Here the OPTICAL OUT on the Clarett⁺ OctoPre is connected to OPTICAL IN on a Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre audio interface with a single optical cable. Both units are running at 44.1 kHz sample rate. The OctoPre’s clock source is set to INTERNAL, and the 8Pre is synchronised to it because its clock source is set to ADAT (via Focusrite Control).
This setup would, for example, enable up to 16 mic or line sources to be recorded in a DAW simultaneously, and would be ideal for recording a live band.
Here OPTICAL OUT on the Clarett⁺ OctoPre is connected to OPTICAL IN on a Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre audio interface with a single optical cable. Both units are running at 44.1kHz sample rate. The OctoPre’s clock source is set to W/CLOCK, and its WORD CLOCK IN input is connected to WORD CLOCK OUT on the Clarett+ 8Pre with a BNC cable. The Clarett+ 8Pre’s clock source is set to INTERNAL (via Focusrite Control), making it the sync leader. It would also be appropriate for any other audio interface which has an ADAT input and a word clock output.
This example shows a similar setup as Example 2, but using a Focusrite Red 8Line audio interface running at a sample rate of 96 kHz (“SMUX-II” mode). Both units must be set to 96kHz; you need two optical cables, carrying four channels of audio each. The Red 8Line is the sync leader.
This setup is also applicable with 192 kHz sample rate (“SMUX-IV” mode); each optical cable will then carry two channels of audio.
The setup in this example would also be appropriate for any other 96/192 kHz-capable audio interface with two ADAT inputs and a word clock output.
Analogue Mixing Desk
This setup uses the Clarett⁺ OctoPre’s mic preamplifiers and AIR mode to provide a high quality “front end” for an analogue mixing desk. Use an 8-way loom to connect the OctoPre’s LINE OUT socket to eight line inputs on the mixing desk; this will need a 25-way D-sub on one end and eight connectors appropriate to the desk’s line inputs on the other. (Pre-made looms are available from professional audio suppliers).
This setup would also be appropriate to use the OctoPre as an input stage with any type of 8-channel analogue device.
Because the Clarett⁺ OctoPre’s ADAT OUT ports are always active, you can also simultaneously record the performance on a DAW (or other recording device) with an ADAT interface.
This example shows how to connect a greater number of DAW tracks to an analogue mixing desk for mixdown. The 8 analogue outputs of a Red 8Line interface are connected to desk Channels 1 to 8. Connect the Red 8Line’s OPTICAL OUT ports to the OPTICAL IN ports of two Clarett⁺ OctoPres and enable ADAT>LINE on both. A loom like in Example 4 is used to connect the two OctoPres to Channels 9 to 24 of the desk.
The Red 8Line would normally be the sync leader in this situation, so its clock source is set to Internal. The clock source on both Clarett⁺ OctoPres is set to ADAT, so both synchronise to the Red 8Line via the ADAT optical connections.
The setup in this example would allow you to send 16 DAW tracks to the desk if you only used one Clarett⁺ OctoPre.
The above channel counts are applicable at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate, providing a Focusrite Red 8Line the primary interface.
When recording acoustic drums, you can use dynamics control in various ways to get the sound you’re after. Compression is often added to kick and snare drums to thicken the sound, while noise gates are effective on toms to minimise spillage between the drum mics.
Use looms with a TRS jack on one end wired to two XLRs, TRS jacks or TS jacks as appropriate to the outboard processors. The “tip” of the TRS jack at the OctoPre end should go to the input of the processor, the “ring” to the output.