PreSonus Inspire Reviews

[brandondrury]

Compare the best prices from all over the web on PreSonus Inspire


Is The PreSonus Inspire The Right Audio Interface For You?
Find the audio interface that is perfect for you on the Home Recording Soundcard Wizard.

PreSonus Inspire Description
The PreSonus Inspire 1394 FireWire Audio Interface is a FireWire recording system featuring professional quality 24-bit/96kHz A/D/A conversion for extremely clear, dynamic sound.

The Inspire 1394 gives you four simultaneous inputs. These include two XLR jacks with custom PreSonus preamps and switchable phantom power. The mic and instrument preamps are designed for ultra-low noise, high gain, preamplification of all types of microphones and instruments.

Two Hi-Z 1/4" instrument inputs and two selectable line/phono jacks on the back panel have a switchable RIAA filter, making them perfect for DJs and vinyl owners converting LPs to digital.

Outputs include RCA unbalanced and mini TRS jacks plus a headphone jack.

Up to four Inspire 1394s can be daisy-chained for up to 16 simultaneous inputs.

A software control panel gives you control over all vital parameters including: input gain, phantom power, limiter (off/on), preamp boost (off/on), sample rate, headphone volume, main output volume, and zero-latency input mixing with playback mixing. The software control panel also serves as a mixer between you and your computer playback and your inputs for zero latency recording.

Cubase LE recording and production software is included with the INSPIRE 1394, featuring 48 audio tracks, 96 MIDI tracks, VST plug-ins, and full VSTi support. Cubase LE is upgradeable to Cubase SX or Nuendo, Steinberg's premier audio production software.

The PreSonus INSPIRE 1394 works seamlessly with all virtually all popular recording software including Cubase, Nuendo, Sonar, Cakewalk, Logic, Logic Express, Digital Performer, and many others.

The INSPIRE 1394's powerful hardware and software capabilities combine to offer you one of the smallest, yet powerful computer recording studios ever!

[uab9253]

I have this, I like it. It is built like a tank. The software is easy to use. The price is right and you can add/daisy chain more later to expand capacity. Craig Anderton also gave this thumbs up on Harmony Central. It is a great piece of gear for the price and comes with Cubase LE, which might be all the DAW you'll ever need. I have pushed every kind of signal through this so far except phono - and it puts it through without color, which is what I want. All controls are via software applet, which is quite functional and intuitive.
This is perfect for starting down the road to PC recording.

[uab9253]

An Update: The headphone output, which is on the back and 1/8" stereo, got loose. In other words, it won't hold a tight connection on any plug inserted into it and you can wiggle it/noise. I took the unit apart and except for the two 1/8'' jacks, I still say it is well made. The other jack is for speaker out that I run to my cheap pc speakers. The "real" speaker outs are RCA jacks that feed my M-Audio monitors.

Lucky for me, Sweetwater agreed to do a clean exchange even though I am a week outside of 30 days. That is why I love them. AMS or MF would have told me to pack sand and call Presonus for a warranty job. Furthermore, they agreed to cross ship my new unit and I don't have to send my current one back until my new one arrives. All on their Fed Ex dime. So they paid for free shipping twice and return shipping as well, all on an item that cost $149!

I defy anyone to name another major online music retailer with that level of service. I can't imagine how I didn't know about these guys sooner. As far as my feelings about my interface, I still like it, and the Firebox does have a 1/4" jack on the front, which is preferred, but cost 2X as much. I'll rewire my unit for a 1/4" out and drill my own hole for that kind of money.

[OzStrat]

Quality: 8
Solid, but wish it didn't have the bubble logo on the top. They are designed to daisy chain, which is why I presently have 2, and that stupid bubble means they can't be stacked.

Reliability: 9
Had software conflicts on my desktop but worked fine on the laptop. It took me 6 months to figure out the conflict was with Dvico TV tuner software. It caused a huge amount of cackle and premature loss of hair!

Overall Rating: 9
The ability to daisy chain up to 4 units means you can expand as budget permits. I will buy again when I need an extra 4 inputs.