Dood

My very faithful and awesome Clarett 2Pre is up for sale. Since starting shooting review videos and doing recording from home I've needed more inputs. My original plan was to buy an OctoPre add-on for my 2Pre, but money has been really tight. I've managed to score a used second hand 4Pre for a reasonable price and sadly my as new 2Pre needs to go to pay for it. 

Ideally, I would love to keep it as it would go in my laptop bag for remote work, but I'm brassic.  

Very highly rated by trusted interface reviewer Julian Krause on YouTube

Full specifications below. 

Supports USB-C Bus power and frankly sounds superb. 

The new model seems to be coming in at £360 online, so £250 £225 seems reasonable for this? Shipping will be about £10 mainland UK, more for overseas. 

https://store.focusrite.com/en-gb/product/clarett-2pre-usb/MOCL0006DM~MOCL0006DM

Features

Ultra-low noise (-128dB EIN) Clarett mic preamps, ultra-low distortion and up to 119dB dynamic range

Supports any Mac® or PC with USB 2.0 and above

Precision 24-bit/192kHz A-D and D-A conversion for the ideal signal path

Connects to Mac® or PC using the included standard USB and USB Type-C™ cables

Two mic/line/instrument inputs

ADAT input allowing for expansion of up to eight additional input channels

Gain Halo meters make it easy for you to set the input level

Two monitor outputs with anti-thump technology

Headphone output with volume control

Two additional line outputs

MIDI I/O

The two Air-enabled mic preamps can reproduce the sound of Focusrite’s original ISA mic preamp

Record with super-low latency through amp simulators and effects plug-ins

Focusrite Control: a user-friendly control software which enables you to configure your routing and monitor mixes from Mac®, PC, iPad®, iPhone® or iPod touch®

Accolades and Reviews

MusicTech Choice Award 9/10

"The Clarett USB range certainly brings that high-quality sound to those lacking Thunderbolt connectivity and also brings low-latency recording and the Air feature too." - MusicTech Review

"In a marketplace that’s crowded with small format USB audio interfaces, this one stands out in a couple of ways. The electronics are first class, it’s easy to use and the results are excellent." - Ask Audio

"The Clarett 2Pre USB is an interface that offers great features to  the recording guitarist. It’s functional, stable and fast, and it’s portable enough for live use." - Guitar Interactive Magazine Review

Specifications

24-bit / 192 kHz

10 inputs and 4 outputs

2 Clarett mic preamps with Air mode model and the classic ISA Micpreamp sound

Low noise (-128dB ON)

Up to 119 dB dynamic range

Switchable phantom power +48 V

2x mic / instrument / line input XLR / 1/4" jack combo

4x line output 6.3 mm jack

MIDI In / Out

ADAT input

Stereo headphone output 6.3 mm jack

USB

Desktop Case

Dimensions (W x H x D): 210 x 55 x 161 mm

Weight: 1.11 kg

Includes XLN Audio Addictive Keys, Focusrite Red Plug-in Suite, Softube Time and Tone Bundle, Focusrite Plug-in Collective and Ableton Live Lite, 2x USB cable (standard USB and USB Type-C) and power adapter

11 hours ago, Matt P said:

i've always bought from Watford Valves, just replaced all the valves in my little Laney LC15 guitar amp, went for the Harma Retro and they sound pretty good, close to the description on the website.

 

on a previous amp i went for the Cryo treated ones, no idea if they were better than the standard but the amp sounded very nice afterwards.

 

Matt

I've always used Watford Valves too and know (and really like) the Harma STR's. I've not had a chance to roll the Retros yet, but I will when I have a valve pre again! Derek (I think is the man behind the brand) has always been helpful.

Here's my answer to the 8x10 / 6x10 conundrum. I like the modular approach depending on the gig size but in a more compact form factor. Nice chunky cabinets. These aren't Neo though. 

6 hours ago, Tripehound said:

I shall wait for that with interest. Any idea when it will be published?

I'm afraid I don't, sorry, but as soon as I've done the review we'll have a better idea.

On 18/02/2023 at 11:13, Tripehound said:

I'm really attracted to the Quad Cortex due to its functionality and its form but I know that I'd use barely 5% of its capabilities, even taking into account a bit of home guitar playing. For live duties I'm not sure that I'd like a one-and-a-half-grand piece of gear on the floor when there's beer and punters about...

 

Could this be a reasonable compromise in that it would (temporarily) satisfy my twiddling with tech urges, do the job and come in at a less wallet-draining price?

 

https://www.bassgearmag.com/ik-multimedia-releases-tonex-pedal/

 

I’ll be video reviewing one soon! (I’m staff for that very magazine!) 

£900+ worth of monitors, boxed, absolutely look like new (still have the protective plastic on) for £675?

bargain of the century, the HR monitors are superb! 

32 minutes ago, bassfan said:

Looking forward to that! 😃 let us know when it’s done mate 👍🏻

I will!!! 

Which reminds me, I really must find time to post the other 400 odd videos I've recorded for bass chatters!

I'll be doing a full video review as soon as I can get my hands on one!

Ahhh yes! Superb! I actually had a pair of ND410S cabinets powered with a massive Powersoft power amp. Absolutely bonkers punch and clarity for days! I later had a Tecamp 2x12 and a Tecamp 6x12 (Tecamp being Thomas Eich's subsequent brand, he now owns Eich amplification) . Great gear!

Had he have learned the song from notation such as the version in Guitar Pro, he will have seen it notated in the key of E Major (4 sharps) but the guitars are indeed 'detuned' down a semi-tone, so maybe that's where the confusion lies?

After recording countless review videos for some of the nicest basses out in the wilds, I regret not buying many of them. I only have an empty wallet to save me from the weaknesses of GAS!! So, less of a case of didn't, more, couldn't.

I'd love to have bought: (off the top of my head, there are SO many!)

Overwater Progress IV 5 string Standard

Mayones BE (Though I wanted a BE5)

Mayones Viking 

Enfield Lionheart 4

PRS Kestrel 4

Fender USA '58.. if anyone can find a roasted Ash model.. YUM!

Everything by Dingwall, but the ABZ 6, one of the first basses I reviewed was amazing.

Vox Star bass (Aguilar version)

Roscoe Fretless 6

Spector 4 LT

Cort A5 Ultra 

A Maruszczyk fan fretted jazz bass. 

Soooo many!!! Just a few of my video reviews you can see HERE for a guitar mag and HERE for Bass Gear Magazine

There are hundreds more out there but will keep ya busy for a wee bit! Don't get me started on amplifiers, cabinets and pedals!!

The same goes for using a Capo and playing the same shapes in each new position its placed. 

7 minutes ago, Scatamonky said:

I've taken them down quite a bit - and to be honest - no real noticeable difference in tone or volume - and hopefully no more hitting them when I'm playing! 

Thats great news!! Treat the lil beaut to a service and set up too as you may be able to tidy up those odd fret buzzes with a tweak or two or at worst a fret dress  I liked the bass tone by the way! 

Will look in to potential shipping. 

It’s my job  #BassNerd

Scatamonky, I’ve the GZR’s in a P bass too. They are superb! 
 

Usually EMGs like to be as high as possible (the actives) but lowering these will be fine as they are designed to be like 70’s pups.

Of course, it’s worth checking your finger style technique as well if you’re still getting the ole clack after pulling the pups down. (Don’t wind them down too far as you’ll lose some of the midrange punch we crave. 

2 hours ago, fretmeister said:

Honestly - when you have that flexibility (I have 4 external loops on my helix and can place them anywhere) you can try it all.

 

A physical rig might limit you to putting a pedal between the preamp and the poweramp / cab, but you can try it after the cab if you want.

Depending on what the multi is, you can even build it all backwards. Bass into cab, into FX, then into the amp dead last.

 

There's some amazingly fun / utterly useless sounds to be found this way!

Ahh, sorry, I missed your post basically saying exactly the same thing! Thanks mate

17 hours ago, stewblack said:

The effects loop can be moved around. I guess I'm asking before or after the 'amp' in the multi effects

Wherever you like it to be! On both the Helix and Neural Quad Cortex, (and many more) you can even put the effects loop between and amplifier and a cabinet, if that's what you fancy! Indeed, all of my time based effects, modulations and the like always appear after any amplifier or cabinet sounds - so, as if they were applied later at mixing, not as pedals in a live rig, if you see what I mean?

Ultimately the beauty of multi-effects is in being able to try things that you couldn't do in the real world without extra hardware. I love that flexibility.

1 minute ago, miles'tone said:

Solid covers though so no pole pieces exposed to clack against?

It will still make a sound, especially if the pickups are a bit microphonic too. 

2 minutes ago, Dood said:

Frets is a different sound but can sometimes happen as well / blended in. 

Actually later on there's some fret clack too and fret buzz on an E2 which is quite prominent - 7th fret of the A string.

Just now, Crusoe said:

I wasn't sure it it was the frets or pickups. 👍

Frets is a different sound but can sometimes happen as well / blended in. 

The strings are hitting the top of the pickups because you are plucking the strings towards the body rather than picking up and down - I can tell this is playing finger style. 

18 hours ago, White Cloud said:

Man, there's no worse heartache than true love which has slipped through ones fingers. Hope you get a lead on this...

a very familiar tale. 

I used to have an account with Hypex. Their modules are brilliant and, I believe the choice that Barefaced went with for the FR800. 

4 hours ago, mario_buoninfante said:

I have to admit, 6 string basses are interesting beasts

Never had or played one. I only had a cheap 5 string bass early on in my journey, but I then moved back to a 4 string again.

My main concerns when I think about 5 or 6 string basses are:

- how's the E string compared to a 4 string?

- is the B string too different tonally?

 

I'd be interested in hearing people's thoughts about it.

Both of these points depend a lot on the instrument, it’s hardware, its electronics and its strings!

I’ve reviewed cheap basses with insane low B strings and expensive ones that surprised me. Not necessarily in a good way.

I have and use the Clarett USB 2Pre (not the current + version) and I find it to be exceptional. It has been used in my studio solidly everyday since I received it (and has both recorded and mixed many of my reviews for Bass Gear and Guitar Interactive Magazines. I really need more input channels now, so I did wonder about either going for a Scarlett Gen3 or even the Scarlett OctoPre to connect to my Clarett for another 8 channels of input. 

Either way, I think the Clarett is a very good interface and the likes of YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@JulianKrause speaks very highly of it - and he knows his tech! 

@Sibob is absolutely brilliant and knows his stuff  Focusrite/Novation support has been amazing with my controllers and the like too, which means a lot to me as a professional. Cheers Si!