Sound Devices USBPre 2 Recording Interface, from Sound Devices

What's Included

This little unit packs an unbelievable feature list and the legendary Sound Devices audio-quality and professional reliability, making it an ideal front end for just any recording situation or home studio, where two channels of very serious audio is demanded.The USB Pre 2 requires nothing more than a USB cable for power and interfacing with any DAW, making it an incredibly simple, and portable solution. This remarkable little 2-channel device contains 2 clean Sound Devices mic preamps and absolutely outstanding AD/DA conversion, and high-quality USB computer interface. It has truly impressive sound quality, considering its remarkably low price-point. It offers full resolution recording of up to 192k, 24 bit, and flat frequency response from 10hz to 40khz. The extended frequency range and low noise associated with its converters and mic preamps, are the same as in Sound Devices award-winning 7-series products.

The A/D

The A/D is clear and clean making superb recordings whether they are for live 2 channel recordings or for use in the studio when doing multiple overdubs on multi-track projects. The DA can be a great compliment to any computer-audio setup where high quality monitoring is essential or just to enhance your iTunes collection for audiophile sound quality.

Multitracking

Multitracking is also easily possible with the USB pre 2, by stacking tracks. The USB Pre has zero latency monitoring allowing the user to monitor source audio, computer audio, or a combination of the two. Record a guitarist and overdub the singer, building up multiple guitar parts and vocal harmonies with one little box. Or build a full band production 2 channels at a time trusting that your pres and converters are doing a excellent job translating the material.

Compatibility

The USB Pre 2 can make a great front end or backend to Pro Tools as seen here or for use with the program of your choice including sonar, cubase, or garageband.

The Sound Devices USB Pre 2 is the perfect device for monitoring any work that requires serious high-quality audio. It can be used with serious audio and video editing applications, for mixing on the road, or even Mastering CD’s.

It has a multitude of output connectivity including balanced mic- or line-level on XLR, unbalanced consumer line-level on RCA, S/PDIF coaxial (RCA) and optical (Toslink).

Interfacing

The USBPre 2 has a wide range of interfacing possibilities. Use it to interface with your favorite external DI for recording guitars or keyboards, an external mic preamp to provide a colored alternative to the clean sounding preamps in the box, or even to interface it with an alternative digital device be it an AD or DA converter, CD-burner, digital effect, or for lossless transfers of digital audio in and out of your computer to another digital device.

In standalone mode, you can use the USB Pre without a computer. The USB Pre 2’s powerful connectivity makes it possible to connect digitally to many devices such as a CD-burner, or an Alesis hard disk recorder for computer-less location recording. Record with the Sound Devices USB Pre2 in stand-alone mode by connecting directly to such digital devices and immediately benefit from the units far superior mic preamps and converters, in and out. The output even has its own level control.

Other exciting possibilities with the USB Pre 2 include connectivity to Apple’s iPad as an input or output device. With the USB Pre 2 the iPad can be turned into a high resolution portable recording device. All you have to do is add a simple powered USB hub, and you are able to utilize all the great recording and playback quality of the USB Pre2 with your iPad.

Key Features

    * Extended bandwidth, low-noise microphone preamplifiers with 48 V phantom, limiters, high-pass filters, and 15 dB pad.
    * Dynamic range greater than 114 dB (in 24-bit operation).
    * Flat 10 Hz to 40 kHz (@96 kHz SR) audio bandwidth with very low distortion characteristics.
    * Each input individually selectable between microphone, line, and aux level signals (both channels selected simultaneously for S/PDIF connections).
    * Precision, 23-segment, multicolor LED peak/VU meter, selectable between input and output sources.
    * High-output headphone amplifier can drive a wide range of headphones.
    * Balanced outputs on XLR connectors with dedicated level control can be used to drive line- or mic-level inputs.
    * Mix control enables zero-delay monitoring of source audio, computer audio, or a mix of both source and computer audio for multitrack recording or computer telephony.
    * Phono (RCA) jacks connect Aux Output to external loudspeakers or preamplifiers.
    * Bus powering via USB for convenient, single-cable connection to the computer.
    * In Stand-Alone mode the USBPre 2 operates as a microphone preamplifier and analog-to-digital converter.
    * Hardware loop-through for test & measurement to send computer audio directly back to an input.
    * High-strength extruded aluminum chassis.
    * Mac® OS X 10.4+, Windows®XP/Vista/7, and Linux, class-compliant audio device.
    * Additional features controlled by hardware DIP switches on the back panel; no software-only features and no control panel.


Frequency Response (reference 1 kHz, at 96 kHz Sample Rate)

10 Hz - 40 kHz, ± 0.5 dB (any input to PC recording)
10 Hz - 40 kHz, ± 0.5 dB (PC source to AUX output)
THD+N (22 Hz - 22 kHz measurement bandwidth)

0.05% max (any input to PC recording, gain control at min, input driven to -6 dB FS)
0.009% max (AUX output, 0 dB V output, 100 ohm load)
0.05% max (HEADPHONES output, 2 V rms output, 600 ohm load)
E.I.N. (MIC inputs)

-127 dBu min (22 Hz - 22 kHz bandwidth, 150 ohm source, gain control fully clockwise, 15 dB pad out)
Input Clipping Level (1% THD)

Mic: -10 dBu
Mic (15 dB pad): +4 dBu
Line: +28 dBu (19.45 V rms)
Aux: +9 dBu (2.18 V rms)
Input Sensitivity (typical, for 0 dB FS)

Mic: -9 dBu min, -60 dBu max
Mic (15 dB pad): +6 dBu min, -58 dBu max
Line: +29 dBu min, +10 dBu max
Aux: +12 dBu min, -7 dBu max.
Input Impedance (actual)

Mic: 4k ohm, active-balanced
Mic (15 dB pad): 4k ohm, active-balanced
Line: 60k ohm, active-balanced
Aux: 80k ohm, active-balanced
Input Limiter Threshold

Mic: -4 dBFS
Low Cut

Mic: 80 Hz, -3 dB, 12 dB per octave
Output Clipping Level (1% THD, PC-controlled output levels at max)

Balanced XLR: +18 dBu with 100k ohm load
Aux: +8 dBu (2.0 V rms) with 100k ohm load
Headphones: +11 dBu (2.75 V rms) with 600 ohm load

Output Impedance:
Balanced XLR (Line level): 500 ohms
Balanced XLR (Mic level): 5 ohms
Aux: 2k ohms

S/PDIF Digital:
24 or 16 bit input

A/D Converter:
24-bit resolution. 114 dB typical dynamic range (22 Hz - 22 kHz bandwidth, A-weighted)

D/A Converter:
24-bit resolution. 112 dB typical dynamic range (22 Hz - 22 kHz bandwidth, A-weighted)

Sample Rates / Bit Depths:
Recording: 8, 16, or 24-bit at 8, 16, 32, 44.1, 48, 96, or 192 kHz
Playback: 24-bit at 8, 16, 32, 44.1, 48, 96, or 192 kHz

Master Clock:
Crystal based, low jitter

Metering:
48 segments, 44 dB total range, peak ballistics. 0 dB on meter = 0 dB FS (0 dB referenced to full scale digital)

Phantom Power:
48 V through 6.8k ohm resistors. Each mic input will supply 10 mA

Powering:
USB bus powered, soft-start meets USB hot-plugging power requirements (5 V, 100 mA max current drawn during enumeration)
5 V, 500 mA max current from USB port (USBPre 2 will not function if connected through a passive USB connection or hub)

Dimensions (unpackaged):
4.3 cm x 18 cm x 10 cm (H x W x D)
1.7 in. x 7.25 in. x 4.25 in. (H x W x D)

Weight:
0.5 kg
1.13 lbs.

Certifications:
Meets FCC Part 15 Class B
Complies with the Requirements of European Directive 89/336/EEC

Sound Devices’ USBPre® 2 is a high-resolution, portable hardware interface for Mac- and Windows-based digital audio. The USBPre 2 is the industry's highest performing and most flexible portable interface, connecting professional microphones, line-level sources, consumer audio electronics, and S/PDIF digital sources with Mac OS and Windows computers via USB.

Precision Microphone Preamplifiers:
InputsUSBPre 2 includes two discrete-transistor microphone preamps with 24-bit converters and sampling rates up to 192 kHz. These preamplifiers provide the highest performance in any portable interface. Their topology is shared with Sound Devices award-winning 744T Digital Audio Recorder. Peak limiters, high-pass filters, and a 15 dB pad add overload protection. All analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion is performed by the USBPre 2 for superior audio performance.

Computer Connectivity:
The USBPre 2 is a class-compliant audio device. This allows for simple plug-and-play connection to computers running Mac OS, Windows, and Linux. There are no drivers to install for the USBPre 2 and there are no software-only features. All additional controls and settings are available on back panel DIP switches. The USB port also provides power to the unit, both when connected as an audio interface and when used in Stand-Alone operation.

Output Connectivity Flexibility:
To interconnect with sound systems big and small, the USBPre 2 includes numerous output connection types, including balanced mic- or line-level on XLR, unbalanced consumer line-level on RCA, S/PDIF coaxial (RCA) and optical (Toslink). The outputs have their own, dedicated front-panel level control. Use the balanced line-level signals to connect to powered loudspeakers. Use the optical S/PDIF to connect to hi-fi systems. Use the coaxial S/PDIF output in Stand-Alone mode for a portable microphone preamplifer with digital output for any production application.

Informative Metering:
Accurate signal level metering is essential for any sound engineer. The USBPre 2 includes a 23-segment, multicolor LED meter for precise level indication. The meter is switchable between input signal metering and output signal metering. The meter indicates both VU and peak (PPM) ballistics.
Stand-Alone Operation

The USBPre 2 can be used in Stand-Alone mode where it operates as a high-quality, portable microphone preamplifier and analog-to-digital converter. Digital signals connected to the USBPre 2 are converted to analog and available at the headphone, XLR, and RCA outputs. Stand-Alone operation requires the unit to be connected to a USB power source. Stand-Alone mode is a great option when an additional microphone preamplifer, A-D converter, or D-A converter is required.
Field-Tested Reliability

Like all of Sound Devices products, the USBPre 2 is designed to stand up to the most demanding environments. Its extruded aluminum chassis and aluminum panels, machined knobs, metal connectors, and laser-etched nomenclature are designed to hold up to years of abuse.