MALIK ARSHAQ
A peek into the
SCARLETT AND CLARETT SERIES
Whether you ' re a sound engineer , producer or a performer , whether it ' s for a live setting or a studio environment , regardless of purpose and place , the first brand that pops up in mind while discussing audio interfaces is Focusrite . Having a wide range of products that cater to various specific needs , Focusrite has consolidated its position at the frontiers of pro-audio innovation and technology .
While their products include USB , Thunderbolt , ADAT , Ethernet and more , the USB interfaces are the most common type in general use . In this edition edition , we will be discussing Focusrite ' s USB audio interface ranges , the Scarlett and the Clarett .
The Focusrite Scarlett range is the best selling USB audio interface range in the world . It ' s almost impossible to not spot a Solo or a 2i2 at a home studio these days . The simple fact is that when you combine the high quality Scarlett pre-amps with super-low latency , pack it in a sleek red metal chassis and place it at extremely affordable prices , competition doesn ' t really stand a chance . The Scarlett mic preamps feature an even gain structure and have a very low noise floor even at higher gain levels . The instrument input has been designed to handle hot input signals without causing distortion . The visual feedback around the knobs allow you to monitor the input levels . The light turns red whenever the signal comes in too hot , so as to avoid distortion and clipping in your recordings .
The Scarlett range includes Solo , 2i2 , 2i4 , 6i6 , 18i8 , 18i20 . These interfaces range from catering to a simple home studio setups to a full-fledged studio environment based on the varied number of inputs and outputs and monitoring provisions .
The Clarett is a comparatively high-end range that offers four interfaces with higher number of inputs and outputs , Clarett 2Pre ( 10-in , 4-out ), Clarett 4Pre ( 18-in , 8-out ), Clarett 8Pre ( 18-in , 20-out ) and the Thunderboltonly Clarett 8PreX ( 26-in , 28-out ). The highlight of this range is the Air-enabled mic preamps , which reproduce the sound of the original ISA mic preamps .
These interfaces have ultra-low noise and distortion while possessing a wide dynamic range . With 24-bit / 192kHz analogue to digital conversion rate , these interfaces allow you to record with low latency in real time through simulations and effects plug-ins . Irrespective of the source , these interfaces allow you to record super-hot input signals without distortion or affecting the quality of the sound . The included software for these interfaces are from XLN Audio , Focusrite , Softube , Ableton and Loopmasters . Apart from the 8PreX , the rest of the models are available in both USB and Thunderbolt versions .
Packed with features to meet the various degrees of requirements , the Focusrite Scarlett and Clarett series are forces to be reckoned with .
The Score Magazine
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