Focusrite Clarett OctoPre 8-Channel Preamp and AD/DA Converter

The Focusrite Clarett OctoPre provides you with eight inputs and eight outputs that you can use to extend the abilities of your Clarett Thunderbolt audio interface or any other audio interface that is equipped with ADAT optical inputs and outputs.

The microphone preamps on the Clarett OctoPre have been specially designed for the Clarett range, with adequate gain control yet low noise distortion and excellent sound quality. The amp includes a unique ‘Air’ feature that switches into an analogue model of the classic transformer-based Focusrite ISA microphone preamp, switching the impedance of the preamp to the original ISA that enables a ‘transformer resonance effect’ that gives your microphone recordings the air and clarity of an ISA transformer-based microphone pre-recording. The microphones preamps come with plenty of headroom and are ideal for recording drums and other extreme level sources.

The front panel of the Clarett OctoPre includes dual instrument inputs with extra headroom so it can handle the loudest pickup, the rear panel features universal XLR/Jack connectors for the other auto-switching mic/line inputs. Each input comes equipped with its own switched insert point for single-cable connection of outboard analogue processors like compressors, equalisation and FX with hard-wired relay bypass so you can avoid the outboard gear or patch bay, connected and ready to access at the press of a button.

In addition to the eight microphone preamps with 24-bit, 192kHz A/D conversion, the Clarett OctoPre provides D/A conversion of up to eight ADAT digital channels feeding 25-pin DSUB rear-panel analogue outputs meaning it’s ideal for mixing as well as tracking. The line outputs can optionally grant line level output feeds from the microphone preamps, which is useful for feeding a live console while recording the digital outputs. Other than the insert point the Clarett OctoPre is balanced end to end for excellent noise immunity.

There is no point in having excellent quality microphone preamps in the OctoPre without equally superb digital conversion to back them up. Focusrite has been manufacturing digital audio converters for almost as long as microphone preamps, those in the Clarett OctoPre guarantee that you get the highest possible quality getting your music in and out of your DAW. The OctoPre’s precise 24-bit converter operate at all the standard sample rates all the way up to 192KHz, ideal for high-resolution audio with up to 118dB (A-D)/119dB (D-A) dynamic range.

You will receive three years warranty provided by Focusrite.