Focusrite // Interface Shootout #3 - New York

We’ve moved our Interface Shootout blind listening test to New York City, battling out Thunderbolt interfaces Focusrite Clarett 8PreX, Apogee Ensemble and Universal Audio Apollo 8p.

This third Interface Shootout took place at IIWII, a New York recording studio offering a large recording space as well as high-quality analogue recording. The reviewers were FOH engineer Fela Davis, producer/engineer Denis Orynbekov, producer/engineer Billy Perez and producer/engineer James Frazee.

Vote yourself:

--
Thunderbolt is a trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.

[marioon]

i had a focusrite scarlett 18i20 and it sound amazing pre's!!!! more than anothers interfaces! i loveit

[CheyneyJr]

I got the Clarett 8pre X and i have to say compared to UA apollo and the apogee its best to me. I worked in the studio with the UA apollo its cool has a lot of plugins but if we are just talking straight interface I would definitely pick the Focusrite Clarett 8pre X. It may not come with a load of plugins like the Apollo but I love the clarity and the warmth of the Clarett. My favorite interface so far.

[KodeyTillitt]

How about a shootout between Rednet/Red series interfaces, Apogee Symphony mkII, and the Avid HD I/Os?

[rocketstudiocr]

It's got to be the same Performance

[miahmcbride]

windows 10 and thunderbolt 3 support or USB C support THAT WORKS is really what you should be trying to make happen. This interface will be long gone without support for modern PC based recording. The UAD Apollo 8 definetly does.

[Paul_Hinton]

Are all three using the same preamps or are we comparing both pres and converters of each unit?

[AvivC]

Is there a credit for the music used? The track sounded great

[tiffanyonwudinanti]

whats the name of the song playing though?

[erinmutchler]

FocusriteTV - is that console one of the Focusrite consoles?? It looks like it but I can't tell from the video.

[JeffreyMiddelveld]

I'm not really familiar with the Clarett series, but what I heard is that the Air mode on the interfaces gives you a really nice and open top-end definition which always seems to pop out. I'd have loved to get a Clarett 8Pre X too someday, but as long als my windows runs, I probably stick to the Saffire. Can you please try to upload a shootout with a Focusrite ISA 828 involved? I would love to see that! Thanks for sharing this by the way, I also chose A because of the subtile clarity which I find truly magnificent. Regards!

[eatngoodtv]

Is this a digital conversion test, microphone pre-amp test or both?

[eatngoodtv]

Is this a digital conversion test, microphone pre-amp test or both?

[tiffanyonwudinanti]

whats the name of the song playing though?