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Studio & Recording > Preamps > Channel Strips > Focusrite OctoPre

We recommend these great replacements:

Focusrite OctoPre Mk II Focusrite OctoPre Mk II
8-channel Microphone Preamplifier with ADAT Optical Output

Retail Price: $599.99
Save 17% when you buy today!
Sale Price: $499.99

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Focusrite OctoPre (No Longer Available)

8-channel Microphone Preamp with Individual Compressor/Limiters

Sorry, the Focusrite OctoPre is no longer available. We've left this page up for reference only. Check out the great alternatives on this page or call toll-free (800) 222-4700 to speak with a Sweetwater Sales Engineer about similar products.

From Our Research Team:

Multichannel DAW Front End!

The Platinum OctoPre is a Focusrite mic preamp featuring eight pristine Focusrite channels. OctoPre routes directly to any digital audio workstation via analog outputs or a new 24-bit/96kHz A/D converter. The OctoPre offers the unique qualities associated with the Focusrite name at an affordable price.

Focusrite OctoPre at a Glance:
  • Compressor/limiter circuit on every channel
  • Award-winning Focusrite mic preamps
  • Balanced analog outputs plus optional digital I/O
  • Partners with Pro Tools or other workstations

Compressor/limiter circuit on every channel
Each channel also features a compressor / limiter circuit, providing a warm-sounding compressor, which morphs into a brick wall limiter to avoid those critical overs, ensuring total control over all eight channels.

Award-winning Focusrite mic preamps
The mic pres featured in OctoPre are those featured elsewhere in the award winning Focusrite Platinum range. They are a transistor-based Class A design utilizing the same full-bandwidth philosophy as the legendary Red and ISA mic pres, ensuring detail and clarity without coloration. The first two 'super channels' also feature phase reverse, as well as TRS Jack inputs on the front panel for quick and easy, DI-free plug-in.

Balanced analog outputs plus optional digital I/O
Output can be either analog or digital; choices include 8 balanced analog outputs, or an optional A/D, (8 AES, S/PDIF and ADAT lightpipe digital outputs.) An external Word clock input is also provided (BNC connector.) The AES-EBU and S/PDIF format outputs all operate at up to 24bit /96kHz and can run simultaneously with the lightpipe outputs, giving up to 16 channels of digital output for sample rates of 44.1 and 48kHz, at 16, 20 or 24 bit dithered.

Partners with Pro Tools or other workstations
The Platinum Octopre can be used as a partner for your Pro Tools HD or Digi 002 system or any other digital audio workstation, making multi-channel recording easy. It could also add an additional set of mic pres for any analog or digital console, or hard disk recorder.


Focusrite OctoPre Features:
  • Balanced Mic and Line inputs
  • Nominal level +4dBu /-10dBV
  • TRS Jack (channels one and two only)
  • 25-pin D-type 8 channel analog connector
  • 8 XLR inputs for Mic
  • Phantom Power +48V
  • Gain: (mic): 0dB to 60dB; (line): -10dB to +10 dB; (instrument): 0dB to 60dB (Impedance >1M ?)
  • Phase Reverse: (1 and 2 only)
  • High Pass filter:12dB /octave.-3dB@75Hz
  • Dynamics: Limit is fixed at 20dBu
  • Compressor threshold and ratio is variable
  • Frequency select - Switchable (44.1,48,88.2,96 kHz)
  • Dither - 24-, 20-, or 16-bit
  • Signal Present: 20dBu
  • Over Load: - +22dBu
  • Compressor mode - Yellow LED intensity increases with compression
  • Hard Limit mode - Red LED on for Limit. Threshold = +20dBu
  • Optional 8-channel optical lightpipe for 16-, 20-, or 24-bit ADAT format (up to 48kHz)
  • Optional 8 channels of S/PDIF on a 9-pin D-type connector (up to 96kHz)
  • Optional 8 channels of AES on the same 9-pin D-type connector (up to 96kHz)
Specification Detail
Manufacturer Part Number PLATINUM8OCTOPRE

OctoPre Image Gallery

Can We Help?

Sweetwater's friendly and knowledgeable Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and educated professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. As your personal contact here at Sweetwater, they are available to provide personalized advice any time you need it.
Call toll-free (800) 222-4700 or E-mail us

Be the first to review this product

Previous Reviewers Got it Right

by Aaron from San Antonio, TX
June 19, 2008
Music Background: Recording Engineer/Home Studio Owner
Great Pres - Especially for the price. What a deal! 8 channels of focusrite class A for $100 a channel. BOOYA! The reason these pres are so affordable is because they sound a little sterile compar... read more [+]ed to higher end pres like API and the ISA and Red series. But the best part is, they still sound GREAT! 99% of the time, you get what you pay for so no big deal anyways. A GREAT Prosumer piece of gear. Highly recommend. Sound great on drums. And I've got to confirm - the Dynamics are a bit stange... Still a good buy. close [-]

awesome pre. awesome price

by Joey from chicago IL.
May 17, 2007
Music Background: piano player. project studio owner
i just purchased this pre weeks ago and used it on drums. it sounded great. useing neuman km184s for overheads and audix drum mics, ran kick through a avalon m5. great warm sound not harsh like the ... read more [+]digimax. only use a little of the compressor/limiter to prevent peaking or turn compressor off. 125 bucks a channel for class A, you cant beat that close [-]

Great for drums awful dynamics

by Warren from New York
August 8, 2008
Music Background: 25 year professional musician and studio owner
I have used this pre to record drums. Although useful as a pre the dynamics are not that great. I also have the digital option and have found the drums to sound a little thin compared to the analog ou... read more [+]tput. close [-]

Great sound, tasty dynamics

by Morton from Mannheim, Germany
November 6, 2007
Music Background: Studio musician and producer
I can only confirm, what´s been written so far.
Great preamps, nice look -
but - as stated before - a very strange dynamics´ philosophy by Focusrite. I really wonder at these "testers... read more [+]" finding the dynamic section of the octopre that good. Even with little (say 1/3)compression you will find your acoustic gitar sound deteriorated (especially with chords). Do I own one of the first test versions, or how is that possible?
Result: I never use the dynamics
but am still happy with the pres.
Gonna buy me the ADAT option which can be used with the analogue outs simultaneously. Great for recording AND monitoring. close [-]

Sweetwater Advice

Mike Conyers
For an 8-channel mic pre that sounds great and won't break the bank, the OctoPre is what you need. Solid compression/limiting on each individual channel, and with the inexpensive add-in cards, you can get ADAT, AES and S/PDIF options as well!
Read more reviews

Absolutely amazed by the personal service on our order! It is obvious customer satisfaction is a priority. Your company would be the first place we would look for music related items. Great prices, great service and BTW, even the little touch of adding some candy made my kids very pleased! Thank you!


David, Renton, WA
See Also: Focusrite , Focusrite Channel Strips , Focusrite Multi-Channel Preamps

Focusrite OctoPre

Today's Payment: $309.99
Includes $10 processing fee
Payment 2: $299.99
In approx. 30 days
Payment 3: $299.99
In approx. 60 days

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