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. As with other items in the Scarlett series, the OctoPre ships with included software, giving you access to the Focusrite Red 2 and Red 3 plug-ins, the Softube Time and Tone Bundle, and Focusrite's Plug-In Collective, which provides exclusive new downloads every couple of months.