FireWire Being Added to TerraTec's PHASE 88 Rack

Caption (Click for a close-up)

New from TerraTec is the PHASE 88 Rack FireWire audio interface. Based on the PHASE 88 Recording Interface, the rack version offers eight analog inputs/outputs with 24-bit / 96-kHz resolution. All I/Os are balanced 6.3 mm (1/4") jacks located on the rear panel. It also sports two FireWire ports. All inputs are separately variable using front panel gain knobs. In addition, clip LEDs provide visual indication of overloading. Priced at 259.00 euros MSRP, the PHASE 88 Rack FireWire will hit stores in summer 2004.

Two channels can be adjusted at the touch of a button to accommodate microphone signals. To this end, the device is equipped with XLR connecters featuring switchable 48-volt phantom power. A dual channel digital I/O (S/PDIF) with an optical TOS link is onboard to interface with DAT recorders and the like.

A word clock I/O serves to sync up the device with external digital equipment, and two independent MIDI ports for 32 MIDI channels.

An integrated monitor mixer lets users route all audio incoming signals to the desired channels and control their levels. The audio drivers are multi-client enabled, so that different audio programs can access the hardware simultaneously.

An optional FireWire Upgrade Kit will be offered to owners of the PHASE 88 Rack PCI version so that they can also add FireWire capability to their systems.

Features:

• 8 balanced analog inputs
• 8 balanced analog outputs
• 24 Bit/96 kHz AD/DA converters
• Microphone pre-amp with 48 V phantom power
• Gain controls for all input channels
• S/PDIF, AC3 and DTS digital I/O
• 2 separate MIDI interfaces
• PCI or FireWire interface
• IEEE-1394 FireWire interface for PC/Mac
• 2 FireWire Ports
• ASIO 2.0 support for all inputs and outputs
• DSP hardware monitor mixer
• 10 inputs and 10 outputs in total
• Digital input with 2 channels (optical S/PDIF, 24 Bit/ 96 kHz
• Digital output with 2 channels (optical S/PDIF, 24 Bit/ 96 kHz)
• Non-Audio Mode for transferring AC3 or DTS signals via Digital Out
• VU-Meter for each channel (displayed in the control panel)
• WDM driver for Windows
• ASIO 2.0 support
• ASIO/MME multi-client mode
• WDM Kernel Streaming, e.g. for Sonar
• MME and DirectSound support
• Control panel for Windows 2000/ XP
• MAC OS X support planned