Los Angeles, CA (November 12, 2026)—Nico Pagni, executive producer and co-founder of the YouTube series Red Couch Show, has made Focusrite’s ISA C8X interface a centerpiece of his studio setup.
Brooklyn-based producer, engineer and songwriter Pagni, born in Argentina and raised in Louisville, KY, began his career playing classical piano before expanding into drums, guitar, production and songwriting. His path led him to New York City’s hip-hop studios, including The Cutting Room, where he has been a core engineer for the past four years—experience he brings to Red Couch Show, recording and mixing more than 300 live sessions across genres.
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The Focusrite ISA C8X is a 26-in, 28-out USB-C audio interface that combines the trademark ISA sound with remote control, analog and digital I/O, routing and recallability. Pagni comments, “Before adding the ISA C8X, our setup was functional with the help of a Focusrite 18i20. However, we had an issue with expansion and wanted to have better routing options and opportunities to add more outboard gear to our setup. The vast amounts of in/out opportunities, as well as the two ISA preamps included, were a key attraction. This solved a lot of problems for us.”
He adds, “Incorporating the ISA C8X into our studio was seamless. We were immediately able to hook up gear via ADAT and route all the outputs to our patch bay to connect all our equipment. The digital software made this even easier.”
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On deciding which preamps to use for different instruments, vocalists or sessions, Pagni explains, “At the Red Couch Show, we have a variety of different performances that come through the door. This can range from a simple vocal and acoustic guitar session to full bands.
“We’ve opted to use the ISA preamps for the main vocal mic, and the guitar they may be using. They’re always front and center, so having two amazing preamps with different impedance options allows us to fine-tune and adapt to make sure they’re captured flawlessly. The six additional Focusrite preamps have been perfect for filling in additional elements in the performance, especially with line/mic switching and digital preamp control.”
