Focusrite Clarett 4Pre Thunderbolt audio interface

General

Focusrite's 4Pre is the middle child of the Clarett family. With the 4Pre, Focusrite builds on the success of their Scarlett audio interface, and to keep with the times they've used Thunderbolt technology instead of USB. Thunderbolt has enough bandwidth to support any protocol, and it's twice as fast as USB 3.0.

Sound

The Clarett 4Pre offers impressive sound quality. The microphone preamps produce a clear, open sound with enough gain for low-output mics, though they still provide a solid, organic sound for guitars and basses. Because the 4Pre can realise such a detailed sound, you're able to mix at lower sound levels and still hear enough detail.

Design

The Clarett features a robust metal housing between 1 and 2 U high, though because the interface was built for desktop use, it's not very well suited for rack installation. Besides having a solid, rugged feel, the 4Pre also features a fire-engine red front panel and a large volume dial that you'll recognise from the Scarlett series. Finally, the interface has been equipped with all the inputs you'll need for multi-track recording.

• Please note: This product comes with free effects bundles. Included are the Focusrite Red 2 and 3 Plugin Suite and Softube Time & Tone Plugin Bundle.