X32 Midas pre amps vs Focusrite Clarett

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frnx

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We ate building a studio at our church. We have a behringer x32 and recently bought a Focusrite Clarett 8pre. The x32 has amazing routing options and also p16. Which is the monitor mixers. It is amazing and convenient to route a whole band setup monitor mix through it. Would it be a unforgiveable sin to let the x32 be part of the recording chain before going into the Clarett and then into the DAW? Am I killing good tone by allowing the x32 to be part of the chain?
 
Far from unforgivable.

The mic pre amps in the x32 are very nice quality--I've not personally heard the Focusrite Clarett but, although they might be slightly better than the mixer, I'd be surprised if there was much in it. For me the convenience of routing (and the extra options for things like monitoring etc.) would more than outweigh any slight perceived improvement in the pre amps.

As I always say, compared to the performance, the mic choice and the acoustics of the space, the pre amp is a pretty minor difference in the over all scheme of things.
 
Indeed. I rather like the sound of the x32. I have a Soundcraft in my studio, and this needed moving out for a while and the x32 went in from my live rig to fill the hole, and I have to say when it went back to PA duty I missed it. It did sound nicer. What is the focusrite doing? Surely you just connect the x32 to the computer, it's what we do. You're not going analogue out and then converting back to digital are you? Just connect the mixer to the USB input and away you go. Works fine for me.
 
Good point about going straight from the USB out of the x32 into the computer...I've done that with Audition and it worked well--I know of Protools and Cubase users also having good results.

I suppose you could even forget the computer entirely and just record wave files to a USB memory stick (which has to be formatted FAT16 or FAT32) and just jump the files into the computer at leisure later.
 
You can't record multitrack to the USB stick, just stereo - so that could work if you only want a recording of what the audience hear?
 
True...I guess it depends on what the OP wants and, with the mention of the Clarett and multiple pre-amps, you're likely right.
 
I guess, you guys need to read up on the Clarett. Its high quality pre amps. I did consider just recording straight from the X32. But the Clarett is way superior.
 
Did you do blind A/B/X testing with people who didn't know which was which? It's all too easy to let your preconceptions influence your opinions.

Seriously, I worry about your phrase "read up on the Clarett". I never believe ANYTHING I read about the sound quality of devices--and this includes phrases like "Midas quality pre amps" too.

What I can guarantee is that any differences between the pre amps will be minute compared to your choice and placement of microphones for example.

Look, go with what you like. I'd personally think the routing options within the x32 vastly outshine any perceived improvement in audio quality but that's up to you. However...and I'm in a very bad mood today...I'm sick of people coming in here, asking for advice, then telling people who gave the advice that they're wrong.

Have a good life.
 
I have to say I totally agree - why seek opinion and then immediately discount it because it wasn't what you want.

YOU have the X32 and the Focusrite. If YOU like the sound, that is fine with us. Just don't waste our time with a closed mind.
 
frnx said:
I guess, you guys need to read up on the Clarett. Its high quality pre amps. I did consider just recording straight from the X32. But the Clarett is way superior.
Click to expand...
What would have been ..nice is if you'd said 'I tracked the same gig to both, and the one was clearly so defective as to render...'
 
Sorry. I read how I said what I said. Came across a bit harsh. Didnt mean to disqualify your opinions. I trust people and their experience. I was hoping for someone who had experience on both devices. Industry "frowns upon" behringer. I will be the first to say Im new at testing this type of gear. My reaction was merely to those who easily just said, leave the clarett use the X32. Was hoping for someones experience. Didnt want to waste your time.
 
...and sorry if I seemed to jump on you! :)

A bit of background...

The "industry" used to be quite right to "frown on Behringer". A lot of their earlier stuff was pretty rubbish (although even then there were a few gems amongst the garbage). However, this has changed in recent years. "Music Group" (the holding company that owns Behringer) has now bought a lot of very high end equipment suppliers: Midas, Lab Gruppen, TC-Electronic, TC-Helicon, Klark-Technik, Tannoy, etc. etc.

The x32 was one of the first results of synergy among these companies. Yes, there are still some professionals (usually who haven't tried it) who sneer at Behringer but many, many thousands have been sold into the industry. Some of these have gone into pretty high profile operations.

On the other hand, the Clarett. As I said right up front, I haven't tried it but I'm sure it's a decent mid-range audio interface with decent enough pre amps. However, as HR member ecc83 points out frequently, nowadays it's fairly easy to make a decent sounding pre amp. Once you get above the really low end rubbish, most can give a nice neutral sound with plenty of clean gain. The flip side of this though is that to get something really special in terms of pre amp, you need to spend a LOT of money...and $900 for 8 channels isn't a lot. Indeed, in professional studios, boutique pre amps, not to sound "better" or "good" but to add specific colourations to the sound.

Clearly, it's down to what works for you--but an awful lot of professional stuff is being recorded via the x32 Pre amps and there are sound operational reasons why it works well. I'm personally highly sceptical that there will be any significant improvement of one over the other. Things may sound slightly (and I emphasise slightly) different but better? I doubt it.
 
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