PreSonus FireStudio Project

High-quality circuitry, practical versatility, and a generous software package make you more productive and deliver great sound.

The FireStudio Project is a a premium computer recording interface combining 8 Class A XMAX mic preamps, 24-bit/96kHz audio resolution, a zero-latency matrix DSP router/mixer, and the ProPak Software Suite. Great for professional studio recording, live recording, performance, podcasting and more, the PreSonus FireStudio Project is designed for flexibility and ultra-high sonic performance.

Based on the award-winning FP10 (formerly the FirePod) the FireStudio Project starts with eight PreSonus Class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers found in the FP10 and adds the folllowing improvements:

•Improved analog to digital converters (114dB dynamic range) for more headroom and cleaner sound •Improved syncronization with JetPLL (jitter elimination technology) for more accurate sound •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 for instant audio feedback •Internal IEC-based power supply for easy portability and compatibility •ProPak v3 software suite with Cubase LE 4, BFD Lite, Wave Arts Plug-ins, Cubase LE 4 Demysitified Tutorial DVD video, and more

XMAX Class A Preamplifiers The FireStudio Project starts with eight custom-designed high-voltage, discrete, XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers. PreSonus knows that your preamps are a key component in the sonic quality of your recordings. 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 preamp found in most interfaces translates into thin, noisy, and harsh results. With the XMAX preamp you get full-sounding, true-to-life sonic performance to serve your music best.

DICE II and JetPLL advanced platform technology
The FireStudio Project is loaded with the ultra-powerful DICE II FireWire chipset delivering 10 channels of professional-quality 24-bit inputs and outputs simultaneously. 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 JetPLL jitter reduction technology. JetPLL incorporates noise shaping to virtually remove all audio band jitter. JetPLL ensures the highest converter performance possible, resulting in better stereo separation and clearer more transparent audio. JetPLL 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. JetPLL 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 and routing
The FireStudio Project also includes the FireControl mixer/router: an 18x10 DSP-based application for flexible mixing and direct routing of 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. It allows you to provide everyone in the band with 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 standalone 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 preamplifier.

ProPak Software Suite (v3)
The FireStudio Project also comes with the new ProPak Software Suite (v3), which includes more than 20 realtime plug-ins, a number of virtual instruments, and over 2GB of drum loops and samples including: Steinberg - Cubase LE 4; BFD Lite; Wave Arts TrackPlug LE; MasterVerb LE; Discrete Drums; and more!

PreSonus FireStudio Project Features:

High-Speed FireWire (IEEE 1394) audio interface
Up to 96K sampling rate
Improved syncronization with JetPLL (jitter elimination technology)
8 XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers (+60dB gain) w/Trim Control
Improved analog to digital converters (114dB dynamic range)
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
Up to 5 separate zero latency stereo mixes with FireControl Mixer/Router
Separate balanced main outputs and 8 balanced analog outputs
FREE ProPak Software Suite including Cubase LE 4 audio production software and tutorial DVD
Internal IEC-based power supply
Three-segment LED input metering on all analog channels
System Requirements
PC: Microsoft Windows XP SP1, Pentium, Celeron with 1.6Ghz or higher
FireWire port.
512MB RAM, 1GB recommended

Mac: MacOS X 10.4.x or later, PowerPC G4/Dual 1 GHZ or faster, all Intel-based Mac models
On-board FireWire port.
512 MB RAM, 1 GB recommended

Monitor resolution should be no lower than 1024 x 768 pixels

Power
Input Connector Type: IEC
Input Voltage Range: 90 to 230 VAC
Power Requirements: continuous 20W