Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre Review:
What To Expect from This interface
Quality
The most impressive thing about this interface is the sheer clarity that it has. All the ins and outs are incredibly clear, giving you a clean recording every time.
All the ins have an Air button, which boosts the highs a bit when pushed, giving all your mics even more clarity. It’s amazing how the push of a button can suddenly improve your drum sound. It won’t do it every time, but it works very well in certain settings.
You’ll find that this interface makes working with a mix quite easy. The clarity you get from each mic that you’ve plugged in gives you a good starting point to set up an EQ for your drum kit.
Construction
The construction quality is notable. Focusrite interfaces are always built very strongly, and you’ll get that same feeling with the Clarett+. It’s the type of interface that will last decades, and that’s exactly what you want when getting something to set your studio up.
All the features on the interface are also great. We’re big fans of the LED monitoring system. It feels modern, and it gives you a very clear picture of how all your levels are doing.
There are several other small buttons to utilize as well, such as the dim and mute ones.
Performance
The Clarett+ has 24-bit/192kHz conversion, meaning the performance you get from it is very quick, detailed, and clear. The sounds going in and out sound amazing because of this.
While someone who is new to recording and interfaces won’t notice just how good this interface is, more experienced users will appreciate its performance quality.
There are better interfaces out there, but they either cost a lot more or they’re not as portable.
Price Value Ratio
Compared to Focusrite’s Scarlett line of interfaces, the Clarett+ is quite expensive. However, it’s affordable compared to Focusrite’s RedNet interfaces. It sits in the middle in terms of cost, and it’s a good option for drummers who want premium features compared to what you get with the Scarlett line.
With that being said, this isn’t a cheap interface. You’ll be spending a good amount of cash on it, but it will last decades of regular use. So, the high price is well worth it in the long run.