Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB User Guide

User Guide

Version 1.0

www.focusrite.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW..................................................................... 3

Introduction .................................................................3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Box Contents ................................................................5

System Requirements.........................................................5

Getting Started................................................................. 6

Software Installation ..........................................................6

Hardware Features ...........................................................7

Front Panel ....................................................................7

Rear Panel ....................................................................9

Connecting your Clarett 8Pre USB..............................................10

Computer audio setup ..........................................................10

Audio Setup in your DAW........................................................10

Connecting Clarett 8Pre USB to loudspeakers ......................................11

Examples of Usage ..........................................................13

1. Recording a band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2. Using the optical connections..................................................15

3. Using the Clarett 8Pre USB as a stand-alone mixer................................16

4. Providing foldback while recording..............................................17

FOCUSRITE CONTROL - OVERVIEW............................................... 18

CLARETT 8PRE USB TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ................................. 19

Performance Speciﬁcations ...................................................19

Physical and Electrical Characteristics ..........................................20

TROUBLESHOOTING ...........................................................21

OVERVIEW

WARNING: Excessive sound pressure levels from earphones and headphones can cause

hearing loss.

WARNING: This equipment is only compatible with USB Type 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1 ports, or Thunderbolt™

3 ports. More information regarding the compatibility of computer serial ports can be found at:

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115002287829-USB-port-clariﬁcation-and-compatibility

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this Clarett 8Pre USB, one of the family of Focusrite professional USB audio interfaces incorporating high quality Clarett analogue pre-ampliﬁers with the unique AIR function. In conjunction with the Focusrite Control application, you now have a highly versatile and professional solution for routing high quality audio to and from your computer recording system with extremely low latency.

You can also use the Clarett 8Pre USB as a “stand-alone” interface on-stage, bringing the beneﬁts of Focusrite’s high-quality analogue microphone preamps to your live performance.

This User Guide provides a detailed explanation of the hardware to help you achieve a thorough understanding of the product’s operational features. We recommend that you take the time to read through the Guide, whether you’re new to computer recording or a more experienced user, so that you are fully aware of all the possibilities that the Clarett 8Pre USB has to offer.

IMPORTANT: As well as this User Guide, you will need the Focusrite Control Software

Guide which can be downloaded from www.focusrite.com/downloads. This contains full

details of Focusrite Control, the software application that has been designed speciﬁcally

for use with the Focusrite Clarett USB range of interfaces.

If either of the Guides do not provide the information you need, be sure to consult

www.focusrite.com/answerbase, which contains a comprehensive collection of answers to common

technical support queries. A Getting Started video tutorial is also available, at:

www.focusrite.com/get-started/clarett-8PreUSB.

Features

The Clarett 8Pre USB hardware interface provides the means for connecting microphones, musical instruments, line level audio signals and digital audio signals to a computer through the computer’s USB port. The signals at the physical inputs can be routed to your audio recording software / digital audio workstation (referred to throughout this user guide as the “DAW”); similarly, the outputs from the DAW can be conﬁgured to appear at the unit’s physical outputs.

Audio sources – mics, instruments, etc., can be recorded into your DAW and then played back from there through ampliﬁers and speakers, powered monitors, headphones, a mixer or any other analogue or digital audio equipment that you wish to use.

The Clarett 8Pre USB is also a MIDI interface, allowing your computer to connect to other MIDI equipment in your studio.

An important feature of the Clarett 8Pre USB is the analogue preampliﬁer design. In addition to their class-leading dynamic range and ability to provide all the gain you’re ever likely to need, the circuitry now includes an exciting new AIR function. Individually selectable on each channel, AIR subtly modiﬁes the pre-amp’s frequency response to model the impedance and resonance characteristics of Focusrite’s classic transformer-based ISA mic preamps. When recording with good quality microphones, you will notice an enhanced clarity and deﬁnition in the important mid frequency range, just where it is most needed for vocals and many acoustic instruments.

The accompanying software application, Focusrite Control, is designed to require a minimal amount of user interaction, letting you easily conﬁgure the Clarett 8Pre USB with signal routings appropriate for the most common recording tasks. For more complex situations, it provides extensive routing and monitoring options, as well as the ability to control global hardware settings such as sample rate and synchronisation. You can download Focusrite Control from http://uk.focusrite.com/downloads.

iPad and iPhone users can additionally download Focusrite iOS Control from the App Store®. The app communicates via WiFi with Focusrite Control running on your computer, and lets you adjust your monitor mixes from your iOS device. See https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/

articles/212028389-Focusrite-iOS-Control-Basic-setup for more information.

Box Contents

Along with your Clarett 8Pre USB you should have:

• AC mains cable with IEC connector

• USB-C to USB-A cable

• USB-C to USB-C cable

• Important Information, with codes for accessing the following on-line resources:

- Focusrite Control*

- Drivers for Windows* (Clarett 8Pre USB is class-compliant for Macs: no drivers required)

- 2 GB of Loopmasters sounds and samples

- Focusrite Red 2 and Red 3 Plug-in Suite

- Softube Time & Tone plug-in bundle

- Your choice of one XLN Audio Addictive Keys software instrument

- Ableton Live Lite recording software

* These software items may also be accessed directly at www.focusrite.com/downloads

System Requirements

IMPORTANT – Please visit the following link for up-to-date information on computer and

operating system compatibility for all Clarett products:

www.focusrite.com/clarettUSB/compatibility

GETTING STARTED

IMPORTANT - FOR WINDOWS USERS: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU INSTALL THE

CLARETT 8PRE USB DRIVERS BEFORE CONNECTING THE INTERFACE

TO YOUR COMPUTER.

Software Installation

All software required by the Clarett 8Pre USB, including several powerful and useful extras, is available for download from the Focusrite website (www.focusrite.com/register). The Important Information provided with your Clarett 8Pre USB contains validation codes which you will need to enter at the above web address. This procedure ensures that you will have the most up-to-date software versions.

1. Go to www.focusrite.com/register/.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions, entering the Bundle Code into the form where prompted. Your Bundle Code can be found on the Important Information packed with the unit.

3. You will then be able to access the “My Products” page, where the software products to which your registration entitles you are available for download, complete with activation codes where applicable.

Windows users only:

4. Download and install Focusrite Control, which includes the Windows USB drivers required by Clarett 8Pre USB. Follow all on-screen instructions.

5. When the installation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer.

6. After restart, connect the Clarett 8Pre USB to your computer with a USB cable.

7. If you are having trouble getting started please watch our video guide here -

www.focusrite.com/get-started/clarett-8preUSB

Hardware Features

Front Panel

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8 9

67 10 123

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The front panel includes all the input gain and monitoring controls as well as two of the input connectors for Mic, Line and Instrument signals.

1. INPUTS 1 & 2 – Combo XLR input sockets - connect microphones, instruments (e.g., guitar), or line level signals via XLR or ¼” jacks as appropriate. Either TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) jack plugs can be used for instruments or line level signals.

2. 48V – two switches enabling 48 V phantom power at the XLR contacts of the Combo connectors for mic inputs 1-4 and 5-8 respectively. (Note that inputs 3 to 8 are on the rear panel.) Each switch has an associated red LED indicating that phantom power is selected. Note that phantom power is

only

required by condenser and active ribbon mics; do

not

select phantom

power when using dynamic mics.

3. Gain 1 to 8 – eight rotary controls: adjust the input gain for the signals at Inputs 1 to 8 respectively.

4. INST – two red LEDs which illuminate when INST mode is selected for the jack contacts of Inputs 1 or 2 from Focusrite Control software. When INST is selected, the gain range and input impedance are altered (relative to LINE), and the input is made unbalanced. This optimises it for the direct connection of instruments via a 2-pole (TS) jack plug. When INST is off, the inputs are suitable for the connection of line level signals. Line level signals may be connected either in balanced form via a 3-pole (TRS) jack or unbalanced, via a 2-pole (TS) jack.

5. AIR – eight yellow LEDs – one per input – which illuminate when the AIR function is selected for the input from Focusrite Control. AIR modiﬁes the frequency response of the input stage to model the classic, transformer-based Focusrite ISA mic preamps.

6. Meters – ten 6-segment LED bargraph meters indicating a) the signal levels of the eight analogue input signals (meters 1 to 8), and b) the signal levels at the MONITOR 1 and 2 outputs (meters L and R). The input meters show signal level after the input gain stage, and thus their indication is affected by the gain controls. The output meters show signal level before the monitor level control [10], which therefore does not affect their indication. The LEDs illuminate at -42 (green, “signal present”), -18 and -12 dBFS (green), -6 and -3 dBFS (yellow) and 0 dBFS (red). A level of 0 dBFS implies digital clipping, and should always be avoided.

7. (USB active) – a green LED which illuminates when the unit has established communication with the computer to which it is connected.

8. MIDI – a green LED which illuminates when MIDI data is being received at the rear panel MIDI IN port.

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