Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre

I still own an older Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 which I was completely happy with. Then my old Windows computer gave up its life and I had to use my Apple Mac Book Pro setup. Needless to say that I struggled to connect my old interface via Firewire as I could not find any adapter/dongle anymore. So I bought the Clarett + 2 Pre because I also need to connect my Focusrite OctroPre Dynamik which I use for my entire drum set.

The Clarett seems easy to use BUT I struggled at first to get any sound until I found out that you have to turn up the monitor more than half to hear anything. Before that there is no gain. Next thing is that you cannot control the headphone dial without the monitor dial. The two seem to work only together and that makes no sense if you use it on your desk for monitoring yourself whilst recording. Then I need to switch between the different outputs to quiet my near field monitors. That was all so convenient with the old Saffire, but on the Clarett+ it seems quite strange. So really, my workflow is more complicated than it needs to be.

I am also hosting a radio show on a local Radiostation and I use a Rode PodMic USB to connect to the Clarett+ and there is not enough gain. So now I am in need also of a Cloulifter or any other type of devise to increase the gain level. Strangely enough the gain issue is also present when I use a Neumann TLM 102 which uses Phantom Power!

So overall I am quite disappointed. Yes it works, it sounds gut but the handling and gain topic just kills the impression.

If someone reading this review has an old Apple Firewire to USB adapter to spare and does not need it anymore please consider selling it to me (not for a ridiculous price please) so I can use my old trusted Saffire again. You can find me on Youtube RMD (rocky dream).