multi-channel mic-pre Combining award-winning Saffire PRO pre-amps with high quality digital conversion and JetPLL™ jitter elimination technology, OctoPre MkII is the best sounding multi-channel mic-pre in its class. The digital output allows users to make the most of often-neglected ADAT inputs; ideal for expanding the number of mic-pres for interfaces such as the Saffire PRO 24. Connect OctoPre MkII to your audio interface’s ADAT input to create a high quality, multi-channel studio recording solution.
OctoPre MkII is equally suited to the live environment as a quality mic-pre expansion for any analogue or digital console or hard disk recorder. With line outputs on every channel, each mic-pre can be routed to a separate channel on an analogue mixer with the ADAT output left free to send a copy to a digital recorder.
Features: 8 Mic Preamps 5 LED Input Metering Phantompower Selectable Clocksource 24Bit/96kHz Adat Interface
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To be fair, I will only compare this product to other products in the same price-per-channel range. Also, I will only review the sound quality. Its other aspects are fine anyway. (Maybe it is worth mentioning that what I'll be saying here is just as true for its sibling, the Focusrite Octopre Dynamic MKII.)
I made extensive comparison with the following converters: the Ferrofish A16 MKII, the Ferrofish A32 and the SPL Madiface.
Converters in that price range will not be transparent. So the question is, which one's "color" will like most ?
Of all 5, the 2 Focusrite Octopres had the most "musical" sound. They make instruments sound more harmonious, more mellow, than the others.
They're not the most punchy, but still punchy enough. The bass are round, the medium are mellow and pleasing, and the high freqs are both soft and precise.
They sound more transparent than the SPL Madiface, less aggressive than the Ferrofish A16 MKII, and more musical than the Ferrofish A32. They are all fine of course, but if you're recording jazz, classical, or acoustic instruments in general, I would especially recommend this one (or the AD-DA version called 'Octopre Dynamic MKII').