Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre Thunderbolt Review

The Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre is a new range of Thunderbolt Interfaces continuing the 'Red' theme from their other firewire and usb interfaces (Scarlett and Sapphire!) and keeps up the tradition of red!I have been looking for a new interface for sometime now as I was a little unahppy with the Presonus Firestudio soundcard that I had. Now, please don't get me wrong this is a great little soundcard with some great features, plus the preamps don't sound that bad at all. But I personally had a no end of problems with the firewire implementation, and I put a large part of the blame down to Apple. Partly for firstly removing firewire 400 and then 800 connections from their machines and thus the only way to use this was soundcard with a MacBook Pro was via a series of hideous adaptors and connectors!I find this slightly ironic, given how much Apple pride themselves on function and looks as my laptop with a whole bunch of strange connectors and devices hang it off it looks pretty appauling. I should also add, that part of my quest for a new audio interface was because I didn't really like the gain staging on the Presonus. I found it was very hard to get the level controls just right with the level either being too quiet or distorting the source and the sweet spot was difficult to find.

Considerations

My considerations in the quest for a new sound card, first had me looking at the UAD Apollo Duo. Now this really looks like a fantastic device and I love the fact you can use UAD plugins with it and from what I read (and hear on line) the preamps are phenomenal! I was literally about to pull the plug (yes it was in the shopping basket), but I got a bit sidetracked with something out, and when I came back, the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre had popped up into my radar.With the UAD, I was willing to overlook some of my requirements for more inputs and particular more outputs in favoure of the device due to it's functions and the plug-ins. But, when I read about the Clarett and my ears (eyes!) pricked up. I am a big Focusrite fan, I have had a number of their devices over the years (although lets not talk about the terrible original Saffire firewire soundcard that we had at work.....we managed to blow three of them up, and when we actually got them working they keep crashing! I have put that in the past, I am willing to forgive and forget!).On top of that, I have always really wanted (since working in MI retail in the early 90's and selling a whole bunch of them) the Red and Green series compressors and EQs. So this seems to have a good heritage.Take the next step in your guitar playing

Thunderbolt and Lightning

So what appealed to me?Well, first off, the 4 Mic Preamps, that is pretty cool for my home studio, as with the ADAT in, I can always connect another 8 channels, so that was a tick and a plus point over the UAD (the 4 pre amps inputs, not the ADAT which you can do on both). As much as I could work with 2 mics, I like the option of being able to have four, for example, when recording a vocalist and stereo mic'd acoustic, or for doing some strange multimicing techniques for sound design, which is something I like to do a lot of.So the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre gives you a few easy options (so that is a tick). The next thing was the AIR option. The Air option models the ISA preamp in analogue domain by adjusting the input characteristics of the Clarett, again is a massive selling point. This does of course compare to the UAD which does something similar with it's preamp modelling on the input stage, and of course you can have a wider variety of preamps with the UAD, but I know the sound of the ISA and like the sound if the ISA units (so another tick).Next up, two headphone outputs, so this is only a little thing but I wish more units had multiple headphone outputs, as this makes it so much easier in the smaller studio to set up two seperate mixs, and more importantly, working the same room with a performer, being able to hear what you wish and letting them hear what you want, without having to use up your outputs to create separate mixes! Okay, perhaps this is a case of two different ways to do the same thing, but I love the fact that there are two headphone sockets on the front and they have their own independent levels controls which also have easy access.

Focusrite control

Focusrite control is a nice little app bundled with the unit, which enables you to set up your own studio routing, it is a god send and really a necessity these days. Of course it is a requirement with this unit as you can't turn the AIR function on or switch the Inst/Line input for the first two channels without it. But this is a great and clear implementation of routing sets ups and it has a variety of options, which you can save which saves a lot of time if you might have different requirements for routing on different days.This takes me to my next point, I would liked to have had some of the options that the UAD Apollo Twin has, this being the way that there are buttons on the front panel to switch things on and off and to control say switching between Line and Inst. I would have also REALLY liked a Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase switch on the panel (or EVEN in the software),The way the dials light up is very helpful, the Halo around the control is pretty awesome where green is good, orange oooh you better watch out, red, tooo late! Although a proper meter might be more precise.

Included plugins

With the Focusrite Clarett range you get two plugins free from the Focurite Red range. So!!!! Whooo!!! Yes I finally own a Red Compressor! Kind of!!!I have to say that these are great additions to the package but in no way comparable to those on offer from UAD (in terms of different plugins that is not quality!). I think I will stick with the EQ's I have already, but the Red 2 Compressor is going to see a lot of use, it has such a smooth and transpartent character, which I remember from the hardware days. I am very happy with that inclusion.GainIn my first recordings I have had a few issues of setting the gain right, I didn't have the same problems with distortion as I did with the Presonus and it's very narrow window of the sweet spot. I just undercooked a couple of test recordings as I felt that I was WAY too far up the dial then where I should be for the sound source I was recording.But, I should have trusted my ears more than my eyes! I guess that is one issue I have with the Clarrett, the fact the input gain goes from 0-10, which isn't very helpful, I would have like it to have a dB scale and actually would have expected it.

Sounds

As always I say this with a caveat, that the SOUND of a unit is a very subjective area!Personally, I really like the sound of the Clarett. It is very transparent, clean and uncoloured. I think if you are looking for some form of 'character' preamp, then you might need to stick one in front of this, or use plugins. Which is fine totally with me!I like the purity of the sound and when you kick in the Air option, you get a very lovely HF crispness to the sound which isn't overly bright but more 'well founded'. I think I will probably leave this on most of the time for all of the brightest of sources. The output as well has a refinded quality to it, it is much more airy and open than my Presonus (as you would expect)I still would have loved many of the features from the UAD Apollo, but it seemed buying into the UAD ecosystem would mean a large investment in new plugins. I have a large collection of Waves plug-ins, which I do like and as I get older (or maybe more mature), I am actually trying to limit my plug in envy and limit myself to a few which I really love (and I kind of already have those!).I was hankering over the UAD EMT 140 plate, which sounds so nice, but then I was pointed in the direction of Valhalla DSP and wow!!!! I am in love with the Plate Plugin, it is fantastic, and it was only $50!!! Everyone should check this one out for sure! (NB. I don't work for the company or have any affiliation, I just appreciate good DSP work!)

Conclusion

[ctt title="Overall I am very happy with the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre" tweet="Focusrite Clarett 4Pre reviewed @lightb4sound http://bit.ly/1LAGi95 #musictech #review" coverup="hF6bf"]All in all, I am very happy with this unit and I am looking forward to doing many many hours of recording with it.....and I have already started on a few projects and I am very happy!Do I still have a crush on the UAD? Yes, but I think I would realistically have to have gone for the larger (and much more expensive) units to meet my needs.Does the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre do everything I want? Pretty much and it leaves me cash to get a few more esoteric character plugins. I should also add, knowing my studio and the acoustic wherein, the limitations of this space mean that more cash spent on high-end equipment would have been slightly futile, as I dont have the best or most correct acoustic space to fully apprecaite the subtleties of the units and they would only stand to highlight the problems I have with my recording space.SO yes, this is well worth a look.BUT......the biggest bug bear was the lack of a Thunderbolt cable. Please watch my rant video about this. This isn't just a Focurite issue, it seems all manufacturers produdcing Thunderbolt products are doing the same. It is mostly an Apple thing, but if I have to buy a cable anyway, why not just stick one in a charge me for it. I have to pay anyway!No Thunderbolt Cable IncludedOkay, so the 'hippy zen me' rarely goes on a rant, but here is a little rant video I made about something which really bugged me. Why when you buy Thunderbolt products can't the producer supply an included cable. I know that Apple charge a premimun for these bloody cables, and that is Apple through and through. But seriously, include the cable and charge me for it, I am more happy with that, then getting a device and then having to wait another couple of days to use it while I wait for a cable to be delivered. It actually gives me a negative perception of your company. You could buy a whole bunch at cost and just charge me the same thing and bundle it. It is a good marketing thing! Okay rant over!!![gallery ids="4873,4872,4871"]Pros

Sounds fantastic
AIR is amazing
Functionality and
Very stable
Low Latency
Lovely controls
Looks awesome in RED!

Cons

Would have liked a few more outs (even two more!)
No Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase options, either in software or on panel.
Don't like the 1-10 input level control, would have preferred dB level
THUNDERBOLT CABLE NOT INCLUDED!!! (Watch my RANT video here)

Enjoy!PeaceNeil