SOUND DEVICES
USBPre 2 High Resolution Audio Interface

Sound Devices USBPre 2

USBPre 2 Portable High-Resolution Audio Interface
Sound Devices USBPre 2 is a high-resolution, portable hardware interface for Mac- and Windows-based digital audio. The USBPre 2 is the industry's highest performance and most flexible portable interface, connecting professional microphones, line-level sources, consumer audio electronics, and S/PDIF digital sources with Mac OS and Windows computers via USB.
 

Features of USBPre 2

Precision Microphone Preamplifiers
USBPre 2 includes two discrete-transistor microphone preamps with 24-bit converters and sampling rates up to 192 kHz. These preamplifiers provide the highest performance in any portable interface. Their topology is shared with Sound Devices award-winning 744T Digital Audio Recorder. Peak limiters, high-pass filters, and a 15 dB pad provide overload protection. All analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion is performed by the USBPre 2 for superior audio performance

 
USBPre 2 Left Panel              USBPre 2 Right Panel

Key Features of USBPre 2

•  Extended bandwidth, low-noise microphone preamplifiers with 48 V phantom, limiters, high-pass filters, and 15 dB pad.
•  Dynamic range greater than 114 dB (in 24-bit operation).
•  Flat 10 Hz to 40 kHz (@96 kHz SR) audio bandwidth with very low distortion characteristics.
•  Each input individually selectable between microphone, line, and aux level signals (both channels selected simultaneously for S/PDIF connections).
•  Precision, 23-segment, multicolor LED peak/VU meter, selectable between input and output sources.
•  High-output headphone amplifier can drive a wide range of headphones.
•  Balanced outputs on XLR connectors with dedicated level control can be used to drive line- or mic-level inputs.
•  Mix control enables zero-delay monitoring of source audio, computer audio, or a mix of both source and computer audio for multitrack recording or computer telephony.
•  Phono (RCA) jacks connect Aux Output to external loudspeakers or preamplifiers.
•  Bus powering via USB for convenient, single-cable connection to the computer.
•  In Stand-Alone mode the USBPre 2 operates as a microphone preamplifier and analog-to-digital converter.
•  Hardware loop-through for test & measurement to send computer audio directly back to an input.
•  High-strength extruded aluminum chassis.
•  Mac® OS X 10.4+, Windows®XP/Vista/7, and Linux, class-compliant audio device.
•  Additional features controlled by hardware DIP switches on the back panel; no software-only features and no control panel.
 

Specifications of USBPre 2

Frequency Response (reference 1 kHz, at 96 kHz Sample Rate)
10 Hz - 40 kHz, ± 0.5 dB (any input to PC recording)
10 Hz - 40 kHz, ± 0.5 dB (PC source to AUX output)

THD+N (22 Hz - 22 kHz measurement bandwidth)
0.05% max (any input to PC recording, gain control at min, input driven to -6 dB FS)
0.009% max (AUX output, 0 dB V output, 100 ohm load)
0.05% max (HEADPHONES output, 2 V rms output, 600 ohm load)

E.I.N. (MIC inputs)
-127 dBu min (22 Hz - 22 kHz bandwidth, 150 ohm source, gain control
fully clockwise, 15 dB pad out)

Input Clipping Level (1% THD)
Mic: -10 dBu
Mic (15 dB pad): +4 dBu
Line: +28 dBu (19.45 V rms)
Aux: +9 dBu (2.18 V rms)

Input Sensitivity (typical, for 0 dB FS)
Mic: -9 dBu min, -60 dBu max
Mic (15 dB pad): +6 dBu min, -58 dBu max
Line: +29 dBu min, +10 dBu max
Aux: +12 dBu min, -7 dBu max.

Input Impedance (actual)
Mic: 4k ohm, active-balanced
Mic (15 dB pad): 4k ohm, active-balanced
Line: 60k ohm, active-balanced
Aux: 80k ohm, active-balanced

Input Limiter Threshold
Mic: -4 dBFS

Low Cut
Mic: 80 Hz, -3 dB, 12 dB per octave

Output Clipping Level (1% THD, PC-controlled output levels at max)
Balanced XLR: +18 dBu with 100k ohm load
Aux: +8 dBu (2.0 V rms) with 100k ohm load
Headphones: +11 dBu (2.75 V rms) with 600 ohm load

Output Impedance
Headphone (Actual): 22 ohms
Balanced XLR (Line level): 500 ohms
Balanced XLR (Mic level): 5 ohms
Aux: 2k ohms