They both create a range of intermediate and high-quality sound recording 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. Quick and Easy Operation. Applies to: Clarett 2Pre & Scarlett 18i20. Direct in I have no problems but using an SM57 on my amp doesn’t net me much overall sound. Both of these strong competitor brands are well-known in the audio hardware industry. Air or no, the PreX is a pretty damn "pro grade" box for the price. The specially designed Clarett mic pres offer significant gain, yet low noise and distortion. The idea on the "air" featured in many products is usually just an EQ bell at an inaudible frequency, say 30 kHz, that impacts the top frequencies (say, anything from 15k upwards) more naturally than a high shelf would. Like the Focusrite Scarlett’s range of interfaces the Clarett family also has its own 8 mic pre extender called The Clarett OctoPre. I wouldn't base your decision on the 'Air' feature, but having individual impedance switching for each preamp is a nice option to have. 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. Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 is the perfect rack-mountable centrepiece to your studio. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the audioengineering community. PreSonus Quantum 26x32 Things such as noise floor, distortion ratings, converter jitter, etc in the end make up for a more accurate, defined, and … 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? The ultra-low latency will allow you to work with utter precision. And with the 3 rd Generation, you’ll sound better than ever.. With a total of 18 inputs and... US$303.99 ( Was: US$379.00 ) Focusrite Red 2 & 3 Plug-in Suite – add the classic qualities of Focusrite’s Red 2 equaliser and Red 3 Compressor in your DAW. The Clarett OctoPre is also made by Focusrite and is similar, but it is meant for a different customer. 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. Applies To: Clarett USB, Scarlett 3rd Generation. We are going to compare the Focusrite vs Presonus interfaces. 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. Namely, the Scarlett USB audio interfaces are incredibly plain i… I doubt there'd be a difference. Plus, its Air mode adds an extra edge to vocals and provides unique, high-end detail. Clarett 8PreX Thunderbolt. 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. Posting as longtime Win10 Pro _ (2) Saffire Pro14(s) User. I own the Clarett 8Pre and it’s solid and has huge headroom and a low noise floor. I'm aware that Focusrite has said that they're "aware of compatibility issues with the driver for the Clarett Thunderbolt range". Focusrite Clarett 8pre: Performance. Instrument inputs feature extra headroom to handle loud pickups. 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. Frenchy-Lefty. We are a family of brands, all committed to removing barriers to creativity. 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". This is good advice. 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. If you have a high quality preamp and converter, as well as a high-quality, well-coded EQ plug-in (Pro-Q 3, EQuilibrium) then you don't need this feature at all, although sometimes it's worth just trying it out if you have it. But I would definitely endorse the Clarett. I’d buy based on other stats first. Feb 20, 2020 #2. 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 Clarett range of interfaces use Focusrite’s very best microphone preamp technology, on a slightly higher tier than the Scarlett range. This is for community support for questions, comments, tips, tricks and so on for Focusrite audio products. 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. This guy is a bit boring to listen to, but he does showcase it somewhere. I bought an 18i8 and I wish I'd gone with the 18i20. Note this is not an official Focusrite sub. I add the air effect to drums when I’m recording them. In this article, I’ll be comparing the Presonus AudioBox and the Focusrite Scarlett … I’m pretty sure that the Clarett series also comes with the Focusrite control app, which I keep seeing Scarlett users complain about missing. Your recording setup lives and dies by your converter - put the extra money there if you can. 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. I give heavy consideration to going up one product line to the Clarett. Any info would be appreciated. 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. Former Clarett 8PreX owner checking in. 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. We are a family of brands, all committed to removing barriers to creativity. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen. Random crackling / popping noises when using Voip. 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? Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Shop now at Amazon. In my opinion, the Scarlett is a good solution for someone who does singer/songwriter stuff and doesn’t need lots of I/O. I'm basically looking for the best sound/least amount of latency I can get in a compact interface. Very capable, very expandable, robust build quality and great-sounding on its own. I wouldn’t buy based on the Air function at all. Press J to jump to the feed. Initially released as a Thunderbolt only interface, the newer models are USB-powered. And with the 3 rd Generation, you’ll sound better than ever.. Focusrite Clarett Thunderbolt/USB Line-up – From $499.99 . Which one would be better for recording vocals and guitars? The quality of the Excellent, stable units and good Mix Control software. The rule of thumb is to buy the best audio interface you can afford (within reason, of course. But for me it's about the quality of DA converter. And you can save a ton of money. The 24-bit/192kHz converters give your recordings clarity. I need advice as to which interface version of the Clarett 2pre to buy for guitar tracking with VTS in logic. Thanks to you, Scarlett has already helped make more records than any other range of interfaces in history. The Focusrite Clarett interfaces include the 2Pre, 4Pre, and the 8Pre. Cookies help us deliver our Services. 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. Why am I seeing a selection of brands? The Scarlett series is pretty popular, giving great quality for the price, both for home recording and more serious studio work. It sounds like a gimmick, but it's great on certain microphones (Shure SM7 and 57 immediately come to mind). Thanks! Several reviews have said there is a difference but provided no further information. Scarlett Solo Says “Less is More” While 2i2 Disagrees. 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. 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