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

Product Information

I run Linux too and I was thinking about the Clarett+ 8Pre as well, but after this info decided to go with RME Fireface UFX II instead - it doesn't have the software for Linux (yet), but all the features can be controlled on device which is a huge plus that Focusrite products don't have.

The Focusrite Clarett 8Pre is a 1U interface packed with eight mic preamps, enough to get the whole band in one take in pristine 24bit/96kHz quality. Focusrite have also retained the “all‑analogue Air EQ” feature, which can be applied to individual preamp channels.

With mics plugged in, the Air circuit gave a unique sense of analogue character and colour to our flat-response small diaphragm condensers when capturing stringed instruments. Air also brought our bog-standard SM58 to life, improving vocal clarity no end and sounding much closer to a condenser than a dull dynamic. The Clarett 8Pre interface features brand new preamps that model the impedance and transformer resonance of our original ISA transformer-based mic pre, delivering the classic Focusrite signature sound at the touch of a button. Expand via ADAT to add eight inputs and outputs using Clarett OctoPre and connect to MIDI and S/PDIF equipment to maximise your creative potential.

Perfect for your studio or mobile recording rig, the Clarett+ 8Pre gives you a wealth of connectivity — including ADAT and MIDI I/O — all in a sleek 1U form factor. Sweetwater engineers know that conversion is key to superior digital audio, and every Clarett+ features the latest in Focusrite's class-leading 24-bit/192kHz conversion. This New interface is so clean and good I wish I did this months ago --- everything just tracks better.Sticking with tried-and-tested USB-2 for maximum compatibility, the new 8Pre comes boxed with not one, but two different USB cables. As far as the issue of the amount a gain knob must be turned to achieve a volume level ------ A gian knob increases gain. A black rectangular cutout area to the right of the panel hosts the main volume control, plus Mute and Dim buttons and a very clear six–segment LED array that shows levels for the main output and each of the eight analogue ins. Focusrite’s popular Clarett series sits at the premium end of home recording gear, offering a step up from the ubiquitous Scarlett interfaces and veering comfortably into project studio territory.