User Guide www.focusrite.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OVERVIEW WARNING: Excessive sound pressure levels from earphones and headphones can cause hearing loss. WARNING: This equipment must only be connected to Thunderbolt™ ports. Introduction Thank you for purchasing this Clarett 8PreX, one of the family of Focusrite professional . Thunderbolt™ audio interfaces incorporating newly-designed, high quality Clarett analogue . pre-amplifiers with the unique AIR function.
Features The Clarett 8PreX hardware interface provides the means for connecting microphones, musical instruments, line level audio signals and digital audio signals to a computer through the computer’s Thunderbolt™ port. The signals at the physical inputs can be routed to your audio recording . software / digital audio workstation (referred to throughout this user guide as the “DAW”); similarly, the outputs from the DAW can be configured to appear at the unit’s physical outputs.
GETTING STARTED IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you install the Clarett 8PreX drivers before connecting the interface to your computer. Software Installation All software required by the Clarett 8PreX, including several powerful and useful extras, is available for download from the Focusrite website (www.focusrite.com/register). The Important Information provided with your Clarett 8PreX contains validation codes which you will need to enter at the above web address.
Hardware Features Front Panel Repeated for channel 2 19 2 8 Repeated for channels 3 to 8 3 8 9 10 11 18 19 1 6 5 13 7 4 12 14 15 16 16 17 Repeated for each channel The front panel includes all the input gain controls and monitoring controls as well as two input sockets for instrument jacks and two headphones sockets. 1. INST INPUTS – 2 x high impedance inputs on ¼” TS jack sockets for Channels 1 and 2: connect a musical instrument (e.g., guitar) here. 2.
11. ANALOG, S/PDIF, ADAT 1 & ADAT 2 – input meter source LEDs. Indicates the current signal source for the input meters. Meter source selection is made from Focusrite Control. 12. (Thunderbolt active) – a green LED which illuminates when the unit has established a connection with the computer to which it is connected. 13. MIDI – a green LED which illuminates when MIDI data is being received at the rear panel . MIDI IN port. 14.
Rear Panel 11 1 2 10 9 8 5 7 6 4 3 The remainder of the Clarett 8PreX’s inputs and outputs are on the rear panel. 8 1. MIC INPUTS 1 to 8 – eight balanced mic inputs on 3-pin XLR input sockets - connect microphones via standard XLR mic cables. 2. LINE INPUTS 1 to 8 – eight balanced line inputs on ¼” jack sockets. Connect line level signals here; either ¼” TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) jack plugs can be used for line level signals. 3.
. MIDI IN and MIDI OUT – standard 5-pin DIN sockets for connection of external MIDI equipment, allowing MIDI data to/from your computer to be received and distributed to additional MIDI devices. 10. SPDIF IN and OUT – two phono (RCA) sockets carrying two-channel digital audio signals in or out of the Clarett 8PreX in S/PDIF format. Like all the other inputs and outputs, the routing of S/PDIF signals may be customised in Focusrite Control. 11. AC mains – standard IEC receptacle.
Connecting your Clarett 8PreX IMPORTANT: Before you connect the Clarett 8PreX to your computer, please complete the software installation according to the instructions on page 5. . This will ensure that the hardware uses the correct drivers, and will . prevent unexpected behaviour. The Clarett 8PreX should be connected to AC mains with the supplied AC power cable. Plug the IEC connector into the rear panel IEC receptacle and turn the unit on with the front panel power switch.
Connecting Clarett 8PreX 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 (also known as active monitors) incorporate 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.
Examples of Usage The Clarett 8PreX is an excellent choice for numerous recording and monitoring applications. Some typical configurations are shown below. 1. Recording a band Engineer’s Headphones Guitar Bass Guitar Microphones ThunderboltTM Computer running DAW and Focusrite Control Stereo Keys Main Active Monitors This setup illustrates a typical configuration for multitrack recording with DAW software on your computer.
2. Project Studio Engineer’s Headphones Guitar Bass Guitar Microphones ThunderboltTM Computer running DAW and Focusrite Control Stereo Keys Main Active Monitors Stereo Keys One of the Clarett 8PreX’s advantages is the large number of physical inputs it provides.
3. Using the optical connections to provide additional inputs In addition to the eight analogue inputs, the Clarett 8PreX has two ADAT input ports (OPTICAL IN) which can each provide an additional 8 audio inputs at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate, four at 88.2/96 kHz or two at 176.4/192 kHz. Using one or two 8-channel microphone preamplifiers equipped with ADAT outputs – such as a pair of Focusrite OctoPre MkIIs – provides a simple and excellent method of expanding the Clarett 8PreX’s input capability.
4. Using the optical connections to provide additional outputs The Clarett 8PreX’s two ADAT output ports (OPTICAL OUT) may be used to feed separate D-A converters to provide additional analogue outputs. The Focusrite OctoPre MkII DYNAMIC is a suitable 8-channel unit for this purpose. As with the optical inputs, each optical output can carry 8 audio channels at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate, four at 88.2/96 kHz or two at 176.4/192 kHz.
FOCUSRITE CONTROL - OVERVIEW Focusrite Control is the software application used with the Clarett 8PreX. It allows you to create a custom monitor mix for each musician, and also to specify the routing of all audio signals to the physical audio outputs. All sample rate selection and digital sync source selection . is available from Focusrite Control. Note: Focusrite Control is a generic product, and may be used with other hardware interfaces in the Focusrite Clarett range.
CLARETT 8PreX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Performance Specifications Configuration Inputs 26: analogue (8), S/PDIF (2), ADAT (16) Outputs 28: analogue (10), S/PDIF (2), ADAT (8) Mixer Fully assignable 30-in/16-out mixer Digital Performance Supported sample rates 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz & 192 kHz Microphone Inputs Frequency Response 20 Hz - 20 kHz +/-0.1 dB Dynamic Range 118 dB (A-weighted) THD+N 0.
Headphone Outputs Dynamic Range 112 dB THD+N 0.0008% Maximum Output Level +16 dBu Physical and Electrical Characteristics Analogue Inputs 1 & 2 Connectors Mic: XLR sockets; Line: ¼” TRS jack, both on rear panel. . Inst: ¼” TS jack on front panel Mic/Line/Instrument switching via Focusrite Control Phantom power +48 V, independently switchable per channel Analogue Inputs 3 to 8 Connectors Mic: XLR sockets; Line: ¼” TRS jack, both on rear panel.
TROUBLESHOOTING For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Answerbase at www.focusrite.com/answerbase where you will find articles covering numerous troubleshooting examples. COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES Focusrite is a registered trade mark and Clarett 8PreX is a trade mark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All other trade marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. 2015 © Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved.
