The FireStudio Tube is a world-class 24-bit/96k professional FireWire recording system loaded with the perfect combination of inputs and outputs for bands, producers, musicians and engineers to produce commercial-quality recordings.
Two SuperChannels - Tube Preamplifiers with Limiter
The front panel of the FireStudio Tube is loaded with two "SuperChannels" featuring class A vacuum tube microphone and instrument preamplifiers along with full-featured analog limiters.
The tube preamplifiers use a high gain, military grade 12AX7 tube for maximum gain, low noise and high headroom. Neutrik combo connectors allow both XLR microphone input and hi-Z instrument input. Preamp controls include preamp gain and tube drive to achieve a wide range of sounds from smooth, clean and clear, to warm tube saturation. An 80Hz high pass filter is also located on the front panel to remove room rumble and unwanted lows.
Analog Dual Domain Limiters On Board
The FireStudio Tube's Limiter features a VCA-based ultra fast Dual Domain RMS and peak detection circuit used in the award-winning DigiMax 96K, delivering the most musical limiter available. The Analog Dual Domain Limiters in the SuperChannel are located after the preamplifier and BEFORE the analog to digital converter in the signal path. This allows you to maintain high resolution recording levels without clipping, allowing you to keep the vocals up front, the kick and snare consistent, and the bass solid and punchy. Controls for the limiter include Threshold and Gain make-up as well as a Limiter in/out button. Fast-acting LED metering on the front panel displays preamp input and limiter gain reduction for the two tube SuperChannels.
Perfect I/O for Music Production
The FireStudio Tube delivers all the analog I/O needed for professional recording sessions, featuring sixteen analog inputs including two tube SuperChannels on the front panel, eight class A award-winning XMAX microphone preamplifiers and six balanced TRS line inputs on the rear panel. Outputs include six balanced TRS outputs and PreSonus' signature ultra loud and clear headphone output that "goes to 11". MIDI I/O is also included on the rear panel for MIDI instruments, keyboards and controllers. The FireStudio Tube's combination of microphone, instrument and line inputs is perfect for a band to simultaneously record drums, bass, guitar, vocals and keyboards without any additional preamplifiers.
The FireStudio Tube can be daisy-chained with one or more FireStudio Tubes or FireStudio Projects to expand your number of recording inputs. Two and three units daisy-chained in any combination have been tested at PreSonus, however, the total number of units that can be daisy-chained depends on your computer's processor speed, amount of RAM and computer configuration.
DSP Mixer/Router
The FireStudio Tube includes PreSonus' 16x8 FireControl mixer/router delivering up to four zero-latency custom monitor mixes easily and quickly.
8 XMAX Class A Preamplifiers
The FireStudio Tube includes eight custom-designed high-voltage, discrete, XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers for all types of microphones. Many other companies offering recording interfaces add the cheapest possible microphone preamplifier as an afterthought to the interface. PreSonus knows that the preamplifier is a key component in the sonic quality of a recording. 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 mic preamp that is found in most interfaces translates into thin, noisy and harsh results.
All XMAX preamplifiers are built with the same three 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 an overall fuller sound.
Discrete - No op amps. Only transistors, resistors and capacitors. Op amps add noise, coloration and harshness to a signal. Discrete designs deliver ultra low noise and transparency.
Class A - When a circuit is running in Class A mode the circuit is always in an "on" state operating at its optimal voltage requirements. Class A mode has zero crossover distortion and delivers purer, clearer and more musical sonics than class A/B designs which are found in most op-amp circuits.
The net result of the XMAX preamp design is high headroom, low noise, wide dynamic range and wide frequency range, and most importantly, musicality and transparency - smooth highs, solid deep lows, and everything in between.
Digital Converters and JetPLL Sync
The FireStudio Tube touts A/D/A converters with a dynamic range of over 114dB for unbelievable clarity as well as synchronization using 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.
ProPak Software Suite (ver. 4) Included
Cubase LE 4 48-track music recording and production softwareCubase LE 4 Demystified by PreSonus - DVD tutorial videoAmplitube Duo - Virtal Guitar AmplifierAmpeg SVX UNO LE - Virtal Bass AmplifierEZ Drummer Lite - Virtual drummer plug-inPreSonus EyeQ - EQ and spectral analysis plug-inSony Acid Express - Loop creation softwareMartin Atkins Beat Fetish - Loop libraryPluggo Jr. - Average Injector, Chamberverb, Feedback Network, Filter Taps, Generic Effect, HF Ring Mod, Jet, Limi, Nebula, Resonation, Resosweep, Spectral Filter.BandmateLoops PE - Loop LibraryTwiddly bits - 100 MIDI drum loops created by real drummers
Computer System Requirements
Below are the minimum computer system requirements for your FireStudio Tube.
Windows
OS: Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista
CPU/Clock: or Athlon 900MHz (1.5 GHz or higher recommended)
Memory(RAM): 1 GB (more recommended)
Macintosh
OS: MacOS X 10.4.x or later (10.5 supported with driver update)
CPU/Clock: PowerPC G4/Dual 1 GHZ or faster, all Intel-based Mac models.
Memory(RAM): 1 GB (more recommended)
Windows and Macintosh Systems
IEEE 1394 FireWire 400 Port
Internet connection
DVD-ROM drive
Internal or external 7200RPM storage drive is highly recommended
Note that the speed of your processor, amount of RAM and size and speed of your hard drive will greatly affect the overall performance of your recording system. Also, a more powerful system (faster processor with more RAM) will allow for lower latency (signal delay) that you might experience while monitoring audio or MIDI signals.
Monitor resolution for both PC and Macintosh should be no lower than 1024x768 pixels.
Microphone Preamp 1-8 (XLR Balanced)
Type
XLR Female Balanced
Frequency Response (±0.5 dB)
20 Hz to 50 kHz
Frequency Response (±3.0 dB)
20 Hz to 150 kHz
Input Impedance (Balanced)
1600 Ohm
THD+N (unwtd, 1kHz @ +4 dBu Output, Unity Gain
