Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre Studio-Grade 18-in/20-out Audio Interface for Established Producers —Eight High-Performance, Low-Noise, Low-Distortion Mic Preamps Capture Audio with Precise Clarity

Product Information

The added bonus when considering devices from both ranges is that they both have different types of preamps installed in them. Ultimately, the decision should be made after factoring in your core needs. You should also try to think ahead and future-proof yourself.

However, it should be pointed out that this beautiful simplicity has been achieved partly by not including features that are available on some competing products. There is no provision at all for processing audio signals within Focusrite Control, so no equalisation, dynamics, or delay/reverb effects are available. This is clearly a conscious decision on Focusrite’s part: like Apogee, they believe that their Thunderbolt hardware is capable of such low–latency operation as to render the need for a separate cue–mixing utility redundant in most situations. It’s a decision that is fine with me, but then I rarely find myself having the time to set up processing and effects specifically for the cue mix in any case. With each of the Clarett models you’ll likely notice an improvement in latency when using things like effects and amp simulators, too - so keep this in mind if that is something that’s important to how you make music. Anti-thump’ circuitry helps to protect your studio monitors and headphones from loud pops and spikes when booting up or shutting down your recording device. Refined A-D and D-A converters characterised by low distortion, high dynamic range, low noise and high performance for precise mixes This plugin from Brainworx is designed in conjunction with Focusrite to digitally emulate the sound of the celebrated Focusrite ISA 110 mic pre / equalizer and the original Focusrite ISA 130 dynamics modules. This is an absolute secret weapon of a plugin and as far as freebies go, this one’s a real gem.The Scarlett range makes very good use of Focusrite’s 3rd generation of Scarlett preamps, which are the result of over 30 years of research and design. Boasting a hefty dynamic range of 110dB, the Scarlett preamps are still very impressive and professional. In addition to this, the headphone outputs have been upgraded and offer greater DAC performance. This means that regardless of which headphones you use for monitoring purposes you can make better-informed decisions and inspire greater performances. Needless to say, Focusrite’s Clarett range employed AKM converter chips extensively, and without a consistent supply of converter chips Focusrite can’t build audio interfaces. So the company was effectively forced into redesigning the Clarett product range to use alternative brands of converters — something which is far from a trivial task! The Scarlett and Clarett ranges and the Octopre all come with their own respective plugins, suites and freebies. Eight inputs, ten outputs; eight Clarett mic pres with two Hi-Z JFET instrument inputs, ten balanced outputs and eight-in, eight-out over ADAT.

With only three units to choose from in the Clarett range, the selection is half that of the Scarlett, however the Clarett range has more options for further modular expandability than the Scarlett range, plus the Clarett interfaces come with some pretty significant software from Brainworx and others at no extra cost, so that’s the trade-off. Comparing: Features Dynamic Range Added the ability to choose whether 48V is retained after restarting Scarlett 3rd Generation interfaces. Includes Ableton Live Lite, three months of Pro Tools Artist, and the Hitmaker Expansion, with plugins from Antares, Softube, Landr, XLN Audio and more.Wherever you sit on the creative spectrum, this audio interface will fulfil all of your audio-based requirements. Capture crisp vocals, the nuances of acoustic instruments and powerful drums with unrivalled clarity thanks to eight Clarett+ mic preamps.