Focusrite OctoPre

Analog-digital channels with 8 XLR Mic and Line sub-D25 + 1x8 ADAT channels at 44.1 and 48 kHz and 2x4 channels 88 and 96 kHz output converter.
8 XLR inputs, 2 instrument inputs with high impedance jack.
Rack Model 9 "1U.
48V phantom power - low cut filter - compression - level.

I bought the ADAT card surcharge Thomann to plug a Creamware Pulsar 2.
Bought a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 then.

Expensive but affordable.

UTILIZATION

Simple configuration. Difficulty working in 96 kHz sound cards. The outputs are limited in high frequency optical cable.
Useful for recording separate batteries for home pickups and amps.

SOUND QUALITY

Its very clean. Transparent. Shine in the midrange I prefer to use rather than the inputs of my Saffire, there are fewer limits and the sound is better. Very good rendition of the dynamic microphones.
Discrete compression.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 7 years.

I have not had any other models to compare.

Pros: Sound quality. Useful options slices. Good quality / price ratio.
The -: No D / A conversion - 4 inputs 96 kHz - Prefer a Mk2.

Yes, I am very happy.

8 digital channels with XLR Mic and Line sub-D25 + 1x8 ADAT outputs 44.1 kHz channels and 2x4 channels 88 and 96 Khz - Analog Converter

UTILIZATION

Fairly easy to implement, ideal for extending the number of entries in your console or sound card.
But beware!
-> Use good ADAT cables and synchronize WORDCLOCK to ensure stability with your sync master (sound card or console)

SOUND QUALITY

Used IN LINE: direct outputs connected to the Focusrite in SUB-D25 analog console, the dynamic is perfect, the sound is clear, almost transparent compared to the console preamps, compression turns discreet and efficient, no breath of conversion, no problem saturation preamp position Unity, saturation output almost impossible Red-power!

Focusrite quality, nothing to do with the Yamaha conversion!

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 6 years in the studio, these convertos were a perfect partner for our TL Audio M4 tube

I had the opportunity to use many converters have been representative for a large catalog French and Focus conversion I really liked. Value honest although a D / A conversion would have been very significant ... now Apogee not offered either on its Rosetta at that time it was therefore a more economical purchase than Apogee and welcome over quality, even if it is not quite comparable, of course

I would do this choice without hesitation.

8 XLR inputs, 2 instrument inputs with high impedance jack.
I bought the card with ADAT to connect with 01V96V2.
48V compressor pad and low cut on each slice.
Model 19 "rack 1U.

UTILIZATION

The usage is very simple for what I done, ie the concert.
Me that adds 8 mic inputs on my 01V.

SOUND QUALITY

There is a good sound quality, but I would go for a slightly lower quality than that of the Yamaha preamps. The Focusrite gives some brightness in the midrange treble that was not the 01V96.
I still uses often voices.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 2 years and a half.
I have not had other models to compare.
Pros: good quality for the live, rather low price, space (1U), many options in installments.
The -: Preamps a little too bright on beug Pads (No sound when I put line level!).
Very good quality / price ratio.
Yes, I'm very happy.

This is the limitation with multi prampli I Focusrite about in 1999 ...
Now it's out (of course not only because of my request). So you understand my joy (and my dception - see below).
In principle the multi prampli IDAL to accompany a magntophone numrique or a system that multitrack recording to hard disk.
The analog outputs are symmetric in the form of an RS 232 compatible with the Tascam DA38/88/78.
Numriques optional converters.
Extremely compact (a single height unit 19pouce)

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use with analog connection (or if synchronization numrique works ...)
Very easy and quick installation with only one cable for all channels (especially with Tascam DA 38/88/78/98).

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is good, including the limiter, the compressor (one paramtre) a little less (at least for my applications).
No staining, trs transparent (except for the noise modulation, see below)
Warning: built-in fan makes a noise sound + / - as a Tascam DA 38.
The limiter works quite well and protects against the magntophone of overmodulation.

OVERALL OPINION

The first model test was - from an amplification (gain) 40 dB - the sound of modulation across all channels SETTING THE dpendaient of all custom settings - trs weird and unusable.
The deuxime MODEL silent in order except that the channel No. 7 Submitted a problem between the.
(One wonders a little if it is the customer who makes the quality of CONTRL Focusrite.)
Background noise ratio between the (EIN) of this model n'tait not exceptional but acceptable: 0.25 microvolts (to compare: Mackie 1402 VLZ: 0.15 microvolts, Behringer MX2004A: 0 , 14 microvolts) Indicated enough background noise of my condenser microphone Gefell M930 Neumann TLM103 and which is not the case with the Presonus Digimax which the background noise (EIN 3.0 microvolts!) is to unitilisable of classical music recordings distance thrown.
So if a troisime OctoPre silent without default, I may be Achteras ...
Obviously: Focusrite should not s'arrter amliorer product that has tremendous potential!
And for you: try and measure your OctoPre thoroughly before paying ...