Focusrite releases Scarlett plug-in suite for $99.

[jlaudon]

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2009/10/ ... -in-suite/

Has anyone tried this?

[David Polich]

I don't see any downloadable demo - pretty hard to try it out
without a demo.

[jlaudon]

I read in another forum that a guy bought it last week from a retailer, but hadn't had a chance to use it much yet.

[James Steele]

I don't see any downloadable demo - pretty hard to try it out
without a demo.

Ditto! By the way, here's a link to their product page with a bit more info:

http://www.focusrite.com/products/software/scarlett/

But I agree with David... they need a demo. In the current economic climate, even at $99, I'm not opening my wallet without hearing them first. I have a ton of compressors, reverbs, EQs... not so into the gate... so it must be compelling for me to buy.

[mhschmieder]

So the Red hardware gets discontinued, and a month or two later, it gets released in a paler software version. Actually, scarlet could be thought of as uber-red I suppose. But "Scarlett" is a bit riskier a spelling, as these plugs could be "gone with the wind"...

Nice interfaces, but I never liked the Focusrite sound, so unless demos are forthcoming, I'll pass. It's interesting that they're coming in at such a low price point; that part is quite unexpected. I'm open-minded enough to try them, as they may have features or work modes that make them more applicable to some tasks than T-RackS, DP plug-ins, iZotope, etc.

[zed]

Hmmmmm. Focusrite is using the image of George Martin in their product brochure... I might be compelled to to buy this set now...

But of course I'm only kidding. I wouldn't buy anything without hearing a demo either... especially with all the similar plugins I already have in my collection.

[mhschmieder]

The price may have more to do with the crowded field than the economy, come to think of it.

[James Steele]

The price may have more to do with the crowded field than the economy, come to think of it.

Could be. But I can see I'm not alone in the sentiment, "no try, no buy."

[mhschmieder]

I've been hesitant to post this, as there's been some controversy over whether the supposedly official quote from the developer was manufactured by someone with an agenda or not, but I will at least mention that there is speculation that this is primarily a visual repackaging of Sapphire.

[mhschmieder]

This plug-in suite gets a glowing review in the January 2010 edition of Mix Magazine, and yet they make no mention of whether it is essentially a repackaging of Sapphire.

The insinuation in the review is that this is a brand-new suite, and a true bargain as a highly convincing emulation of the RED and ISA hardware.

[frankymax]

I got this plug in suite as I figured for $99, how can you go wrong. I was very disappointed in this bundle. I just don't think there's all that much to these plugs, sound-wise, that would make me use them in place of my other arsenal of eq's, comp's, or verbs. Just my opinion, but I feel I wasted $99 on this one. Maybe if I didn't already have more plugs than I need I'd dig these! I gotta stop buying this stuff, or else I won't be able to pay for my kid's college tuition!!!

[Splinter]

I thought Focusrite had the Red series plugs for Pro Tools TDM like 12 years ago. I thought they called it the D series. I was looking at TDM systems back then and I thought I remember those plugs. If they're repackaging a 12 year old technology, I wouldn't even sneeze at them.

[mhschmieder]

Well, at least it isn't "overpriced" per se, like the repackaged(?) Sonnox restoration tools, which have yet to be verified as having anything new (the old tools were great, but a lot has come along since then, so they should be cheaper this time around, unless improved).

Same lesson here with Scarlett, except I guess Focusrite did take the age of the algorithms into account in pricing the suite. Good to hear feedback though, as I would only splurge if the Gate was unique and/or even better than the one from Sonalksis.