Reddit reviews [OLD MODEL] Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB Audio Interface,Red

Sure! I have a Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, although you could probably do the same with the Scarlett 2i2, Scarlett Solo, or most other audio interfaces. I then set the direct monitor to "mono", and turn the knob all the way to "input". Then I just plug in my mic (SM57), plug in my headphones (ATH-M50x), adjust the gain on the mic input and adjust the headphone output, and since it isn't being processed by the computer, its a virtually 0ms latency direct audio.

Focusrite 2i4

Seriously, save up a little more money. You will be far happier than with the Behringer, the Mackie, or the Yamaha. You will most likely discover you get what you pay for. Also, you will probably be replacing the cheaper products sooner rather than later.

The Focusrite will allow for a single headphone monitor mix for the engineer, as well as two balanced 1/4" TRS outputs to speakers/FOH, as well as 4 RCA outputs, which could be used for monitors/wedges.

Also, the Focusrite preamps sound way better off the bat, so less EQing.

Scarlett 2i4 is a better investment

I'll give this a go, open for suggestions from others to improve. This is obviously higher than you asked for at $833 after rebates, but it's good value. You can save maybe about $130 by going down to 8gb of ram, GTX 950, and dropping the SSD. It would still be a great pc.

You can easily add RAM later. I really like the speediness of putting the OS and your main software for production on the SSD, and using the HDD as storage for all your recordings. It's slightly more involved if you add an SSD later and move your OS/software over, but doable.

For using your digital piano and MIDI, I highly suggest getting a good interface like this Scarlett which is basically an external sound card with excellent preamps and midi in/out.



PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-6600 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor | $209.99 @ SuperBiiz
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-B150M-D3H DDR3 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | $73.99 @ SuperBiiz
Memory | Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $66.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $77.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $45.99 @ SuperBiiz
Video Card | MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card | $179.99 @ SuperBiiz
Case | Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case | $44.99 @ SuperBiiz
Power Supply | Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | $52.99 @ Amazon
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) | $80.89 @ OutletPC
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $863.81
| Mail-in rebates | -$30.00
| Total | $833.81
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-02 15:15 EST-0500 |

Hello! I have a noob question for my setup that probably isn't relevant enough to warrant its own post but it might be simple enough that you could answer real quick.

I just bought these studio monitors:
https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E and have the top left L and R inputs connected to my Scarlett 2i4 audio interface (https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-2i4-USB-Interface/dp/B009B15N0Q) in the balanced inputs 1 and 2 on the back right with TRS cables, but now I don't know what to do to actually be able to get my computer to "recognize" them and use them in my DAW or otherwise be able to control them through my audio interface. The monitors themselves work fine because I can still use them with the auxiliary cable plugged directly into my laptop, but that is a temporary fix because then I can't use my audio interface to control them. No idea what to do and I feel so dumb!

Any help would be huge. I'm using a PC with Windows 10 and my DAW is Reason 10 if that helps at all. Thanks!

Here's the one I use. They're great if you can spare the cash.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SCARLETT-Audio-interfaces-USB-Red/dp/B009B15N0Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415059684&sr=8-2&keywords=focusrite

Pair that up with some good headphones/monitors and you're all set.

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-6i6-Interface-Preamps/dp/B00CP4IIJY
http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-2i4-USB-Interface/dp/B009B15N0Q

Beaky is right, at that price you can find an interface with built in pre's. Way better.

120 shipped with prime refurb:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005OZE9SA/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished

Model up new shipped with prime for 138
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B009B15N0Q/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new


These act as offboard sound cards, headphone amps, dacs and can drive 2 xlr mics in stereo. Way better deal/upgrade overall. You could probably find em even cheaper, I just searched 'focusrite' on amazon. The focusrite scarlet series is fantastic for the price.

you can get a cheap sound card and plug your sound from your controller into it, then route the sound to your computer through usb and out to your speakers with rca, you will get a far better recording than splitting the sound. Audacity and any other recording program will recognize pretty much any sound card immediatley. this one is only $25 CAD. I have this one bit more expensive but it works great.

I bought myself these:

1. Scarlet 2i4 Audio Interface
   
2. A pair of LSR305 studio monitors
   
   Got to up my music gig.

I am currently using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB Audio Interface for my Rokit monitors. I see this 12 inch Klipsch sub-woofer is on sale from Amazon today and I'd like to add it to my setup but am unsure if I'll be able to connect it to my audio interface or if I'd have to purchase something else to get it hooked up. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

If you really want to spend the money and it's for a computer. Spend $800 on monitors and maybe $200 on a DAC that can give you balanced audio out. I've always been a fan of speakers over headphones though.

Edit: In fact, here you go.

2 of these and 1 of these.

They are powered!

JBL LSR308 Amazon Link

Focusrite 2i4 Interface Amazon Link

2 X TRS cable Amazon Link

Check on the earcup. It should say 250 pro if it's the 250ohm version.. the box could've just been a mistake, but the earcup decides all.

also because it's 250ohm, you'll need an amp to get the good stuff out of them. There are a ton of "budget" amps in that range, so here are a few that I recommend. Schiit Magni ,Objective 2 , and if you can spend the extra 50$get the Scarlet so you can get a good microphone input later down on in the line.

For a slight bit over that £100 I'd recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4.

I have a Scarlett 2i4 audio interface for production duties.

I have a Patreon in the sidebar... or I should... http://www.patreon.com/Zeos

That is what has been paying for the recent product reviews so I appreciate any supporters that join and I do occasionally just give things away on there.

You could look into a Pro-Audio interface if you wanted to keep to Balanced connections. The Focusrite lineup has TRS balanced outputs on the back and a decent headphone amp. I hope I can get one for review sooner or later.

I use a Scarlett 2i4 and it is pretty amazing for the cost. The 2i2 also has pretty stellar reviews. I have absolutely no complaints about my sound quality, and I'm a 'light' audiophile.

2i2 runs $150, which is pretty modest for the quality. It's really similar to my 2i4, and all the Focusrite products have awesome build quality. Plus it looks pretty sleek, in my opinion.

Regarding the 2i2:

It has 2 universal line-in ports (takes XLR or 1/4"), 2 line-outs, a 1/4" headphone jack, and a USB slot. The 2i4 has a bit more, but it's also unnecessary for you, I'd think.

Just be sure you get a dual 1/4" to dual 1/4" (assuming the ES100 outputs in stereo). You might also want to grab a 10ft. or longer Type A to Type B USB cable, because I found the one packaged with the Scarlett far too short (think it was 3', so consider the length between your gear). If you want to go directly out to studio monitors, the line-outs are also 1/4", so cable up appropriately.

I'd say avoid Behringer products -- I've only ever had one, which was a small headphone DAC (which was promptly replaced with a FiiO) that stopped working several months in. Their stuff is much cheaper for 'more', but the build quality and, based on personal experience, the product life, suffers for it. It felt very cheap, and I tend to take my gear around a lot, so I like something sturdy. It's anecdotal, but it's a pretty common sentiment. Your mileage may vary!

I'm not familiar with any other brands with hands-on experience, but the other big names (Akai?) tend to cost a fair bit more, and most of the third-party stuff is probably akin to Behringer -- very hit or miss.

I will definitely be going external knowing all of this now. Thanks for the advice!

Edit: /u/nighserenity suggested the Scarlett, do you happen to have any insight as to whether or not this would be a good buy?

Thanks so much for the info! I noticed that I can get a used Focusrite 2i4 for about half the price on amazon, but it is listed as the "old version". Is there any significant difference in the old and new version?

This is the one:
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-2i4-USB-Interface/dp/B009B15N0Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482653729&sr=8-2&keywords=Focusrite+2i4

Also, what is your thought on something like the Yeti mics that have a built in dac? I use one mostly for voice and it sounds great to me. But it a focusrite with rode mic going to just be world away better?

This is what I was considering: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Yeti-USB-Microphone-Silver/dp/B002VA464S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482653965&sr=8-2&keywords=yeti+mic

I'd like to purchase my first interface, nothing particularly expensive. I have a Rock Band 3 Keyboard that has MIDI out. I'd also like to record guitar and bass as well.

I saw the Scarlett 2i4, and have heard good things, but is there any cheaper alternative that can get me the same results?

Thanks in advance!

The Scarlett will work fine, it will replace the Modi, but not the Magni.

I would bump up to the Scarlett 2i4 which has both RCA and TRS.

You would connect the device to your computer via USB and use it as a DAC. Connect your speakers to the TRS outs and your Magni to the RCA. Headphones would then be connected to the Magni.

If you aren't concerned about balanced connections (the only reason for them is to reduce noise and interference), follow what Diablo is saying and grab the Magni 2 Uber.

Thanks! I see that the 2i4 is on sale for almost the same price. Should I get that instead?

2i4 just went on sale for $186 Amazon. I need an upgrade from my M-audio podcast factory :) Timely post! haha
Edit:
Here is one by Amazon, sorry, the other is third party.
I just bought it for $187, the price keeps going up and down,,,, I don't Amazon much, but is that normal?

Whew the wrong thing banged that out last night in a rush and few drinks in me.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 and Focusrite Scarlett 18i8

If you plan on using it as a midi controller as well you'll need an audio interface that has a midi in/out, something like this.

Check this model out:

http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-2i4-USB-Interface/dp/B009B15N0Q

See the buttons next to each input that say "pad" That's what your model should have. When you clip, it lowers the input by around -10 -20 giving your more headroom.