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Clarett+ as an interface, headphone practice, and pedalboard optimizer?

ZuluFoxtrot

ZuluFoxtrot

Oct 28, 2018
219
1
459
South Orange County
#1
Hi all!

I am looking to begin recording myself for reflection and analysis of my playing as well as do some tracking of bass parts/lines for a local musician that asked me if I would record bass tracks for some of his original songs.

Right now I use an HX Stomp for most of my practice at home with headphones. It’s not great, and I am probably not great at setting it up properly, I feel like it adds too much gain and changes the bass tone significantly in order to have enough volume to hear the bass when practicing along to songs.

So the Clarett+ now comes with $1,400 worth of free stuff for Black Friday and maybe now is the time to get an interface.

Will this interface do what I want so I can go bass to pedalboard to DI to interface and use my headphones and MacBook with Anytune to play along to music for gig practicing?

Or is an interface mixer better like the Yamaha AG series?

If I am spending $500 on the Clarett should I spend $200 more for an Apollo Solo with Thunderbolt/USB-C?

Thank you!
 
Last edited:
#2
Focusrite Scarlett and Clarett are very good interfaces with a very good reputation. Both are USB-C. Clarett is going to have just a bit better pre's and latency when doing DAW monitoring.

Can't comment on Apollo. Many folks here like them too, but I'm guessing for basic tracking at home and practicing you would not really notice a difference in the sound.

Digital recording can get complicated ... but it really does not need to be.

good luck!
 
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#3
Scarlett 2i2 = Toyota
Clarett Plus = Lexus
Apollo = Mercedes

I say that because for your stated use, the extra performance of the Clarett and Apollo will be lost on you. If you said you were a pro singer and had a $1,000 mic and were tracking vocals and instruments I could see upgrading. But for recording basslines and listening to yourself, get the Scarlett 2i2 or Solo for <$120 is the way to go.

As far as $1,500 in extras, what are they? If it the standard bundles of hobbled free versions or limited expansion packs, then you really aren't missing anything.
 
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#6
Thanks for the help on this I appreciate it! I don't need an Apollo then, but I think I'd rather buy the Clarett+ vs. the Scarlett for the latency some others have reported.

I'm still not sure if I'd just down the road upgrade the Scarlett at some point. Buy once, cry once?

One thing I forgot to mention or explain better was setting up my pedalboard so the gain stages are consistent and running my "stage" pedalboard through my DI would result in the tone I hear in my headphones being the same tone I send to FOH.

Any interface will help me dial that in right?
 
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#9
ZuluFoxtrot said:
Hi all!

I am looking to begin recording myself for reflection and analysis of my playing as well as do some tracking of bass parts/lines for a local musician that asked me if I would record bass tracks for some of his original songs.

Right now I use an HX Stomp for most of my practice at home with headphones. It’s not great, and I am probably not great at setting it up properly, I feel like it adds too much gain and changes the bass tone significantly in order to have enough volume to hear the bass when practicing along to songs.

So the Clarett+ now comes with $1,400 worth of free stuff for Black Friday and maybe now is the time to get an interface.

Will this interface do what I want so I can go bass to pedalboard to DI to interface and use my headphones and MacBook with Anytune to play along to music for gig practicing?

Or is an interface mixer better like the Yamaha AG series?

If I am spending $500 on the Clarett should I spend $200 more for an Apollo Solo with Thunderbolt/USB-C?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

I have a Steinberg UR12 interface that works great. Not going to make you broke either. I’m using it with Cubasis and have recorded my bass parts for 2 LPs with it.
 
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#12
I ended up going with the Clarett+ 2Pre, it should arrive today. Part of my choice came down to what was in stock that I could get "soon" and become familiarized with asap for this project with the songwriter.

One huge reason I did not go with the Scarlett was the headphone amp reports of it being not great.

Thanks all, I appreciate all the responses!
 
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#13
I'm sure the Clarett will be good. Just to be clear though, I never had an issue with the volume from the headphone/monitor outs on my Scarlett 18i8.

good luck, come back and give us an update after you get used to the new Clarett+ 2pre
 
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#14
ZuluFoxtrot said:
I ended up going with the Clarett+ 2Pre, it should arrive today. Part of my choice came down to what was in stock that I could get "soon" and become familiarized with asap for this project with the songwriter.

One huge reason I did not go with the Scarlett was the headphone amp reports of it being not great.

Thanks all, I appreciate all the responses!
Click to expand...
Yes, let us know how you like it. Have fun with it.
 

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