We recommend you take the time to read the Guide, so you are fully aware of all the features the Clarett+ 8Pre has to offer. IMPORTANT: As well as this User Guide, you will need the Focusrite Control Software Guide which can be downloaded from focusrite.com/downloads.
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 and input settings from your iOS device. See the Focusrite Control User Manual for more information.
• USB-C to USB-C cable Focusrite Control is available at focusrite.com/downloads. On Windows, Focusrite Control will also install the driver required. Mac users: Clarett+ 8Pre is class-compliant on Macs, therefore no drivers are required. As a Clarett+ owner, you are also entitled to a selection of third-party software.
GETTING STARTED Software Installation Focusrite Control and the driver software needed for the Clarett+ 8Pre are available for download from the Focusrite website: focusrite.com/downloads. Clarett+ range Downloads Click on the page. This will take you to a page with all the downloads which are available for the Clarett+ range.
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4. Select your Clarett+ device from the drop-down list and enter your device’s Serial Number at the bottom of the page. You can find the serial number on the underside of the Clarett+ 8Pre, Set Serial Number and also on the gift box. Then click 5.
INST – two red LEDs which illuminate when Instrument mode is selected for the jack Inputs 1 or 2 from Focusrite Control software. When INST is selected, gain range and input impedance are altered (relative to LINE), and the input is made unbalanced. This optimises it for connecting instruments directly via a 2-pole (TS) jack plug.
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18 dB, while MUTE turns the outputs off. By default, these switches affect the main monitor outputs 1 and 2, but may be configured in Focusrite Control to act on any of the analogue outputs. The switches are internally illuminated (DIM: yellow, MUTE: red) indicating the function is selected.
SPDIF IN and OUT – two phono (RCA) sockets carrying two-channel digital audio signals in and out of the Clarett+ 8Pre in S/PDIF format. Like all other inputs and outputs, the routing of S/PDIF signals may be customised in Focusrite Control.
Clarett+ 8Pre to your computer using a USB cable. Computer audio setup When you connect your Clarett+ 8Pre to your computer for the first time, you will need to select it as the audio input/output device. System Preferences > Sound •...
Connecting Clarett+ 8Pre to loudspeakers The 1/4” jack MONITOR outputs on the rear panel (Line Outputs 1 and 2) will normally be used to drive monitoring speakers. Self-powered monitors have internal amplifiers, and may be connected directly. Passive loudspeakers will require a separate stereo amplifier; in this case, the rear panel outputs should be connected to the amplifier’s inputs.
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Connecting additional monitors When mixing, you can connect several pairs of additional speakers (midfield, nearfield, etc.) to output pairs and use Focusrite Control to route your mix to the different outputs as desired, to check your mix on the different speakers.
– LCRS, 5.1 surround or 7.1 surround, for example. To route each channel to the correct output you will need to route the DAW outputs to the Line Outputs in Focusrite Control (e.g. DAW Output 1 > Line Output 1, DAW Output 2 > Line Output 2, etc.).
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The example below shows how you would connect the six loudspeakers in a 5.1 surround monitoring arrangement Left (L) Right (R) Centre (C) (Sub Bass) LFE Rear Left (RL) Rear Right (RR)
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.
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The Clarett+ 8Pre, in conjunction with Focusrite Control, allows “low latency monitoring”, which overcomes this problem. You can route your input signals directly to the Clarett+ 8Pre’s headphone and line outputs. This enables the musicians to hear themselves with ultra-low latency – i.e., effectively in “real time”...
2 . Using the optical connections In addition to eight analogue inputs, the Clarett+ 8Pre has an ADAT input port (OPTICAL IN) which can provide an additional eight audio inputs at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate, or four at 88.2/96 kHz.
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.
Focusrite Control lets you define several different 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.
FOCUSRITE CONTROL - OVERVIEW Focusrite Control is the software application used with the Clarett+ 8Pre, which can be downloaded from focusrite.com/downloads. An iOS app allowing WiFi control of Focusrite Control is also available, from the Apple App Store. Focusrite Control allows you to create a custom monitor mix for each musician, and specify the routing of all audio signals to the physical audio outputs.
Analogue Inputs 1 & 2 Connectors Combo XLR sockets: Mic/Line/Inst, on front panel Mic/Line switching Automatic via Focusrite Control Line/Instrument switching Phantom power +48 V switches for inputs 1 to 4, 5 to 8 Analogue Inputs 3 to 8 Connectors...
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Other I/O 2 x TOSLINK optical connectors: ADAT input 8 channels at 44.1/48 kHz 4 channels at 88.2/96 kHz 2 x phono (RCA); can be re-assigned S/PDIF I/O to ADAT ports in software Data connector (to computer) 1 x USB-C™ connector MIDI I/O 2 x 5-pin DIN sockets Weight and Dimensions...
For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Help Centre at support.focusrite.com. COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES Focusrite, Clarett and OctoPre are registered trade marks of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. in the United States and other countries. ADAT is a registered trademark of inMusic Brands in the US and other countries.
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