Focusrite Clarett+ 8PRE Audio Interface | Review | Guitar Interactive

Focusrite's Clarett+ 8Pre 18-in/20-out audio interface is a powerful foundation for your studio or mobile recording rig. It sports eight great-sounding Clarett+ microphone preamplifiers, an outstanding dynamic range, and ultra-fast, low-latency performance enabled by USB-C. The magic starts as soon as you plug your microphones in—the mic preamps feature Focusrite's switchable Air effect, which gives your microphones the air and clarity of an ISA transformer-based mic preamp. With comprehensive connectivity including analog I/O, S/PDIF, and ADAT I/O, the Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre is ready to integrate into virtually any recording rig. Nick Jennison reviews

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In this video Nick Jennison checks out out the Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre Audio Interface. This interface features a new chip set brought about by Focusrite due to the chip shortages in 2020. The new upgraded chips have improved upon the sound of an already popular interface.

The interface has a great range of I/O and some useful features under the hook including Air Mode which emulates the sound of the classic Focusrite ISA Preamps.

Intro - 00:00
Chip Shortage in the Industry - 00:18
The 2 Tracks Being Used and Comparing With Another Interface - 01:48
Isolated Track Demos - 03:57
Clarett+ 8Pre Specs - 07:16
Latency Performance - 12:47
Air Mode - 14:36
Nicks Review - 16:07

[rickelliott]

When you consider the Focusrite lineup was developed by Rupert Neve it should go without saying that these are quality interfaces. The OctoPre is merely and extension adding 8 add’l channels. In conjunction with the interface it’s a first class setup. Add a Flock Audio patch-bay and its gold!

[sapsfm]

Brilliant! Given me some great ideas for additional uses for the 8 Pre. Never thought about routing camera and lavs. New subscriber gained 👍

[LemonesqueStudio]

Fantastic. My Clarett + 8 Pre arrives tomorrow to replace my trusty TB2 Clarett 4 pre. Excellent content, easy to follow. Following and subscribed

[omarz]

Sounds so clean. Got the OctoPre recently and it’s equally impressive.

How were you amping the acoustic ?😊

[sammyflowproductions]

Hey, man! Good video! What's the previous converter?

[doc]

I have a claret+ 4 pre.. it’s a c connection, not thunderbolt.. it’s very good, worth the money.. I use Windows as well

[edwardferry]

May I ask is this an update to the OctoPre? I look on forums but everyone is arguing about stuff rather than answering a question, cheers 🎉

[limpet]

Just for information. I recently bought a Focusrite Clarett+ 8 Pre hopefully as an upgrade from my Tascam 1608. I was interested in 3 things mainly. Improved DACs/mic pre`s, the look ( I am tired of the black controls on the black facia of the Tascam ), and particularly the Loopback function.
Unfortunately and disappointingly, the Clarett + does not have the Loopback function! Annoying as the cheaper Scarlet range has it and the previous Clarett range also did. Maybe they should have called it Clarett minus to identify reduced functionality. I will return it but I do not think I will go for the 3rd gen Scarlet as it has the annoying black controls on black facia, crappy headphone outs and it`s unlikely to have noticeably better pre`s than the Tascam.

[bthellam]

Thank you for the review! What is your opinion on the headphone outs? I have been trying to compare the Clarett+ headphone outs with the Little Labs Monotor receiving line outs 9 and 10 and I'm having a hard time hearing a difference. It could just be the audio I'm listening to. I do notice I have to turn the Clarett headphone pot to 3:00 to match the Monotor at 12:00, so the Monotor doesn't have to be turned up as far, but I'm not noticing if there's anything else different. I'd like opinions! Thank you!

[christopherdunn]

I have an (rme ucx) does this have stable drivers ?

[iamatallmidget]

Still a good buy in 2023? You reckon it will get a refresh or update soon like the scarlett? As it came out since 2015.

[stupidusername]

How does the clarett 8pre+ compare to the clarett 8pre Thunderbolt audio interface? Also what connection is the 8pre+? I don't want to go down the thunderbolt route again after the hassle I've had with getting thunderbolt to work with Windows