While the smaller devices in the Scarlett range are hugely capable and compatible – for someone that needs 18 inputs and / or 20 outputs for much larger group recording sessions, the 18i20 has you covered. Includes Ableton Live Lite, three months of Pro Tools Artist, and the Hitmaker Expansion, with plugins from Antares, Softube, Landr, XLN Audio and more. However it still comes with some pretty nifty bits and bobs – and if you’re looking for a way to expand your pre-existing channels via optical or S/PDIF then the chances of you being interested in a lite version of Ableton Live or a demo copy of ProTools are probably pretty slim. The Scarlett range includes: It is the Clarett+’s line outputs which show the greatest improvement, though, with a claimed 6dB improvement in dynamic range combined with 3dB lower distortion. The 8Pre’s new converters are aligned such that 0dBFS from the DAW or digital inputs corresponds to +18dBu at the analogue outputs, and my bench tests gave an AES17 dynamic range figure of 123.9dB (A‑weighted) for the D‑A stage. This corresponds to Focusrite’s published specification of 124dB and is nearly 6dB better than the previous model’s 118dB (A‑weighted).

These boast all-analogue Air - augmented with relay control and impedance switching - delivering recordings with low noise, low distortion and high headroom. They're joined by two JFET instrument inputs which manage to maintain the authentic tone of your guitar. Updates & Improvements We investigate this age-old internal war with an outline of some of the most important key features and differences between both devices. Focusrite Clarett vs Scarlett: The Lowdown While Scarlett’s are aimed more at consumers or amateur producers; the Clarett range is more at home in a professional studio setup. For example, the Clarett has expandable ADAT ports via S/PDIF, which is often needed in large studios but rarely in home recording situations. ‘Air’ TimeHigh-quality inserts preserve the sound of your studio outboard, and effortlessly bring your favourite hardware into your session. The dynamic range of the mic inputs on the Scarlett are 111dB A-weighted for the 3rd generation interfaces - a slightly lower range than is found on either of the Clarett models. However, it should be pointed out that this beautiful simplicity has been achieved partly by not including features that are available on some competing products. There is no provision at all for processing audio signals within Focusrite Control, so no equalisation, dynamics, or delay/reverb effects are available. This is clearly a conscious decision on Focusrite’s part: like Apogee, they believe that their Thunderbolt hardware is capable of such low–latency operation as to render the need for a separate cue–mixing utility redundant in most situations. It’s a decision that is fine with me, but then I rarely find myself having the time to set up processing and effects specifically for the cue mix in any case.

With more low-level detail and accuracy across a wider frequency range, everything sounds clearer and gives a more professional sheen compared to other similarly-priced interfaces. The 8PRE on the other hand is a great option for professional recording. It comes with 8 brilliant Clarett preamps with the option to expand to 16 preamps via the Octopre unit (another 8 Clarett preamps), connected by an optical cable. The Focusrite Clarett 8Pre Podcasting/Streaming Recommended interfaces: Two powerful, flat-response headphone outputs make mixing easy in any environment, with any headphones. means 2 inputs, 2 outputs – and the same terminology applies all the way up to the top of the line 18i20, meaning 18 inputs 20 outputsThis plugin from Brainworx is designed in conjunction with Focusrite to digitally emulate the sound of the celebrated Focusrite ISA 110 mic pre / equalizer and the original Focusrite ISA 130 dynamics modules. This is an absolute secret weapon of a plugin and as far as freebies go, this one’s a real gem. Ultimately, the decision should be made after factoring in your core needs. You should also try to think ahead and future-proof yourself. Out of the box, first impressions are very reassuring. The smart brushed aluminium front panel and all-metal case is complemented by a series of really sturdy controls, apart from a couple of slightly wobbly switches in the monitor section. The build quality is superb and is a definite improvement upon the early incarnations of Scarlett interfaces that had rough, sharp edges. Panel layout is extremely intuitive, with simple preamp controls, clear LED metering, and monitor and headphone controls on the right. Take the Air The main difference between the Clarett+ and the previous generation of Clarett interfaces is the addition of improved independent A-D/D-A converters.

Focusrite’s Clarett range offers Thunderbolt connectivity and high specifications at an attractive price tag. Both ranges are light and rugged. Even the larger, more expensive models are easy enough to carry around. However nothing beats the Scarlett 2i2 for portability, it fits comfortably in any laptop bag.The Scarlett range from Focusrite comprises 6 different units: the Solo, the 2i2, the 4i4, the 8i6, the 18i8, and the 18i20. The Scarlett range has been broken down into these categories to give users a wide variety of options to suit their needs. The Clarett 2PRE and the Clarett 4PRE are more or less the same thing, with the main distinct difference being the number of preamps and outputs available on each device. The 8PRE however, takes things up a notch. The most obvious benefits of the Clarett+ redesign are greater dynamic range and lower distortion figures across the board. Of course, the original Clarett was hardly a slouch in this regard, but the improvements are not only measurable but audible too, especially when working in challenging conditions. Given how good modern digital equipment already is, Focusrite’s update actually represents quite a significant step forward in engineering terms. Flagship Overview The Scarlett Solo and Scarlett 2i2 models are also available in bundles for beginner recording artists, offering sweet little bundles that include everything you need to get started. This includes headphones, a very nice collection of premium plugins, plus a condenser microphone with all the necessary cables and leads. Freebies

When push comes to shove, the Clarett beats the Scarlett with higher quality mic pres, expandability and audio specs. However, the Scarlett comes at a much cheaper price point. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but a switch to Cirrus Logic converters has also significantly improved Focusrite's Clarett+ audio interfaces... In addition to this, the headphone outputs have been upgraded and offer greater DAC performance. This means that regardless of which headphones you use for monitoring purposes you can make better-informed decisions and inspire greater performances.The transformerless preamp design claims ISA110 heritage, but while the gain stage is based around an NE5532 op‑amp just like the ISA110, the original Lundahl input transformer has been replaced with an electronically‑balanced discrete transistor input stage. Nevertheless, the design achieves remarkably low noise (specified as an EIN of ‑129dBu A‑weighted) and has excellent headroom margins — the maximum mic input level is a very generous +18dBu, while the line input can take +26dB before complaining, and even the instrument inputs can cope with +15dBu. So there shouldn’t be any problems with either high or low source levels, although the maximum channel gain is 57dB, which precludes working directly with really quiet sources. The inclusion of the all-analogue Air (with impedance switching and relay control) is a great feature, emulating the ISA110 mic preamp from the classic Focusrite Studio Console. This is especially noticeable when recording things like vocals, adding an extra layer of presence and clarity. The Clarett is a ‘premium’ version of the Scarlett, providing the user with a different selection of features and technology across only three devices. Whereas the Scarlett family includes a larger number of products with seemingly more options. One of the other great ‘quality of life’ improvements in this generation of interfaces is Focusrite’s use of their own ‘Anti-thump’ technology.