I actually used a trakmaster pro to track the lead vocals of a recent album. Small time stuff, yes, but still I wouldn't do that if it didn't offer the right sound for the mic being used and the vocalist being recorded in that particular situation. That's with my other regular choices at hand (yamaha board pres, mpa gold pres, presonus pres) plus my regular rentals: API 500 series. I preferred the focusrite to all of this, including the API, just as a pre sound alone. I always try it as a straight pre before I bother with it's comp etc, the pre matters most. After choosing it as a pre I did track with a little bit of it's optocomp as well, which is it's best feature in my opinion, worth the price alone. But certainly everyone's mileage may vary.
I am I believe a little bit unusual on this board in that I don't give a crap what something costs, if it offers a useful sound I consider it every bit as good a piece of gear as the most expensive equipment I use. The focusrite is as well built as any of the most expensive rack units in pro studios I ever use, and it has a pre sound that is VERY VERY similar to that of the focusrite green range. Those people who disagree are possibly correct for what they're looking for, but having owned and used both professionally for a long time now off and on, and after having analyzed the circuits, components, etc, I can tell you that the trakmaster pro is a very professional well built and well designed piece of gear. It has a unique sonic fingerprint in it's pre, and also in it's compressor. It sounds different from an API, from an mpa gold, from a grace 101. It brings out certain aspects from certain mics that makes it unique compared to some other pres. I can't tell you concrete things like "use it with an RE/20, it's the best combo" or something like that, I believe that would be pretty arrogant of me. But it certainly is worth people experimenting with, and IMHO you should not be put off by the price.
Also, like with the guy who said the berry 2200 mic pre is good, I agree, it is good, works perfectly well, and is suited to certain mics quite well also. I don't however feel that it's build quality or component choices are nearly in the same league as something like the trakmaster pro, however to continue with my way of thinking, I see nothing wrong with someone using it professionally for the most critical application as long as you find that it's sound is exactly what you want. It is irrelevant if it cost $100 and could fall apart easily. If it sounds how you want, use it, and enjoy!
Cheers,
Don
can't wait