RECORDING October 2022 - 26
REVIEW
Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre
Expand any ADAT-equipped interface
with eight quality microphone preamps
REVIEW BY JOHN CZERWINSKI
I
n our December 2021 issue we looked at the updated Clarett+ 8Pre from
Focusrite, which boasted many sonic improvements of the original Clarett
8Pre released in 2015. This month we look at the new + version of the
popular Clarett interface companion, the Clarett+ OctoPre, an eight-channel
mic preamp with onboard digital conversion and ADAT connectivity.
The New Plus Pre
The Clarett+ OctoPre and the Clarett+
8Pre are strikingly similar in appearance,
and this beauty is not just skin
deep. The two units share the same solidly
built chassis, layout, controls and
quality workmanship. The buttons feel
solid enough to hold up to many years
of use, and the resistance in the knobs is
very smooth and balanced.
The front panel is relatively uncluttered
and clearly laid out. Two combo
XLR 1
/4
" inputs reside on the left side
of the unit, followed by two 48V select
switches for implementing phantom
power on channels 1-4 and 5-8,
respectively. All eight channels have
high-quality, dedicated gain knobs,
with individual LEDs to denote channel
overload, the invocation of AIR or channel
inserts. A six-segment LED meter resides
to the right of the gain knobs to
monitor the input and output levels of
each of the eight channels.
To the right of the meter section is a group
of four LED-equipped function buttons.
26 RECORDING October 2022
The top two engage the insert or AIR
functions for the channels; the bottom
two toggle inputs 1 and 2 on the front
panel to Instrument Mode, which optimizes
the channels for the direct connection
of Hi-Z instruments like bass
and electric guitar. A trio of three final
buttons on the right controls the sync
source (Internal, ADAT or Word Clock),
the sample rate (44.1 to 192 kHz) and
an ADAT to +-Line Output switch.
Around Back
The rear panel features six XLR 1
/4
/4
"
combo inputs for channels 3-8, eight
1
" TRS insert jacks--one for every
channel, BNC Word Clock I/O, and two
pairs of Optical, ADAT/TOSLINK I/O.
Line outs are handled by a 25-pin female
DB25 (D-Sub) connector. The line
outs can be either the outputs of the eight
mic preamp channels or when the ADAT
to Line is engaged, the Clarett+ OctoPre
becomes an interface expansion box
feeding the ADAT Optical Inputs to the
Line Output.
Sonic Plusses
Each of the mic/line inputs of the
unit features redesigned circuitry providing
the user with lower noise, a full
+57dB of gain, and a dynamic range
of 118dB. Furthermore, Inputs 1 and 2
utilize high impedance JFET circuitry for
cleaner, clearer guitar and bass tones.
What does all this mean for the end
user? Massive amounts of headroom
and low noise resulting in a cleaner,
clearer, more faithful representation of
your microphones and the source.
Inserts
Offering insert points on each of the
eight channels is a very nice option not
often found on multi-channel preamps in
this price class. This is handy should one
want to shape their sound further with
outboard gear while tracking. Or, if the
need arose, one could use the Clarett+
OctoPre inserts as an additional set of
direct outs.
Setup
Connecting the Clarett+ OctoPre to
the Clarett+ 8Pre was a breeze. I simply
grabbed a spare optical cable and connected
the ADAT output of the Clarett+ OctoPre
to the ADAT in of the Clarett+ 8Pre.
I set the OctoPre as the clock source and
RECORDING October 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING October 2022
Fade In
Fast Forward
Warm Audio WA-47F & WA-CX12X
The Nostalgic, Futurist Piano Man: Daniel Lanois Player, Piano
Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre
Session Log: Ribbon Microphones
ADK Microphones: Munich-7-T T-FET
Moog Music Mavis
Inside The Studio With Mark Hornsby: Cool Mics by Non-Mic Companies
Heiserman Audio H251
Plugin Outlet: sonible smart:comp 2
AEA TRP500
Inside The Box with Joe Albano: Virtual Preamps
Pearlman Microphones TM-12A
MasterWriter
Sequential Take 5
Mojave MA-D
TIERRA Audio New Twenties
RECORDING October 2022 - Intro
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover1
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover2
RECORDING October 2022 - 1
RECORDING October 2022 - 2
RECORDING October 2022 - 3
RECORDING October 2022 - Fade In
RECORDING October 2022 - 5
RECORDING October 2022 - 6
RECORDING October 2022 - 7
RECORDING October 2022 - Fast Forward
RECORDING October 2022 - 9
RECORDING October 2022 - Warm Audio WA-47F & WA-CX12X
RECORDING October 2022 - 11
RECORDING October 2022 - 12
RECORDING October 2022 - 13
RECORDING October 2022 - 14
RECORDING October 2022 - 15
RECORDING October 2022 - The Nostalgic, Futurist Piano Man: Daniel Lanois Player, Piano
RECORDING October 2022 - 17
RECORDING October 2022 - 18
RECORDING October 2022 - 19
RECORDING October 2022 - 20
RECORDING October 2022 - 21
RECORDING October 2022 - 22
RECORDING October 2022 - 23
RECORDING October 2022 - 24
RECORDING October 2022 - 25
RECORDING October 2022 - Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre
RECORDING October 2022 - 27
RECORDING October 2022 - 28
RECORDING October 2022 - 29
RECORDING October 2022 - Session Log: Ribbon Microphones
RECORDING October 2022 - 31
RECORDING October 2022 - 32
RECORDING October 2022 - 33
RECORDING October 2022 - 34
RECORDING October 2022 - 35
RECORDING October 2022 - 36
RECORDING October 2022 - 37
RECORDING October 2022 - 38
RECORDING October 2022 - 39
RECORDING October 2022 - ADK Microphones: Munich-7-T T-FET
RECORDING October 2022 - 41
RECORDING October 2022 - Moog Music Mavis
RECORDING October 2022 - 43
RECORDING October 2022 - Inside The Studio With Mark Hornsby: Cool Mics by Non-Mic Companies
RECORDING October 2022 - 45
RECORDING October 2022 - 46
RECORDING October 2022 - 47
RECORDING October 2022 - Heiserman Audio H251
RECORDING October 2022 - 49
RECORDING October 2022 - Plugin Outlet: sonible smart:comp 2
RECORDING October 2022 - 51
RECORDING October 2022 - AEA TRP500
RECORDING October 2022 - 53
RECORDING October 2022 - Inside The Box with Joe Albano: Virtual Preamps
RECORDING October 2022 - 55
RECORDING October 2022 - 56
RECORDING October 2022 - 57
RECORDING October 2022 - Pearlman Microphones TM-12A
RECORDING October 2022 - 59
RECORDING October 2022 - MasterWriter
RECORDING October 2022 - 61
RECORDING October 2022 - Sequential Take 5
RECORDING October 2022 - 63
RECORDING October 2022 - Mojave MA-D
RECORDING October 2022 - 65
RECORDING October 2022 - 66
RECORDING October 2022 - 67
RECORDING October 2022 - 68
RECORDING October 2022 - 69
RECORDING October 2022 - 70
RECORDING October 2022 - 71
RECORDING October 2022 - TIERRA Audio New Twenties
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover3
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover4
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