The DigiMax D8 is an 8 channel preamplifier featuring 8 award-winning
class A XMAX mic preamps with 24-bit ADAT digital output. All eight
preamps include variable trim control, 48V phantom power, ultra-fast
acting LED metering and 20 dB pad. In addition, 2 instrument inputs are
located on the front panel for direct Hi-Z instrument input. Balanced
TRS direct analog outputs are located on the rear panel for routing and
flexibility. The DigiMax D8 also includes word clock sync input for
ultra-low jitter and robust synchronization.
The DigiMax D8 is
the perfect solution to add eight professional microphone preamplifiers
to any digital recording system with ADAT optical lightpipe expansion
capability including Digidesign’s HD and 003 systems, RME, YAMAHA,
Alesis, Mackie, and many others.
8 XMAX Class A Preamplifiers
The
DigiMax D8 includes eight custom-designed high-voltage, discrete, XMAX
Class A microphone preamplifiers for all types of microphones. 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.
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
- 8 dual-purpose front-panel channel inputs, each with high-headroom Class A XMAX™ mic preamplifiers
- 8 mic/line inputs
- 2 instrument inputs (front panel; Ch. 1 and 2, bypasses mic input)
- Individual channel-trim controls with -4 dB to +50 dB gain range
- 48V phantom power for condenser microphones (switchable in pairs)
- -20 dB pad on every channel
- Analog direct outputs
- 4-segment, fast-acting LED input meter
- 8 channels of ADAT optical output at 44.1 or 48 kHz
- Clock source (sets clock to external or internal with 44.1 or 48 kHz sample rate)
- Input/Output
- 2 unbalanced ¼” instrument inputs (front panel; bypass Ch. 1 and 2 mic inputs)
- 8 balanced combo mic/line inputs
- 1 BNC word-clock input
- 8 balanced ¼” direct outputs (1 per channel)
- 1 ADAT Lightpipe optical digital output
- Digitalia
- Professional-quality AD converters (+107 dBu dynamic range)
- ADAT Lightpipe digital output: 24-bit resolution/44.1 and 48 kHz internal sampling rate
- Word-clock master via ADAT Lightpipe or slave to external word clock
- Physical
- 1U 19” rack-mountable, rugged steel chassis
- Internal power supply with standard IEC connector
