Focusrite Grand Sales: PreSonus FireStudio Mobile

PreSonus FireStudio Mobile Review

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PreSonus FireStudio Mobile Feature

10-input, 6-output professional recording system with plug-and-play FireWire 400 connectivity
XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers; six line-level, analog input channels; S/PDIF digital input and output
High-defi nition analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters; JetPLL jitter control for improved imaging and clarity
Bundled with PreSonus Studio One Artist DAW software and over 4 GB of virtual instruments, plug-ins, loops, and samples to get you started
Powered via FireWire bus or using included power supply

Offering a studio-quality FireWire interface that you can use anywhere, the FireStudio Mobile ten-input, six-output professional recording system enables you to record a whole band with one portable device. All you need is a computers with a FireWire connection, a few microphones and cables, monitor speakers or headphones, and (of course) your instruments. It features two PreSonus XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers; six line-level, analog input channels; S/PDIF digital input and output; MIDI I/O; and headphone monitoring with separate gain control.

The PreSonus FireStudio Mobile recording system (see larger image).

Back ports (see larger image).

The FireStudio Mobile includes custom-designed, high-voltage, discrete, XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers that are suitable for use with all types of microphones. XMAX preamplifiers are built with three key elements:

High Voltage. The XMAX preamplifier runs on power rails of 30V. Most off-the-shelf, op-amp-based designs run on power rails of 10V to 18V. Higher-voltage power rails deliver more headroom, deeper lows, smoother highs, and a richer overall sound.
Discrete components--not op-amps. We only use genuine transistors, resistors, and capacitors. Op-amps add noise, coloration, and harshness to a signal. Our discrete design delivers ultra-low noise and transparency.
Class A. Class A circuits have no crossover distortion and deliver purer, clearer, and more musical results than the Class AB designs that are found in many preamps.

A pair of 3-LED level/clip indicators let you check the signal levels for channels 1 and 2, and a button enables 48V phantom power for the two mic channels. Also on the front panel are gain knobs for the two mic/instrument inputs and for the main stereo outputs and a stereo headphone output with gain knob. Gain for the mic inputs ranges from –10 dB to +70 dB; the high-impedance instrument inputs range from –30 dB to +50 dB of gain. Finally, a power/sync indicator LED shows whether the FireStudio Mobile is receiving adequate power and is correctly receiving word clock.

Loaded with inputs and outputs, the FireStudio Mobile includes a pair of combination XLR/TS mic/instrument jacks, which are in the inputs for channels 1 and 2. The XLR mic inputs are routed to the XMAX solid-state mic preamplifiers. The high-impedance, TS instrument inputs let you plug guitars or basses directly into the front panel. On the back are 6 more balanced, 1/4-inch line level inputs for channels 3 through 8, plus a DB9 connector that accepts a breakout cable (included) to provide stereo S/PDIF digital I/O and MIDI I/O. You get two FireWire 400 ports: one port connects to your computer, and the other can be used to connect a hard drive or to daisy-chain any FireStudio-family interface

The FireStudio Mobile is bundled a software package that includes PreSonus Studio One Artist DAW software for Mac OS X and Windows XP and Vista, which makes producing high-quality projects easier than ever before. As part of the Studio One Artist package, you get 20 new PreSonus Native Effects plug-ins and virtual instruments and a generous bundle of third-party loops, software, and instrument sounds.

What's in the Box
PreSonus FireStudio Mobile, FireWire cable (6-foot; 6-pin-to-6-pin), power supply, software discs, user manual

Key Features

Plug-and-play, high-speed FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394)
24-bit resolution with 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz sampling rates
Record/playback 10 inputs and 6 outputs
2 XMAX PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers with true 48V phantom power for condenser mics
8 line inputs, 2 line outputs
Stereo S/PDIF and MIDI input/output -- DB9 break-out cable included
Zero-latency monitoring
Headphone output with gain control
Software router/mixer
Powered via FireWire bus or using included power supply
Windows- (32- and 64-bit) and Macintosh-compatible
Universal Control control-panel software
DICE II Chipset -- extremely efficient data transfer
JetPLL -- jitter-elimination technology
Road-rugged construction
- Shockproof, reinforced metal chassis
- Silky-smooth, sealed rotary controls
- Military-grade circuit board
- Chassis-mounted input/output sockets resist strain from jacks
- Full shielding from external interference