Its worth noting, however, that this unit doesnt come with any analogue outputs, only digital. Three years later, updated models were shown at NAMM 2018, reengineered with the ubiquitous USB interface format, and the resulting 2Pre, 4Pre and 8Pre models quickly became enormously popular. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7d6467a268949a21 All-Metal Enclosure I'm not sure how the Plus fits in. Focusrite have also retained the allanalogue Air EQ feature, which can be applied to individual preamp channels. Shootout between the Focusrite Clarett 8preX, Audient ASP800 and the Focusrite Octopre MKII Dynamic. JFET instrument inputs capture the true characteristics of guitars. One control simultaneously alters drive impedance, bass response, high frequency damping, phase shift, magnetic saturation and transient shaping, letting you instantly add character to your audio. The OctoPre stand-alone eight-channel mic preamp and (sometimes optionally) A-D/D-A converter has, in one form or another, featured in Focusrites product range since the Platinum-series OctoPre first saw the light of day in 2002. Pristine Converters The Focusrite Clarett Octopre is another solid competitor. Experiment by Designed to deliver ultra-low noise and low distortion with a touch of classic analogue warmth, ASP800s eight Audient Console mic pres will give you the professional sound you deserve. From jazz to heavy metal drums, capture the performers vision with masses of headroom so that you can focus on the session without having to constantly adjust gain staging. The transformerless preamp design claims ISA110 heritage, but while the gain stage is based around an NE5532 opamp just like the ISA110, the original Lundahl input transformer has been replaced with an electronicallybalanced discrete transistor input stage. Coveted by producers and engineers for their exceptional clarity and versatility, the original Red 2 and Red 3 remain prized fixtures in professional recording studios the world over. However, last year Focusrite faced abig problem with its Clarett USB range! Even in the studio it is good to be able to see the settings from across the room. On receiving the review model, I was pleased to discover that the chassis is extremely well built and, to my eyes at least, the superbly finished front panel looks gorgeous in its blood-red variant of Focusrites signature hue. AKG C414 The Ultimate Comparison: XLS vs XLII vs B-ULS vs EB, Re: Monty Rides Again: Battling the persistent "stair-step" myth, Subwoofer placement, underside of desk/console reflection, and Genelec suggestion. It is quite an alluring effect on vocals and acoustic guitars, in particular, but one which should probably be used with cautious discretion, Ithinkyou really can have too much of agood thing! Reviews Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre review: interface overhaul pays off A global converter shortage forced Focusrite to overhaul its respected Clarett line, and based on the Clarett+ 2Pre, the brand has more than risen to the challenge. Popular ADAT preamp options for this application range from the Behringer ADA8200 Ultragain at the budget end of the scale, through to Cranesong's Spider at the very deep-pocketed end, with alternatives from the likes of ART, Audient, Focusrite, Grace Design, Midas, PreSonus, RME and more besides. Both plug and play, both sound finedoubtful I would be able to identify one from the other in an A/B (maybe when the added saturation features are cranked). Required fields are marked *. The units front panel carries physical controls for phantom power (switchable in two groups of channels 14 and 58), preamp channel gains, headphone volumes, and the dedicated monitor section (with its own volume control and dim/mute buttons). Audient mic pre. Bundled with a free suite of creative software including Cubase LE and Cubasis LE for iOS, alongside industry leading plugins and virtual instruments, you can start recording as soon as you open the box. The wide input bandwidth retains the purity of high frequencies and feels like you are plugging straight into an amp. View our Privacy policy. For years now I've been interested in music production. The Series 8p Dyna most obviously competes with the slightly less expensive Focusrite Scarlett Octopre Dynamic, which also offers ADAT inputs and D-A conversion, but other price-comparable alternatives include the Focusrite Clarett OctoPre and Audient ASP800. The Audient has higher converter latency, if that matters to you. Upgrade your current setup with 8 channels of Audients Console mic preamps, 8 line inputs, class leading converters, two JFET D.Is and two Retro Channels with powerful tone control. If, like me, you frequently switch between multiple XLR mic and TRS line sources then youre going to miss having separate mic and line inputs, but a potential workaround is to use the insert return as a switchable unbalanced line-level input via the return leg of an insert cable (you could make up a custom loom if youd prefer). Audient, Audient keeps Litos Place on Top of Film Work. Changing the sample rate is slightly less obvious than most converters, as a flush-mounted button below the grid has to be held in for a couple of seconds to access the setup mode. Although these slim-line gain and compression knobs look elegant, I found it quite hard to see where each control was pointing as the only mark is a shallow groove cut into the shiny metal cap. Alongside these meters is a grid of seven more LEDs indicating the current sample-rate and clocking status. All contents copyright SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2023. Digital outputs are presented on a pair of ADAT light-pipe ports, with both providing all eight channels at base sample rates. Engage All-analogue Air the premium, relay-controlled analogue circuitry captures transients on drums, makes vocals shine, and ensures a precise, clear recording. Every individual channel comes with two knobs, one for the Gain and one for the output level, and these feel quite sturdy and dont wiggle at all. Add Clarett+ OctoPre to a 2Pre, 4Pre or 8Pre to expand your I/O easily and consistently via ADAT. They're all great. So there shouldnt be any problems with either high or low source levels, although the maximum channel gain is 57dB, which precludes working directly with really quiet sources. Produce bigger and better studio-grade tracks with Pro Tools Artist and the Complete Plugin Bundle, with all the effects and plugins you will need to write, mix, and master your productions. Reddit, Inc. 2023. Audient, Audient keeps Litos Place on Top of Film Work. Re: Artist mix to Reference Alison Krauss song? ADAT Output for Expandability One huge drawback, however, which is why I wouldnt recommend it to anyone recording in a small studio, is that it comes with a built-in fan for cooling that is quite loud. The Clarett+ Mic Pre helps you achieve clear recordings in any session. In addition, the package includes membership to the Plugin Collective to access various plugins, both free and discounted. Your IP: Clarett+ OctoPres eight dedicated channel inserts allow you to easily add analogue equipment to the signal path. Connect OctoPre to any of the other Clarett+ range to have four instrument inputs at your disposal. Channels 1-2 have a three-way switch that allows you to select between mic/line, instrument, and mic with phantom power. hotspot Active Member Aug 21, 2022 #2 I use the ASP 880 for years in the studio. This subreddit is used for home musicians to discuss tips and tricks for everyone who are making the most out of their gear. In addition, the contribution from the Clarett OctoPres 24-bit analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters to the overall excellence of its performance cant be ignored. When Insert is active, the buttons switch relays that put the loops in circuit and, likewise, when Air is active, relays are switched to bring that function into play. The gain ranges are generous, especially on the two instrument inputs, and while there's a little 'bunching' at the loud end of the gain controls it's not problematic; I didn't have any difficulty setting or matching the desired gains accurately. The Audient is also pretty good sounding and well respected for something so affordable. It also features 8 channels of AES/EBU and 3 ADAT ports, two outputs and one input. Eight-channel Mic Preamp & A-D/D-A Converter, Focusrite - Scarlett Interfaces | Podcast, AKG C414 The Ultimate Comparison: XLS vs XLII vs B-ULS vs EB. Seems like that one is currently heavily out of stock in Germany alas. 8 x Audient. An enforced but very welcome and unexpected performance upgrade to Focusrites everpopular Clarett range of seriously capable interfaces. It captures transients on drums, makes vocals shine, and ensures a precise, clear recording. The whole point of this Website is to help you and others learn more about how to produce music, especially from home. Switchable Air emulation on each channel adds sparkle to a sound. Focusrite Clarett + Octopre VS Audient ASP880 Hi everyone, I am looking for a 8 channel pre-amp to expand my I/O, and I came across Audient ASP880 and Focusrite Clarett+ Octopre which just came out last year. Mix Pre 3 II can't export 2 mono files for stereo? The dual ADAT ports cater for eight channels at up to 96kHz, or four channels at higher sample rates up to and including 192kHz. My personal recommendation would be to take a look at the Audient ASP800 or ASP880. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Over to the right of the front panel is a compact array of eight LED short bar-graph meters monitoring the digital output, each with four level bars (-42, -18, -6, and 0 dBFS). The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers. The rotary control adjusts the compression threshold from 0dBu down to about -30dBu, with make-up gain being introduced automatically with reducing thresholds, up to around +14dB. The OctoPre delivers exceptional audio quality and versatility for its price and is one of the most cost-efficient 8-channel preamps you can get. Expect shipment today. Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates & SOS. Nevertheless, the design achieves remarkably low noise (specified as an EIN of 129dBu Aweighted) and has excellent headroom marginsthe maximum mic input level is avery generous +18dBu, while the line input can take +26dB before complaining, and even the instrument inputs can cope with +15dBu. - RME hdsp 9632 + Scarlett OctoPre via ADAT - RME hdsp 9632 + Clarett OctoPre via ADAT View our Privacy policy. Additionally, it boasts a class-compliant USB 2.0 interface, allowing it to serve as a basic computer audio interface that you can use to record audio straight through it, and an expansion slot for additional I/O is also included. One additional feature of this device is that it comes with two headphone jacks, and you can create two completely different mixes for each one, add effects (if youre using their TotalMix FX software), and control those mixes remotely from a PC or iPad. Bundled with a free suite of creative software including Cubase LE, alongside industry leading plugins and virtual instruments, you can start recording as soon as you open the box. My colleague Sam Inglis reviewed both the original Clarett 8PreThunderbolt (in the October 2015 edition), and the Clarett 8PreUSB (in the March 2018 edition of Sound On Sound). RME have come up with an extremely versatile preamp/interface, and being able to daisy chain multiple of these units together to get up to 64 additional inputs is interesting, to say the least. Im open to other options but I cant go beyond $1k. There are various ADAT-equipped mic preamps, each with their own particular selling points. Re: Is this normal for a budding producer? As well as offering you 8 channels of mic pre, ASP800 has two harmonically rich JFET D.I inputs. With the compressor control fully clockwise, an input signal that would normally generate a full +20dBu (0dBFS) output is reduced, instead, to +7.5dBu (-12.5dBFS). Its high level of analogue and digital performance makes it excellent value for money. Winner Best Microphone Preamp, SOS Awards 2023 View images CAPTURE DRUM RECORDINGS WITH EVERY DETAIL The Clarett+ Mic Pre helps you achieve clear recordings in any session. Im not sure why, but the Clarett+ 2Pre is claimed to achieve aslightly better result than its predecessor at 119dB (Awtd). You must log in or register to reply here. Beneath these sit eight Insert/Air buttons: Air modifies the mic preamps frequency response to emulate the impedance and resonance characteristics of Focusrites transformer-based ISA mic preamps; and Insert brings the channels rear-panel, post-Air, TRS jack send/return loops into the circuit. In this article, I will be covering some of the 8-channel preamps in detail, from the very affordable ones up to the higher end devices. Check out our privacy policy here Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The 118/119dB (Aweighted) figure for the AD conversion places the Clarett+ on the borderline of the top 10, rubbing shoulders with classy products like Focusrites own RedNet and ISA digital card, Crookwoods M1 mastering console, Prisms Titan/Lyra interfaces, and Cranbornes R500 rack. I have a new RME Babyface Pro FS on the way and Im looking into ADAT expandability. Its a working horse with great Preamps. Thoughts? Just plug in your mics, guitars, keyboards and drum machines and youre ready to go, so get creative and start thinking big! It's possible that some will notice this reducingbandwidth as slightly less 'air' when using maximum gain. The ADAT interface provides eight channels at base sample rates, of course, and proportionally fewer at higher sample rates using the S/MUX protocol. Every new Clarett+ OctoPre comes with an unbeatable range of tried-and-tested studio tools from some of the biggest names in the business. Audient ASP800 and the Focusrite Octopre MKII Dynamic. You can unsubscribe from emails at any time. Plumbing the Clarett OctoPre into your setup shouldnt pose any problems, providing that you own a Tascam-format eight-channel D-sub audio loom terminated with your choice of analogue connector, and a couple of Toslink cables for the ADAT I/O. Find out more about the RME OctaMic XTC here. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. THD was 0.008 percent at maximum gain with the compressor bypassed, increasing to between 0.015 and 0.04 percent when the compressor was active, depending on the amount of gain-reduction being applied. 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. Does anyone has any experience of both Pre-amp, in terms of there sound quality or build quality, etc? It's a working horse with great Preamps. The original Clarett OctoPre was pretty good sounding. Eight rotary controls, each with an overload LED, set the channel gains. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time. However, having been handed lifes sour lemons Focusrite decided to make tasty lemonade by taking the opportunity to build upon and enhance the Clarrett ranges already impressive performance. At the end of the three-month subscription, you can purchase an annual subscription with 25% off Pro Tools Artist or 33% off Pro Tools Studio. What are your thoughts on the Universal Audio 7-410? It's increasingly common to extend the I/O capability of small computer interfaces by connecting an external eight-channel preamp via an ADAT optical port. With the massive headroom potentially available when using 24-bit A-D converters I don't really see the need for protective limiting/compression these days so it's a plus that these can be switched off altogether where desired. A modest bandwidth reduction at maximum gain. A new addition to this competitive market comes from Tascam, in the form of the Series 8p Dyna. ASP800 is an audio powerhouse designed with expandability in mind, making it the perfect addition to your audio interface. Internally, youll find beautifully laid out circuit boards studded with high-quality components; like its forebears, this is a unit thats built to last. . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Clarett+ OctoPre is an 8-in / 8-out ADAT mic pre that delivers professional audio quality with the original Focusrite Studio Console sound. Create huge drums, studio quality vocals, powerful guitars, luscious keys and then mix and master with iconic Focusrite studio hardware. As well as protective fast-acting one-knob compression, each channel has a front-panel phantom-power switch. The ratio is fixed at 2:1 with a reasonably soft knee, and the attack and release times appeared both to be pretty fast at around 30-40 ms. On the extreme right of the front panel, two more buttons select the sync source (internal clock, external clock and incoming ADAT signal) and one of six possible sampling rates (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz). Both plans include the Complete Plugin Bundle, which contains over 75 plugins including dynamic and EQs, effects and emulators, reverbs and delays, stompboxes, and virtual instruments. Non-Clarett+ users can upgrade to a professional standard by connecting to an ADAT-enabled interface. When you are working in a poorly lit area by the side of the stage it is essential to have controls that give you instant visual feedback. View our Privacy Policy. The most obvious benefits of the Clarett+ redesign are greater dynamic range and lower distortion figures across the board. (I did personally notice the sound becoming a shade darker in this way, but it's nothing that couldn't be easily compensated for, if that's desirable, using a small amount of very high shelf/bell EQ boost). With eight new Air preamps and two-way ADAT connectivity, could this be the best way to expand your audio interface? I've worked in a music studio a couple of years back and now I mostly record at home and try to learn as much as I can about producing music and about the gear that is required to do so. Upgrade your current setup with 8 channels of Audients Console mic preamps, 8 line inputs, class leading converters, two JFET D.Is and two Retro Channels with powerful tone control. Quick comparison of the same 4 drums recorded using a Focusrite Clarett 8PreX (with and without "Air" enabled) and an Audient ASP880 (high, medium, and low impedance settings). Two ADAT lightpipe sockets are also available on the unit, and these deliver all eight channels in duplicate at the base sample rates, reducing to four channels on each at double sample rates. ISA 110 was created when Sir George Martin asked Rupert Neve for custom modules for AIR Montserrat studios. We find out, Register Audient/EVO Product & Unlock 50,000+ Arcade Audio Samples, Cobra Sound Enjoys Significant Upgrade With ASP8024-HE, Audient Consoles At The Heart Of East London Youth Music Organisation, Audio Engineer Trials New EVO SP8s with iD44 Audio Interface, Want to grow your studio business? This is a 1U rackmounting eight-channel mic preamp with integrated A-D converter and, as the name implies, a dynamics processor for each channel. One notable attraction of the whole range was that even the smallest model could be expanded via ADAT inputs to accept eight additional analogue channels, ideally from the matching Clarett Octopre mic preamp/converter. All rights reserved. I agree to receive email newsletters and useful tutorials from Audient. All rights reserved. The minimum microphone input level for a nominal +4dBu output is -59dBu, while the absolute maximum input levels (for +20dBu at the analogue output) are +12dBu for the mic input, +20dBu for the instrument input, and +25dBu for the line input. 60 fab1an 2 yr. ago Thanks for pointing this out! New 8 channel interface choices: Focusrite Clarett+8Pre vs. Audient EVO 16 Discussion in 'Recording Gear and Equipment [BG]' started by Chris Fitzgerald, Jun 12, 2022. In other words, it becomes an eight channel A-D/D-A converter with mic/line inputs being routed to its ADAT output, and its ADAT input being routed to the line outs. In fact, this is, in my opinion, a stunning piece of kit for the money and, due both to its impressive specifications and its versatility, some higher-priced alternatives will find the Clarett OctoPre snapping at their heels. All in all, then, Tascam have come up with an attractive and affordable alternative to the existing range of eight-channel ADAT-equipped mic preamps. A pair of BNC sockets provides word-clock synchronisation in and out, with rear-panel switching for 75 input termination and output source selection (thru/internal). Thoughts? pristine sound of You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address. I will take a look. The TRS inputs can accept either balanced or unbalanced cables and a further pair of switches (situated to the right of the meter display) can be engaged to configure the jack inputs on channels 1 and 2 as instrument inputs. Further presses cycle around the sample rate and external clocking options, while another long press exits the setup mode. Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen. This unit comes with two ADAT ports on the back and each one can carry 8 channels at 44.1kHz, whereas port one carries the signal of channels 1-4 and the second port the signals of channels 5-8 at 96kHz, and only two channels per port at 192kHz. Find out more about the Behringer ADA8200 here: The Midas XL48 is an 8-channel preamp that offers 8 XLR inputs on the back (not XLR/TRS combi), and each individual channel features a PAD, 48v phantom power control, a polarity flip switch, and both a High pass- and low pass filter. Clarett+ OctoPre is an 8-in / 8-out ADAT mic pre that delivers professional audio quality with the original Focusrite Studio Console sound. Word Clock Input For some out-of-house duties I'm using a cheap Behringer X32-Rack & a Midas DL32. Add 8 channels of Audient mic pre via ADAT and transform your current setup into the complete recording rig. The 8Pres new converters are aligned such that 0dBFS from the DAW or digital inputs corresponds to +18dBu at the analogue outputs, and my bench tests gave an AES17 dynamic range figure of 123.9dB (Aweighted) for the DA stage. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. Leave your outboard plugged in and simply press the button to bypass it. Designed to emulate tones often associated with 1960s tube designs and the coveted transformer zing of British audio in the 1970s, HMX & IRON give you the option to add analogue tone to your recordings. Focusrite stuff is very fiddly to use in comparison with poorly designed controls. 8 x Audient Console Mic Preamps Focusrite - Scarlett Interfaces | Podcast, AKG C414 The Ultimate Comparison: XLS vs XLII vs B-ULS vs EB, Sound Magic Neo Piano, 8 Premium Piano Collection. Reviews Focusrite Clarett OctoPre Eight-channel Mic Preamp & A-D/D-A Converter Converters / Clocks Preamps / Channel Strips By Bob Thomas Published February 2017 With eight new Air preamps and two-way ADAT connectivity, could this be the best way to expand your audio interface? This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Focusrite Clarett Plus OctoPre and Audient ASP800. The original OctoPre was replaced by lower-cost models and, while those with a tight budget might have welcomed that, Im pleased to see Focusrite head back in the opposite direction this time, with a product that delivers serious audio quality at a mid-market price the Clarett OctoPre boasts a level of performance that more than justifies its cost. You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address. Finally, a pair of BNC word clock I/O connectors and the units IEC mains socket complete the units I/O complement. This ADAT-equipped preamp offers one-knob compression on every channel. This unit comes with two ADAT ports on the back and each one can carry 8 channels at 44.1kHz or 48kHz, whereas port one carries the signal of channels 1-4 and the second port the signals of channels 5-8 when recording at 96kHz. One really dicky experience With the clarett. Find out more about the Audient ASP800 here: The Focusrite Clarett OctoPre is an eight-channel mic preamp and ADAT-format A-D/D-A converter that can be used either stand-alone or to expand the input/output capability of any audio interface. All the plug-ins you need to write, produce, mix, and master your music in professional quality. However, the 176.4 and 192 kHz sample rates are not supported over ADAT, they are, however, by the AES3 outputs. Focusrite was "sterile". I got the audient about a year ago, same time my friend got the clarrettneither of us have any complaints at all. Use line inputs to Free VST Plugins; Effects & Instruments for every DAW! Even the smallest model in the range can be expanded via ADAT. The wellknown UK proaudio manufacturers Focusrite introduced their original Clarett suite of Thunderboltconnected interfaces in 2015, aimed at highend projectstudio owners seeking really topspec performance. Frequency Response 20 - 20kHz: < 0.03dB, Frequency Response 20 - 35kHz: < 0.15dB, Frequency Response 20 - 20kHz: < 0.05dB, Frequency Response 20 - 20kHz: < 0.04dB, Frequency Response 20 - 20kHz: < 0.02dB, Frequency Response 20 - 35kHz: < 0.02dB. Check out our privacy policy here A set of transfer curves showing how the Compression control changes both the threshold and the makeup gain.I measured the mic preamp EIN figure as 126.5dB, which is within 0.5dB of Tascam's specification, and crosstalk measured better than 85dB at 10kHz. That translates in the real world to amarginally clearer, cleaner, and more transparent source recording, especially if tracking with generous headroom margins. However, they do rub against the front panel, and even though this doesnt affect their functionality, it is a bit of a drawback. That versatility isnt offered by all competitors, and on previous-generation OctoPres installation of an additional daughterboard was required! This unit also features AES3 (via DB-25) outputs for digital connectivity as well as 8 analog outputs via DB-25, word clock in and out, and its built like an absolute tank. There were no. If you own an audio interface or digital mixer that accepts an ADAT input, and are in need of some higher-quality mic preamps or additional inputs, this should be right up at the top of your audition list. A final switch routes the incoming ADAT signal to the line outputs via the D-A converter. The 8Pre's new converters are aligned such that 0dBFS from the DAW or digital inputs corresponds to +18dBu at the analogue outputs, and my bench tests gave an AES17 dynamic range . Designed to replicate the input stage of a classic valve amplifier, you can plug your guitar, bass, keyboard or drum machine and start recording instantly. Invest in Audient. However, key practical points to note are that the unit is mainspowered via an internal switchmode PSU (accepting 100240V AC through astandard IEC inlet), and it connects to the host computer via aUSBC connector on the rear panel (USBCC and USBCA cables are included in the box). Channels 3-8 have red buttons to engage phantom power on a per-channel basis. When activated, the high frequencies are boosted in two stages by +4dB overall to bestow crisp transients, enhance presencerange clarity and, yes, to add air to whatever youre recording. The Series 8p Dyna is powered from a 12V wall-wart, with clip-on wall socket adapters for different territories. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. The other unit I have been considering is the Focusrite Clarett Octopre but the Retro Channels on the ASP800 are swaying me towards the Audient. On the AD side of things, the new Clarett+s dynamic range figure remains much the same as the previous model. As well as protective fast-acting one-knob compression, each channel has a front-panel phantom-power switch.As you'd expect, the front-panel controls are extremely simple, with each channel having just a rotary gain control and a second rotary control, offset below and to the right, to adjust the 'one-knob compressor'.
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