User Guide www.focusrite.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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 2Pre, 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 2Pre 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 2Pre drivers before connecting the interface to your computer. Software Installation All software required by the Clarett 2Pre, 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 2Pre contains validation codes which you will need to enter at the above web address.
Hardware Features Front Panel 1 3 1 3 5 4 8 5 2 4 10 9 6 2 7 The front panel includes all the input gain and monitoring controls as well as two of the input connectors for Mic, Line and Instrument signals. 1. INPUTS 1 & 2 – “Combo XLR” input sockets for each channel - connect microphones, instruments . (e.g., guitar), or line level signals via XLR or ¼” jacks as appropriate. Either TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) jack plugs can be used for instruments or line level signals. 2.
Rear Panel 6 5 3 6 2 1 4 1. LINE OUTPUTS 1 to 4 – four balanced analogue line outputs on ¼” jack sockets; use TRS jacks for a balanced connection or TS jacks for unbalanced. Line Outputs 1 and 2 will generally be used for driving the main L and R speakers of your monitoring system, while Outputs 3 and 4 can be used for driving alternative speakers (i.e., midfield, nearfield, etc.) or to send audio to outboard FX processors. The signals routed to all the outputs may be defined in Focusrite Control.
Connecting your Clarett 2Pre IMPORTANT: Before you connect the Clarett 2Pre 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 2Pre must be powered using the supplied AC adaptor (PSU). Plug the coaxial connector on the two-core cable on the PSU into the rear panel power socket and turn the unit on with the power switch.
Connecting Clarett 2Pre to loudspeakers The 1/4” jack LINE OUTPUTS 1 and 2 on the rear panel will normally be used to drive monitoring speakers. Self-powered monitors (e.g., typical computer speakers) incorporate internal amplifiers, and may be connected directly. Passive loudspeakers will require a separate stereo amplifier; in this case, the outputs should be connected to the amplifier’s inputs.
When mixing, you can connect an additional pair of reference monitor speakers to . LINE OUTPUTS 3 and 4 allowing you to check your mix on different types of speaker. By default, these outputs do not carry the same stereo signal as LINE OUTPUTS 1 and 2. If you wish, you can use Focusrite Control to route the same stereo signal feeding LINE OUTPUTS 1 and 2 to these outputs.
Examples of Usage The Clarett 2Pre is an excellent choice for numerous recording and monitoring applications. . Some typical configurations are shown below. 1. Recording a solo artist This setup illustrates a typical configuration for multitrack recording with DAW software on your computer. In this case, two sources – a microphone and a guitar – are connected to the Clarett 2Pre’s inputs.
It is possible that the performer may prefer to hear a monitor mix of voice and instruments adjusted to their particular taste. Focusrite Control lets you define a custom monitor mix for the artist and this mix may include the current input signals as well as previously recorded DAW tracks. You can easily route a musician’s stereo monitor mix to Outputs 3 and 4, and it will then be available at the . Clarett 2Pre’s headphone socket.
2. Using the optical connections In addition to the two analogue inputs, the Clarett 2Pre has an ADAT input port (OPTICAL IN) which can provide an additional eight audio inputs at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate, four at 88.2/96 kHz or two at 176.4/192 kHz. Using a separate 8-channel microphone preamplifier equipped with an ADAT output – such as the Focusrite OctoPre MkII – provides a simple and excellent method of expanding the Clarett 2Pre’s input capability.
3. Using the Clarett 2Pre as an on-stage mic pre-amp The Clarett 2Pre automatically stores any mix configuration defined in Focusrite Control within the hardware. This feature lets you configure it – for example, simply as an on-stage mic pre-amp for one or two mics, or for a mic and a guitar – using your computer, and then save the configuration to the device itself. Then you can use the Clarett 2Pre as a compact stage pre-amp, with the advantage of Focusrite’s renowned analogue sonic quality.
FOCUSRITE CONTROL - OVERVIEW Focusrite Control is the software application used with the Clarett 2Pre. 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, digital syncing and buffer size settings . (Windows only) are 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 2PRE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Performance Specifications Configuration Inputs 10: analogue (2), ADAT (8) Outputs 4: analogue Mixer Fully assignable 20-in/6-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 119 dB (A-weighted) THD+N 0.
Physical and Electrical Characteristics Analogue Inputs Connectors “Combo XLR” sockets: Mic/Line/Inst, on front panel Mic/Line switching Automatic Line/Instrument switching via Focusrite Control Phantom power +48 V switches for each input Analogue Outputs Main outputs 4 x balanced ¼” TRS jacks (on rear panel) Stereo headphone output ¼” TRS jack on front panel Main monitor output level control Headphones level control On front panel Other I/O ADAT I/O TOSLINK optical connector: 8 channels at 4
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 2Pre 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.
