If you are recording anything from big strings or horn sections to monstrous drum kits, you are very much aware that more microphones equals more precision, depth, and dimension in your recordings. This is where Focusrite OctoPre MkII comes in.

OctoPre MkII can serve as an expansion unit for your recording setup with its eight inputs that are routed to a total of eight Focusrite preamps. Two of these inputs can also serve as instrument inputs for guitars, basses, and others thus eliminating the need for DI boxes. These eight inputs are great for drum recording, having 10dB pads and with a vast gain range virtually eliminating clipping such as that experienced when mic'ing kick drums. Got an interface with ADAT ports that had you scratching your head? You can now put that ADAT input to good use as the OctoPre MkII also has a 24-bit/96-kHz ADAT output. It also packs a lot of good use for live applications being that it has eight analog line outs as well, leaving your ADAT outs free to route to a hard disk recorder.

OctoPre MKII Rear Connections

The Focusrite OctoPre MkII also has 5-LED input metering on every channel, switchable phantom power, and internal/external clocking solutions. The OctoPre MkII is projected to be available by October 2009 at an MAP of 499.99 USD.

OctoPre MKII Front Panel