This product has been discontinued.
Our classic multichannel preamplifier.
For more than a decade, DigiMax-series preamp/converters have been relied on in countless recording studios worldwide. Based on our highly lauded XMAX Class A solid-state preamp, the DigiMax D8 has become a classic, offering eight of these prized preamps—enough to raise your entire studio rig to a higher level. And thanks to its eight-channel, 24-bit ADAT Optical output, the DigiMax D8 provides an excellent front end or expander for ADAT Optical-equipped digital-audio devices, such as our AudioBox 1818VSL, Studio 192, and Studio 192 Mobile audio/MIDI interfaces.
Superior sound.
A good microphone preamp boosts a mic’s level to almost 400 times that of the original signal, making the preamp one of the most important stages in an audio system. A cheap, off-the-shelf, op-amp-type mic preamp delivers thin, noisy, harsh results. In contrast, PreSonus® XMAX microphone preamps deliver incredibly high headroom, deep lows, smooth highs, and a rich overall sound. With XMAX preamps, your system’s sound quality is limited only by the microphone you plug in.
At PreSonus, we know that the mic preamplifier is a key component in the sonic quality of a recording. The DigiMax D8 includes custom-designed, high-voltage, discrete, XMAX Class A microphone preamplifiers that complement every microphone.
XMAX preamplifiers are built with three key 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 a richer overall sound.
- Discrete components—not op-amps. We only use genuine transistors, resistors, and capacitors. Op-amps add noise, coloration, and harshness to a signal. Our discrete design delivers ultra-low noise and transparency.
- Class A. Class A circuits have no crossover distortion and deliver purer, clearer, and more musical results than the Class AB designs that are found in many preamps.
The net result of the XMAX preamp design is high headroom, low noise, wide dynamic range, extended frequency response, and—most important—musicality and transparency, with smooth highs, solid deep lows, and everything in between.
The right analog I/O makes the D8 a versatile front end.
Its complement of inputs and outputs makes the DigiMax D8 a versatile front end for virtually any system. Two convenient front-panel instrument inputs let you plug in guitars, bypassing the mic inputs. All other connections are in the rear, keeping the wiring out of your face. With eight XLR mic/line inputs, you can plug in virtually any mic- or line-level sound source. Eight ¼-inch, balanced, direct channel outputs allow you to add preamps to devices with line-level inputs or split the mic preamps between two devices.
Expand via ADAT Optical and record the whole band.
Eight-channel, 24-bit, 44.1/48 kHz ADAT Optical (“Lightpipe”) output makes the DigiMax D8 an excellent way to add more analog inputs to any third-party, Lightpipe-equipped digital-audio device. Better yet, add a DigiMax D8 to a Lightpipe-equipped PreSonus AudioBox® 1818VSL for a 2-rackspace rig with 16 XMAX-equipped recording channels—enough to record an entire live band. To keep your digital audio in sync with ultra-low jitter, the D8 receives word clock at its BNC connection and sends word clock via ADAT Optical.
Careful, it’s loaded!
The DigiMax D8 is a proven solution for adding eight professional microphone preamplifiers to any digital recording system. You can easily integrate it into your studio, thanks to plentiful I/O, variable trim control for each preamp, 48V phantom power (switchable in odd-even pairs), fast-acting LED metering, and a 20 dB pad. And you’ll love its sound! If you’re considering expanding your system, you owe it to yourself to check out the DigiMax D8 at your favorite PreSonus dealer.