Focusrite RedNet MP8R 8-Channel Remote Dante Mic Preamp and A/D Converter

Eight Remote Mic Preamps on the Dante Network

The Focusrite RedNet MP8R is an 8-channel remote-controlled microphone preamplifier and A/D converter for the Dante audio-over-IP network, housed in a rugged 1U rackmount chassis. Dante is a networking standard that carries many channels of low-latency digital audio over ordinary Ethernet, and the MP8R places eight of Focusrite's acclaimed preamps directly onto that network. Developed from the studio-proven RedNet 4 with input from working live-sound engineers, it targets applications where reliability and remote control are non-negotiable.

A Preamp Pedigree Since the 1980s

Each MP8R channel offers 10dB to 65dB of gain in precise 1dB steps, with a maximum input level of 29dBu and a 20dB pad for hot sources. A microphone preamplifier boosts the tiny signal from a mic up to a usable line level, and the quality of that first gain stage sets the ceiling for everything downstream, so Focusrite's low-noise, high-headroom design matters from the first take. Whether a broadcast engineer is capturing a quiet interview or a live engineer is handling a screaming guitar cabinet, the same preamp delivers clean gain across the range.

Flexible Input Handling

Every preamp includes switchable dual input impedance of 2.4k-ohm or 10k-ohm, along with 48V phantom power, a high-pass filter, and polarity inversion, all switchable per channel. Input impedance affects how a microphone loads and colours, and offering two settings lets an engineer tailor the tone or run several units in parallel without interaction. This flexibility helps a recording engineer coax the best character from a ribbon or condenser while keeping phantom power isolated to the channels that need it.

Automatic Gain Compensation for Splits

The MP8R presents itself as a 16-channel device: the first eight channels are direct preamp feeds while the second eight are DSP level-compensated outputs derived from them. This gain-tracking architecture lets a front-of-house engineer adjust the analogue mic gain while a monitor engineer receives a feed that stays at a constant level regardless of those changes. Setting up a FOH/monitor split entirely in the digital domain removes the analogue splitter and its noise, transformer weight, and signal loss from a touring rig.

Precision A/D Conversion

Following the preamps are eight channels of Focusrite's high-precision analogue-to-digital conversion running at up to 192kHz and 24-bit with minimal latency. Analogue-to-digital conversion turns the boosted mic signal into the digital audio the Dante network transports, and low latency here is critical so performers hear themselves without distracting delay. A live monitor mix or a broadcast feed depends on that conversion staying transparent and fast under a full channel load.

Remote Control Your Way

Preamp parameters can be driven from RedNet Control software on a host computer, directly from Pro Tools, over MIDI, or through OCA (Open Control Architecture), as well as from the front panel. Remote preamp control means an engineer sets gain, pad, filter, and phantom from a mix position or laptop while the hardware stays racked near the stage. This declutters the mix area and lets one operator manage inputs spread across a large venue from a single control surface.

Redundancy for Critical Paths

Dual etherCON network ports and two independent power supplies with local and remote fault indication guard the MP8R against a single point of failure. In redundant mode the network ports feed separate primary and secondary Dante networks, while switched mode connects both to an internal switch for daisy-chaining down a rack. For a broadcast facility or a festival stage where a dropped input is unacceptable, this dual-path design keeps audio flowing through a fault.

Comprehensive Front-Panel Monitoring

Two power LEDs, per-channel 6-segment level meters, an OLED display of gain and system information, and function indicators report the unit's status at a glance. Being able to read every channel's level and setting from the rack means an engineer can confirm signal without opening a laptop mid-show. Combined with professional locking XLR inputs, secure etherCON connectors, and secured power sockets in an all-metal 1U enclosure, the MP8R is built to be trusted on tour, in the studio, and in the broadcast plant.