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Average Price: $273
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Description
Elevate your studio and on-the-go recordings with the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt Audio Interface. Renowned for its pristine mic preamps, this portable powerhouse ensures your sound is captured with clarity and depth, whether you're in your bedroom studio or capturing overdubs while touring. Its standout feature, the switchable "Air Effect", breathes life into your recordings, mimicking the iconic sound of transformer-coupled circuits for that extra sparkle. With low-latency performance and a robust I/O, the Clarett 4Pre seamlessly integrates with your DAW, bringing the essence of classic recordings into your modern workflow.
Key Features:
- Four pristine mic preamps for clear audio capture
- Switchable "Air Effect" to emulate transformer-coupled circuits
- Remarkable low-latency performance for efficient recording
- Extensive analog and digital I/O for versatile connectivity
Product specs
| Brand | Focusrite |
| Model | Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt Audio Interface |
| Finish | Red |
| Year | 2010s |
| Categories | Audio Interfaces |
| Bit Depth | 24-bit |
| Bus-Powered | No |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS |
| Computer Connectivity | Thunderbolt |
| Digital Input Format | ADAT/Optical, S/PIDF |
| Digital Output Format | S/PIDF |
| Electronics | Analog, Digital, Solid State |
| Format | Desktop Standalone |
| Number of Analog Inputs | 8 |
| Number of Analog Outputs | 4 |
| Number of Channels | 24 |
| Number of Digital Inputs | 10 |
| Number of Digital Outputs | 2 |
| Number of Headphone Outputs | 2 |
| Number of MIDI Inputs | 1 |
| Number of MIDI Outputs | 1 |
| Number of Mic Preamps | 4 |
| Sample Rate | 192 khz |
FAQs
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What connectivity options does the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt Audio Interface offer?
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The Clarett 4Pre provides Thunderbolt connectivity for fast and reliable data transfer, along with ADAT/Optical and S/PIDF digital inputs and outputs, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of digital audio equipment.
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How many mic preamps are included in the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre?
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The Focusrite Clarett 4Pre features four high-quality Clarett mic preamps, offering excellent sound quality and headroom for professional recording applications.
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Is the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt compatible with both Windows and macOS?
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Yes, the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt Audio Interface is compatible with both Windows and macOS, making it versatile for different studio setups.
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Can the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre handle high-resolution audio recordings?
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Absolutely, the Clarett 4Pre supports a sample rate of up to 192 kHz and 24-bit depth, allowing for high-resolution audio recording and playback.
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Does the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre require an external power source?
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Yes, the Clarett 4Pre is not bus-powered and requires an external power source to operate, ensuring stable performance and power delivery to its components.
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How many headphone outputs are available on the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre?
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The Focusrite Clarett 4Pre includes two headphone outputs, allowing for multiple users to monitor audio simultaneously during recording or mixing sessions.
Videos
Focusrite
Focusrite // Recording Solomon Grey with the Clarett 4Pre
Reviews
PROS
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Thunderbolt interface ensures quick data transfer
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Compact and portable design
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AIR-enabled, transparent mic preamps enhance recording quality
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Versatile with 8 inputs and up to 14 via expansion
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Easy setup with Focusrite Control software
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Dual headphone jacks for multi-user sessions
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No noticeable latency in recording
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Compatible with both old and new Macs
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Quality build, likely to last many years
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Plug-in bundles add value
CONS
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Can get pretty hot during use
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Does not sync with Logic Pro without re-plugging Thunderbolt cable
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Does not come with a Thunderbolt cable
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Limited compatibility with Windows PCs
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt Audio Interface.
User experience
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Owners report having to crank the gain on the Clarett+ 4Pre, with some needing levels set to 8 or 9 even for condenser mics.
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It's noted that room noise can be an issue when gain settings are high, impacting the clarity of recordings.
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Switching sample rates between 48kHz and 44.1kHz can cause occasional delays when changing apps.
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Features and functionality
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The Clarett+ 4Pre offers improved DAC quality, enhancing detail, instrument separation, and stereo imaging compared to older Scarlett models.
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The round-trip latency on the Clarett+ is reportedly not an improvement over older Scarlett models, a point of frustration for some users.
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The Clarett 4Pre's preamp is praised for its headroom and quiet operation, providing excellent sound quality for its price.
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Software and compatibility
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The Focusrite Control app is confirmed to work well on Windows, alleviating some compatibility concerns.
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Focusrite's Thunderbolt driver ensures compatibility with Apple Silicon systems, allowing a smooth setup process on MacBook Pro M2 Max.
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macOS Ventura 13.5.1 update has improved compatibility, eliminating clicks and pops on M1 and M2 Macs.
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A 128 sample buffer is optimal for stability on MacBooks, utilizing performance cores rather than efficiency cores.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 5 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
"This is my Clarett 4Pre, which I'm very proud of. I love Focusrite, I've used them since day one, since the Scarlett 2i2 and, yeah, they're just great preamps and, again, pretty affordable for what I'm doing."
"The first attribute of the 4Pre that sold him was perhaps the most obvious: its sound. “I can really hear things more clearly than I ever had before. I was listening to “Sound & Color” by Alabama Shakes, which I’ve listened to a hundred times—and I realized that there was a synth in there that I had never heard before. It’s really interesting—when the Apogees came out, they were supposed to be the best of the best. But with the 4Pre, there’s a very noticeable improvement. It’s really a huge difference.” And he gives the thumb’s up on the unit’s Air effect, which emulates the sound of Focusrite’s classic transformer-based ISA preamps, as well. “Just yesterday, I was recording sleigh bells for something that I’m working on, and I had Air on—it sounded so open and clear. It’s really crazy!”"
Featured in this March 13, 2020 Twitter post. It is also visible in this March 23, 2020 Twitter post and this November 11, 2020 Twitter post (pictured).
March 13, 2020
I found out my sound card has two outputs... so I did silent disco with my bestie... There are so many way to have a fun at home to fight corona❤️
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt Audio Interface, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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