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

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In addition, two front-panel mic/line/instrument inputs give you quick and easy access — even when you've got your Clarett+ rack mounted. The warranty period for product purchased on or prior to the 31st December 2017 remains at 24 months from the date of the original purchase. It’s a rather sweet and seductive sound which often mimics what you might want to do with EQ in any case.

Both mic preamps in the Clarett 8Pre USB are Air-Enabled, which means they can accurately reproduce the input impedance, clarity, and frequency response curve of Focusrite's original ISA mic preamp! Needed a more stable interface that also allows me to change buffers inside of PT without having to shut the session down first. Focusrite have also designed a new mic preamp circuit for the Clarett range, the most notable feature of which is the Air option. To my eyes, the 8Pre’s 1U metal front panel is more crimson than claret, but its layout is significantly cleaner and smarter than that of its Saffire or Scarlett predecessors.

This New interface is so clean and good I wish I did this months ago --- everything just tracks better. In some ways, the most radical change that the Clarett range introduces compared with previous Focusrite interfaces concerns the software utility used to control them. New and improved A-D and D-A converters - Maintain the purity of analogue in your recordings and mixes, with extremely high-performance, independent A-D and D-A converters that deliver extremely low-distortion, low-noise audio with high dynamic range. By way of comparison, our own Audient preamps with a few more dB of gain available to them perform more quietly.

It is quite an alluring effect on vocals and acoustic guitars, in particular, but one which should probably be used with cautious discretion, I think — you really can have too much of a good thing!With the Clarett+ 8Pre's exceedingly low round-trip audio latency over USB-C, you can record and monitor in real time with your favorite DAW plug-ins.

The unit’s front panel carries physical controls for phantom power (switchable in two groups of channels 1‑4 and 5‑8), preamp channel gains, headphone volumes, and the dedicated monitor section (with its own volume control and dim/mute buttons). The 8PreX's rear panel is more spacious than the 8Pre’s and adds additional optical ports and a word-clock input. Every Clarett+ ships with the Focusrite Classic Red 2 and Red 3 plug-in suite, which accurately models Focusrite's classic Red range EQ and compression hardware, and the Brainworx bx_console Focusrite SC, which faithfully captures the sound, feel, and style of the original Focusrite ISA 110 Equaliser and ISA 130 Dynamics Modules. For those who might find this thread in the future, here is the recommendation Focusrite tech support sent me.Independent A-D and D-A converters bring recording artists closer than ever to their music, with extremely wide dynamic range, low noise and low distortion. Low distortion, 24-bit/192 kHz converters with up to 124dB dynamic range deliver incredible sound quality. Two powerful, flat-response headphone outputs make mixing easy in any environment, with any headphones. Ten channels of digital connectivity in and out are provided through stereo S/PDIF (RCA‑phono or optical) and ADAT (assuming the ports aren’t being used for S/PDIF).

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! It is the Clarett+’s line outputs which show the greatest improvement, though, with a claimed 6dB improvement in dynamic range combined with 3dB lower distortion. The switchable "Air Effect" for each mic preamp closely emulates the sound of transformer-coupled circuits to give a high frequency sheen and polish to your recordings right from the get-go, on the road or in the studio.Interestingly, activating the Air option also reduces the microphone preamps’ input impedance from 6. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. The Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre is a powerful studio-grade 18-in/20-out audio interface for the established producer. Its eight analogue inputs can all accommodate mic– or line–level signals on their combi jack/XLR sockets; the first two, located on the front panel, can also act as high–impedance inputs for the direct connection of electric guitars and other instruments. I haven't got a broad experience with other units but to me it seems straight and accurate, uncoloured.