ProFire 2626

High-Definition 26-in/26-out FireWire Audio Interface with Octane Preamp Technology

Building on a legacy of award-winning FireWire audio interfaces, the M-Audio ProFire™ 2626 brings next-generation performance to your PC or Mac host-based recording system. This powerful interface delivers 26 x 26 simultaneous I/O, complete with an onboard DSP mixer sourced from up to 52 audio streams. It features every kind of connection you need—including award-winning Octane™ preamp technology on all eight analog inputs, ADAT, S/PDIF, word clock and MIDI. Critically acclaimed JetPLL jitter elimination technology ensures pristine audio quality and reliable synchronization all the way up to high-definition 24-bit/192kHz resolution. In addition, ProFire 2626 offers easy FireWire connectivity, extremely low latency, dual headphone outputs, front-panel ¼” instrument inputs and standalone operation.

Includes Award-winning Octane Preamp Technology

The quality of your preamps is critical to how your music sounds. Embraced by reviewers and audio professionals alike, M-Audio set a new standard with the 8-channel Octane™ preamp. The ProFire 2626 delivers the same award-winning Octane technology with its eight onboard mic preamps, giving you pristine audio fidelity right from the start of your signal path. In addition to exceptional sound, each preamp has a generous 75dB gain range, 48V phantom power, and a -20dB pad.

User-assignable Master Volume Control

The ProFire 2626 interface delivers a new level of flexible control via the customizable master volume knob. It’s assignable to any or all of the four analog output pairs, so you can choose which output pair will feed your main monitors. You can also choose whether the master volume knob influences either or both of the two headphone outputs, or operates independently of them. In addition, you can assign the master level control to all four output pairs to uniformly attenuate up to a 7.1 surround mix.

High-definition 192kHz Sound and Solid Performance

The ProFire 2626 employs high-quality converters to deliver sampling rates up to 192kHz for pristine, high-definition sound quality. The unit also features critically acclaimed JetPLL technology to provide extremely stable synchronization and eliminate jitter that can degrade audio quality. In addition, the ProFire 2626 allows master or slave operation via internal clock, ADAT optical, S/PDIF and word clock. M-Audio’s mature, stable drivers deliver solid performance and ultra-low latency. Complete with Octane preamp technology and premium A/D-D/A converters, you won’t find a better sounding or more flexible host-based audio interface.

Onboard DSP Mixer and Router

Customize your setup and record the way you want thanks to the power and flexibility of the ProFire 2626 onboard DSP mixer and router. Use the router to select from up to 52 audio streams and send them to any of the 26 hardware outputs.** The adaptable onboard DSP mixer allows you to select from any of the 26 hardware inputs and 26 software returns as sources for any of its 18 input channels—allowing you to create up to eight stereo mixes. You can also create presets and instantly recall these setups at a later date.

Standalone operation

The ProFire 2626 doubles as a standalone 8-channel preamp, 8-channel A/D-D/A converter and digital format converter. In standalone mode, the eight analog inputs route to the first eight ADAT optical output channels. This facilitates use of the line, instrument and mic ins—including the preamps—with other digital gear. Similarly, the first eight ADAT optical input channels feed the eight analog outputs to provide D/A functionality. You can also disable the D/A conversion to allow the analog input channels to route to both the analog and ADAT optical outputs—transforming the ProFire 2626 into a standalone 8-channel mic pre with eight discrete analog outputs plus 8-channel ADAT output. When the second optical port is not used for A/D conversion, the ProFire 2626 can also convert coaxial S/PDIF to optical S/PDIF.

Professional Connectivity for the Most Demanding Projects

The ProFire 2626 features essential connectivity for any studio, delivering rock-solid stability and optimal sound quality. Analog inputs are sourced from the eight combo jacks as either XLR mic or ¼” TRS balanced line inputs. In addition, analog channels 1 and 2 provide easily accessible ¼” TS instrument jacks on the front panel. Eight ¼” TRS connectors provide balanced line outputs for monitoring and interfacing with other outboard gear. Digital I/O is available via 2 x 2 S/PDIF and 16 x 16 ADAT Lightpipe. The two front-panel headphone jacks feature separate sources and independent level controls for additional cue mixing flexibility.

Features

  • Up to 24-bit/192kHz for high-definition audio
  • Eight analog inputs sourced from eight XLR mic inputs with phantom power, eight ¼” TRS balanced line inputs, and two ¼” TS instrument inputs
  • Optical I/O in the form of 2 x 2 S/PDIF (on optical port B) or 16 x 16 ADAT (8 x 8 in S/MUX II mode, 4 x 4 in S/MUX IV mode)
  • 2 x 2 coaxial S/PDIF (via included breakout cable)
  • Eight ¼” TRS balanced line outputs
  • Two ¼” TRS headphone outputs
  • 1 x 1 MIDI I/O (via included breakout cable)
  • Word clock I/O (via included breakout cable)
  • Eight preamps with award-winning Octane technology
  • User-assignable master volume knob
  • Standalone eight mic pre/eight-channel A/D-D/A converter
  • JetPLL jitter elimination technology
  • Sync options include internal clock, ADAT optical, S/PDIF and word clock
  • Compatible with most popular DAWs
  • Compatible with major audio software including Pro Tools*, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, Live and GarageBand

Specifications

  • Line Inputs (Balanced)
    • Frequency Response: +/- 0.1dB, 20Hz to 22kHz (48kHz) +/- 0.4dB, 20Hz to 80kHz (192kHz)
    • Dynamic Range: 110dB, A-weighted
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -110dB, A-weighted
    • THD+N: 0.0008% (-102dB), 1kHz, -1dBFS

  • Mic Inputs (Balanced) at Min Gain, No Pad
    • Frequency Response: +/- 0.1dB, 20Hz to 22kH
    • Dynamic Range: 109dB, A-weighted
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -109dB, A-weighted
    • THD+N (min gain, no pad): 0.0011% (-99dB), 1kHz, -1dBFS
    • Crosstalk: < -120dB @ 1kHz
    • Maximum Input level: +6.5dBu, no pad
    • Input Impedance: 3.7k ohms, balanced, no pad
    • Adjustable Gain: >53dB without pad
    • Pad: -20dB

  • Inst. Inputs (Unbalanced) at Min Gain, No Pad
    • Frequency Response: +/- 0.1dB, 20Hz to 22kHz
    • Dynamic Range: 108dB, A-weighted
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -108dB, A-weighted
    • THD+N (min gain, no pad): 0.0014% (-97dB), 1kHz, -1dBFS
    • Crosstalk: < -110dB @ 1kHz
    • Maximum Input level: 13.7dBV, typical, no pad
    • Input Impedance: 1M Ohm, unbalanced
    • Adjustable Gain: >53dB without pad
    • Pad: -20dB

  • Line Outputs (Balanced)
    • Frequency Response: +/- 0.1dB, 20Hz to 22kHz, +/- 0.6dB, 20Hz to 80kHz (192kHz)
    • Dynamic Range: 110dB, A-weighted
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -109dB, A-weighted
    • THD+N (min gain, no pad): 0.0011% (-99dB), 1kHz, -1dBFS
    • Crosstalk: < -120dB @ 1kHz
    • Maximum Input level: +6.5dBu, no pad
    • Input Impedance: 3.7k ohms, balanced, no pad
    • Adjustable Gain: >53dB without pad
    • Pad: -20dB
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -110dB, A-weighted
    • THD+N: 0.0013% (-98dB), 1kHz, -1dBFS
    • Crosstalk: < -110dB @ 1kHz
    • Maximum Output Level: +20.2dBu balanced, typical
    • Output Impedance: 300 Ohms, balanced

  • Headphone Outputs at Maximum Volume into 32 Ohm Load
    • Frequency Response: +/- 0.4dB, 20Hz to 22kHz
    • Dynamic Range: 110dB, A-weighted
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -110dB, A-weighted
    • THD+Noise: 0.007% (-83.0dB), 1kHz, -1dBFS
    • Max Output Level into 32 ohms +6.8dBV, typical
    • Power into Ohms: 150 mW into 32 Ohms
    • Output Impedance: 75 Ohms
    • Load Impedance: 24 to 600 Ohms

Requirements

  • Compatibility
    • FireWire
    • ASIO
    • DirectX
    • MME
    • Core Audio
    • Pro Tools M-Powered

  • Minimum System Requirements (PC)
    • Windows XP* (SP2) / Windows Vista (32-bit) / Windows Vista SP2 (32Bit , 64 Bit) / Win7 (32Bit , 64 Bit)
    • Pentium 4
    • 1.6GHz, 512MB RAM (1GB RAM with Windows Vista)
    • FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) port
    • *Home and Professional Edition only. Windows Media Center Edition is not supported.
    • ** Please check the minimum system requirements of your DAW software as they may be higher.

  • Minimum System Requirements (Mac)
    • Mac OS X 10.4.10, 10.5.1
    • Macintosh G4*
    • 1GHz, 512MB RAM
    • FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) port
    • G4 accelerator cards not supported/G5 required for sample rates above 96kHz.
    • M-Audio recommends that you check your software's minimum system requirements, as they may be higher.