Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre USB-C Audio Interface, 18-in/8-out
The Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre is a desktop USB-C audio interface that records four mics at once and takes four more line sources on the back: enough to track a duo, a small band at rehearsal or a keyboard player surrounded by synths without unplugging anything. Two headphone outputs with separate mixes, S/PDIF and an ADAT input round it out.
What sets it apart
- Four Clarett+ preamps with analog Air mode on every channel
- Four extra balanced line inputs on the back
- Two headphone outputs, one with its own independent mix
- Coaxial S/PDIF in and out, plus an ADAT optical input
- Up to 18 channels recorded at the same time
Eight analog sources on one desk
The four XLR/jack combo inputs on the front take mics, instruments (inputs 1 and 2, in high-impedance JFET mode) or line signals. On the back, four balanced 1/4-inch line inputs handle a drum machine, a stereo synth or the return from an effects processor. That makes eight analog inputs without a rack.
Phantom power is switched in pairs, inputs 1-2 and 3-4: handy for keeping a ribbon mic on one pair while two condenser mics work on the other.
Two cue mixes, two happy musicians
Headphone 1 carries the mix on outputs 3 and 4; headphone 2 gets its own mix, built in the control software on outputs 5 and 6. Each output has its own volume knob. The singer hears more vocal, the guitarist more click, and nobody has to negotiate.
Four balanced line outputs feed the main monitors and a second pair of speakers, or a send to a headphone amp for more musicians.
Digital links to the rest of the studio
Two RCA jacks carry stereo S/PDIF both ways: a preamp with a digital output or an effects processor connects without going back through analog. The ADAT optical input adds eight channels at 44.1 or 48 kHz, four at 88.2 or 96 kHz. That brings you to 18 inputs: four mics, four lines, two S/PDIF and eight ADAT.
MIDI IN and OUT ports connect a keyboard or external sound module straight to the computer.
Form factor and power
Unlike the 2Pre, the 4Pre is not USB-powered: it runs on its 12 V 2 A power supply. The desktop case is 222 mm wide and weighs 1.61 kg; it has no rack ears.
Input stage performance is shared across the range: 57 dB of gain, -129 dBu equivalent input noise and 124 dB of output dynamic range, with 24-bit converters up to 192 kHz.
Specifications
| Mic preamps | 4, XLR/jack combo on the front |
|---|---|
| Additional line inputs | 4, balanced 1/4-inch jack on the back |
| Instrument inputs | 2 (inputs 1 and 2), JFET |
| Total inputs | 18 (8 analog, 2 S/PDIF, 8 ADAT) |
| Line outputs | 4, balanced 1/4-inch jack |
| Headphones | 2 outputs, one with an independent mix |
| S/PDIF | coaxial RCA in and out |
| ADAT | 1 optical input |
| MIDI | 5-pin DIN in and out |
| Phantom power | 48 V per pair of inputs (1-2, 3-4) |
| Conversion | 24-bit, 44.1 to 192 kHz |
| Power | external 12 V 2 A supply |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 222 x 192 x 63.5 mm |
| Weight | 1.61 kg |
What it's for
- Vocal and guitar duo recorded with two room mics
- Small-band rehearsal captured on four mics
- Keyboard players who keep synths and drum machine plugged in for good
- Home studio planning to add an eight-channel preamp over ADAT
Compared with other manufacturers
Four preamps in a desktop box is a format several manufacturers offer. The table compares form factor and connection, not sound.
| Model | Mic preamps | Form factor | Computer connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre | 4 | Desktop | USB-C |
| Audient iD44 MkII | 4 | Desktop | USB-C |
| Universal Audio Apollo x4 | 4 | Desktop | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Solid State Logic SSL 12 | 4 | Desktop | USB-C, with ADAT input |
Frequently asked questions
- Can the Clarett+ 4Pre be powered over USB?
- No. It runs on its 12 V 2 A power supply. In the Clarett+ range, only the 2Pre can be powered from the USB-C bus.
- Can the Clarett+ 4Pre be rack-mounted?
- Not as it ships: it is a 222 mm wide desktop unit with no rack ears. For a 19-inch rack, the Clarett+ 8Pre is a 1U unit.
- Why 18 inputs when there are only four preamps?
- The total adds up four mic inputs, four line inputs, two S/PDIF channels and eight ADAT channels. The eight ADAT channels require an external unit, such as an eight-channel preamp.
- Can two musicians each have their own headphone mix?
- Yes. Headphone 2 gets an independent mix set in the software; headphone 1 follows the mix on outputs 3 and 4, which can also be customized.
Avis clients
Does your band rehearse with the Clarett+ 4Pre? Tell us how you place your four mics.
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.