Presonus FIRESTUDIOMOBILE

Mobile Firewire Recording Interface (10 in / 6 out)

FireStudio Mobile. It's now a reality and already kicking goals. It's a 10 input, 6 output, bus powered firewire recording interface. You get 2 x XLR/Jack combination inputs on the front panel (XMAX preamps, with knobs for gain control), plus headphone jack with level control. On the back: 6 more balanced, 1/4" line level inputs for channels 3 through 8, plus a DB9 connector that accepts a breakout cable (included) to provide stereo S/PDIF digital I/O and MIDI I/O. You get two FireWire 400 ports: one port connects to your computer, and the other can be used to connect a hard drive or to daisy-chain any FireStudio-family interface, including the StudioLive 16.4.2 digital mixer, allowing you to integrate the FireStudio Mobile into a larger system. Yes, it really is cracking good value.

And a little bit of blurb from Presonus:
True 48-Volt Phantom Power - Even When Powered By Your Laptop!
Here's a dirty little secret: bus-powered mobile interfaces from other manufacturers deliver much less than the full 48 volts of phantom power that is specified by microphone manufacturers. This means even the finest condenser microphone can't work at optimal internal gain levels, potentially compromising sound quality even before the signal gets to the mic preamp!

PreSonus president Jim Odom and his team of engineers went the extra mile and created an 'internal switching power plant' that lets the FireStudio Mobile convert computer bus power into a full 48 volts of phantom power, as well delivering 30 volts to power the superb mic preamps you'll read about next.

$399 (RRP) $333