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Focusrite ISA428 MkII Focusrite ISA428 MkII
4-channel Transformer-based Mic/Instrument Preamp

Retail Price: $1,899.99
Save 22% when you buy today!
Sale Price: $1499.00

View all Multi-Channel Preamps »

Focusrite ISA 428 (No Longer Available)

Pre Pack with Four Rupert Neve-designed Transformer-based Mic/Instrument Preamps

Sorry, the Focusrite ISA 428 is no longer available. We've left this page up for reference only. Check out the great alternatives on this page or call toll-free (800) 222-4700 to speak with a Sweetwater Sales Engineer about similar products.

From Our Research Team:

The Multichannel Pre Pack!

The ISA 428 Pre Pack is the perfect multi-channel front end for any professional DAW. Four classic Rupert Neve-designed, transformer-based preamps with switchable impedance and direct instrument inputs. An optional eight-channel 192kHz A/D converter, preceded by the all new proprietary Soft Limiter circuit, provides the perfect path into your Pro Tools HD system. The benefits of the ISA 428 Pre Pack preamp's topology include superb common-mode rejection, an excellent overload margin and, with its shared gain structure (20dB from the hand-wound transformer and up to 40dB from the amplifier), an extremely low noise floor and super-wide bandwidth (10Hz to 200kHz). This pre amp design is the cornerstone of Focusrite's signature "warm-yet-transparent" sound and the ISA 428 Pre Pack is a point of reference for any discerning audio professional.

Focusrite ISA 428 Pre Pack At-a-Glance:
  • Variable input impedance
  • Soft Limiter
  • Superb A/D conversion with optional card
  • Best of past and present


Variable input impedance
The input stage of the ISA 428 Pre Pack provides enhanced control and creativity allowing you to switch between four carefully selected input impedance settings. The original ISA 110 setting is supplemented by three further impedance settings to either perfectly match the preamp with any microphone and maximize level, or use different settings creatively to shape the sound of the microphone being used. Should the need arise to place extra processing in between pre amp and conversion, insert points are also featured on every channel.

Soft Limiter
Protecting the ADC, the ISA 428's Soft Limiter opto circuit is a new design from Focusrite, entirely preventing any digital overs, while minimizing the undesirable distortion that standard limiter circuits often generate.

Superb A/D conversion with optional card
Finally, adding the new A/D converter to the ISA 428 Pre Pack gives you cutting-edge conversion technology, encompassed within pristine Focusrite circuitry, providing eight conversion channels of the highest quality, at frequency rates of up to 192kHz. Running at 96kHz allows for up to 16 (2 x 8, parallel) simultaneous digital outputs in addition to the four main analog outputs. Digital output options include dual AES/EBU, SPDIF and dual ADAT lightpipe. Full digital metering is provided for every channel, alongside new "moving coil" peak meters, designed to catch even the fastest of transients.

Best of past and present
Classic preamp technology, custom Focusrite input and limiting circuits and the very best in A/D conversion technology, the ISA 428 Pre Pack raises the bar for multi-channel recording solutions into Pro Tools HD, or any other professional DAW. Equally, it can be used as an additional set of high quality pre amps for any analogue or digital console or hard disk recorder.

Focusrite ISA 428 Pre Pack Features:
  • Four classic Rupert Neve-designed transformer-based preamps
  • 8 channels of cutting-edge A/D conversion, running at up to 192kHz
  • Protected by proprietary optical Soft Limiter circuit
  • Switchable Impedance for unparalleled mic matching or extended mic creativity - includes the classic ISA 110 setting
  • Multiple Front Panel Instrument DI. No separate DI box required
  • Analogue insert points on every channel
  • Rupert Neve-designed High Pass Filters on every channel
  • New moving coil peak meters & full digital metering (dBfs)

Focusrite ISA 428 Pre Pack - A great 4-channel front end for your digital rig!
Specification Detail
Manufacturer Part Number ISA428

ISA 428 Image Gallery

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Sweetwater's friendly and knowledgeable Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and educated professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. As your personal contact here at Sweetwater, they are available to provide personalized advice any time you need it.
Call toll-free (800) 222-4700 or E-mail us

Be the first to review this product

Versitile

by Brian Bauer from Cerritos, CA USA
October 25, 2008
Music Background: Audio Engineer (Recording & Live), Guitarist
Great Preamp, with the selectable impedance this is the preamp you need when your looking for versatility. Especially with transformerless mics,it brings new life to great mics. Plus with the option o... read more [+]f a digital card (Which I don't have but plan to purchase) you can add 4 other preamps and make it a 8 channel A-DAT interface. If your looking for professional preamps with room to grow this is it! close [-]

ISA 428

by Davey in Cinci from Cincinnati
December 5, 2009
Music Background: Hobbyist
The ISA428 is a great sounding preamp in it's own right, but coupled with the optional A/D card becomes a very flexible tool for the studio. For example, you can patch 4 additional sources into the un... read more [+]it via the A/D inputs, which means one ISA428 can deliver 8, well-converted sources to a pro tools or other DAW system. The pres on the unit themselves have tons of gain available, and have a slightly 'flattering side of neutral' character on sparkly transients for acoustic guitars (for which they are my favorite choice). Highly recommended. close [-]

Great value - very practical for today's world!

by Nate from Miami, FL
September 21, 2007
Music Background: Recording engineer, drummer
If you're one of those people like me who's just looking for a quality pre-amp without all the added fuss of EQ's and compression (since with do that with plug-in's anyway now...), check out this didd... read more [+]y.

I've had great results with it on drums, vocals and acoustic guitar. It provides instant "fatness" when recording guitar cabs (which I like), and the variable impedence feature is always fun to try on everything.

For connectivety, I have a good Mogami snake that I use to connect the pre-amp out's to the 1/4" inputs on my Mackie Onyx, which then goes straight into my PC. close [-]

Sweetwater Advice

Paul Allen
I've owned an ISA428 for a few years now, and it continues to be my go-to stereo mic pre. The best thing about the ISA pre is its ability to work on so many things and retain a clear, detailed, and yet warm sound that you would find on high-end single channel mic pres at this price (yet of course the ISA428 is four channels). In addition, the impedence switching comes in handy to work w/ any mic/input option, including the Royers and other ribbon mics. I mainly use it for stereo acoustic guitar recording, but it truly is a workhorse in the studio and in my mind a must-have for any multi-channel recording facility.

Can't Trust Focusrite

by Adam Arfaras from Tampa, Fla.
September 15, 2009
Music Background: Recording studio, multimedia engineer
The ISA428 is a nice preamp. I purchased mine with the intentions of upgrading by adding the card that existed at the time of purchase. It had a limiter and added quality digital outs just to name a... read more [+] few features. It cost $599. Now, the new card runs $899 and doesn't have a limiter and the older better card did but was discontinued. I emailed focusrite only to get an arrogant creep response to my complaint. Go with the alternative! close [-]
Read more reviews

These people absolutely do the best job of anyone I've ever dealt with online. I highly recommend Sweetwater Sound to anyone needing anything pertaining to music. They are very helpful with what you need and I had my order in hand in two days!


Carter, Mattaponi, VA
See Also: Focusrite , Focusrite Multi-Channel Preamps , Focusrite Channel Strips

Focusrite ISA 428

Today's Payment: $676.66
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