The Focusrite Penta delivers a professional sound through 16 expertly designed presets, developed in collaboration with top industry professionals, and built around premium Class A analogue circuitry. Ideal for mix-down, mastering, or as a front-end unit for tracking, it combines powerful analogue processing with the renowned Focusrite sound quality. Equipped with a Class A preamp featuring mic and instrument inputs directly on the front panel, the Focusrite Penta offers flexibility and clarity for recording any source.
The built-in stereo preset compressor is fully editable and enhanced with Focusrite’s exclusive Tube Sound® Technology for added warmth and character. Additionally, the Penta™ includes a spatial enhancer and an optional A/D converter, similar to those found in the VoiceMaster PRO™ and TrakMaster™ units. Comprehensive visual peak meters provide accurate monitoring to prevent digital clipping, ensuring a clean and polished final output.
Features
- Award winning Class A pre-amp
- Direct access from the front fascia for both XLR and TRS Jack
- Both a mono tracking device and stereo compressor
- 16 entirely editable pre-sets compiled by industry professionals
- Tube Sound Image width control
- High quality A/D option – 24bit, 96kHz
Class A Preamp
The Focusrite Penta features the same award-winning preamp as the original industry-standard VoiceMaster, adhering to Focusrite’s wide-bandwidth design philosophy, originally developed by Rupert Neve. This custom preamp ensures low noise and distortion, providing clarity and warmth with the signature transparency that Focusrite is known for. The preamp section also includes Phantom Power, Phase Reverse, and a variable High Pass Filter to handle rumble, proximity effect, and pop reduction, making it versatile for any audio source.
Direct Input
The front panel includes microphone and instrument inputs for quick and straightforward connections, eliminating the need for an additional DI box. This makes the Penta™ an ideal front-end solution for tracking all your instruments effortlessly.
Preset Stereo Compressor
The Focusrite Penta offers 16 instant compression presets, powered by custom optical technology. Each preset is designed to provide optimal compression with the push of a button, but they are also fully editable for user customisation. Controls include variable Ratio, Attack, Release, and the choice between soft or hard knee settings, giving you the flexibility to dial in your desired compression style quickly.
Tube Sound® Technology
Focusrite’s exclusive Tube Sound® technology provides adjustable tube-style warmth using a dedicated discrete MOSFET circuit. This feature allows you to fine-tune the amount of tube effect, from subtle warmth to a more pronounced tube sound, or even turn it off entirely, giving you full control over your tone.
Analogue Spatial Enhancer
The Image Width control widens the apparent stereo image of your mix, creating a spacious sound that extends beyond typical stereo boundaries. Alternatively, narrowing the image can create a more focused, centred sound. A comprehensive visual meter helps monitor levels to maintain optimal audio performance.
Digital Connectivity
The Focusrite Penta supports an optional high-quality A/D converter, similar to the one in the VoiceMaster PRO, with 24-bit resolution and 128x oversampling. It handles sample rates up to 96 kHz and features S/PDIF output and a BNC word clock connector. The front panel’s ADC lock LED indicates when word clock sync is established, simplifying the process of tracking a signal into your DAW or other digital recording setups.
Presets
- Kick: Creates a full and deep effect. Use the attack to control the amount of punch desired for your track.
- Snare: Set up for perfect control of stick (attack) and ringing overtones (release).
- Ambient: Use with live drums or instruments and bring out natural room ambience or get the best from digital reverbs.
- Loop: Tight and fast compression, especially suited to sampled loops and electronic sounds.
- Bass Guitar: Plug straight into the front panel and call up deep and rounded sounds or punchy slap.
- Synth Bass: Fat sounding especially when used with the warmth control to give a true vintage valve sound.
- Percussion: Works equally well on acoustic or sampled drums.
- Acoustic picked: High threshold and ratio give a controlled yet highly dynamic response.
- Acoustic strum: Clean and crisp with a touch of warmth. Gives a clear but warm and naturally compressed effect.
- Electric Guitar: Clean or distorted, plugged straight in or mic’d up, the opto compressor is perfect for guitar.
- Piano: Achieve clarity and low distortion. Wide dynamic range and long sustaining mid range make the piano the most difficult of instruments to compress well…until now.
- Keyboards: Great for pads, this compressed and warm setting is especially suited for use with the image control to maximise stereo width.
- Vocals: Smooth, controlled and clean for male or female vocal recording.
- Crunch: An essential setting for big beat or drum loops.
- Mix (pump): The classic loud and full-on mastering compression setting.
- Vocals (limit): High threshold and plenty of warmth give a very dynamic upfront vocal performance.
