26 documented inputs
¼-inch TS + XLR female
- Arrives as
- 26 documented inputs
- Connector
- ¼-inch TS + XLR female
- Signal
- analog audio
Audio Interface
Focusrite ISA C8X USB-C Audio Interface. Plan its source-defined physical connections and placement in your rig.
01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.
Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.
Focusrite ISA C8X USB-C Audio Interface. Plan its source-defined physical connections and placement in your rig.
02 · Know the whole path before you buy.
Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.
Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.
¼-inch TS + XLR female
03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.
Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.
Use it when 2U and 325 mm of depth fit the case.
Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.
Documented connectors: ¼-inch TS, ¼-inch TRS, XLR female, XLR male. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.
04 · Every connector, grouped by job.
Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.
Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.
| Port | Panel | Connector | Direction | Signal | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISA INSTRUMENT INPUT 1 · TS | front | ¼-inch TS | input | analog audio | — |
| ISA INSTRUMENT INPUT 2 · TS | front | ¼-inch TS | input | analog audio | — |
| HEADPHONES 1 · STEREO TRS | front | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| HEADPHONES 2 · STEREO TRS | front | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| MIC INPUT 8 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE INPUT 8 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC INPUT 7 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE INPUT 7 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC INPUT 6 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE INPUT 6 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC INPUT 5 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE INPUT 5 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC INPUT 4 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE INPUT 4 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| MIC INPUT 3 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE INPUT 3 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| ISA MIC INPUT 2 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| ISA LINE INPUT 2 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| ISA MIC INPUT 1 | rear | XLR female | input | analog audio | — |
| ISA LINE INPUT 1 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 11 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 12 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 9 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 10 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 7 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 8 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 5 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 6 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 3 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 4 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 2 · TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 2 · XLR | rear | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 1 · TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 1 · XLR | rear | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| ISA 2 INSERT SEND · TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| ISA 2 INSERT RETURN · TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| ISA 1 INSERT SEND · TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| ISA 1 INSERT RETURN · TRS | rear | ¼-inch TRS | input | analog audio | — |
| AC POWER INPUT · IEC | rear | IEC C14 | input | power | — |
| USB-C · HOST AUDIO / DATA | rear | usb c | bidirectional | data | — |
| WORD CLOCK OUT | rear | bnc | output | data | — |
| WORD CLOCK IN | rear | bnc | input | data | — |
| S/PDIF OUT | rear | rca | output | data | — |
| S/PDIF IN | rear | rca | input | data | — |
| MIDI OUT | rear | midi din5 | output | data | — |
| MIDI IN | rear | midi din5 | input | data | — |
| OPTICAL OUT 2 · ADAT / S/PDIF | rear | toslink | output | data | — |
| OPTICAL OUT 1 · ADAT / S/PDIF | rear | toslink | output | data | — |
| OPTICAL IN 2 · ADAT / S/PDIF | rear | toslink | input | data | — |
| OPTICAL IN 1 · ADAT / S/PDIF | rear | toslink | input | data | — |
Showing 50 of 50 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.
05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.
The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.
| Compare | ![]() | ![]() | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | 📐 2U | 📐 1U | 📐 1U | 📐 1U |
| Power | ⚡ Unverified | ⚡ 30W | ⚡ Unverified | ⚡ 30W |
| Weight | ⚖️ 12.3 lb | ⚖️ 9.1 lb | ⚖️ 7.3 lb | ⚖️ 6.4 lb |
| I/O | 🔌 50 | 🔌 24 | 🔌 33 | 🔌 13 |
| Estimate | 💵 ~$2,299.99 | 💵 ~$899.99 | 💵 ~$769.99 | 💵 ~$2,495 |
| Deep dive | Current selection | Full comparison → | Full comparison → | Full comparison → |
06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.
Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.
It occupies 2U. Its documented depth is 325 mm.
Its power requirement is not yet verified in the catalog.
50 documented physical ports, including ISA INSTRUMENT INPUT 1 · TS, ISA INSTRUMENT INPUT 2 · TS, HEADPHONES 1 · STEREO TRS, HEADPHONES 2 · STEREO TRS, MIC INPUT 8, LINE INPUT 8.
07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.
08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.
Planning guides for audio interface systems.
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How to build a fail-safe live playback rig with primary + backup laptops, an auto-switching audio interface, and a failover workflow you can actually trust on a Sunday morning.
Workflow · 11 min
LTC vs MTC vs MIDI Clock, how to generate timecode from Ableton or Playback, how lighting and video receive it, and the frame-rate mistake that drifts every show.