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Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre 8-channel ADAT Preamp

8-channel Mic Preamplifier with 2 Front-panel Instrument Inputs, Per-channel Air Circuit, Inserts, Word Clock, and Included Software Bundle
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The Nucleus of Your Studio or Mobile Recording System

The Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre 8-channel ADAT mic preamp is the ideal hub for any professional studio or mobile recording rig. The Clarett+ OctoPre features eight of Focusrite’s premium high-headroom, Clarett+ microphone preamplifiers — leveraging the company’s renowned all-analog, relay-controlled Air circuit — that render drums, vocals, and acoustic instruments with crystalline clarity. Employing advanced JFET technology, the two front-panel instrument inputs capture the full impact of electric bass, guitars, and keyboards — just as if you were plugged into a great amp.

Fitted with top-drawer AD/DA converters, the Clarett+ OctoPre delivers ultra-fast, low-latency operation with massive dynamic range, ultra-low distortion, and ultra-low noise. High-performance D-A conversion ensures that audio quality is retained when routing audio to outboard analog processors. Seamless compatibility with Focusrite’s Clarett 2Pre, 4Pre, and 8Pre allows you to expand your I/O while adding flexible, pro-standard ADAT connectivity to your setup. Upgrade your studio with the Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre from Sweetwater today!

Capture the whole band with professional Focusrite sound

If you already own other Focusrite multichannel preamps, the Clarett+ OctoPre fits right into your existing setup. Expanding your I/O via ADAT will allow for proper tracking sessions with ample preamp inputs to capture the excitement and interaction of an entire band playing together with the classic analog clarity and punch of the legendary Focusrite Studio Console. Boasting a dynamic range of 118dB and an EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) rating of 129dBu, the organic sound of your source signals is preserved. The Clarett+ OctoPre’s fully balanced signal path ensures those signals are rendered cleanly and with negligible noise levels.

Eight Clarett+ mic preamps with analog Air

Designed exclusively for the Clarett range, the upgraded preamps in the Clarett+ OctoPre deliver loads of pristine gain and vanishingly low noise. In addition, these preamps include Focusrite’s proprietary Air feature that breathes life into your recordings by switching in an analog model of the acclaimed transformer-based ISA 110 mic pres on the original Focusrite Studio Console. Activating Air changes the impedance to 2.2k ohms and engages two cumulative high shelves. Technically, it adds up to a 4dB high-frequency boost, but make no mistake: Air sounds quite different from EQ. If you’ve always wanted vocals that shimmer with presence and silky air, then try recording with the Clarett+ OctoPre with Air engaged. You will be impressed.

Plugged in and ready to rock

Each channel of this Clarett+ interface is equipped with a dedicated insert that lets you keep your favorite rack equipment plugged in and ready to track through. This flexible insert setup lets you add analog gear to your signal chains as needed, but all Clarett+ interfaces also include the Hitmaker Expansion, a studio-grade software bundle that includes powerful mixing plug-ins and virtual instruments. Plus, you get a 3-month subscription to Avid Pro Tools Artist, access to Abelton Live Lite, and a free 3-month Splice Sounds subscription.

Included Hitmaker Expansion Pack software bundle:

  • Antares Auto-Tune Access
  • Softube Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555
  • Native Instruments Massive
  • Landr Studio (plus five free masters)
  • Brainworx bx_console Focusrite SC
  • Focusrite Red 2 & 3 Plug-in Suite
  • XLN Audio Addictive Keys
  • XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2
  • Relab LX480 Essentials
  • Fast Balancer

Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre 8-channel ADAT Preamp Features:

  • 8 premium Clarett+ mic preamplifiers
  • Focusrite’s acclaimed Air circuit, switchable per channel
  • Pro-standard ADAT connectivity
  • Front-panel instrument/mic combo inputs x 2
  • Front-panel JFET instrument inputs x 2
  • Rear-panel 1/4-inch/XLR combo inputs x 2
  • 48V phantom power (switchable in 2 banks)
  • Per-channel rear-panel TS insert jacks
  • Word clock I/O BNC connectors
  • Line outputs via DB-25 connector
  • Includes Hitmaker Expansion software bundle
  • Internal power supply; IEC power cable included

Additional Media

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: 8
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • Sample Rate: Up to 192kHz
  • Analog Inputs: 8 x XLR-1/4" combo, 8 x 1/4"
  • Analog Outputs: 1 x DB-25
  • Digital Inputs: 2 x Optical Toslink (ADAT)
  • Digital Outputs: 2 x Optical Toslink (ADAT)
  • Channel Inserts: Yes
  • Clock I/O: 2 x BNC (In/Out)
  • Software: 3-month Avid Pro Tools Artist Subscription, Hitmaker Expansion Bundle
  • Rack Spaces: 1U
  • Power Source: Standard IEC AC cable
  • Height: 1.75"
  • Depth: 11.3"
  • Width: 19"
  • Weight: 9.15 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: AMS-CLARETT-PLUS-OCTOPRE

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Sam From Texas Has No Idea What He's Talking about

This is 8 channels for eight hundred dollars. At one hundred bucks per channel WITH great A/D conversion.... its an incredible bargain. I use mine constantly, next to my 1073s and REDD.47s. I use it for my drum "close mics", as I honestly genuinely prefer these super flat, high headroom preamps for that task. But.... I simply CANNOT understand how one expected the preamps to sound like boutique outboard preamps. It's just an expansion unit. Half the people who buy these units aren't even using the preamps, because the converters alone are worth the price tag. Its less than one thousand bucks for 8 pretty darn good sounding preamps and rock-solid conversion.. Its an insanely good deal.

This unit is like a Toyota Corolla: it gets the job done but it isn't gonna win any races or come with any fancy features inside. Its designed not for pure performance -nor to be boutique- but instead for reliability and cost-effectiveness. If you want a performance machine, you'll need to add a zero to the end of your budget. You'd have to pay "performance price", which tends to grow exponentially quickly. You're a fool if you believe one hundred dollars per channel was gonna be anything crazy.... be realistic.

In fact, if you are buying ANY sort of budget preamp, built in preamps in an interface, or expansion preamps like the Octopre... you have no reason to expect them to sound like anything special. People who buy cheap preamps and expect a 1073 irritate the crud outta me. Buddy, the price of entry for truly great preamps is and always will be about one thousand dollars per channel. This clocks in at a 10th of that price, and has some really good converters. You're a joke if you expected anything more than serviceable preamps. They work. They sound good. I would never compare them to a boutique preamp but then again... I do my homework.
Rated 5/5

Why isn’t anybody talking about the inserts?

The octopre is a good all around package, I mean, 8 clear preamps does the job very well, adat expansion suits very well with my clarett interface and the cherry on top for me are the inserts because I want to add latter some outboard processing when I'm tracking.

Phantom power divide in two groups is convenient for mix condensers and ribbons or dynamic mics at the same time you record.

I have a small home studio and the OctoPre is a good one value/quality that match my budget and my other equipments invest.
Music background: Musician and producer
Rated 5/5

The best Preamps/Converters you gonna find

If you need to Expand your I/O,this is the way!!. Great Conversion, Grat Preamps, OK you can´t compare with more boutique preamps(Chandler,API , etc) But seriously, on a Home/Proyect Studio Enviroment you don´t nedd a wall of preamps of different brands or Types. Steve Albini say´s .."it´s more practical to go straight to the preamp to have 3 o 4 patch cables in the way".

For Drum tracking this preamps are good, not insanely good. But they are transparent and detailed, you are not going to get any MOJO from them because you´ll need to add another zero to the price.

The "Air" function is very handy with dark sounding mics, like ribbons. Not my favorite on some dynamic Mics, but it´s real no BS. Your gain Range is great for loud sources, maybe with some quiet sources, although my U47 fet (a condenser mic with a modest Output) i have to almost crank the Gain but no complains, maybe is a little hard to set the gain past 3 o clock but having that on mind you have to make smother movements to the pot.

I´m really Happy with my unit, i helpe me alot to expand my RME Babyface pro FS to use some outboard Gear, and do some extra Cue Mixes.

As always Sweeteater customer service is great.
Music background: Full Time Engineer, Session Guitarist
Rated 5/5

Absolutely Fantastic

What else to say that hasn't been said here? Converters on this thing are wonderful. A definite difference over my UA Apollo system. Seems to be a bit more detailed. The mic pres on this are great, hard to tell the difference between these or the pres on my SSL Big Six. They're not like other outboard mic pres I own, but then again, I've spent about $ per pre on the Clarett+ as opposed $ per pre on the other fancy outboard stuff I have.
Nice solid construction. I'd have no issues using this thing as the front end for all of my recordings. Read the SOS review on this piece. Nicely done Focusrite!
As an added note, I have no idea why Sam from Texas gave this a bad review. It's a very odd review.
Rated 5/5

Sounds even better than my UA Apollo...

I grabbed this to add 8 more channels to my Apollo Twin MkII for recording drums. I just needed the extra inputs... I wasn't expecting it to sound even better than the Apollo! Not a giant difference but definitely noticeable. Super clean and lots of dynamic range. Really easy to connect to the Twin and route into Logic, too. Couldn't be happier with this box and Sweetwater's quick delivery.
Music background: Producer/Engineer

If you're like a lot of the recording engineers here at Sweetwater, then you probably grew up with stories of the legendary Focusrite Forte console and its ISA preamps. Our relationship with Focusrite is extremely tight, and we regularly enjoy everything from the inside scoop on new gear to fish and chips when they stop by Sweetwater. While Focusrite still produces the classic analog preamps, EQs, and compressors we love, our Sales Engineers are just as excited to introduce our customers to their remarkable RedNet network audio platform, and we have worked with Focusrite to outfit studios, churches, venues, and schools with this awesome technology in action. From everyday audio interfaces to full system designs, if you want Focusrite gear, Sweetwater has you covered.

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