Focusrite Clarett 8PreX 26×28 Thunderbolt Audio Interface

Designed for recording studios, the Focusrite Clarett 8PreX Thunderbolt Audio Interface combines 24-bit 192 kHz A/D/A conversion, 119 dB real-world dynamic range, 1 ms roundtrip Thunderbolt latency, and eight microphone preamps that can model the sound of the company’s ISA transformer-based preamps using the air effect. The high resolution recording and ultra-low latency allows you to enable 64-bit AAX, AU, and VST compatible DA plug-ins while monitoring recordings. The interface is now fully compatible with Windows-based computers, providing stable operation with identical functionality on both platforms, while offering sub-3 ms latency. Also provided is a Windows version of the Focusrite Control software mixer for monitoring and routing configuration.

The interface comes with 64-bit AAX, AU, and VST compatible Red 2 and Red 3 plug-in suite. In addition to the Red Plug-in Suite, the interface includes the Softube Time and Tone Pack. Modeled after the Drawmer 1973 FET Stereo compressor hardware, the Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor is a plug-in that aids in balancing and shaping a mix. TSAR-1R Reverb adds space, depth, and width to a sound. Change settings with a single slider, from realistic three-dimensional rooms to dramatic and dreamlike halls. Tube Delay is an echo effect that can go from clean to rude by overdriving its three modeled tube stages – delivering everything from realistic room echoes, to rockabilly style slap back, to dub reggae echo. Saturation Knob is a modeled output distortion unit that adds grit and warmth – use it to fatten up bass lines, add some harmonics and shimmer to vocals, or simply destroy a drum loop.

Housed in a 2RU chassis, the interface features two front instrument ¼” TRS inputs, eight rear panel microphone XLR-3F inputs, eight ¼” line level inputs, six line level ¼” TRS outputs, two ¼” TRS monitor outputs, word clock I/O, 5-pin MIDI I/O, stereo S/PDIF I/O, and sixteen channels of ADAT I/O for expansion.

The front panel also features two ¼” TRS headphone outputs with separate volume controls. A dedicated gain control, a +48V phantom power switch, a phase reverse switch, and a high pass filter switch is provided for each microphone preamplifier. A six-segment multi-channel LED meter provides visual feedback, as well as a level control, a dim button, and a mute button.