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Home » Computer Music » Audio Interfaces » Firewire » PreSonus Firebox

PreSonus Firebox

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Dolphin id:
5031
Product SKU:
PSFB

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6x8 FireWire Interface w/ 2 Preamps

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The Firebox is the most powerful 24-bit/96k FireWire recording interface that fits in the palm of your hand. The Firebox is a complete 24-Bit/96k personal recording studio combining two high quality PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers, 24-Bit/96k sample rate and Steinberg's Cubase LE 48-track recording software. The Firebox is the perfect hardware and software combination for a powerful professional-quality and compact computer-based studio.

The Firebox is the most professional-quality mobile interface in its class delivering the following:

  • Higher-quality analog to digital converters (Dynamic Range 110dB)
  • Class-A microphone preamplifiers - delivers more musical recording
  • Ultra wide frequency response (10 - 50kHz)
  • Road ready rugged build quality - metal chassis

Hardware

The Firebox has the highest record/playback track count of its size with the ability to record six inputs and playback through ten outputs simultaneously all at pro-quality 24-bit/96kHz. Two ultra-low noise high-headroom microphone/instrument preamplifiers with 48V phantom power are on the front panel for quickly and easily connecting your favorite microphones and instruments. The Firebox also includes a high quality stereo headphone output with volume adjustment on the front panel. The headphone output has its own two-channel driver stream which can be used as a separate stereo bus or two-channel output giving you the ability to send a “cue” mix to the headphone output and a main mix to the main output. Two additional balanced TRS line inputs are located on the rear of the Firebox along with six balanced TRS line outputs. Two channels of S/PDIF input/output and MIDI input/output are also included via DB9 breakout cable. A software router/mixer is also included for further flexibility and power. The 1/3U-wide metal chassis of the Firebox is designed to fit the Maxrack rack-mounting system from PreSonus and can be racked with the TubePRE, COMP16, EQ3B and HP4 for a neat and compact computer recording system.

The Firebox works with both four and six-pin FireWire (IEEE 1394) connectors and can be powered by either 6-pin FireWire bus power, or powered by an external power transformer.

The Windows XP and Macintosh compatible Firebox comes ready-to-record with Steinberg's Cubase LE 48-track 24-bit/96K recording software, and is also compatible with many popular ASIO/WDM and Core Audio based applications including Logic, Sonar, Audition, Digital Performer and others.

FREE Software

Cubase LE

Cubase LE is the new music production software based on award-winning Cubase SX technology featuring 48 audio tracks, VST plug-ins and full VSTi support. Cubase LE combines powerful audio and MIDI recording features with professional editing and effects. Cubase LE and all included plug-ins are compatible with both Mac and PC systems. Also, Cubase LE sessions are completely upward compatible with both Cubase SX and Nuendo. So if you choose to upgrade down the road to Cubase SX or Nuendo, you can seemlessly upgrade all of your existing sessions when you upgrade your software. Cubase LE is the perfect entry into professional recording software giving you the ability to produce professional level recordings right-away, and giving you a system that you can expand into the future!

DSP Mixer Included

The Firebox features a Zero-Latency DSP mixer that allows you to mix all six live inputs with a software output stream, then route that mix to any one of its outputs, as well as assign either that mix or a software output stream to its headphone amplifier. This feature eliminates monitoring through the computer and makes it easy to customize a mix for the artist. It also allows CUEING for DJ’s and live performance where the headphone output can monitor a completely different signal than the MAIN outputs.

Features

  • High-Speed FireWire Network Audio Interface
  • Plug and play FireWire (IEEE 1394) audio interface
  • 24-Bit / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96K sample rate 
  • Record/playback 6 inputs/10 outputs at 24-bit/96K 
  • 2 PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers 
  • 2 analog line inputs, 6 analog line outputs 
  • S/PDIF input/output 
  • MIDI input/output 
  • Low latency monitoring 
  • Headphone output
  • Powered via FireWire bus or externally 
  • Software router/mixer 
  • Windows and Macintosh compatible 
  • Fits MAXRACK rack mounting system 

Sample Hook Up Diagram (External Link)

Technical Specifications

Minimum computer system requirements

Windows

  • OS: Microsoft Windows XP
  • Computer: Windows compatible computer with IEEE 1394 FireWire port.
  • CPU/Clock: Pentium, Athlon with 900Mhz or higher (1.5GHz recommended)
  • Memory(RAM): 256 MB (512MB recommended)

Macintosh

  • OS: MacOS X ver. 10.3.7 or later
  • CPU/Clock: PowerPC G4/800Mhz or higher (G4/Dual 1 GHz recommended), all Intel/Mac models
  • Memory(RAM): 256 MB (512MB recommended)

Note: Due to a circuit design change, Mac Book Pro laptop computers will not supply sufficient power over the FireWire bus to initially boot up the FireBox. Once the FireBox has beeen initially powered on with the included external power supply, you may disconnect the external power supply, the FireBox can then be bus-powered.

for more information check compatibility

Firebox Hardware Specifications

Preamp Bandwidth
10Hz to 50kHz
Preamp Input Impedance
1.3k Ohms
Instrument Input Impedance
1M Ohms
Preamp THD
<0.005%
Preamp EIN
-125dB
Preamp Gain
45dB (+12dB digital boost switch)
Line Input Impedance
10k Ohms
TRS Output Impedance
51 Ohms
TRS Main Outputs
Impedance 51 Ohms
Headphone Output
150mW/Ch 20Hz-20kHz
Phantom Power
48V +/- 2V
Power Supply
Ext line Transformer, Internal Switching
Bus Power
Six-pin FireWire Port
Analog to Digital Converters
24-bit / up to 96khz
ADC Dynamic Range
107dB
DAC
24-bit / up to 96kHz
DAC Dynamic Range
110dB
IEEE1394 Speed
400mbps

As a commitment to constant improvement, PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. reserves the right to change any specification stated herein at any time in the future without notification.

Image: PreSonus Firebox

Free Delivery*

UK mainland standard delivery FREE.
More details on UK deliveries.
More details on International deliveries.

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PreSonus Firebox Reviews

8/10

Presonus Firebox

— Sandro Berio April 2, 2009

First of all,I bought it for live-stereo recordings,no need 4 software in bundle,no need 4 more ins and outs than the 2 mic ins and
the firewire connection;after downloading and installing the drivers 4 Xp my laptop was ready to
record (no CD-Rom used),with Steinberg\\\'s Wave Lab Lite:the mic gain is enough 4 a pair of Schoeps Colette,not really hot 4 my Calrec 1051 C\\\'s and 4 a Sony C48 (I\\\'m dealing about distant mic placement);the mic preamp is good
and clean,and so is the A\\\\D converter (not tested the D\\\\A one),the difference between a 24\\\\48 and a 24\\\\96 recording is clearly audible though (what does it mean?I THINK that the A\\\\D converter outputs enough noise and distorsion to be successfully hidden in the ultrasonic range,some people may believe,on the contrary,that the richness of frequencies above 20Khz gives the sound more clarity and smoothness.........).
Anyway I do like this tiny little
piece of gear,I like its chassis
and its blue knobs,I would like I
could hook it up to my compact
flash recorder via the SPDIF out,but one can\\\'t do this if the
Firebox isn\\\'t joined with a computer.Please,don\\\'t use the sound-killer 12dB boost!

9/10

Very happy

— happydan July 4, 2007

Good box that works great with my desktop, but refuses to work with the Dell Inspiron 6400 I recently purchased. I'm hoping a Firewire add-in card will solve the issue (the Firewire connection is on the same IRQ as the graphics). I am very happy with the box, the missing point is due to the mixer being a bit confusing.

Show all reviews »

9/10

Firebox

— Ben Johnston December 31, 2006

Dolphin shipped this interface promptly and for a great price.

The Firebox is very solidly built. Good connectivity for the size/price. The knobs are metal and 'stepped'. The headphone output is HUGE - this is reassuring, but actually a little problematic because it limits the workable range. With several headphones I've tried, even a setting of about 5% blows my ears away!

MAC USERS: The only real issue with this interface is an Apple problem. At the time of writing, there are still issues with Apple's Firewire Audio driver. The Firebox relies on this driver and doesn't use it's own. I installed a Dev kit from the Apple site which seems to have fixed the problem, but a 'proper' fix is still overdue.

Dec 06

9/10

PreSonus Firebox

— Alan Bryden April 14, 2006

On a small budget but still want to make high quality recordings? Need a genuinely portable firewire device?

This baby has got to be the best small firewire device on the market. It's compact size and rugged design make it a useful and versatile tool for mobile recording and playback, be that a spot of lap top Djing, as a midi interface or as an audio capture device in a project studio.
The front panel consists of two XLR/ 1/4” combo inputs, mic/instrument preamp gains and volume controls laid out in a very organised fasion. I do occasionally get confused as to which gain knob is which due to the lay out but that's a minor criticism - they are labelled! The preamps though are fantastic - I've used the Firebox in conjunction with an Aphex 207 tube preamp and I can honestly say that the difference in sound quality between the two is minimal. From a practical point of view, having such a small box that can be easily thrown into a ruck sack with a lap top and a couple of microphones for some location recording, is a gift. I’ve been using the Firebox in a variety of situations over the last year and for the price and scale of it, I think it’s a top buy. With six audio outputs squeezed into the back you’ve got plenty of options for live playback (it's great with Traktor, you can assign each deck to a different stereo out put and then use an outboard DJ mixer) and it’s simple software mixer gives you adequate control. It lacks the kind of onboard DSP FX that can be found in the likes of the Focusrite Sapphire but I don’t see this as a huge loss. This is a straightforward Firewire device to get up to 96kHz audio in and out of your computer, if I want some FX I can do it somewhere else in the chain.
The only other criticism I’d level at it is the design of Firewire cables themselves which I have to confess to having pulled out whilst DJing on more than one accasion (doh!) but I think this is the fault of Apple and not Presonus. Aside from that, this is a top quality budget solution for mobile recording and project studios. And with Cubase LE bundled, it’s a genuine studio in a box package.

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