At Winter NAMM 2004, PreSonus Audio Electronics Inc. displayed thenew FIREPOD™, a complete 24-bit/96kHz recording studio that sellsfor under $700. The system includes eight Class-A PreSonus micpre’s, S/PDIF and MIDI inputs and outputs, and Cubase SErecording software. The system is compatible with Windows XP and Mac OSX, and with both ASIO- and WDM-based applications, including Cubase SX,Nuendo, Deck, Peak and Logic software. An additional FireWire allowsusers to daisy-chain multiple FIREPODs together to create additional24-bit/96k audio channels.
The interface features a headphone output on the front panel, aswell as a mix knob to balance monitoring levels between mixed input andmain output signals. A level potentiometer on the front panel controlsthe input level of each preamplifier. Inputs 1 and 2 of the FIREPOD canswitch between microphone and instrument level, while inputs 3 through8 can switch between microphone and line input. Phantom power (+48V) isavailable on every channel (in groups of four), and dual-input Neutrikconnectors are used for all eight inputs.
The FIREPOD is also equipped with eight balanced TRS line outputsand two balanced TRS main outputs.
For more information, visit www.presonus.com.
