Focusrite's first ISA interface is now available, with every unit arriving with a plugin model of the original ISA 110 and 130 modules.
Announced back in April, the ISA C8X has now gone on sale, putting the preamp Focusrite built its name on inside an audio interface for the first time.
The ISA C8X is a 26-in, 28-out USB-C interface with eight preamps: two ISA channels built on the Lundahl LL1538 transformer and six low-noise Focusrite designs. Console and 430 Air tone-shaping run in the analogue domain, and every preamp can be set from the front panel or remotely in Focusrite Control 2.
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Each C8X ships with the Hitmaker Expansion, which adds the Brainworx bx_console Focusrite SC, an emulation of the original ISA 110 and 130 modules, alongside Oxford Reverb by Sonnox. So you get the transformer preamps in hardware and a plugin version of the classic ISA channel to reach for at the mix. Bespoke Sonnox bundle options are on the website too, for anyone wanting to go further.
Focusrite has posted a full walkthrough with Jack Cole, Product Manager for Professional Solutions, covering the design and how to get the most out of a session.
“ISA is what Focusrite was founded upon, and it’s been beloved by artists and engineers worldwide for over 40 years,” said Cole. “We felt it was important to augment those ISA preamps with features that befit the ISA name and benefit professional, project, and home studios alike.”
The ISA C8X is available now from focusrite.com and authorised retailers.
