I bought a Clarett + 4 PRE (USB) and then I bought a Carlett + 8 PRE (USB) connected in ADAT.
My +4 PRE is my audio interface, I already use the midi ports.
As the 8 + PRE is just connected in ADAT, I ask myself the following question.
Can I also use the midi of the 8 +PRE even if only connected in ADAT?
Or do I also have to connect it via USB like the 4+ PRE?
If I have to connect them both via USB, how can I select only my 4+ PRE as the primary audio interface ?
Thank you in advance for your answers.
Carlett + 8 Pre connection adat / midi
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- KVRAF
- 16892 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
ADAT transfers audio only.
You can have multiple devices connected. In your DAW you select which device to use. But audio devices should have their clocks in sync. That's automatic when one is slaved over ADAT, but a headache when both stand alone.
It's difficult to predict what happens when you have both interfaces connected by USB to your computer, and interconnected with ADAT as well. The slaved device could get in conflict.
But a single midi port has 16 channels. Have you used them all? Midi devices can be daisy-chained.
You can have multiple devices connected. In your DAW you select which device to use. But audio devices should have their clocks in sync. That's automatic when one is slaved over ADAT, but a headache when both stand alone.
It's difficult to predict what happens when you have both interfaces connected by USB to your computer, and interconnected with ADAT as well. The slaved device could get in conflict.
But a single midi port has 16 channels. Have you used them all? Midi devices can be daisy-chained.
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 901 posts since 7 Aug, 2018
Thank you for your reply.
Here I have made a little progress on the subject.
the concern I have to synchronize them in 48000 khz, but here automatically returns to 44.1, both in Live and in Studio One.
On the other hand, I do have a signal entering the 8 + pre, I can see it on the bargraph.
By cons no sound in live and Studio One output.
My synth is well connected to the first two inputs of my 8 + pre in Adat, my inputs well selected in Live and when I put the two inputs in live (9 and 10 for example) no sound at the output.
The Carlett + 4 pre audio interface and 8 + pre only adat.
I suspect that two audio interfaces and juggling between the two not great for conflicts.
I really don't know what else to do to find a solution to make the 8 + pre work.
Here I have made a little progress on the subject.
the concern I have to synchronize them in 48000 khz, but here automatically returns to 44.1, both in Live and in Studio One.
On the other hand, I do have a signal entering the 8 + pre, I can see it on the bargraph.
By cons no sound in live and Studio One output.
My synth is well connected to the first two inputs of my 8 + pre in Adat, my inputs well selected in Live and when I put the two inputs in live (9 and 10 for example) no sound at the output.
The Carlett + 4 pre audio interface and 8 + pre only adat.
I suspect that two audio interfaces and juggling between the two not great for conflicts.
I really don't know what else to do to find a solution to make the 8 + pre work.
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- KVRAF
- 3086 posts since 4 May, 2012
As Bert suggests, you'll be using your ADAT connection to send clock sync. The 8Pre has optical in and out so you should be able to daisy chain them and pass the signal through to the 4Pre, in series. ADAT > 8Pre > 4Pre.
I'm using a 2Pre with Octopre connected via ADAT but all MIDI I use is via USB.
As for your sample rate: Make sure your DAW isn't forcing a certain frequency as this will likely attempt to switch whatever you have set up in Focusrite Control - otherwise, change sample rate via your DAW.
I'm using a 2Pre with Octopre connected via ADAT but all MIDI I use is via USB.
As for your sample rate: Make sure your DAW isn't forcing a certain frequency as this will likely attempt to switch whatever you have set up in Focusrite Control - otherwise, change sample rate via your DAW.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 901 posts since 7 Aug, 2018
Thank you for your reply.
I found the sync frequency 48 khz.
I do have a signal entering the pre 8+, I see it on the bargraph.
Well-configured Lives inputs as well.
On the other hand, no sound comes out of my + 4 pre, nor do I have any signal in the audio track in Live, even with the correct hardware input.
Sorry, this is new to me, I haven't mastered all the intricacies yet.
I found the sync frequency 48 khz.
I do have a signal entering the pre 8+, I see it on the bargraph.
Well-configured Lives inputs as well.
On the other hand, no sound comes out of my + 4 pre, nor do I have any signal in the audio track in Live, even with the correct hardware input.
Sorry, this is new to me, I haven't mastered all the intricacies yet.
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- KVRAF
- 3086 posts since 4 May, 2012
I should clarify that I don't expect you need to connect the 8 Pre to your PC but it will require an optical connection from the ADAT and another one to the 4 Pre. The 4 Pre will be directly connected to the PC.
So the optical out of the ADAT plugs into the optical in of the 8 Pre; Then the optical out of the 8 Pre is plugged into the optical in of the 4 Pre, which is connected to your PC via USB.
In the Focusrite Control software, you will have the clock sync set to external ADAT.
Hopefully that will work.
This isn't a configuration I have used before but you can daisy chain these devises so I'm expecting it to pass the signal through. If this doesn't work then maybe they do both need connecting but I would try that configuration first as it is the least complicated.
It might not be common knowledge but you can run Focusrite interfaces as standalone preamps without need to connect them to a PC. Just hook them up to the mains and power them up.
So the optical out of the ADAT plugs into the optical in of the 8 Pre; Then the optical out of the 8 Pre is plugged into the optical in of the 4 Pre, which is connected to your PC via USB.
In the Focusrite Control software, you will have the clock sync set to external ADAT.
Hopefully that will work.
This isn't a configuration I have used before but you can daisy chain these devises so I'm expecting it to pass the signal through. If this doesn't work then maybe they do both need connecting but I would try that configuration first as it is the least complicated.
It might not be common knowledge but you can run Focusrite interfaces as standalone preamps without need to connect them to a PC. Just hook them up to the mains and power them up.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 901 posts since 7 Aug, 2018
Thank you for your reply.
I plugged my 8+ pre into the mains.
Connected the adat out cable from the 8 + pre to the adat 4 + pre optical in (on the 4 + pre there is only one optical input).
The 4 + pre is connected via usb to my pc, this is my audio interface.
I plugged my 8+ pre into the mains.
Connected the adat out cable from the 8 + pre to the adat 4 + pre optical in (on the 4 + pre there is only one optical input).
The 4 + pre is connected via usb to my pc, this is my audio interface.
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- KVRAF
- 3086 posts since 4 May, 2012
But this still isn't working?Trancer wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 3:49 pm Thank you for your reply.
I plugged my 8+ pre into the mains.
Connected the adat out cable from the 8 + pre to the adat 4 + pre optical in (on the 4 + pre there is only one optical input).
The 4 + pre is connected via usb to my pc, this is my audio interface.
And, Sorry. I was reading it as though you had a third device - as in two banks of 8 preamps that you were connecting to your 4 Pre. Apologies for the confusion there.
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- KVRAF
- 3086 posts since 4 May, 2012
Thank you. And yes, I would expect that to work.Trancer wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 4:25 pm No need to apologize, no worries.
No it doesn't work.
I'm desperate to find a solution, because it should work that way.
Maybe it's a firmware issue: You might need to adjust your 8Pre to work in standalone mode via the Control software. So, attach to your PC - configure there - then set up the rig as we've previously detailed.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 901 posts since 7 Aug, 2018
Thank you for your reply.
Really sorry, but could you tell me how I should connect my 4+pre and 8+pre.
For the moment my 4+ pre is my audio interface where I plugged in my first four synths, classic connections.
The 8 + pre is used to connect the other synths.
How should I cables and configure?
I am limited in my connections and possibilities since only one in adat 4+ pre, so I have to use the out of the 8 + pre to the in of the 4 + pre.
I have to use both to be able to use all my machines.
Really sorry, but could you tell me how I should connect my 4+pre and 8+pre.
For the moment my 4+ pre is my audio interface where I plugged in my first four synths, classic connections.
The 8 + pre is used to connect the other synths.
How should I cables and configure?
I am limited in my connections and possibilities since only one in adat 4+ pre, so I have to use the out of the 8 + pre to the in of the 4 + pre.
I have to use both to be able to use all my machines.
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- KVRAF
- 3086 posts since 4 May, 2012
Indeed. For extended audio channels, you would connect the 8Pre to the 4Pre via the optical (ADAT) connection: Out from 8Pre, into the 4Pre. As you say, it is the only option as the 4Pre does not have an optical out. But to do this, I suspect that you will first have to configure the 8Pre via the Focusrite Control software, to enable standalone mode.
Quick search and it seems that is correct:
Quick search and it seems that is correct:
https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/ ... -together-This applies to the Clarett Range
It is not possible to use more than one Clarett interface connected to a computer at the same time. If you wanted to use more than one interface at once you would need to set up the second interface for standalone operation in Focusrite Control and connect it to the interface that is connected to the computer via ADAT.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 901 posts since 7 Aug, 2018
Thank you very much for your answer.
If I may ask you one more question.
How should I configure in Focusrite Control my 4+pre as an audio interface as currently and configure the 8+pre in standalone mode?
Ah yes, the 8+ pre does not appear from Focusrite Control.
So I have to configure the 8 + pre first before the 4 + pre?
Should I delete everything and start the configuration again?
Thank you again for your answer.
If I may ask you one more question.
How should I configure in Focusrite Control my 4+pre as an audio interface as currently and configure the 8+pre in standalone mode?
Ah yes, the 8+ pre does not appear from Focusrite Control.
So I have to configure the 8 + pre first before the 4 + pre?
Should I delete everything and start the configuration again?
Thank you again for your answer.
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- KVRAF
- 3086 posts since 4 May, 2012
You're welcome.Trancer wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 6:11 pm Thank you very much for your answer.
If I may ask you one more question.
How should I configure in Focusrite Control my 4+pre as an audio interface as currently and configure the 8+pre in standalone mode?
Ah yes, the 8+ pre does not appear from Focusrite Control.
So I have to configure the 8 + pre first before the 4 + pre?
Should I delete everything and start the configuration again?
Thank you again for your answer.
You won't need to delete anything (there shouldn't be anything to delete). Everything is done via the Focusrite Control software. Just connect the 8Pre to your PC via USB and set it up there - with only that unit connected. There will be some option for setting a standalone operation mode. Once that's done, you can disconnect it and connect your 4Pre back to the PC via USB and then connect the 8Pre to the 4Pre via an optical cable: ADAT out to in. Then, with the 8Pre powered up and only connected to the 4Pre via optical, use the Control software to set your 4Pre to external clock via ADAT, coming from your 8Pre.
It's much more simple than I'm making it sound. Hehe. Pretty much the same as my configuration only I'm using an Octopre instead of the 8Pre so I don't have to configure the unit via Focusrite Control - I just switch the clock from internal to external when I need additional inputs and only ever have my 2Pre connected to my PC or laptop via USB.