I have an older Focusrite Clarett 8pre interface. It works when it's on, but if I turn it off, the hardware doesn't connect and I have to uninstall and reinstall the driver. I have the latest driver installed (4.116.2.7) and latest Focusrite control software. I have a MBP M4 Sequoia 11.1.1. It is driving me nuts. I have reduced security for system extensions in Recovery Mode, and the Focusrite8PreAudio extension is visible and switched on in Settings>extensions (even when the driver fails). Perhaps Focusrite needs to update their drivers, but why won't the interface reconnect when turned back on? Any help or advice from the experts on this board would be appreciated. The interface is way out of warranty and Focusrite really doesn't care about my problem. I would purchase another Clarett 8Pre, since this one worked for quite a few years (and still does if I don't shut it off anymore. But the newer models use the same driver, I think, and I am reluctant to shell our the money for a new one unless I know it would work. Thanks for any advice.

 

Edit:
Did not see you had a Mac

 

Last edited: Nov 28, 2024

I had a 18i20 and it did the exact same thing. Focusrite Control or the earlier Mix Control software both suck on Mac. "No device connected" or "not found errors, over and over. I went back to MOTU and got a 828ES. Not a single problem since. Don't waste more of your time, just get rid of it. The last time I had a worse audio interface it was a Soundblaster.

 

I have a new MacBook Pro M4 Max silicon with Apple core audio, but I had similar issues on my prior Mac intel. The driver just doesn't reload after shutting off, and doesn't show up in audio midi setup. It's like it doesn't save setting or something when powered off. It could just be Focusrite's notoriously problematic driver, my new setup, or a failing interface. Since I can get it to work after reinstallinf the driver restarting, I'm reluctant to say it's toast. Even if there was a workaround to reconnect the hardware without restarting my computer every time, that would be an improvement.

 

good luck with that.

 

I have no problems with my Clarett and M1 Sonoma.
I installed the driver after lowering the security settings as instructed. (The timing of permission and reboot was annoying.)
I'm still using it with the security settings lowered.

 

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having this problem. It's not clear what could be causing this. There are no known compatibility issues with the Thunderbolt driver and macOS Sequoia. In addition to Clarett Thunderbolt devices, the same driver is used by the Focusrite Red Range. It’s well maintained and updated regularly. This problem might be related to the Focusrite Control application, but this doesn’t appear to be a common complaint. Our support team certainly cares; I’d urge you to discuss this with them if you haven’t already. They’ll do everything they can to help you find a solution to this.

 

Sounds like a Sequioa thing as opposed to FR thing. Have you tried another TB cable? Have you tried hot plugging after device startup? Or bootup order?

You can always put it in standalone mode and then use the ADAT. IN/OUT in conjunction with another I/O. I don't have a 8Pre and have never read the manual so my suggestions are probably best understood with large heavy dose of scepticism.

It's good to see FR reach out on AS. If it is FR...

 

it's not a Sequoia issue. The software was doing this as far back as Focusrite Control on Mojave. It's amazing "no-one" knows about it.

 

Last edited: Nov 29, 2024

I have the latest Focusrite Control software. The problem began when I used it with my new MBP M4 Max. Before I had a 2017 MPB intel. The Clarett works fine when it's on but doesn't when I turn it off and on again. I doubt it's a problem with my Mac, since all my other audio devices connect fine. Perhaps the driver needs an update for the new M4s. It's an old machine, and I've had other issues with it (midi related). I don't like to leave it on continuously, but I have to in order to use it. I have sent a support request, but haven't heard back yet.

 

Last edited: Nov 29, 2024

Thanks, it's don't think it's Sequoia, since my old MBP intel was running it, and the Clarett didn't have this problem. I would like to see if I can at least figure out the issue before having to shell out a lot of money I don't have for another audio interface. At least it functions when I get the driver reinstalled (even that can take a couple of restarts). So I have to leave it on.

 

Did you already try installing the Mix Control version of their software? Mix Control was the name of the software version prior to Focusrite Control. You can see which version originally shipped with the interface when you lookup the software by model number. Some models (like 18i20) will show different requirements based on the Mark (MK) number.

 

I will look into this, thanks for the suggestion. My Clarett 8Pre came with Focusrite Control, at least that's what I've always used. In the past year or so, after a restart of my old intel computer, the control didn't see the interface, although it was connected, and the workaround was to quit the control in the Mac Activity Monitor utility. What I have now is a (re)connection problem after a power-off.

 

Ahh okay. Known on both Intel and M# chips? I have heard about connection errors from friends, but thought they were resolvable.

Apologies, I thought you meant it wouldn't connect after mac reboot, but you mean Pre8 reboot. Is it possble to reset the 8Pre to some kind of base setting or update the firmware?