Expand your system's recording capability with the Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre, a slim 1 RU rackmount device laden with eight Scarlett microphone preamps and onboard high-resolution AD converters—a perfect addition to any home/project studio, live sound mixing console, or mobile recording rig that has available ADAT digital inputs or unused analog line inputs.

All eight XLR-1/4" combo inputs can accept mic- or line-level signal, and the front-panel input jacks can also accommodate the 1/4" outputs of instruments, letting you plug a guitar or a bass straight into the Scarlett OctoPre. Pads on every channel allow you to capture the sound of high-level sound sources such as drums and cranked guitar amps, and 48V phantom power can be instantiated in two 4-channel banks to run condenser microphones and active DI boxes.

These features, combined with the wordclock sync I/O and 5-segment LED metering, render the unit quite suitable for use in the studio. But that's only one of its intended uses: the Scarlett OctoPre also operates well in live sound environments, providing eight additional preamps for the stage, all feeding their respective line outputs, so they can feed a multitude of mixers, consoles, and PAs. You can even route the line outputs to a console while simultaneously recording digitally via the ADAT outputs.

For Studios and Live/Mobile Setups    8 Mic/Line Preamps, 2 with Hi-Z Switches    Outputs: 8 Balanced 1/4" Line, Dual ADAT    24-Bit / 192 kHz AD Converters    48V Power on Channels 1-4 and 5-8    Wordclock I/O on BNC Jacks    5-Segment LED Input Meters    AC Powered

The Scarlett OctoPre is outfitted with eight natural-sounding Scarlett microphone preamps on XLR-1/4" TRS combo jacks. All eight inputs can accept mic- or line-level signal; the first two inputs (located on the front panel) can also accept Hi-Z signal from instruments thanks to Hi-Z switches. The +48V phantom power is selectable per 4-channel bank (for channels 1-4 and 5-8), allowing the Scarlett OctoPre to handle dynamic or condenser microphones.

All inputs on the Scarlett OctoPro are running through Focusrite precision 24-bit conversion at up to 192 kHz resolution with 109 dB dynamic range. Dual TOSLINK optical ADAT outputs support eight channels at up to 96 kHz or four channels at 176.4/192 kHz.

With high-headroom inputs and a pad (-8 dB) on every channel, the Scarlett OctoPre is ideal for tracking drums as well guitars, keyboards, vocals, and more.

Eight balanced line-level outputs, sourced directly from the inputs, allow the Scarlett OctoPre to be used in a live situation whilst capturing the recording via the digital ADAT output.

The rear panel offers BNC jacks for wordclock input and output, enabling proper synchronization with other digital equipment such as a mixing console or an audio interface.

Clustered together for visual convenience, 5-segment meters show your input levels for all channels at a glance.

The Scarlett line of interfaces comes with some of the best loved software tools in the business. Click here to see the complete list!

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. hi. can i send stems from my daw through this unit to be processed on an outboard mixer and have the processing recorded back. how is the ad/da conversion

A: You can run audio tracks out of your DAW through this interface to then go out through the balanced line outputs. The processed audio can go back into the line inputs to record in your computer. The AD/DA conversion is very good.

Q: 2. How many of the inputs can be recorded simultaneously are are available inside a DAW?

A: You can record up to 18 mono channels at a time.

Q: 3. 8 inputs?4 xlr mics and 4 1/4 simultaneously ?

A: The Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 features (4) XLR mic pre's on the front panel as well as (4) 1/4 line inputs on the rear all accessible simultaneously.

Q: 4. Does the other 6 inputs have pad and instrument/line in controls?

A: Hello Mohammed,The other 6 inputs wont have instrument input or pad control.only the two in the front have instrument and pad.

Q: 5. It says it comes with Abelton Live Lite, but isn't that a free on Abelton's website? Why do they mean when it comes with a license to a free program?

A: The 18i20 includes a bundle code which allows you to download several different software programs such as an exclusive Focusrite edition of Pro Tools | First Pack, Ableton Live Lite, the Softube Time and Tone Bundle, Foscusrite's Red Plug-In Suite, and a library of LoopMasters samples. So the included bundle code allows you to access more software than just Ableton Live Lite.

Q: 6. What is the improvement from the 18i8 first generation to the second generation 18i8?

A: The primary improvement is sampling up to 192k/24-bit, as opposed to the first version which topped out at 96k/24-bit. Focusrite also claims to have improved headroom on instrument input and better gain structure. Also, only the second generation works with the new Focusrite software app. I've been very happy with my second-generation 18i8 (so happy that I replaced a FastTrack Ultra 8R on my music computer with a Scarlett 18i20). If you get one, I'd recommend either having a fast computer or making sure there are a minimum of background processes running when you use. I also set the ASIO buffers quite high. Hope this helps.

Q: 7. Can i connect Bluetooth headphones to it ?

A: No. This interface has no bluetooth capibilities. Wired connections only.

Q: 8. Does it have a TRS phone insert?

A: This unit does not have a TRS insert.

Q: 9. On Windows 8.1, do the different channels appear in separate devices or do they show up as separate channels on a single device?

A: Tim, These use a focusright scarlett software as a controller that displays all the channels in a single mixer style software consol. Regards,Rob

Q: 10. Could someone explain how they get 18 Inputs? At best I see 15, and 4 of those can only be used by 1-type of input or another on the front panel.

A: The optical input is ADAT. That counts as 8 inputs alone.