Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre 8-channel Microphone Preamp Reviews

Great addition to the Focusrite Scarlet 18i20.

This was a great choice for my needs. I needed an expander that would work with my UMC-1820 and had audio throughput for all 8 channels. A shoutout to Ed Needler, my sales engineer, who was extraordinarily patient and worked with me to get just what I needed. This is a very well built and solid unit from the case to the buttons and knobs. Set up went without a hitch and it did exactly what I needed it to do. Sound quality very good as well. Note that it is 11.26" deep so if your other gear is not as deep (like mine) plugging and unplugging can be a little tricky. Overall, very, very pleased with unit. A note: the Berhinger ADA 8200 says it has direct audio throughput... it does not).

I love the Focusrite Scarlett series since they work with Protools DAW. They have great sounding preamps. I ran out of inputs with my synth studio. I came across the Focusrite OctoPre. I never used ADAT before, or synced two audio interfaces before. So I had to learn about the different types of cables used to sync up the units. After reading the manual, I was able to sync up the two units for 16 x 1/4 audio or XLR inputs. We produced several songs with the OctoPre synced up to the 18i20. They synced up to the Protools MIDI clock without any problems. Check out Midnight Angels, Lysette Lee, and Christine Lee for tracks produced with this unit.

After my initial frustrations with setting up my Octopre, Im totally happy with it. I was making something that is pretty darn easy way to hard. Between my Rep Ed Needler and the good folks at Focusrite and several calls to the guys at Felton Productions, I figured out what I was doing. Im running the new 3rd Gen 18i20 with the Octopre and the sound is really good. Bottom line is make sure you have your optics cables are in the right inputs! I had mine flipped around.

We matched our new Scarlett OctOpre with a new NOS 2nd Generation 18i8, it sync'd flawlessly to an old 8.1 DJ rig laptop we use for baseline testing of gear, software,etc. We have an RME Babyface Pro, a well known top performer, which we recorded a few basic tracks, A/B style, in a side by side with the 18i8. Then we added the optical in with 4 tracks at 96 to both RME and Scarlett to test those inputs out. Used Studio One 4.5. Bottom line, we love our 2nd Gen 18i8; does a lot for the $$ plus adds ADAT/Optical in. The OctoPre is the key to the whole rig, as those preamps are consistent with the onboard 18i8 preamps. We have been blown away at the ease of set up, ease of use, and lack of glitches and reverse-engineered routing matrix's. We use Mackie ONYX, RME, MIDAS on a regular basis and we love 'em all, but WOW, the OctoPre/18i8 series are phenomenal workhorses, and while we are satisfied with our Gen 2, they are just giving away the Gen 3, so....check those our. Either model, stellar performance. Buy An OctoPre

Sweet! 8 above-decent performing preamps at less than 50 bones each? With ADAT/Optical out, allowing me to add those 8 preamps to my USB interface with one single cable? What, I can use it as a stand-alone 8 channel mixer? C'mon...this is a no-brainer. Need line-in per channel,allowing outboard preamps to be used? Yep. Or 8 line out's allowing 8 stem mix from DAW into summing mixer...done. Super simple to set-up and use. It's all good,highly recommended. Focusrite and Sweetwater did us right!

I only just got the thing hooked up, but it seems to be working fine and the pre-amps seem very
clean and silent. Looking forward to using it on a recording project next week. I was initially worried
that since it wasn't Presonus (I'm using Quantum as my main interface) maybe it wouldn't show up
in Universal Control, but it does, and though I can't use the software to adjust levels, I love the knobs
on this box. The layout is very clear and well-designed..

Fantastic. Everything comes in so smoothly!

Good quality sound. I'm using it with a Yamaha LS9.

I needed more inputs to my digital system to accomidate band tecording. You could buy a new interface, but this renders your current interface kind of useless. I have several others laying around that will find their way to ebay. This Focusrite Scarlette is a really smart move. Just add more inputs to your current interface. No re-wiring, just plug it in. Same great quality but more inputs! Somebody used their head.

I got this to replace a "brand" digital mixer, I was using from my drums. My first impression of this was depth. The toms came to life! Wide input gain, so no clipping.I have A UAD 4-710 for kick snare and overheads, and Joe Meek, and Summit to compare with.. It holds up, and is a nice contrast from the tubes of the UAD. I believe that unless you have THE PERFECT drum room, spending a lot more would be a waste. Nobody will question the tracks you do, if you do all the other stuff right, such as play, tune, mic, and fix the room.. This unit adds, and gets out of the way! I got this through the music store I worked at. I, even then did business with SWEETWATER. Few orders this month. They continue to be the solid norm of buying gear. At least you know it will happen!

So that is all "Pro" The Cons".. really just one thing, No polarity switches!!! Bad bad bad!

Great gear at a great price ! LOVE IT !

We use an RME Babyface Pro USB interface as the centerpiece of our home studio, a stellar interface by every measure, but we have finally outgrown the 4 on-board inputs. The Babyface Pro has an ADAT in, allowing us the option to pick and choose from some excellent 8 channel preamps, but we needed some advice. Once again, our Sweetwater tech/gear consultant extraordinaire made the perfect suggestion, the very affordable Scarlett OctoPre. We can now use 8 microphones or any combination of line in/mic or instrument in for guitar/bass,synths, plus electronic drums,etc., allowing us to record up to 14 live tracks before we get to adding overdubs. So nice that the Focusrite preamps are up to the task, it was sweet to finally be able to mic a full drum kit... or a circle of blugrass pickers. We have several studio grade outboard preamps, really dig that it's a simple thing to use them all at once through the Scarlett. Now it is instant easy to send 8-10 line-outs from DAW into a summing mixer and spice up mixes like we been a dreaming of! The quality of conversion leaves no doubts as to the useful longevity of the Scarlett. The unit looks good racked up, it runs quiet, has never had even a suggestion of a technical glitch. No way to lose with this purchase. Even though it's an inexpensive unit, it's performance is at studio grade excellence.

It Works Great

I hooked it up to my Digi OO3 Rack. I got 8 additional channels of input. Now i have 16 channels all together.

Thanks Alot

Looking to add 8 awesome mic preamps to your existing interface? Look no further! Focusrite preamps are clean and quiet with great headroom, plus they look fantastic. Love the two front mic/line inputs for in the box playing and workflow practicality. ADAT out and 8 line outs. Paired mine with a UAD Apollo Twin USB and now I'm sitting pretty with 10 inputs. If you need to stay in budget but still want to accomplish your dreams while sounding like you, this will help. Be sure to get an optical cable of proper length as Focusrite doesn't provide one.

This is the next part of the Review I have for the Scarlett setup in my studio...
With this and the Scarlett 18i20 you have everything you need for a great pro quality interface for your studio.
Plus More than enough preamps to capture full bands.

The headphone mixes are a breeze to setup for talent as well. I switch between Pro Tools and Cubase quite a bit and don't have to fuss with special Que mixes, just fire up the Focusrite routing program and bam! Mixes all set and ready and easily tuned to your specific listener.

And let me tell you about the preamps........oh so nice and clean and clear. Perfect! A much needed upgrade to my setup.

Thanks again to Sweetwater (Tim) and the recommendation/pricing on these.

Took a fair bit of troubleshooting to get it set up. Sweetwater rep made it sound pretty plug and play. Finally up and running and good to go now.

I'm on my 2nd unit of this 'piece.' Luckily, Sweetwater is great with customer service so I was able to get a replacement unit after the 1st one was repaired and failed again.
The mic input would eventually develop at static noise. The 2nd unit is showing this noise here recently so I'm done buying anything Focusrite.
Stay away from this unit!