controlled pre-amplifier - Maximum Input level @ Minimum gain for 0 dBFS (Rs = 150 Ohms, without pad): 12dBu +/- 0.5dB - Minimum Input level @ Maximum gain for 0 dBFS (Rs = 150 Ohms, without pad): -63dBu +/- 0.5dB - SNR (A-weighted): -117dB (Rs = 150 Ohms) - Frequency Response (Rs = 150 Ohms): 50Hz - 42kHz +/- 0.1 dB (-0.5dB @ 20Hz) - THD+N: @ -1dBFS: 0.0007% (measured with +11dBu input, minimum gain, 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter, Rs = 150 Ohms) - Noise: EIN: 128dB (measured with 60dB of gain with 150 Ohm termination 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter) - Input Pad Attenuation: 10dB (Rs = 150 Ohms) - Phantom Power: 48V, independently switchable for each channel (only available with external Power Supply connected)
Line inputs: - Gain Range: -12 - 42dB - Maximum Input level @ Miniumum gain for 0dBFS: 20dBu +/- 0.5dB - Minimum Input level @ Maxiumum gain for 0dBFS: -34dBu +/- 0.5dB - SNR (A-weighted): -116dB - Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2dB - THD+N: @ -1dBFS: < 0.003% (measured with +19dBu input, minimum gain, 1kHz and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
Instrument inputs: - Gain Range: +14 - 68dB - Maximum Input Level for 0 dBFS (minimum gain): +10dBu +/- 0.5dB - Maximum Input Level for 0 dBFS (maximum gain, no pad): -44dBu +/- 0.5dB - SNR (A-weighted): -111dB - Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz +/- 0.2dB - THD+N: @ -1dBFS: < 0.003% (measured with +9dBu input, minimum gain, 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter) - Analogue High Pass Filters - Independently switchable (from control panel) for each input - -6dB response (referenced to 1kHz): 65Hz +/- 3Hz, roll-off 12dB / octave - Analogue Audio Outputs 1-2 (1/4" TRS Balanced) Measurered with PSU connected - Electronically Balanced Outputs - SNR (A-weighted): -118 dB - Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz +/- 0.1 dB - Maximum Output Level (0dBFS): +16dBu +/- 0.5dB - THD+N: <0.0008% (-1dBFS input 1kHz, 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter) - Headphone Outputs Measurered with PSU connected - Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz +/- 0.1 dB - SNR (A-weighted): -116 dB - - THD+N - <0.0008% (-1dBFS input 1kHz, 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter, 10k load) - Maximum Output into 10k: +9 dBu (+7dBV) - Maximum Power into 150R: 30 mW - Maximum Power into 32R: 27 mW - Output Impedance: < 8 Ohms - Load Impedance: > 24 Ohms - Crosstalk (measured at 1kHz)
- Connectivity: Analogue Inputs Wire Loom (Inputs 1-2): - 2 x XLR Mic - 2 x 1/4" TRS for Line / Instrument Inputs - Software switching of Mic / Line or Instrument Inputs
Analogue Audio Outputs: - 2 x TRS analogue outputs (Outputs 1-2) - 1 x TRS stereo headphone output (Outputs 3-4)
Other I/O: - 1 x USB 2.0 compliant USB port - 1 x 5V @ 1A DC Power Input (required for Microphone +48V power)
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