The Clarett⁺ 8Pre is an excellent choice for many recording and monitoring applications. Some typical configurations are shown below.
This setup illustrates a typical configuration for multi-track recording with DAW software on your computer.
A selection of sources – microphones, guitars, and a keyboard – are shown connected to Clarett⁺ 8Pre's inputs. Note that only Inputs 1 and 2 can be configured to accept instruments directly, so we have chosen to plug the guitars into these. Ensure Instrument mode is selected for Inputs 1 and 2 from Focusrite Control, and the INST LEDs are illuminated.
The connection to the computer running DAW software is via a USB cable. This will carry all input and output signals between the DAW and the Clarett+ 8Pre. Once the audio setup is correctly configured in the DAW, each input source will be automatically routed to its own DAW track for recording.
In addition to the eight microphone preamps, the Clarett⁺ 8Pre has an ADAT input port (OPTICAL IN) which can provide eight additional audio inputs at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate or four at 88.2/96 kHz. Using a separate eight-channel microphone preamplifier equipped with an ADAT output – such as the Clarett+ OctoPre – provides a simple method of expanding the Clarett⁺ 8Pre’s input capability.
The Clarett+ OctoPre’s OPTICAL OUT port is connected to the Clarett⁺ 8Pre's OPTICAL IN port with a single TOSLINK™️ optical cable. The two devices must be synchronised to ensure audio passes cleanly, without clicks and pops. To do this in Focusrite Control go to Device Settings and set the Clock Source to ADAT.
You can also use the Clarett⁺ 8Pre word clock output to synchronise the two devices. To do this, connect the Clarett⁺ 8Pre's WORD CLOCK output to the Clarett+ OctoPre’s WORD CLOCK IN using a 75 Ω BNC cable. Set the Clarett⁺ 8Pre's clock source to internal and the Clarett+ OctoPre's clock source to Word Clock.
Important
Both devices must be set to the same sample rate.
You can route the additional ADAT inputs in the same way as other inputs in Focusrite Control. The ADAT inputs can form part of any musician’s headphone mix, as needed.
The Clarett⁺ 8Pre can store a mix configuration defined in Focusrite Control within the hardware.
This feature lets you configure it – for example, as an on-stage keyboard mixer – using your computer, and then retain the configuration in the device itself. Then you can use the Clarett⁺ 8Pre as a rack mounting mixer as part of your keyboard rig to control the overall mix of multiple keyboards.
In the example illustrated, three stereo keyboards are connected to rear panel inputs of the Clarett⁺ 8Pre; Outputs 1 and 2 connect to the main PA system. You can adjust the volume of the individual keyboards from the front panel, and you can adjust the level you hear the mixed keyboards at through the speakers.
While recording, musicians often prefer to hear themselves along with other players, and when overdubbing, tracks that have already been recorded.
Focusrite Control lets you define several mixes, each of which may be either mono or stereo, and can be routed to any of the Clarett⁺ 8Pre’s outputs. This means each musician being recorded can have a unique mix. In their mix you can include any hardware inputs on the Clarett⁺ 8Pre and combine them with DAW tracks, such as click or pre-recorded backing tracks. See the Focusrite Control user guide (downloadable from downloads.focusrite.com) for details of how to configure different mixes, and how to route them to the Clarett⁺ 8Pre's various outputs.
Each of the headphone outputs on the front panel initially provides a default mix: Headphone 1’s mix is always the same stereo mix routed to Line Outputs 7 and 8, while Headphone 2’s mix is always the same stereo mix routed to Line Outputs 9 and 10. You can adjust the content of both mixes in Focusrite Control - that for Outputs 7/8 defines what is heard by Headphones 1, and that for Outputs 9/10 defines what is heard by Headphones 2.
Either or both of these may be used for a musician’s mix; each output can drive a pair of headphones directly. This is the easiest method, and has the advantage the mixes are stereo. If you need to drive additional pairs of headphones, you’ll need to include an external headphone amplifier as part of your set-up:
Always remember - when sourcing monitor mixes from input signals, ensure the DAW channels on which you are recording are muted, otherwise the musicians will hear themselves “twice”, with one signal audibly delayed as an echo.