Focusrite // Interface Shootout

We went to Riverside Studios in Berlin to record Olivia Trummer and her band perform 'Gotta Miss Someone" on three different interfaces; the Clarett 8Pre X, The Apogee Ensemble and the UAD Apollo 8P. We then invited people to 'blind' listen to the takes to see which one they preferred.

More listening parties will be held, so watch this space for more info.

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[tuviah]

just post the WAV files and let everybody decide for him/herself. seriously, a company that posts a 'competition' and surprisingly wins? not really trustworthy. which doesnt mean, i doubt the quality of all 3 products... but, com'on guys... BTW how many professionals did you ask? 10 and 3 got the 'right' answer?

[WilliamMorrisMusic]

Without hearing them for ourselves its just two peoples opinions really. I'm sure that UA and Apogee could edit together a similar video where theirs come out on top.

[StudioICT]

don't know about the interfaces, but the band is excellent ! :-)

[Hermiel]

Congratulations on matching gain levels.
Your viewers deserve to know that fair shootouts of this sort are *notoriously difficult* to conduct, and that the testimony of the listening party must be taken with a grain of rock salt.
Humans are equally notorious for hearing differences that aren't there and overemphasizing the significance of the ones that are. Ending the video with a link to the source files would have been a great first step towards putting your money where your mouth is. Just sayin'.

[LeoAmuedo]

I just got the "Focusrite Clarett 4pre" and it sounds great....I always used Apogee ...for many years...but the preamp on the Clarett couldn't be more silent and transparent ....really a great gear and surely very affordable. I will go for the big one soon ...for sure!!

[MultiDAFFIE]

Would love to get the High Quality samples to compare!

[GonzoAudioTips]

Now do it with everyday mics that people with lower budgets, same talent and lets see what that sounds like in comparison. i.e, Shure 57, 58 Sennheiser e835, etc.

[JulianFernandez]

Would you post the wavs so we can choose which we liked the most? Thanks!

[MrSpyX_L]

I would like to hear and compare these samples.

[JeffDaytonMusic]

I LOVE the trio and singer! Thanks for helping steer me to Focusrite - I was getting ready to buy the Apollo but I think Clarett wins. Anyone agree?

[KodeyTillitt]

Would of liked to see something like this, or more actual sessions and tracking with the Red 4pre and 8pre. I'm thinking about investing in an 8pre and Rednet converters but there's like no videos about them besides basic overviews and B-roll videos with a backing track. I'd really like to see more on them. For being Focusrite's "flagship" interfaces and converters they sure do seem to get neglected in terms of content. At least Sweetwater tracked acoustic guitar with the 4pre. What I really want to see is drums and more of the AIR function on and off. If I get an 8pre I'll do a full session videos for every instrument, but I don't know if I'll get one until I see some actual results from those interfaces.

[EandVEntertainment]

Why are we not given the opportunity to listen to samples of the takes and judge for ourselves? Every engineer's aesthetic is different too.

[SomebodyPickaName]

I'd believe it. I used to own a Lynx Aurora 8 and had to sell it due to hard times some years ago, and now I own an Apollo I hate the sound. I am a huge UA guy but the Apollos just don't hold up to the clarity and 3D sound of the Lynx. I kept wondering if I was the only one who noticed the "small" (for lack of a better term) nature of the sound of the Apollo, and I guess that even with the newer black interfaces, they still aren't quite there yet. But then again, I haven't heard the sound samples for myself so I'm ignorant about what's really what.
I am definitely considering selling my Twin and getting this unit, but I'll have to obviously do more homework on this.

[davearooney]

This was done with three separate takes? Wasn't there a way to use a single take and mult it out to the three interfaces? Your method allows for too much variation...

[huberttorzewski]

I downloaded wave files and Y sounds best (lowest noise, cleanest sound, nice sound), very close Z (very clean sound altough just a touch too airy,  more noise) and the last X (dirtier sibilance, even more dirty noise, less "life" in the sound,  less "true" sound, less dynamics). If it's the same as in the video the Apogge won for me, than Apollo 8P second,  Focusrite is the last.

[jeffmacNS]

Can you share the mic used on the vocal?

[demondrive]

Can we hear the whole mixed song? It is great!

[PetrFink]

the AIR mode was switched ON while recording on Clarett?!!! I bet it was. So that's it. It is just psychoaccoustics. Because, if you ADD SOME MORE TOP HIGHS ON OTHER RECORDINGS (+2db on EQ), the will sound the same or better /opener, with more dynamics/ I've just tried it by myself on your samples. It is just your bloody marketing. I am not happy for this "fake"

[demavalore]

This channel is called focus rite tv lol what a coincidence

[wes_m]

The point of an Apollo is to track and/or record with a Unison enabled preamp plug-in (e.g. Neve 1073, 88RS, UA 610, etc.). You can use the stock (naked) preamp but that's not really the point of the interface.