Focusrite ISA 220 Channel Strip

The Focusrite ISA 220 Session Pack offers all the essential audio tools needed to bring Focusrite’s signature sonic quality to your session.  The Focusrite ISA 220 Channel Strip incorporates several of the original circuits from the Focusrite ISA 430 MKII Producer Pack while adding some new features of its own. Additionally, it includes the same digital output option as the ISA 430, allowing a direct, high-quality digital connection from the Focusrite ISA 220 to your recording system.

The Focusrite ISA 220 starts with Focusrite’s classic transformer-coupled microphone preamp, equipped with phantom power and phase reverse. Following this is a four-band Focusrite EQ section, inspired by the EQ circuits found in the ISA 430 and ISA 110.

The compressor in the Focusrite ISA 220 uses a proprietary Class A VCA with side-chain circuitry and can be placed before the EQ in the signal chain with the press of a button. It also includes a unique “Blend” feature, allowing smoother compression at extreme settings by mixing the uncompressed signal with the compressed portion.

An opto-based de-esser is also included, using a combination of EQ and phase cancellation to deliver a smoother, less intrusive effect. Additionally, a frequency-adaptive, three-band limiter is included to ensure distortion-free limiting.

For monitoring, the Focusrite ISA 220 offers a classic analogue VU meter, switchable to display either input or compressor gain-reduction levels. It also includes a pair of 16-segment LED meters for output levels, both analogue and digital, when used with the optional 24-bit/96 kHz stereo digital output card (AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and TOSLINK).

This card supports operation from 44.1 kHz to 96 kHz, functioning as a high-quality mono or stereo tracking converter, or as a stereo converter during final mastering.

Focusrite ISA 220 Features

• ISA-series transformer-based pre-amp
  The benefits of Focusrite’s classic pre-amp topology include superb common-mode rejection, an excellent overload margin, an extremely low noise floor and super-wide bandwidth.
• Focusrite EQ
  A four-band EQ, based on the EQ circuits featured in the ISA 430 and ISA 110.
• VCA-based Compressor with ‘Blend’
  Achieve smoother compression at extreme settings by mixing the uncompressed source signal along with the compressed.
• De-esser featuring ‘De-ess Listen’
  A combination of EQ and phase cancellation are used to create a smoother and less obtrusive result.
• Precision VU metering
  a classic analogue VU style meter which can be switched to display input or compressor gain-reduction levels.
• Frequency adaptive, 3-band limiter
  Ensure distortion-free limiting and helps to prevent critical digital overloads.
• Optional 24-bit/96 kHz stereo digital output
  This AES/EBU, S/PDIF & TOSLINK card – Delta Sigma converter running at 128kHz oversampling and dithers down to 20- or 16-bit.