I received and tested a Clarett 2Pre and it comes with 1-meter, Type-C to Type-A and Type-C to Type-C style USB cables. Features aside, we know the most important question is: Does it sound good? Two Clarett mic pres, the finest we build into a USB audio interface, for capturing stunning-quality audio effortlessly I read all of the Scarlett (v.2) reviews and I was still hesitant about Focusrite's usb driver ability. Focusrite states that: “Clarett 2Pre USB requires 3A at 5V in order to be bus powered, a demand that can only be met by connecting directly to 15W USB Type-C ports on host computers”. When it comes to an interface’s sound quality, self-noise is another feature you need to look out for. It’s got the same metal exterior as the Scarlett Solo, with similarly fantastic-feeling headphone and monitor knobs. But if you see it in stock at a reseller for a decent price, you won’t be disappointed. Review by @Hcunningham217 Clarett 4Pre USB connects to Mac® or PC using the included standard USB and USB Type-C™ cables. Your email address will not be published. Well, if you’re working with something like the Steinberg UR12 or the Scarlett Solo, you’ll immediately notice better recordings if you swap it out for this thing. Functionally the Clarett 8Pre is one of the most straightahead interfaces I have used in a while. The Clarett 4Pre USB interface by Focusrite is meant to be a professional-level audio interface that is priced to be within reach of the home recording enthusiast. From my experience, the answer is yes. However in the works is a firmware update to add USB bus powering to them. Part of me finds that cool, but another part of me is worried about the longevity of this product. Built upon 30 years of mic pre mastery, the Clarett preamp is the finest we build into a USB audio interface. I guess this will be fine if you’re recording with a laptops or tablets, but it might cause difficulties if you want to connect to a big tower PC. The folks at Focusrite have characterized the models from the Scarlett USB interface series with the following attributes – “great speed, high-quality, superb conversion, excellent low-latency performance, and sample rates up to 192kHz”. I'm also in kind of the same dilemma here, I can't choose between the Apogee Element 24 and the Focusrite Clarett 2pre. My review model was the Clarett 2Pre USB, a compact and portable model aimed at singer songwriters, laptop producers or those working in smaller spaces, due … I have a Shure SM7B hooked up through a Cloudlifter and it sounds great. I received and tested a Clarett 2Pre and it comes with 1-meter, Type-C to Type-A and Type-C to Type-C style USB cables. Long story short: physical controls are always more reliable. If you’re interested in getting the most out of your current recording microphone, you’ll need something like this. After all, if you spend $1,000+ to color your sound a certain way, you probably don’t want something else along the signal chain to color it yet again. With it you can change or set parameters such as: sample rates up to 192kHz, clock source--the Clarett 2Pre can clock and sync to the incoming ADAT Lightpipe or S/DIF digital inputs; and you may configure the front panel inputs as direct instrument inputs using the front panel Combo jacks. News. I decided to pay a bit more, hoping they would pay more attention to a slightly more premium model, I guess? The Claret 2pre is the only one that occupies a good price point. (As a bonus, using a longer cable can help you avoid picking up noise from your computer while recording. What's yours? I noticed this brighter sound immediately as a shimmery effect that is just awesome for acoustic guitars and somber-sounding sources such as husky voices or overly dark keyboard patches. Lots of people who work in creative fields still have big desktop tower computers under the table, so at least 6-8 feet on the USB cable would be much appreciated. It is a nice option to have at the ready when recording and I plan to use it often. One interesting feature is called Air. For example, the software defaults to live talkback in your headphones, but you can turn that off with just a few clicks. But don’t be fooled— it’s still more than capable of recording professional-level takes while still being small enough to squeeze into a tiny DIY recording booth. It switches the impedance of the microphone pre-amp to enable a "transformer resonance effect"--it mimics the characteristics of a transformer-based pre-amp. All in all, this interface won’t knock your socks off. The new Clarett USB models are not bus-powered so it also comes with a wall-wart power supply module. ... Visit Our Family of Brands Brands Founded in 1977 on the principle of bridging the gap between “the street and the elite,” Music Connection has grown from a popular print publication into a spectrum of products and services that address the wants and needs of musicians, the music tech community and industry support services. I've used a few auto Interfaces for music, the Focusrite Scarlett to the Native Instruments Audio 6 This by far is the best audio interface I've ever used, also sound wise its a amazing, you actually can tell the difference I also love the build and color I don't give this product 5 stars I give this product 6 stars. We associate sounds with a lot of resonance above the 9khz mark to be airy, and that’s the range in which the Air function takes effect. This is a program compatible with Windows, Mac, and iOS. USB Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2nd Generation) @ 96kHz/32-bit on Logic Pro X with a Mac Pro running OS 10.11 Round trip latency: 2.74ms. That’s enough discussion about the way it looks. keep reading to learn why! The low noise and high quality of Clarett absolutely shone through. The Air effect, other interface controls and routing are set using the new Focusrite Control 2.2.0 software that runs in the background of your DAW software. Since you’re here, I’m going to assume you’re in the market for a good audio interface. © 2018 Focusrite Audio Engineering Plc. The immediate appeal of the Clarett 2Pre lies in its ease of use, solid integration with the Control software, and excellent sound. However, your mileage may vary if you’re already using a MOTU M2— look for more tests later this year to find out how that interface compares! Compared to the original Focusrite Clarett Thunderbolt line, the Clarett USB Interfaces sound identical--the specs mapped out the same with the only difference being the slight inherent limitations of the USB 2.0 protocol for throughput latency. And if the day comes that Focusrite discontinues their software updates for this device, you’ll run into an issue even their warranty won’t be able to fix. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. All Rights Reserved. Los dos previos de micrófono con función «Air» pueden reproducir la impedancia de entrada, claridad y curva de respuesta de frecuencias de los previos de micrófono ISA originales de Focusrite. But when you set the preamp knob to 9, virtually any audible self noise immediately vanishes to -79db. Depending on what kind of sound you (or your director) are looking for, this little tweak could be a big help. Compared to the Scarlett product line, the Clarett is definitely better in the low end, yet still not perfect. Maybe they’ll fix this in a future model. Unfortunately, an analog component with a digital function has a non-zero chance of breaking with every new operating system release. Makes sense? Here’s what has me concerned about it: This function is engaged via the Focusrite Control software, but you hear a physical click when you press the button. Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB is an 18-in/20-out USB 2.0 Audio Interface, and goes the whole hog, with eight mic/line preamps, 10 line outs, ADAT in and out, MIDI, S/PDIF and word clock. Focusrite adds to the Clarett audio interface line with the 2Pre ($399), 4Pre ($599) and 8Pre ($799) models all using a USB 2.0 Type-C connection. Record with super-low latency through amp simulators and effects plug-ins. You can also get a nice amount of wiggle room in the high end thanks to that Air button I mentioned earlier— but you can get that from a Scarlett too. According to the manufacturer, this interface has an Equivalent Input Noise of -129dB, same as the MOTU M2. You may route up to ten inputs comprised of a mix of: the two analog inputs (mic or line), stereo or separate S/PDIF digital inputs, and the eight ADAT Lightpipe inputs. style: Clarett 2Pre USB Verified Purchase I read all of the Scarlett (v.2) reviews and I was still hesitant about Focusrite's usb driver ability. Essentially, the sound that resulted from its built-in DAC was always thin: in particular, the low end doesn’t sound as great as it could. Reviews. The three Clarett USB units vary in their I/O: Clarett 2Pre (10-in, 4-out), Clarett 4Pre (18-in, 8-out) and Clarett 8Pre (18-in, 20-out). With the Clarett 8Pre USB, Focusrite introduced into the market an audio interface with USB support and extraordinary quality at an attractive price tag.We also did look at the Clarett 8PreX see for the full report Clarett 8PreX by Focusrite – a Thunderbolt Audio Interface Review. Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons before we wrap this up: As I previously mentioned, the Focusrite Clarett 2Pre is a lot smaller than your standard studio MIDI interface. Skip to main content Skip to footer site51500000152751 site51500000000141329 New K47931 Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB Audio Interface site51500000152751 false Save up to 20% on powerful guitars, keys, e-kits and more Shop Now With a microphone unplugged and the preamp turned all the way to 10, the self noise registered at about -67db: not awful, but still audible. Software bundles in particular are a dead giveaway when a company has nothing to offer that differentiates its product from something half the price. Clarett 2Pre USB connects to Mac® or PC using the included standard USB and USB Type-C™ cables. The Claret Octopre and 2pre are the most bang for buck current Focusrite products. Well, It works and sounds perfect! Make sure to check out the reviews but first of all press the red button below to see if it fits your music taste. The Speed of … I decided to pay a bit more, hoping they would pay more attention to a slightly more premium model, I guess? If you’ve used another Focusrite product before, you’ll be familiar with the Clarett’s strong build quality. You don’t have to install or run it to use your interface, but it does offer some useful quality-of-life features. What if you’re already using a perfectly good interface in your setup? If you browse a variety of audio retailers for an interface upgrade — or your first interface in general, if you’re finally giving up on that USB microphone — you’ll see box after box after online description bragging about having more bells and whistles than the last. It’s 400 bucks new, has … https://t.co/J6hCzHzO41, AE @Jewseph_Maltese: "Hot in Herre" barryrudolph.com. Focusrite’s iOS Control app provides input/output functionality on iPhone. Air mode, with impedance switching, gives new colour to your mics, emulating ISA’s transformer-based mic pre to bring out unique high-end detail. Everything here is intended to offer high performance, from the clear, articulate mic pres, to the accompanying Focusrite Control software. The new Clarett USB models are not bus-powered so it also comes with a wall-wart power supply module. Buy Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB Desktop 10x4 USB Type-C Audio/MIDI Interface featuring Musicians, Podcasters, and Producers, USB Type-C and Type-A Connectivity, 2 Mic/Line/Instrument Preamps, 1 Headphone Out, 4 Line Outputs, 24-Bit / 192 kHz AD/DA Converters, AC or Bus Powered / Mac and Windows, Phantom Power, MIDI I/O, Mic Air Mode, Bicolor Gain Halos, ADAT Port for Input Expansion, … While this software offers a control panel to deal with the routing and clocking of digital connections, and some other global preferences, its primary function is to build low-latency monitoring mixes combining pre-DAW input signals with post-DAW software ret… Configure your routing and monitor mixes from Mac®, PC, iPad®, iPhone® or iPod touch® with user-friendly control software Focusrite Control. However, it basically guarantees a sound bottleneck if you plug in a high-end mic like the Neumann U87. Awesome! Essentially, what this does is slightly tweak your audio in the high end. Once you plug everything in, the installation process is easy— which is typical of Focusrite’s products. Editor-In-Chief: "The Sound of Silence" Focusrite presents USB Audio Interfaces Clarett 2Pre USB.If you are on the lookout for audio interfaces or studio and recording equipment in general, then this may be a fitting choice. So what if you’re not looking for the newest or fanciest device? This is an audio interface that upgrades and expands upon the features […] One interesting feature is called Air. Record with super-low latency through amp simulators and effects plug-ins. You probably just want something reliable with nice sound and a convenient amount of ins and outs— and that’s pretty much the Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB. “This interface comes with the best pro audio software used by this pro mixer we paid to say uses it!”. The answer may take some prior reference; for example, it’s helpful if you’re already familiar with the Focusrite Scarlett. In this double header video review for Production Expert, Dan & James thoroughly test a couple of Focusrite's new USB Clarett audio interfaces. If part of the price tag was for this AIR switch, do we know if we’ll always have this feature? Like most of the other Clarett, Scarlett and RED interfaces, the Clarett 4Pre USB’s hardware controls are supplemented by a version of the Focusrite Control software. Sonically, the Clarett 4Pre is an impressive design, and the Air option, which adds noticeable enhancement from about 1kHz upwards, we found particularly seductive on vocals and guitars. Speaking of USB, here’s one minor nitpick I have about this interface: The major problem with the Clarett’s components is the USB-C cable included. It’s incredibly short— maybe only 3-4 feet long. All Clarett USB interfaces come with ADAT inputs--the 8Pre also has ADAT outputs and features Word Clock out for syncing external devices. They’ve also noted that this series features their best-selling USB interface models in the world, and we’ve found out why that is so. https://t.co/xwSwI6EQcK, Before #JaggedLittlePill was a Broadway Smash, we spoke to @Alanis Morissette in 2006 for our #FlashbackFriday issue https://t.co/LMlfLEhekL, Exclusive Q&A with @IceT on his rocker side @BodyCountBand earning #Grammy nomination Configure your routing and monitor mixes from Mac®, PC, iPad®, iPhone® or iPod touch® with user-friendly control software Focusrite Control. However, there’s one feature included with this app that’s oddly placed: the AIR switch. 2Pre is our smallest Clarett. https://t.co/KQ2Jsla0nB, New Gear/New Toys Reviews: Focusrite Clarett 2PRE USB, New Gear Review: Fuchs Full House-50 Guitar Amp, Attend Music Industry & Antitrust Law Webinar, Kubernik: Go-Go's Documentary: Q&A with Director Alison Ellwood. The Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB is the easiest way to get great-sounding recordings. us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/clarett-usb-2pre, Barry Rudolph is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. It’s about 2 by 8 by 6 inches: a compact design when compared to a lot of high-end studio equipment. Focusrite Clarett 2Pre Review Since you’re here, I’m going to assume you’re in the market for a good audio interface. My 2015 MacBook Pro is USB 2.0, so the unit powers up but Control tells me I need to connect the supplied PSU, which I do, and we’re up and running. If you’re trying to make it as a voice actor, you’re going to need one— but do you know what makes one USB interface better than another? That’s a moving part that can only be controlled when properly hooked up to a computer with the right drivers. The Control Software also routes which inputs and software playback channels are being sent to particular outputs. Home. There’s still room for improvement (especially if you’re using a mic that costs over $1,000), but it’s perfect for home vocal sessions. Combining two mic/line/instrument combi inputs with ADAT expandability and four line outputs, Clarett 2Pre gives you everything you need to travel light and adapt your setup to any space. In addition, you may route the four outputs in any combination--I liked to route a separate stereo headphone mix out of Outputs 3 and 4 to drive my headphone amp/box. Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 Second Generation 2 in / 4 out USB 2.0 Audio Interface is compact yet flexible, with two natural-sounding Scarlett mic preamps, super-low latency, MIDI I/O, four analogue outputs and the same class-leading sound quality and digital conversion as the rest of the latest Scarlett range. 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