Focusrite Red 8

Couldn't be easier, but a prior knowledge of the basics is required. There are symbols rather than text for many of the function switches, (polarity switching for example) and the attractive red aluminum faceplate is adorned with only what's really needed. The VU meters are small and not very brightly lit - I have an HHB Classic 80 with the same type of meters - is it British design, or is it to keep the signal drain low? Anyway they look cool. The gain knobs are easy to turn and are detented, making it easy to return to "that exact setting". Some may complain that this isn't flexible enough, but your client will appreciate level matching from session to session - even if they don't notice it. There are two circular, white scribble pads, but I have yet to find a need for them. Other faceplate switches include a 48v phantom power switch, which lights when it's activated. A BIG red power button and a deeply engraved number "8" rounds out the handsome package.

The first project I used the Red 8 on was a banjo player who overdubbed acoustic guitar to the tracks. I've recorded plenty of banjos before, but the instrument's inherant harshness and dynamic range made it necessary to color the sound with subtractive e.q. and compression. The Red 8 completely eliminated the need for both treatments!! Upon playback, I got that "man, why did I wait so long" feeling many of you have probably felt after a major upgrade. I miked the banjo in stereo with an Oktava ribbon mic on the bridge and a Shure KSM44 on the tone ring at the neck. Sweet combination with this particular banjo! We tracked to a 24-bit Mackie HD 24/96 hard disc recorder and monitored through a Soundtracs project 8 mixer and Mackie HR824 near field monitors. The quality of sound was that of a finished master recording! Nothing was done to the final tracks but normalizing in Sound Forge, then the CD's were pressed. This preamp is a keeper! I've also used it on a voice-over for a radio spot, featuring an in-your-face, gravel voiced, shouting announcer, the kind you'd use on a "be there!" tractor pull event. The Red 8's headroom impressed me thoroughly. Even when the V.O. guy reached HIS limit, the Red 8 just kind of yawned and dodged out of the way. Other pre's I've owned would have distorted and made the session unusable. The Red 8 not only looks like a Ferrari parked in your rack, the superb sound quality will satisfy your ears and make your job of engineering less of a fix-it-in-the-mix task.

I bought this unit used, and have had zero problems with it. I don't know what the first owner's opinion would be, but the Red Series from Focusrite has been designed for professionals to use 24/7 and I see no reason why this unit would let me down. Even the stainless steel casing (with the cool "ff" logo punched out for venting) is stunning, and you don't even see it when it's rack mounted!

Never had a need to call.

This pre is perfect for acoustic music, which is what I record mostly, but I wouldn't hesitate to try it on any style, especially with a matched pair of high end mics. Besides the Focusrite, I currently own a PreSonus M20, HHB Classic 80 Tube Pre, and a dbx 386 tube Pre. The Red 8 is my first choice for nearly everything, and if it had a line in stereo pair, I'd track keyboards through it. That's my single complaint about the Red 8, a lack of line ins and outs.

The red 8 is a dual channel class A pre-amp, 2 rack spaces deep,solidly constructed(heavy), no manual, no software

I tried running a stereo mix through it and that didn't work(sounded very thin), the pre is quiet but not noise free, the unit imparts a classic warm sound to vocals that is only tweakable from other sources. This particular unit had to be operated one channel at a time for optimum sound quality.

The unit is very solid but because of the weight and the price of the it I would not use it at a gig. Only in the studio.

I did not call the company.

Quite frankly I was hoping for more. It's possible that one of the channels had a defect but the good channel imparted a nice warm signature sound to my vocals. The class A circuitry seems to smooth out transients and enhance signal integrity far better than cheap pre-amps . I returned the unit to the vendor after a 3 day trial hoping to get a better bang for my buck with another product. Although the unit does something for your sound, to me it wasn't quite enough to justify the pricetag. I reiterate that the unit is very solid and would look great in any studio.