Some musicians prefer to work alone, spending untold hours in their bedrooms crafting little masterpieces of esoteric pop weirdness. The rest, however, play in bands. If you want to start recording real people playing real music together, you're going to need more than the two inputs most affordable digital audio interfaces provide. It's time to step up to the PreSonus FireStudio Project, a FireWire interface with ten simultaneous audio inputs and all the routing options you'll need to start making serious recordings. It delivers professional fidelity, reliable stability with Mac or Windows systems, and ships with a full suite of recording software and effects including the Studio One Artist 2 multitrack recoding program.
Eight Class-A Preamps, and More
Because PreSonus wanted to make the FireStudio Project a self-contained multitracking solution, they outfitted it with eight of their pristine XMAX Preamps. These class-A pre's have a low noise floor and high enough headroom to accommodate a wide variety of recording sources. All eight microphone inputs can supply true +48V phantom power for your condenser mics -- a must for recording vocals, acoustic instruments, and drum overheads. Best of all, the input connectors are XLR-1/4" "combi" jacks, meaning you can connect instruments or 3-pin microphone cables to the same input without having to reach around to the back of the unit--and inputs 1 and 2 are especially built to accept Hi-Z signals from electric guitars and basses. Add to the eight analog inputs two digital S/PIDF inputs, and you've got yourself a setup that can easily be expanded to include additional digital mic preamps. There's also eight analog and two digital outputs for flexible monitor routing, and full MIDI I/O to incorporate drum machines, hardware synth modules, and more. Should you want to increase your available inputs further, the PreSonus FireWire driver supports multiple, daisy-chained interfaces. Simply connect a second FireStudio for twenty inputs, and a third for thirty, and a fourth -- as many as your computer software and hardware can keep up with!
Zero Latency Monitoring And Improved Jitter Elimination
The importance of zero-latency monitoring can't be understated. Even with ten simultaneous recording inputs, you're going to want to make overdubs, and having access to zero-latency monitoring without relying on exterior routing is the most reliable way to get perfectly synchronized overdubs and punch-ins. The PreSonus FireStudio touts zero-latency mixing via its intuitive software-controlled, digital mix routing. Another problem inherent in digital recording systems is jitter. Jitter occurs when the converters that transform analog audio information into digital information don't sync properly. Think about analog-to-digital conversion like a camera taking a picture of the incoming audio. When recording at 44.1kHz (or CD-quality) that's 44,100 pictures every second--or 352,800 when recording on eight simultaneous inputs. If those virtual cameras don't capture their images at the same instant, issues like phasing, loss of low-end focus, and digital hiss can become audible. The FireStudio employs JetPLL jitter elimination technology and upgraded converters to combat these common issues, making sure the audio you record is as accurate and musical as possible.
LED Meters For Instant Level Monitoring
You ever see those huge studio consoles with their fancy LED meter bridges? Wouldn't it be nice to have one of those to give you instant input level feedback in your home setup? Quit pining: the FireStudio Project has three-segment input monitoring built right into its front panel, giving you immediate monitoring over all eight analog inputs. No more relying on your software to tell you if your preamps are clipping, let the preamps themselves tell you.
Compatible With Most Major DAWs
If you've already got a digital audio workstation you're comfortable with, chances are the FireStudio Project will integrate seamlessly with your setup. Its near-universal Mac and Windows drivers mean the FireStudio works as the perfect front end for users of Apple Logic, Cakewalk Sonar, and even Propellerhead Record. On the other hand, if you're really starting from scratch, PreSonus stuffs the FireStudio box with a copy of Studio One Artist 2, so you can get down to recording right away. Best of all, PreSonus is one of the most diligent and frequent updaters of driver software in the industry, so you can invest in your FireStudio Project with absolute confidence.
Satisfy your recording jones! With a PreSonus FireStudio Project at the front of your computer recording system, you'll be well on your way to making pro-sounding, full-band recordings. .. or whatever else you need to point your mics at! The FireStudio Project is hard to beat at this price, and this price is unbeatable through zZounds!
zZounds is an authorized dealer of
PreSonus products.
Computer System RequirementsNew Universal Control version 1.11 software. Compatible with 64-bit Windows XP and Vista and will support 64-bit operation in Mac OS X 10.5 and later.Windows:
- OS: Microsoft Windows XP SP1
- Computer: Windows compatible computer with FireWire port.
- CPU/Clock: Pentium, Celeron with 1.6Ghz or higher
- Memory(RAM): 512 MB (1 GB recommended)
Macintosh:
- Mac OS X 10.5.2 or later (32-bit and 64-bit)
- PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz or Intel Core Solo 1.5 GHz processor (2 GHz or faster recommended)
- 1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended)
Note that the speed of your processor, amount of RAM and size and speed of your hard drive will greatly affect the overall performance of your recording system. Also, a more powerful system (faster processor with more RAM) will allow for lower latency (signal delay) that you might experience while monitoring audio or MIDI signals.
Monitor resolution for both PC and Macintosh should be no lower than 1024x768 pixels.FireStudio Project SpecificationsMicrophone Preamp
Type: XLR Female Balanced
Frequency Response (+/-0.5 dB): 20 Hz to 50 kHz
Frequency Response (+/-3.0 dB): 20 Hz to 150 kHz
Input Impedance (Balanced): 1600 ohms
THD+N (unwtd, 1kHz @ +4 dBu Output, Unity Gain: < 0.0003%
EIN (unwtd, 55dB Gain, 150 ohms Input, 20Hz to 22kHz: -126 dBu
S/N Ratio (Unity Gain, unwtd, Ref. = +4 dBu, 20Hz to 22 kHz: > 101dB
Common Mode Rejection Ratio (1 kHz, 55 dB Gain): > 55dB
Gain Control Range (+/-1dB): -4 dB to 50dB
Maximum Input Level (Unity Gain, 1 kHz @ 0.5% THD+N): +14 dBu
Signal Level LEDS:
Red / Clip (+/-0.5 dB)
Yellow (+/-0.5 dB)
Green (+/-0.5 dB)
+10 dBu (o dBFS)
+4 dBu (-6 dBFS)
-30 dBu (-40 dBFS)
Phantom Power (+/-2 VDC): +48 VDC
Instrument Input (channels 1 & 2 only)Type: XLR Female Balanced
Input Impedance: 1 Milliohms
Line InputsType: XLR Female Balanced
Frequency Response (+/-0.5 dB): 20 Hz to 50 kHz
Frequency Response (+/-3.0 dB): 20 Hz to 150 kHz
Input Impedance (Balanced): 10 K ohms
THD+N (unwtd, 1kHz @ +4 dBu Output, Unity Gain
< 0.0003%
S/N Ratio (Unity Gain, unwtd, Ref. = +4 dBu, 20Hz to 22 kHz: > 101dB
Gain Control Range (+/-1 dB): -16dB to +16dB
Maximum Input Level (Unity Gain, 1 kHz @ 0.5% THD+N): +10 dBu
Maximum Input Level (Minimum Gain, 1 kHz @ 0.5% THD+N): +22 dBu
Line Ouputs (including Preamp Output, General Purpose Outputs and Main Outputs)Type: 1/4 in. TRS Balanced
Output Impedance: 51 ohms
Headphone OutputType: 1/4 in. TRS Active Stereo
Maximum Output: 150 mW/CH @ 60 ohms Load
Frequency Response (+/-1.0 dB): 10 Hz - 70kHz
Digital AudioADC Dynamic Range (Awtd, 48 kHz Sample Rate): 114 dB
DAC Dynamic Range (Awtd, 48 kHz Sample Rate): 114 dB
Bit Depth: 24
Reference Level for 0dBFS: +10 dBu
Internal Sample Frequency Selections (kHz): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96
External Sample Frequency Input: S/PDIF
PowerInput Connector Type: IEC
Input Voltage Range: 90 to 230 VAC
Power Requirements (Continuous): 20W
- Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
- Base Item
- Shipping Weight: 7 lbs
-
Shipping Dimensions:
24 x
12 x
5 in
Rebates
PreSonus Warranty
Presonus Warranty
Presonus offers a one year warranty (parts and labor) on all new products. All non-new Presonus products carry a limited warranty of 90 days.
If you have additional warranty questions,
please call the manufacturer at 800-750-0323
Product Description
The FireStudio Project is a complete 24-bit/96K professional recording system combining eight Class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers, 24-bit/96k sample rate conversion, zero-latency matrix router mixer, and the PreSonus ProPak Software Suite featuring PreSonus Artist One recording and production software, over 25 real-time plug-in effects (EQ's, compressors, reverbs), and more than 2 GB of drum loops and samples.
Great for professional studio recording, live sound recording, performance, podcasting and more, the FireStudio Project is designed for flexibility and ultra-high sonic performance. Whether you need to record a live drum set, mic a guitar amp, or a complete band, the FireStudio Project is ready and more than able. With the FireControl Mixer/Router you can send up to five individual mixes to different musicians during recording so that every band member can have a custom headphone mix.
Based on the award-winning FP10(FirePod) the FireStudio Project starts with eight PreSonus Class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers found in the FP10(FirePod) and adds the folllowing improvements:
- Improved analog to digital converters (114dB dynamic range)
- Improved syncronization with JetPLL (jitter elimination technology)
- FireControl Mixer/Router to send up to five separate zero-latency stereo mixes to musicians during recording
- Three-segment LED input metering on all analog channels
- Internal IEC-based power supply
- ProPak v3 software suite with Artist One, BFD Lite, and Wave Arts plug-ins.
XMAX Class A Preamplifiers
The FireStudio Project starts with eight custom-designed high-voltage, discrete, XMAX 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 the preamplifier is a key component in the sonic quality of a recording. The job of a microphone preamplifier is to boost microphone level signals to line level so that the signal can be converted from analog to digital. This mic to line boost is generally a 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.
DICE II and JetPLL
The FireStudio Project is loaded with the DICE II FireWire chipset delivering 10 channels of simultaneous inputs and outputs at professional-quality 24-bit. The strength of the DICE II chip lies with its ability to easilly handle high channel count at high bit-rate while minimizing latency and load on your computer.
The synchronization of the FireStudio Project 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 synchronization to the computer and all devices synchronization with the FireStudio Project.
FireControl - Zero Latency DSP Mixing/Routing
The FireStudio Project also includes the FireControl mixer/router a 18x10 DSP mixer/router for flexible mixing and direct routing any input to any output including the headphone output, with zero latency. The FireControl software application lives between your FireStudio Project interface and your DAW software enabling the mixing and routing of input streams coming into your FireStudio Studio Project interface and playback stream coming from your DAW software. The FireControl is capable of creating up to five stereo mixes and then routing to the outputs of your FireStudio Project for headphone mixes and various aux sends. This way everyone in the band and the recording engineer can have a custom mix. Also, the FireStudio Project is loaded with internal flash memory so that all FireControl settings are saved and recalled in the FireStudio Project during power off/on. This allows you to configure your FireStudio as a stand-alone device, without being connected to a computer for uses such as a submixer, A/D and D/A-converter, headphone mixer, format converter, instrument or microphone pre-amplifier!
Software Package
The FireStudio Project is bundled with an exceptional software package, featuring PreSonus Studio One Artist 2, the amazing DAW software for Mac OS X and Windows XP and Vista that makes producing high-quality projects easier than ever before. As part of the Studio One Artist 2 package, you get 20 additional PreSonus Native Effects plug-ins and virtual instruments and a generous bundle of third-party loops, software, and instrument sounds.
Features
- High-speed FireWire (IEEE 1394) audio interface
- Up to 96K sampling rate
- 8 XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers (+60dB gain) w/ Trim Control
- 8 analog Mic/Line inputs, 2 instrument inputs
- 8 analog line outputs
- S/PDIF digital input and output, MIDI input and output
- Balanced Send / Return for Channels 1 and 2
- Zero latency monitoring with FireControl mixer/router
- Separate balanced main outputs and 8 balanced analog outputs
- Software Package including PreSonus Studio One Artist 2, 20 additional PreSonus Native Effects plug-ins and virtual instruments and a bundle of third-party loops, software, and instrument sounds.
