Focusrite has announced the imminent arrival of its latest eight channel pre-amp, OctoPre MkII, and Saffire 6 USB, the latest in Focusrite's new generation of audio interfaces.

OctoPre MkII features eight channels of Focusrite pre-amplification and a built-in 24-bit/96kHz ADAT output, providing an affordable input upgrade for your Pro Tools system, or any digital audio workstation.

Combining Saffire PRO pre-amps with high quality digital conversion and JetPLL jitter elimination technology, Focusrite claims that OctoPre MkII is "the best sounding multi-channel mic-pre in its class". The digital output allows users to make the most of often-neglected ADAT inputs; ideal for expanding the number of mic-pres for interfaces such as the Saffire PRO 24. Connect OctoPre MkII to your audio interface's ADAT input to create a high quality, multi-channel studio recording solution.

OctoPre MkII is equally suited to the live environment as a quality mic-pre expansion for any analogue or digital console or hard disk recorder. With line outputs on every channel, each mic-pre can be routed to a separate channel on an analogue mixer with the ADAT output left free to send a copy to a digital recorder.

OctoPre MkII has been optimised for drum recording. Designed not to clip, 10dB pads are provided across each channel, while the gain range of the pre-amps has been tailored to handle extreme levels from sound sources like the kick drum. Equally, Focusrite pre-amps are renowned for the way they handle the dynamic range of vocalists, and these pre-amps are no exception. Finally, OctoPre MkII's first two channels also feature DIs, so it can also turn its hand to recording Guitar and Bass.

Focusrite says OctoPre MkII features everything else you'd expect from a multi-channel mic-pre solution; 5-LED input metering on every channel, switchable phantom power and a variety of internal and external clocking solutions.

The Saffire 6 USB is the latest in Focusrite's new generation of audio interfaces, its most affordable to date.

Twenty-five years of mic-pre experience form the foundation of this new interface, with two Focusrite pre-amps. These combine with professional digital conversion to ensure pristine audio quality as your music flows between the analogue and digital domains.

Alongside the two Focusrite pre-amps are two balanced TRS outputs and four RCA phono outputs. Four phono outputs, high-quality digital conversion, a high-level headphone output and flexible monitoring solutions make Saffire 6 USB ideal for digital DJs. The converter performance ensures that the quality of the audio streamed from the computer is "sonically superb", according to Focusrite. An A/B source switch for monitoring either of two stereo output pairs and the high-level headphone output provide all that's required for Laptop DJ-style cueing in a club environment.

Saffire 6 USB also comes with all the tools needed to start making music straight away. The latest version of the Focusrite Plug-in Suite, which includes Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins. Focusrite's Xcite+ bundle is also included. The bundle features Ableton Live 7 Lite, Novation's Bass Station soft synth and over 1GB of royalty-free samples from Loopmasters and 'Mike the Drummer'.

Pricing & Availability

Both Saffire 6 USB and OctoPre MkII will be available to purchase late in September 2009 from all good pro-audio stores worldwide. Please contact your local distributor for pricing and availability information.