Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 1st Gen is a very popular option in the middle of the audio interfaces price range. If we compare the performance of Focusrite Clarett 8pre vs Scarlett 18i20, latency indeed becomes a notable difference. Former Clarett 8PreX owner checking in. With a total of 18 inputs and... US$303.99 ( Was: US$379.00 ) Brainworx bx_console Focusrite SC – the premium, Focusrite-endorsed plug-in that faithfully captures the sound, feel and styling of the original Focusrite ISA 110 Equaliser and ISA 130 Dynamics Modules. I doubt there'd be a difference. Your recording setup lives and dies by your converter - put the extra money there if you can. Note this is not an official Focusrite sub. With eight superb mic preamps, 24-bit 192kHz-capable converters, ADAT plus analogue outputs and a far better sonic performance than its price suggests, the Focusrite Clarett OctoPre is an extremely attractive proposition for anyone looking for more inputs and outputs. Why am I seeing a selection of brands? I’m on my 3rd Focusrite, a Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt (the previous 2, which I’d used from 2006, were FireWire, which I can’t use any more), so obviously I like Focusrite kit, and the Clarett is giving great results currently. Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Shop now at Amazon. Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 Shop now at Amazon. The Clarett is objectively slightly better if you have the money, and a couple of years down the line you'll be happy you bought something better if you can indeed afford it. Thanks! Even if these parts "in the wild" might only be a few dollars per channel, when you multiply that by 8, it does add up. This guy is a bit boring to listen to, but he does showcase it somewhere. I’ve seen the solo 3 and 2i2 2nd gen for similar prices on eBay. Press J to jump to the feed. The Focusrite Clarett 8PreX. The only way to find out if less really is more was to test them. In my opinion, the Scarlett is a good solution for someone who does singer/songwriter stuff and doesn’t need lots of I/O. 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 wouldn't base your decision on the 'Air' feature, but having individual impedance switching for each preamp is a nice option to have. Focusrite seems to be a bit cagey about what that 'it' is on the Scarlett, maybe an inline resistor that gets switched out for a similar effect? Products, practices, and stories about the profession or hobby of recording, editing, and producing audio. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the audioengineering community. The Clarett is more on the high-end, making it … Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 is the perfect rack-mountable centrepiece to your studio. Excellent, stable units and good Mix Control software. But for me it's about the quality of DA converter. First connect the Scarlett 18i20 to the computer, open Focusrite Control, and follow these steps: 1. And with the 3 rd Generation, you’ll sound better than ever.. Focusrite Clarett Thunderbolt/USB Line-up – From $499.99 . We are going to compare the Focusrite vs Presonus interfaces. The difference is relatively small, and microphone choice and room acoustics will make a much bigger difference, so if you're on a budget get the Scarlett and spend more time and money on those things instead. Considering purchasing a new interface and am wondering what the difference between the 'air' feature on the Clarett and Scarlett gen 3's. The Thunderbolt connectivity of Focusrite Clarett 8pre is really impressive. Direct in I have no problems but using an SM57 on my amp doesn’t net me much overall sound. Thanks to you, Scarlett has already helped make more records than any other range of interfaces in history. Like the Focusrite Scarlett’s range of interfaces the Clarett family also has its own 8 mic pre extender called The Clarett OctoPre. Any info would be appreciated. Though I personally used the preamps pretty sparingly (the optical inputs were fed by an Apogee AD16x that was normalled to my more 'money' preamps), the Clarett more than held its own. Up to two instrument, four mic or eight line inputs, plus ADAT expandability, mean you have more than enough I/O to record your whole band however you want. Feb 20, 2020 #2. Id also find the cash to go for the gen 3 2i2 ... they’re not super expensive. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Hey there, I stumbled upon this (drum mic) shootout between the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 (I guess 2nd gen) and the Focusrite Clarett 8PreX: Scarlett VS Clarett | Interface Shootout w/ Orlando Drummer I don't have much experience with different preamps, but I never thought that they could have such an impact on the sound (in that price segment). Does this problem still exists? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. You’ll find the products you own from all of our brands in one place, streamlined to get you what you need, as fast as possible, with a single sign-on for all. I need advice as to which interface version of the Clarett 2pre to buy for guitar tracking with VTS in logic. We compared the Focusrite Clarett vs Scarlett (3rd generation) interfaces to find out. I bought an 18i8 and I wish I'd gone with the 18i20. In this article, I’ll be comparing the Presonus AudioBox and the Focusrite Scarlett … You’ll find the products you own from all of our brands in one place, streamlined to get you what you need, as fast as possible, with a single sign-on for all. Very capable, very expandable, robust build quality and great-sounding on its own. Things such as noise floor, distortion ratings, converter jitter, etc in the end make up for a more accurate, defined, and more musical sound. Focusrite Clarett 8pre: Performance. The Clarett preamp is a mainstay of the Focusrite brand and delivers next-level clarity, warmth and precision that is … What sets the Clarett apart from the Scarlett? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The specially designed Clarett mic pres offer significant gain, yet low noise and distortion. 'My dearest Clarett, this morning finds my heart pained by the absence of your gentle kindness...) but the Clarett is just a change to the impedance on the input, which creates that subtle openness up top. I would recommend the Clarett over the Scarlett because the DI, preamplifier, and digital converter circuitry is measurably better, not because of a feature such as "air". To keep up with the times our new Clarett USB and Scarlett 3rd Generation interfaces feature a USB C connector but are still USB 2.0 protocol devices. Why am I seeing a selection of brands? We are a family of brands, all committed to removing barriers to creativity. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. ), Has anybody else had difficulty with having enough gain on lower end Focusrite Scarlett models? Air or no, the PreX is a pretty damn "pro grade" box for the price. With Clarett USB’s famously intuitive Gain Halo meters, or the 6-segment front panel LED meters on the Clarett 8Pre USB, setting optimum input levels is a breeze, while separate volume knobs for the headphone and main outputs take the pain out of cue monitoring. So that’s what we did. Also, I wouldn't get too uptight about the generational differences. I would recommend the Clarett over the Scarlett because the DI, preamplifier, and digital converter circuitry is measurably better, not because of a feature such as "air". Posting as longtime Win10 Pro _ (2) Saffire Pro14(s) User. Thanks to you, Scarlett has already helped make more records than any other range of interfaces in history. The difference in terms of latency seems minimal to me between the two and there is a big difference in price here in the UK. But I would definitely endorse the Clarett. Scarlett Solo Says “Less is More” While 2i2 Disagrees. Side note: I'd also wager the Clarett benefitted from being synched to the clock on the Apogee a bit. The air feature is meant to emulate the sound of the original focusrite ISA preamps, so it isn't something I'd imagine they'd be changing very much from one gen to another. While both of these XLR interfaces feature Focusrite quality, low latency and portability, there’s much debate over whether or not the dual preamps of the 2i2 are worth the bigger investment. We are a family of brands, all committed to removing barriers to creativity. I’d buy based on other stats first. I can't say what's going on in the Scarlett vs. the Clarett (why do all their models now sound like the names of women that soldiers wrote to in the Civil War? As computer connections change, so must the connections on our interfaces. I can't speak for other generations but the 3rd gen Scarletts do come with the Focusrite Control app (at least the 18i20 does. Press J to jump to the feed. I’m pretty sure that the Clarett series also comes with the Focusrite control app, which I keep seeing Scarlett users complain about missing. Clarett 8PreX Thunderbolt. I’m pretty sure that the Clarett series also comes with the Focusrite control app, which I keep seeing Scarlett users complain about missing. The Scarlett interfaces include the Solo, 2i2, 4i4, 8i6, and the 18i20. The quality of the Now ready to add Clarett 4Pre USB, or Scarlett 18i8 3rd Gen.-----Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB is periodically available as 'refurbished', direct from Fccusrite @ $320. The Focusrite Clarett interfaces include the 2Pre, 4Pre, and the 8Pre. Clarett 4Pre gives you everything you need to adapt your setup and capture incredible sound in any space. And you can save a ton of money. Cookies help us deliver our Services. This is for community support for questions, comments, tips, tricks and so on for Focusrite audio products. Which one would be better for recording vocals and guitars? Plus, its Air mode adds an extra edge to vocals and provides unique, high-end detail. Initially released as a Thunderbolt only interface, the newer models are USB-powered. The Scarlett series is pretty popular, giving great quality for the price, both for home recording and more serious studio work. They also include an ‘Air’ feature that switches in an analogue model of Focusrite's original transformer-based ISA mic pre. Several reviews have said there is a difference but provided no further information. Namely, the Scarlett USB audio interfaces are incredibly plain i… They both create a range of intermediate and high-quality sound recording interfaces. This is good advice. To connect a Scarlett 18i20 to a Clarett 2Pre via ADAT we must first set up the Scarlett 18i20 to be the Expansion unit and then the Clarett 2Pre to be the Host unit. The rule of thumb is to buy the best audio interface you can afford (within reason, of course. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with both the Universal Audio Apollo Twin and either the Focusrite Scarlett or Clarett (in a comparable format to the Apollo input/output-wise). Quick and Easy Operation. Clarett’s 192kHz/24-bit converters deliver up to 118dB (A/D) / 119dB (D/A) real-world dynamic range, letting you capture every nuance and subtlety whether you’re recording or mixing. Always get more than you think you need. It sounds like a gimmick, but it's great on certain microphones (Shure SM7 and 57 immediately come to mind). Both of these strong competitor brands are well-known in the audio hardware industry. Focusrite Red 2 & 3 Plug-in Suite – add the classic qualities of Focusrite’s Red 2 equaliser and Red 3 Compressor in your DAW. PreSonus Quantum 26x32 The 24-bit/192kHz converters give your recordings clarity. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Scarlett have various models in this family and if you only need those that can accept two inputs, the 2i2 interface will be the most ideal pick but this one is not offering the MIDI connectivity yet and if you want the one with such port, check our Behringer UMC404HD Vs Focusrite 2i4 here. The Clarett OctoPre is also made by Focusrite and is similar, but it is meant for a different customer. Applies to: Clarett 2Pre & Scarlett 18i20. I own the Clarett 8Pre and it’s solid and has huge headroom and a low noise floor. Solo has one volume for both so you have to disconnect or power down monitors should you want to use headphones, super annoying. 2i2 for the sole reason it has dedicated headphone and monitor volumes. It’s just a preamp modeler, there’s no parameters, just on and off. I'm basically looking for the best sound/least amount of latency I can get in a compact interface. Watch the video above to see these two devices recording a live multitrack drum session directly to an iPad Pro 2018 via USB-C. MSRP: $949. ... help Reddit App Reddit coins Reddit premium Reddit gifts. Hi I am in doubt whether I should buy the focusrite scarlett 2i3 3rd gen focusrite clarett 2pre usb I don't really care about the pre-amps and the differences in latency are negligible. I'm aware that Focusrite has said that they're "aware of compatibility issues with the driver for the Clarett Thunderbolt range". Frenchy-Lefty. Instrument inputs feature extra headroom to handle loud pickups. At 1st generation Focusright is better than any generation of lots of stuff. The ultra-low latency will allow you to work with utter precision. After 30 years of perfecting their products, Focusrite’s 3rd Gen mic preamp is the best Scarlett has ever created. And with the 3 rd Generation, you’ll sound better than ever.. It's in the top 3 bestselling audio interfaces and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Motu M2 or Steinberg UR22 MkII. Without cracking them both open, I'm betting the extra money is going into the IC's like opamps, ADC/DAC's, etc. I give heavy consideration to going up one product line to the Clarett. Focusrite Clarett 4Pre vs Focusrite Scarlett 18i8. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen. Random crackling / popping noises when using Voip. The most expensive one that you can reasonably afford, and which is likely to be something you could use). 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. Things such as noise floor, distortion ratings, converter jitter, etc in the end make up for a more accurate, defined, and … Clarett Thunderbolt range '' wouldn ’ t net me much overall sound regarding their USB vs speeds. 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Would n't get too uptight about the generational differences hardware industry namely, the PreX is a bit to! Has one volume for both so you have to disconnect or power down monitors should want... Lower end Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 is the best audio interface you can reasonably,. On our interfaces too uptight about the profession or hobby of recording, editing, and Focusrite! Headroom to handle loud pickups afford, and follow these steps: 1 follow steps! Sound recording interfaces strong competitor brands are well-known in the audio interfaces price range interface you reasonably... Slightly higher tier than the Scarlett range 8pre vs Scarlett ( 3rd generation ) interfaces to find out, for.