The major difference isn’t what it sounds like... The major difference is that the converters in the focusrite have a maximum output of +10dbu, the UAD has a maximum output of +26dbu. This is fine if you only ever use your audio files in a consumer setting. The UA interface is a professional device with professional converters. Let me explain why this is important. The reference level for professional gear is +4dbu or 1.23 volts. This means that if you run audio recorded through the focusrite through any outboard gear you only have 6db of headroom between reference and clipping vs the UA interface having 18-19db of headroom. So if you‘re not serious about the audio files you record, then use consumer equipment... it doesn’t sound terrible. BUT if you plan to ever use the audio you record in ANY kind of professional environment or you take audio seriously, get a professional interface with high quality converters.
The UAD def sounded cleaner! I will say I've been using the Scarlett 2i2 for years, ever since I started recording, and use the microphone that came with the Scarlett Studio and I've had no real problems getting it to sound good in a mix. So for a good quality interface, it's really hard to beat the price on it
Sanjay, I just bought an Arrow 4 weeks ago. I was shocked about the quality. The Arrow actually is intended to hit the road, but I understand your point if you don’t want to have to bring it with you. The other key feature everyone should be aware of with the Arrow is Unison technology, which actually lets some of the plug-ins interact directly with the pre-amps, essentially allowing for a zero latency version of whatever that plug in is, be it a compressor, channel strip, etc.. For me this was a game-changer. Some of those units are so close to the vintage technology that they are nearly indistinguishable. My only problem with UAD is that it is easy to get sucked into spending a lot of money quickly. When you register, there is a once only offer for more plug-ins at a very discounted price (discounted but still expensive). The Arrow alone can not power most of these in your mix wen combined, which quickly has you wanting to buy more UAD power in the form of DSP satellites. These are a huge benefit in terms of system offload, but again it is just really easy to get hooked. The quality is top notch. I’m very happy. I’m just warning UAD is audio crack! 😁
I could hear some bright resonance at every loud note you were singing. I think it's a bright sounding mic that caused that, but scarlett aggravated those moments and arrow smoothed them. Thanks!
Sanjay C in all honesty, any interface from reputable brands will deliver a great result these days. Bars have been set pretty high. We see shootouts all the time and, to me, subtle differences are too small to determine whether a is a better pick than B or C. It all down to features and bang for the buck these days. One cannot go wrong with a UA interface or a Focusrite, whatever the model... I currently have sn old Forte which sounds great, but I've tried a Clarett and noticed no difference in clarity at all. Your speakers and microphones make far more difference to the final results than the audio interface. Even a Behringer can produce great results if you know what you're doing, right? However, you are right about the Arrow. Having to carry it everywhere in order to use UAD plugs is the reason I was never sold on their tech. Great for a desktop setup, pointless for a mobile one.
Is not about “warm” the difference between scarlet & narrow it’s the background noise or noise floor with the scarlet you can even hear the night sounds and with the UAD you get a more clean sound, maybe you went a little bit hard with the preamp level of the scarlet or maybe it’s bcs the UAD preamp it’s simply better but the tone it’s the same a solution for those who have a scarlet it’s don’t push to far the preamp so you don’t get that nasty noise that obviously makes you sound cheap... great video
I know of people who have made songs that went pretty far with the focusrite 2i2. Btw a lot of signed label artists use the 2i2 on the road it’s just so efficient. If you can afford Apollo go for it because there are 0 cons, I own both and honestly can record clean vocals with both. If not don’t be hard on yourself because if it’s a clean recording , how good your song will do is based on your talent , skill & if the vocals are cleanly recorded and engineered correctly.
Thank you for a great, quick review as I am considering the Arrow as my next interface. I wish I had your voice, but alas, I don't, but I can still record my own. I appreciate your straight forward discussion for the home musicians out there.
Yes sir! There’s a huge difference in the sound. The UAD Arrow is far clearer than what I thought it’d be, and it is warm. I love that. Thanks for letting me know what my next purchase will be!
The only difference between the two of them is resonance, both high and low, unfortunately this tiny difference in resonance makes for a monstrous difference in how much a listener enjoys the recorded sound and how the singer reacts to the monitoring. Can you EQ it out? Yeah sure, just use a peak EQ to identify the resonances, cut 'em and you'll be all set. However, it's much nicer to feel confident in your gear and just plug it in and record straight away, and I think feeling it makes a difference in the final product.
I was binging your videos for a while months ago and I forgot to subscribe! Glad you came up again when searching for another topic. Won't forget this time :)
i listened thru a soundbar via my tv and couldn't hear much of a difference, but I'm sure if i went back and listened thru my cans i would. You'd hope there'd be a difference considering the price differential!
There is a reason the plugins only work with the DSP - it's likely made for the external DSP not the CPU in your Mac. Although the same sound, the pluings are a different in their underlying code between the DSP and CPU. DSP is much more optimised. UAD could easily give you the CPU versions but that's giving you a premium product for free. You could easily return the product and keep the plugins so they restrict it to just the DSP?
Since the arrow is bus powered it seems like it would be pretty easy to bring on the go, esp since you need a headphone plug anyway. I mean, you can use the 1/8" on the laptop but it wont sound anywhere near as good. So important for mixing. In your situation I'd say track and commit the plugins with the Arrow, so the track is rendered in the DAW with the plugin on it. Then, mix with native to take the mix home. The Arrow 1 sharc chip wont get you too many plugin instances anyway, so recording the plugs is key. Cheers!
I just got the Audient id14 and it sounds great (Using an SM7B with no cloudlifter needed), you may want to check that out--- gives me that same buttery smooth sound like your UAD (I use it for Audiobooks). Great video as always Sanjay!! Thanks!
Yeah audient has got some awesome mic pres and converters for a killer price. I remember when I had an Apollo 8 black face rack mount and I needed a cloudlifter with that setup also when using the sm7b.
Which interface should buy? Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or SSL2+ Which Mic should buy? AKG P120 or Audio-Technica AT2020 Which should buy? DT-770 Pro 250 Ohm or Audio-Technica ATH-M40 X
You have such a great voice and an amazing modern delivery. What is that overdriven grit in both of those preamps coming from? It cuts in toward the slightly harder driven parts of your vocals (e.g. as they build). We have Apollo’s, Focusrite Red and Rednet’s (not the Scarlet though) and an NT1 (not an NT1a though), and don’t get those weird, harsh transients. The only time I ever get those is when a mic or a preamp channel is going or gone, or settings are doing it (since you are clean, it’s not that). Any idea what it might be? In terms of the dead mic, If a preamp going, be careful, as it can cause issues with some types of mic’s (i.e. damage them). I assume you hear what I am talking about...?
Thank you, Andrew. You know, I borrowed that NT1 from a friend, and I thought the harshness was a characteristic of that mic. I've run an SM7B through the Focusrite, and didn't get that harsh sound. So maybe my friend's NT1 is the problem. Here's the Focusrite with the SM7B clean: th-cam.com/video/BoNJ8t_Xft8/w-d-xo.html
You can always render a track with the UAD plugs when using the interface and then use built-in plugs. Also: Personally I have no problem throwing the arrow in my backpack when traveling... and as it is is bus-powered, it works everywhere.
How will I connect my electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drum, piano and bass into my studio?? What are the thing that I need for drum to record?? What kind of interface I need to buy to connect every instrument and vocal??
Thanks, the Preamp comparison is really helpful. I think you're missing one very important point about the DSP-Processing though. Yes you are right, in this day and age any recent computer can run very good native Plug-ins. But if you have a full blown project with 50+ tracks and lots of native processing, you can't just do e.g. vocal overdubs without running into latency issues. This is the situation where DSP-Processing shines. Have a huge project but still track a vocal chain with great effects while monitoring with close to zero latency.
Hi just to let you know that im a big fan of your videos. You gave us good affordable options on gears that you review and compare.I need your advice on something. First is im not a musician, i just love to sing and getting crazy on recording at home.Ok i have presonus 16.0.2 and a line 6 m20d and recently purchased a zoom p4. My microphones are neumann kms 105,sennheiser e965,earthworks sr314,shure ksm8.Do i still need to buy an interface and a large diaphragm microphone?Again im not a musician more of a karaoke guy but im willing to spend money for my hobby,Thanks 😊
@@SanjayC hey thanks for the reply at least i don't have to buy another microphone. And my mixers and my new zoom p4 are all can act as an interface too but to be honest with you since the line 6 m20d and zoom p4 has an sd card recording both line and stereo im happy with it.Though ive tried mixing them with presonus studio 1 on my macbook but just didn't have that much time...Anyways thanks again and please keep on posting beautiful videos😊
That’s why you buy a Satellite separately and you’re going to need it anyways when you start adding more plugins and your mixes begin to run out of power (mine when adding tape by Ampex). Just carry the satellite and you’re good to go!
Awesome vid. While I like focusrite interfaces, UAD does a great job with the preamps in their interfaces. But like you pointed out, always having to hook up the interfaces to use the plugins is also a issue. Also, some uad plugins really tax the processor in the interface. So if you’d only running a solo chip you’ll find yourself hitting a wall unless you print your audio and add another plugin after.
Thanks. When I tested, I ran 5 UAD plugins and it used about 45% of the DSP on the Arrow interface. Good enough for my small projects, but probably lacking for larger ones.
I haven't read all the comments - apologies in advance if covered. It doesn't make sense to me that the "noise" was higher on the FR pre vs UA accounting for any improvement. More noise = more sensitivity. You indicated the noise was background in the room - therefore I presume you were getting greater signal to noise, not less. Is it possible you were running plug-ins on the UA box that processed the audio going in without you being aware of it? That would make much more sense to me. -Cheers
I’ve been using Scarlett 2i2 with AT2020, I’m pretty happy what I hear. But near future I’m planning to buy a Rme Babyface pro. Would you recommend it? Or I should prefer Arrow? Thanks 😊
RME interfaces are very good. I would only buy the Arrow if you want access to the UAD plugins. And in my opinion, if you already own other nice hardware emulators by Waves or IK Multimedia, you don't need UAD.
Could you please!!! Pretty please compare the Arrow Vs the Claret 2Pre, that should be a more fair comparison based on the price range of the Arrow. PS: I love your channel!!!! Keep the amazing work!!!
@@SanjayC I need a mic,audio interface that will give me radio and Spotify sounding quality but I want the cheapest mic and audio interface! I sing high like withney Houston, Michael Jackson, Freddie mercury,and sometimes low as Janet jackson!
@@SanjayC and do I need shock absorber for my mic and which midi keyboard and how many keys keyboard will contribute to giving me radio quality voice and song?? Do I need an isolation booth?
I'm confused? I get why you wouldn't want to carry around the Arrow and just use software but you absolutely need an audio interface to record with, so how is that a con? It's more reason to like the UAD interface and use it over a competitor.
Its because sometimes I'm done recording external sounds and just want to work on mixing or with virtual instruments/plugins. With the Arrow, I can't mix with UAD plugins just on my laptop, I have to have the Arrow connected.
@@SanjayC but once you've recorded them, they are already baked into the track, so how is that different from producing and mixing after any other recording?
Hi there and thanks so much for the video. On the Scarlett 2i2, I understand you can direct monitor by moving over the button which then allows you to hear your voice through your headphones. How exactly would you achieve this with the arrow? Thanks so much
That’s for this video. The difference I hear in this example is huge. I have a scarlet 18i8 and appreciate all of the inputs but I am still thinking about an Arrow for the plug in power and warmth. My Mac is new (2019) but crashing when in Logic Pro sometimes. The Arrow may help that. ? I agree mixing on the go is a great feature but can I do both? Multiple inputs for recording instruments with the i8 and then record a warm vocal on the Arrow with awesome plug ins for final mixing? Is this a good idea, overkill, or am I missing something?
In my opinion, if you go with Universal Audio, get the a Twin with Duo processing at least. I don't think its going to help your crashing problem though, unless the crashing is due to your Scarlett.
Hi Sanjay, Thanks for the reviews on audio gear..Would appreciate if u can giv advice on picking up gear for mixing..my dilemma is to pick either “presonus daw control surface + uad Apollo with plugins+soft tube” or “presonus studio live 3”..which kinda does all the jobs plus analog mixing..thanks..
This is a wonderful and crystal clear review Thanks a lot!. I could hear that mysterious better quality. UA Arrow sounds more natural and less noisy...digital noisy. Question : I have a 2i2 and i`m trying to get a better sound of my Nord Digital Piano.To what extent do you think the UA would be also better with a sample based digital instrument ?. (That would justify spending $500). Thanks so Much Sanjay
I wouldn't buy it to improve the sound of a digital instrument. Because the real benefit of the UA in my opinion is the preamps for microphone recording. With your Nord, you won't be using the preamps, just the AD converters. So not worth the price in my opinion.
Hi Sanjay, I have a random question. Do you have any problems with the seaboard Block at all? I’m about to buy one and I wanna make sure there is nothing to worry about.
So the quality or performance of the converters aren't worlds apart? I need a quality interface for producing and mixing electronic music ITB. I'm not cutting vocals or using live instruments, so mic pres and inputs aren't as important for me. What I want is professional results from mixing down ITB. The Arrow is $400 more than the Scarlett I'm looking at. If the DA conversion is better than comparable with the Focusrite, I'll save some money. Would you agree?
Hi Sanjay! I picked up a Focusrite 4i4 a few months ago, and have just started getting into home recording. A friend of mine is pushing the UAD Apollo Twin, and citing the plugins as the primary advantage the UAD has over the Focusrite. This video helped me understand the plugins better, and the function of DSP. I didn't realize that the UAD plugins couldn't be used without the interface attached. That seems like an inconvenience, like you said. Also, my computer is pretty robust, I doubt I would need the DSP function, but I'm not sure. My question is: all else aside (DSP, convenience, etc.), is there any significant sonic difference between using plugins in the UAD recording interface to using plugins directly on the channel you are recording into inside your DAW?
Honestly, the sonic difference in the plugins in minor. Its there, but I honestly if your budget is low, you don't need it. Waves, and other companies make amazing sounding plugins for much less. I love my UAD devices for different reasons - mainly the quality of the hardware and their nice software. But I don't know if it justifies the price.
Hey Sanjay, great comparison and thoughts on those Audio Interfaces. Just a question for my kind of "Music composer" profile, I will only compose music with VST on my Logic Pro X (Arturia Collection, Strobe 2, Equator etc) and put a lot of plugins as EQ (API, SSL), Comp, Reverb (Lexicon) etc. Is the UAD Arrow a good choice for a fully load of VST (I mean, on certain composition, like Electro music, I use a lot of Plugins and need a great Audio Interface to deal with this big load of VST without latency)? Or should I upgrade for an Apollo Twin in order to get a very large amount of VST activated? Thanks again for your delightful enthusiasm.
There are so many dependencies (computer power, plugins used, etc) that it’s hard to give an accurate answer. But in my opinion, the Arrow would be enough for you. If you don’t record live vocals or live instruments, you won’t be taking advantage of the Arrow’s excellent preamps! That’s another top feature of the Arrow. If I were you, I would invest in a more powerful laptop instead. So that all the processing power is mobile. Hope this helps.
Thank you again Sanjay, I see what you mean, I'm only a beatmaker who work with VST, and maybe in a near future with a real expander (Like NORD LEAD 2). But actually, I just need a great Audio Interface to discharge my CPU. As you said, i'm not gonna use the awesome Preamp because I'm not recording Vocals (Maybe just for some yogourt) and Live Instruments. Here is mu actual config : iMac 5K, 4,2 GHz Intel Core i7, 40 Go 2400 MHz DDR4. Do you think that's enough combine with a Arrow ? (I love UAD plugins too for SSL, Neve and API feelings).
Setup looks good. Since you’re not in need of a streamlined mobile setup and since you really like UAD plugins - I think you should go for it. If you can afford the Apollo, put in the extra $$. Otherwise the Arrow should be great.
what is the maximum length for the thunderbolt 3 cable. i bought a 2m thunderbolt 3 and the unit stutters heavily and chop the sound. Im running Windows 10 64bits
Listening on some SHP9500's, there was subtle differences in the high end on both units.. the focusrite was for lack of a better word more "transparent" that is why it picked up more of the surrounding low end noise. The UAD had less background noise, but that doesn't make it better... that could just be the pre is picking up less or just the EQ curve. No matter what, with a decent vocal room/booth and a 2 min EQ session (with stock EQ's from your DAW) both pre's will sound very similar. Don't go spending extra money on hardware you don't need, been there, and done that.
Great info and thank you! I know this might be a little too specific of a question but I'm looking to do some professional sounding recordings (instruments and vocals) and Voice Over...I'm thinking about the $150 audio interface...do you think that will be enough? The rest should be taken care of by the mic I use, right? I have two dynamic mics and I'm gonna buy a condenser mic...at least that's the plan
Sanjay C I kept looking and almost decided to go with the Scarlett 2i2 but than I found the Audient ID4 and everyone seems to agree that for a little extra money, the Audient sounds significantly better. Do you agree with that? Thank you in advance
Hey Sanjay! Which one do you think is better for someone who just makes electronic music and doesn't record at all? Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or M-Audio M Track 2x2M? PS I'm on windows rn, switching to Mac soon.
Sanjay C get a clear sound and connecting it to monitors. I also thought about M Audio mainly because it has Midi in/out and usb 3 port so I won't need to use a hub as such. But I've seen Scarlett as the industry leader and it must be for some reason except the preamps too while having the usb 2.0 and no midi in/out
hi sanjay C, i need your help!i have focusrite scarlette 8i6, so should i go for Rupert Neve preamp(as i can use the preamp seperately and the converters from the focusrite scarlette) or sumthing like a babyface or uad stuff..please suggest asap!thanks
I like the idea of going with separate preamp like the Rupert. I love my UAD Apollo 8, but I'm always curious about other preamps. I may try one soon. I know a lot of producers who use the Apollo interfaces with separate preamps.
@@SanjayCthank you so much for ur valuable reply.. i also am looking at the idea of getting a channel strip, can u please suggest the best channel strip with the cleanest preamp within 500dollars..i see so many options within budget like Grace m101, presonus eureka, audient id4, fmr really nice preamp etc..please suggest which one is the cleanest sounding preamp..thanks once again..liked and subd ur channel..
One is a cheap entry level pre and the other is the entry point for a ecosystem, that's where the price difference comes in. They are designed t for 2 totally different targets.
@@SanjayC I did prefer the arrow but hate the fact that you can't use the plugins without the UA interface.... That's a very Apple thing to do because it binds you. BTW you have a great voice.... No processing needed. Cheers
I think the Arrow was anything but smooth. It's sharp and to much semblance and ssssssssss but the NT1a is famous for this. The 2i2 is smoother but lack a little high end compared to the Apollo
Bro i have a Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD Audiophile 4x4, 24-Bit/192 kHz USB Audio/MIDI Interface with MIDAS Mic Preamplifiers Some body ppl say this is not good interface but somebody say is best. I am total confusing about different opinions. Pls tell me this interface is good or not?
How do the two units compare in terms of latency? The Scarlett has a direct monitor feature which I understand improves latency so how does it compare with the Arrow with direct monitor on or off? Thanks!
With direct monitor, all interfaces are going to give you the same results since they are just mixing your input signal with your computer music. Not much difference in that feature.
Sanjay C when I bought the interface it was a no brainier to buy it . it has presonus studio one 3 artist value $100 and 7 plug ins six of them are mixing plug in and last one is MOVEMENT BY OUTPUT VST . A value of over $400 ! 🤯
Thanks @Sanjay! Yo need some help though. My recordings sound like they are boxey or muffled. Is that my microphone or Audio interface or Space. I thought it might be my microphone because I dropped it. But when I had a saffire pro 40 it never sounded this bad. But I had to switch to a different interface due to studio size shift and money. So I am just wondering if need to replace my interface or microphone.
![⭐️( ลอยกระทง 2024 ) Ver. แดนซ์ Remix BY [ ดีเจกิต รีมิกซ์ ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rMWOLhgXUHc/mqdefault.jpg)
The major difference isn’t what it sounds like... The major difference is that the converters in the focusrite have a maximum output of +10dbu, the UAD has a maximum output of +26dbu. This is fine if you only ever use your audio files in a consumer setting. The UA interface is a professional device with professional converters. Let me explain why this is important. The reference level for professional gear is +4dbu or 1.23 volts. This means that if you run audio recorded through the focusrite through any outboard gear you only have 6db of headroom between reference and clipping vs the UA interface having 18-19db of headroom. So if you‘re not serious about the audio files you record, then use consumer equipment... it doesn’t sound terrible. BUT if you plan to ever use the audio you record in ANY kind of professional environment or you take audio seriously, get a professional interface with high quality converters.
UA spec sheet says 20.7dbu...you can also go with Tascam to get the same 20.7dbu output, but the Focusrite does show 10dbu
When you say audio files ,you mean the unfinished song that you want to release to platforms like Spotify or even the radio?
@@ramirezwilliam8983 yes
The UAD def sounded cleaner! I will say I've been using the Scarlett 2i2 for years, ever since I started recording, and use the microphone that came with the Scarlett Studio and I've had no real problems getting it to sound good in a mix. So for a good quality interface, it's really hard to beat the price on it
True, I’ve been happy with my 2i4. But man that UAD sound. ☀️
Sanjay, I just bought an Arrow 4 weeks ago. I was shocked about the quality. The Arrow actually is intended to hit the road, but I understand your point if you don’t want to have to bring it with you. The other key feature everyone should be aware of with the Arrow is Unison technology, which actually lets some of the plug-ins interact directly with the pre-amps, essentially allowing for a zero latency version of whatever that plug in is, be it a compressor, channel strip, etc.. For me this was a game-changer. Some of those units are so close to the vintage technology that they are nearly indistinguishable. My only problem with UAD is that it is easy to get sucked into spending a lot of money quickly. When you register, there is a once only offer for more plug-ins at a very discounted price (discounted but still expensive). The Arrow alone can not power most of these in your mix wen combined, which quickly has you wanting to buy more UAD power in the form of DSP satellites. These are a huge benefit in terms of system offload, but again it is just really easy to get hooked. The quality is top notch. I’m very happy. I’m just warning UAD is audio crack! 😁
Haha! Oh I definitely felt that even for the week I had it. I could see myself buying more of their plugins. Thanks for the extra info, buddy! 👍🏼
I could hear some bright resonance at every loud note you were singing. I think it's a bright sounding mic that caused that, but scarlett aggravated those moments and arrow smoothed them. Thanks!
Very true
I believe a fairer comparison would have been between the Arrow and a Focusrite Clarett... same price range and better converters...
I haven’t tried the Clarett. Do you like the sound?
Sanjay C in all honesty, any interface from reputable brands will deliver a great result these days. Bars have been set pretty high. We see shootouts all the time and, to me, subtle differences are too small to determine whether a is a better pick than B or C. It all down to features and bang for the buck these days. One cannot go wrong with a UA interface or a Focusrite, whatever the model... I currently have sn old Forte which sounds great, but I've tried a Clarett and noticed no difference in clarity at all. Your speakers and microphones make far more difference to the final results than the audio interface. Even a Behringer can produce great results if you know what you're doing, right? However, you are right about the Arrow. Having to carry it everywhere in order to use UAD plugs is the reason I was never sold on their tech. Great for a desktop setup, pointless for a mobile one.
Yeah if I was not mobile, I would’ve kept it.
Sanjay C Keep up with the brilliant work. I really dig your videos :)
Thanks man!
UAD is better. You hear alot of noise and fiiiiis with 2i2, but the UAD is clear.
Is not about “warm” the difference between scarlet & narrow it’s the background noise or noise floor with the scarlet you can even hear the night sounds and with the UAD you get a more clean sound, maybe you went a little bit hard with the preamp level of the scarlet or maybe it’s bcs the UAD preamp it’s simply better but the tone it’s the same a solution for those who have a scarlet it’s don’t push to far the preamp so you don’t get that nasty noise that obviously makes you sound cheap... great video
I agree. The UAD sounded cleaner and softer.
Right? I so wanted to keep it!
What??? Aww man. It was night and day to me. I mean, even the isolation was excellent.
You’re right, I had such a hard time letting it go.
The camera mic sounded the clearest and best to me. Once you started using the interfaces it didn’t sound as realistic.
The camera mic I used is the Rode VideoMic Pro Plus :-) Great mic
I know of people who have made songs that went pretty far with the focusrite 2i2. Btw a lot of signed label artists use the 2i2 on the road it’s just so efficient. If you can afford Apollo go for it because there are 0 cons, I own both and honestly can record clean vocals with both.
If not don’t be hard on yourself because if it’s a clean recording , how good your song will do is based on your talent , skill & if the vocals are cleanly recorded and engineered correctly.
Thank you. This is what i needed to hear
absolutely . so much better!!! yes very warm and round. consistent
Thank you for a great, quick review as I am considering the Arrow as my next interface. I wish I had your voice, but alas, I don't, but I can still record my own. I appreciate your straight forward discussion for the home musicians out there.
2:00 vs 2:43 a little more warm/rounded on the second.
Yes, I can hear a major difference even with cheap earbuds. The Arrow has rounded lows and the tone is vintage sounding. Great vocals by the way!
Thanks, Johnny!
I like how he is just using the antriphon as a prop so it doesn’t look awkward. Nice voice loved it
LOLLL!! Yo, it’s a handsome instrument!
Yes sir! There’s a huge difference in the sound. The UAD Arrow is far clearer than what I thought it’d be, and it is warm. I love that. Thanks for letting me know what my next purchase will be!
The only difference between the two of them is resonance, both high and low, unfortunately this tiny difference in resonance makes for a monstrous difference in how much a listener enjoys the recorded sound and how the singer reacts to the monitoring. Can you EQ it out? Yeah sure, just use a peak EQ to identify the resonances, cut 'em and you'll be all set. However, it's much nicer to feel confident in your gear and just plug it in and record straight away, and I think feeling it makes a difference in the final product.
Any idea what makes the resonance? Or around what frequencies?
Thank you for doing this comparison. I think the universal audio plugins is where the real difference can be heard.
I was binging your videos for a while months ago and I forgot to subscribe! Glad you came up again when searching for another topic. Won't forget this time :)
i listened thru a soundbar via my tv and couldn't hear much of a difference, but I'm sure if i went back and listened thru my cans i would. You'd hope there'd be a difference considering the price differential!
There is a reason the plugins only work with the DSP - it's likely made for the external DSP not the CPU in your Mac. Although the same sound, the pluings are a different in their underlying code between the DSP and CPU. DSP is much more optimised. UAD could easily give you the CPU versions but that's giving you a premium product for free. You could easily return the product and keep the plugins so they restrict it to just the DSP?
You do have to install software for the 2i2 and it does come with plugins.
You don't have to install software on Mac at least. Not sure about Windows. It comes with the Focusrite plugins.
Sanjay C you don’t have to on windows but it has more options for it if you install the driver specifically for it.
Since the arrow is bus powered it seems like it would be pretty easy to bring on the go, esp since you need a headphone plug anyway. I mean, you can use the 1/8" on the laptop but it wont sound anywhere near as good. So important for mixing. In your situation I'd say track and commit the plugins with the Arrow, so the track is rendered in the DAW with the plugin on it. Then, mix with native to take the mix home. The Arrow 1 sharc chip wont get you too many plugin instances anyway, so recording the plugs is key. Cheers!
Good advice Mark! Thanks!
I just got the Audient id14 and it sounds great (Using an SM7B with no cloudlifter needed), you may want to check that out--- gives me that same buttery smooth sound like your UAD (I use it for Audiobooks). Great video as always Sanjay!! Thanks!
Thanks Michael!! I will check out Audient!
Yeah audient has got some awesome mic pres and converters for a killer price. I remember when I had an Apollo 8 black face rack mount and I needed a cloudlifter with that setup also when using the sm7b.
@@JohnJonesRocketCity audient is 20 dbu?
Which interface should buy? Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or SSL2+
Which Mic should buy? AKG P120 or Audio-Technica AT2020
Which should buy? DT-770 Pro 250 Ohm or Audio-Technica ATH-M40 X
You have such a great voice and an amazing modern delivery. What is that overdriven grit in both of those preamps coming from? It cuts in toward the slightly harder driven parts of your vocals (e.g. as they build). We have Apollo’s, Focusrite Red and Rednet’s (not the Scarlet though) and an NT1 (not an NT1a though), and don’t get those weird, harsh transients. The only time I ever get those is when a mic or a preamp channel is going or gone, or settings are doing it (since you are clean, it’s not that). Any idea what it might be? In terms of the dead mic, If a preamp going, be careful, as it can cause issues with some types of mic’s (i.e. damage them). I assume you hear what I am talking about...?
Thank you, Andrew. You know, I borrowed that NT1 from a friend, and I thought the harshness was a characteristic of that mic. I've run an SM7B through the Focusrite, and didn't get that harsh sound. So maybe my friend's NT1 is the problem. Here's the Focusrite with the SM7B clean: th-cam.com/video/BoNJ8t_Xft8/w-d-xo.html
im gonna be honest I can barely hear any difference. after reading the comments, I can notice that the focusrite sounds a bit boomier.
You can always render a track with the UAD plugs when using the interface and then use built-in plugs. Also: Personally I have no problem throwing the arrow in my backpack when traveling... and as it is is bus-powered, it works everywhere.
True...its at least compact for carrying around!
Nice review Sanjay C! I really enjoy your voice!
Thanks!!
How will I connect my electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drum, piano and bass into my studio?? What are the thing that I need for drum to record?? What kind of interface I need to buy to connect every instrument and vocal??
What are those things you were holding in our hands when you tested singing?
oh...that's from a previous video...you gotta watch it here th-cam.com/video/9rC59rxD91o/w-d-xo.html
For raw vocals, that was really clean! Great video!
Thanks, the Preamp comparison is really helpful. I think you're missing one very important point about the DSP-Processing though. Yes you are right, in this day and age any recent computer can run very good native Plug-ins. But if you have a full blown project with 50+ tracks and lots of native processing, you can't just do e.g. vocal overdubs without running into latency issues. This is the situation where DSP-Processing shines. Have a huge project but still track a vocal chain with great effects while monitoring with close to zero latency.
the scarlet keeps distorting in the high frequencies
Hi just to let you know that im a big fan of your videos. You gave us good affordable options on gears that you review and compare.I need your advice on something. First is im not a musician, i just love to sing and getting crazy on recording at home.Ok i have presonus 16.0.2 and a line 6 m20d and recently purchased a zoom p4. My microphones are neumann kms 105,sennheiser e965,earthworks sr314,shure ksm8.Do i still need to buy an interface and a large diaphragm microphone?Again im not a musician more of a karaoke guy but im willing to spend money for my hobby,Thanks 😊
You'll need an audio interface to get the audio from your mic to the computer. You don't need a large diaphragm mic. You can use the ones you have.
@@SanjayC hey thanks for the reply at least i don't have to buy another microphone. And my mixers and my new zoom p4 are all can act as an interface too but to be honest with you since the line 6 m20d and zoom p4 has an sd card recording both line and stereo im happy with it.Though ive tried mixing them with presonus studio 1 on my macbook but just didn't have that much time...Anyways thanks again and please keep on posting beautiful videos😊
That’s why you buy a Satellite separately and you’re going to need it anyways when you start adding more plugins and your mixes begin to run out of power (mine when adding tape by Ampex). Just carry the satellite and you’re good to go!
Good point. But, they need to make a smaller satellite!
Focusrite 6i6 vs uad arrow? I have a 6i6 and I'm looking forward to buy a uad interface, i usually récord only 1 instrument at a time
But that buttery smooth voice from the arrow! You gotta keep it!
I know! I wish...I really wanted to but I need that $$!
Do you recommend the UAD ARROW in 2020 ??
hey sanjay i am gonna buy my first audio interface which one should i go for ?? Scarlett 2i2 , evo 4 or audient id4???
I could hear that the UAD Arrow was much better. I wonder how it compares with other inputs such as synthesizer?
The line inputs don’t have much audio quality difference compared to other interfaces
@@SanjayC I think most people also buy the UAD Arrow or Apollo for the plugins and onboard SHARK chips, thanks for your reply.
Thanks for the review! Helped me convince myself better to invest in the Arrow after watching the video hah .
See if you can find a good deal (eBay) on the Apollo Twin Duo or Quad. You may need the extra DSP processing power if you used a lot of UAD plugins.
Awesome vid. While I like focusrite interfaces, UAD does a great job with the preamps in their interfaces. But like you pointed out, always having to hook up the interfaces to use the plugins is also a issue. Also, some uad plugins really tax the processor in the interface. So if you’d only running a solo chip you’ll find yourself hitting a wall unless you print your audio and add another plugin after.
Thanks. When I tested, I ran 5 UAD plugins and it used about 45% of the DSP on the Arrow interface. Good enough for my small projects, but probably lacking for larger ones.
Sanjay C hi would i be able too use 1.autotunes with acouple more plug ins at once with out going over there max
That should be easy
thinking of upgrading to the uad, this convinced me great review!
Glad I could help!
DEFINITELY GETTING UAD FOR SURE
I miss it already! Haha!
I haven't read all the comments - apologies in advance if covered. It doesn't make sense to me that the "noise" was higher on the FR pre vs UA accounting for any improvement. More noise = more sensitivity. You indicated the noise was background in the room - therefore I presume you were getting greater signal to noise, not less. Is it possible you were running plug-ins on the UA box that processed the audio going in without you being aware of it? That would make much more sense to me. -Cheers
You just answered my question @ 5:29. However dose it come with shadow hills mastering compressor?!
I didn’t see that plugin. So I don’t think so
I’ve been using Scarlett 2i2 with AT2020, I’m pretty happy what I hear. But near future I’m planning to buy a Rme Babyface pro. Would you recommend it? Or I should prefer Arrow? Thanks 😊
RME interfaces are very good. I would only buy the Arrow if you want access to the UAD plugins. And in my opinion, if you already own other nice hardware emulators by Waves or IK Multimedia, you don't need UAD.
Sanjay C thanks for your opinion. I will consider that.
Could you please!!! Pretty please compare the Arrow Vs the Claret 2Pre, that should be a more fair comparison based on the price range of the Arrow. PS: I love your channel!!!! Keep the amazing work!!!
Thanks so much. I'll try my best. Tough to get all this gear :-)
@@SanjayC I need a mic,audio interface that will give me radio and Spotify sounding quality but I want the cheapest mic and audio interface! I sing high like withney Houston, Michael Jackson, Freddie mercury,and sometimes low as Janet jackson!
@@SanjayC and do I need shock absorber for my mic and which midi keyboard and how many keys keyboard will contribute to giving me radio quality voice and song?? Do I need an isolation booth?
I'm confused? I get why you wouldn't want to carry around the Arrow and just use software but you absolutely need an audio interface to record with, so how is that a con? It's more reason to like the UAD interface and use it over a competitor.
Its because sometimes I'm done recording external sounds and just want to work on mixing or with virtual instruments/plugins. With the Arrow, I can't mix with UAD plugins just on my laptop, I have to have the Arrow connected.
@@SanjayC but once you've recorded them, they are already baked into the track, so how is that different from producing and mixing after any other recording?
Why didn’t you keep the UAD instead of going back to the 2i4? 😂
@@Mechegoals 32 lol
Hi there and thanks so much for the video. On the Scarlett 2i2, I understand you can direct monitor by moving over the button which then allows you to hear your voice through your headphones. How exactly would you achieve this with the arrow? Thanks so much
That’s for this video. The difference I hear in this example is huge. I have a scarlet 18i8 and appreciate all of the inputs but I am still thinking about an Arrow for the plug in power and warmth. My Mac is new (2019) but crashing when in Logic Pro sometimes. The Arrow may help that. ? I agree mixing on the go is a great feature but can I do both? Multiple inputs for recording instruments with the i8 and then record a warm vocal on the Arrow with awesome plug ins for final mixing? Is this a good idea, overkill, or am I missing something?
In my opinion, if you go with Universal Audio, get the a Twin with Duo processing at least. I don't think its going to help your crashing problem though, unless the crashing is due to your Scarlett.
UAD all the way !!!
So if I record a song in. An Apollo or arrow with the plugins I won’t be able to mix them later on on the go unless I have my Apollo connected ?
What plugin would you recommend for the focusrite
Keep the tunes comin!!!!
Hi Sanjay, Thanks for the reviews on audio gear..Would appreciate if u can giv advice on picking up gear for mixing..my dilemma is to pick either “presonus daw control surface + uad Apollo with plugins+soft tube” or “presonus studio live 3”..which kinda does all the jobs plus analog mixing..thanks..
I love the Apollo preamps, so if you're getting the UAD audio interface - I like that option.
@@SanjayC cool.. thnx man
the focusrite scarlett 2pre vs UAD arrow ?
Chris Ralph, exactly. Kind of pointless to compare a old Scarlett V1 to a up to date UAD interface.
This is a wonderful and crystal clear review Thanks a lot!. I could hear that mysterious better quality. UA Arrow sounds more natural and less noisy...digital noisy.
Question : I have a 2i2 and i`m trying to get a better sound of my Nord Digital Piano.To what extent do you think the UA would be also better with a sample based digital instrument ?. (That would justify spending $500). Thanks so Much Sanjay
I wouldn't buy it to improve the sound of a digital instrument. Because the real benefit of the UA in my opinion is the preamps for microphone recording. With your Nord, you won't be using the preamps, just the AD converters. So not worth the price in my opinion.
@@SanjayC That makes sense. thanks for your Reply!.
Sanjay C ligit
Hi Sanjay, I have a random question. Do you have any problems with the seaboard Block at all? I’m about to buy one and I wanna make sure there is nothing to worry about.
No, haven’t had any problems with the Seaboard. Very happy with it. Go for it!!
Is the Arrow no longer available?
UAD Apollo solo or Antelope Audio Zen Go ? which one is better ?
So the quality or performance of the converters aren't worlds apart?
I need a quality interface for producing and mixing electronic music ITB. I'm not cutting vocals or using live instruments, so mic pres and inputs aren't as important for me. What I want is professional results from mixing down ITB.
The Arrow is $400 more than the Scarlett I'm looking at. If the DA conversion is better than comparable with the Focusrite, I'll save some money. Would you agree?
Yah I think so too!
Hey man! Was the recording on the arrow without the UAD plug-ins on it? Ie was it a raw sound with no effects at all? Thank you so much!
Great video dude, keep it up
Thanks Jack!
Audient id4 vs Uad Arrow test vocal!!!
Hi Sanjay! I picked up a Focusrite 4i4 a few months ago, and have just started getting into home recording. A friend of mine is pushing the UAD Apollo Twin, and citing the plugins as the primary advantage the UAD has over the Focusrite. This video helped me understand the plugins better, and the function of DSP. I didn't realize that the UAD plugins couldn't be used without the interface attached. That seems like an inconvenience, like you said. Also, my computer is pretty robust, I doubt I would need the DSP function, but I'm not sure. My question is: all else aside (DSP, convenience, etc.), is there any significant sonic difference between using plugins in the UAD recording interface to using plugins directly on the channel you are recording into inside your DAW?
Honestly, the sonic difference in the plugins in minor. Its there, but I honestly if your budget is low, you don't need it. Waves, and other companies make amazing sounding plugins for much less. I love my UAD devices for different reasons - mainly the quality of the hardware and their nice software. But I don't know if it justifies the price.
Sanjay C I see. Thank you for the response!
@@SanjayC is it true that if I need professional studio and Spotify sounding Music I need an audio interface that has 20dbu?
yeah theres a big difference there... Nice thanks for the review
No prob...happy you liked it!
USB vs Thunderbolt is like Apples vs Oranges. Not to mention you get some nice UAD plugins :)
Hey Sanjay, great comparison and thoughts on those Audio Interfaces. Just a question for my kind of "Music composer" profile, I will only compose music with VST on my Logic Pro X (Arturia Collection, Strobe 2, Equator etc) and put a lot of plugins as EQ (API, SSL), Comp, Reverb (Lexicon) etc. Is the UAD Arrow a good choice for a fully load of VST (I mean, on certain composition, like Electro music, I use a lot of Plugins and need a great Audio Interface to deal with this big load of VST without latency)? Or should I upgrade for an Apollo Twin in order to get a very large amount of VST activated? Thanks again for your delightful enthusiasm.
There are so many dependencies (computer power, plugins used, etc) that it’s hard to give an accurate answer. But in my opinion, the Arrow would be enough for you. If you don’t record live vocals or live instruments, you won’t be taking advantage of the Arrow’s excellent preamps! That’s another top feature of the Arrow. If I were you, I would invest in a more powerful laptop instead. So that all the processing power is mobile. Hope this helps.
Thank you again Sanjay, I see what you mean, I'm only a beatmaker who work with VST, and maybe in a near future with a real expander (Like NORD LEAD 2). But actually, I just need a great Audio Interface to discharge my CPU. As you said, i'm not gonna use the awesome Preamp because I'm not recording Vocals (Maybe just for some yogourt) and Live Instruments. Here is mu actual config : iMac 5K, 4,2 GHz Intel Core i7, 40 Go 2400 MHz DDR4. Do you think that's enough combine with a Arrow ? (I love UAD plugins too for SSL, Neve and API feelings).
Setup looks good. Since you’re not in need of a streamlined mobile setup and since you really like UAD plugins - I think you should go for it. If you can afford the Apollo, put in the extra $$. Otherwise the Arrow should be great.
It’s time to upgrade I want to see Apollo x against the arrow
Unison preamp alone makes arrow way more worth it especially because I also have the townsendlab mic
Beautiful dry voice 👍
Thank you!
Hey Sanjay, please compare with Clarett… should be much fun!!
Ok will see if I can
If you can’t carry the Apollo Arrow I suggest you start doing push ups
haha! time to bulk up for UAD sake!!
Sanjay C 😂😂 but I understand because you need power supply for the interface and connecting the thunderbolt and stuff.. i get what you’re coming from
Its the UAD Arrow not the Apollo Arrow, the Apollo is a different interface made by the same company
Em Bee ya i have the Apollo twin
What interface is better, the Scarlett 2i2 or the M audio air 2x2? Thank you!
I prefer the Scarlett myself
what is the maximum length for the thunderbolt 3 cable. i bought a 2m thunderbolt 3 and the unit stutters heavily and chop the sound. Im running Windows 10 64bits
Listening on some SHP9500's, there was subtle differences in the high end on both units.. the focusrite was for lack of a better word more "transparent" that is why it picked up more of the surrounding low end noise. The UAD had less background noise, but that doesn't make it better... that could just be the pre is picking up less or just the EQ curve. No matter what, with a decent vocal room/booth and a 2 min EQ session (with stock EQ's from your DAW) both pre's will sound very similar. Don't go spending extra money on hardware you don't need, been there, and done that.
Great info and thank you! I know this might be a little too specific of a question but I'm looking to do some professional sounding recordings (instruments and vocals) and Voice Over...I'm thinking about the $150 audio interface...do you think that will be enough? The rest should be taken care of by the mic I use, right? I have two dynamic mics and I'm gonna buy a condenser mic...at least that's the plan
I think you'll be fine with a $150 audio interface. Save money for the mic.
Sanjay C thank you for taking the time to answer!
Sanjay C do you have a video on the best condenser mics btw? I couldn’t see a video specifically from you on that in my search
Sanjay C I kept looking and almost decided to go with the Scarlett 2i2 but than I found the Audient ID4 and everyone seems to agree that for a little extra money, the Audient sounds significantly better. Do you agree with that? Thank you in advance
arrow is less harsh on the highs, sounds less hollow and more warm and present
Totally agree!
Hey Sanjay! Which one do you think is better for someone who just makes electronic music and doesn't record at all? Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or M-Audio M Track 2x2M? PS I'm on windows rn, switching to Mac soon.
Hmm. I like the knob and connection placements on the Maudio. But I’m a focusrite guy. It just works. By the way, why do you need an audio interface?
Sanjay C get a clear sound and connecting it to monitors. I also thought about M Audio mainly because it has Midi in/out and usb 3 port so I won't need to use a hub as such. But I've seen Scarlett as the industry leader and it must be for some reason except the preamps too while having the usb 2.0 and no midi in/out
hi sanjay C, i need your help!i have focusrite scarlette 8i6, so should i go for Rupert Neve preamp(as i can use the preamp seperately and the converters from the focusrite scarlette) or sumthing like a babyface or uad stuff..please suggest asap!thanks
I like the idea of going with separate preamp like the Rupert. I love my UAD Apollo 8, but I'm always curious about other preamps. I may try one soon. I know a lot of producers who use the Apollo interfaces with separate preamps.
@@SanjayCthank you so much for ur valuable reply.. i also am looking at the idea of getting a channel strip, can u please suggest the best channel strip with the cleanest preamp within 500dollars..i see so many options within budget like Grace m101, presonus eureka, audient id4, fmr really nice preamp etc..please suggest which one is the cleanest sounding preamp..thanks once again..liked and subd ur channel..
One is a cheap entry level pre and the other is the entry point for a ecosystem, that's where the price difference comes in.
They are designed t for 2 totally different targets.
That was very informative. Thank you
You're welcome. Which one did you like better?
@@SanjayC I did prefer the arrow but hate the fact that you can't use the plugins without the UA interface.... That's a very Apple thing to do because it binds you. BTW you have a great voice.... No processing needed. Cheers
I think the Arrow was anything but smooth. It's sharp and to much semblance and ssssssssss but the NT1a is famous for this. The 2i2 is smoother but lack a little high end compared to the Apollo
Can I use this on a PC? I'd hate to buy it and it's Mac only. Btw, nice voice.
You can use the Arrow on PC as long as you have thunderbolt ports
Bro i have a Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD Audiophile 4x4, 24-Bit/192 kHz USB Audio/MIDI Interface with MIDAS Mic Preamplifiers
Some body ppl say this is not good interface but somebody say is best. I am total confusing about different opinions.
Pls tell me this interface is good or not?
Hey man, how dou you connect the focusrite in the thunderbolt 3 mac? Thanks
I used a usb hub for most of my devices. Then from that hub connected using the Apple usb-C adapter.
How do the two units compare in terms of latency? The Scarlett has a direct monitor feature which I understand improves latency so how does it compare with the Arrow with direct monitor on or off? Thanks!
With direct monitor, all interfaces are going to give you the same results since they are just mixing your input signal with your computer music. Not much difference in that feature.
Oh! I should mention that you can "direct monitor" with effects using the UAD Arrow, though. Not something I usually do, but its there.
So what about latency performance of the two interfaces with direct monitor turned off? Thanks,
UAD is better if you use their plugins. Otherwise you’ll deal with similar latency on both.
I feel like that why my vocals aren’t popping enough when I mixed , I still have the first gen focusrite
You also need to process them correctly. I show you how to do it with stock plugins in this video th-cam.com/video/arGIPLAIpy4/w-d-xo.html
Hi...is the latency a lot lower being Thunderbolt 3? compaired to let says RME UCX ? 64 SAMPLE rate?
I didn’t notice a latency difference between the Focusrite and UAD - same sample rate. I haven’t tried an RME.
I recently purchased the presonus studio 26 . Whats everyone thought s on that interface??
I like Presonus stuff but haven’t tried their interfaces. I had a pre amp and I currently have Presonus Eris monitors. Really like them.
Sanjay C when I bought the interface it was a no brainier to buy it . it has presonus studio one 3 artist value $100 and 7 plug ins six of them are mixing plug in and last one is MOVEMENT BY OUTPUT VST . A value of over $400 ! 🤯
Wow that’s a good deal!!
Great value in this video. Thanks.
Thanks!
Is an audio interface going to make any difference for someone only using a midi controller and kontakt (and no microphones or guitars)? Thanks!
Nope :-) spend that money on something else. Like Omnisphere! 😍
@@SanjayC awesome, thanks! And thanks for your very helpful videos.
UAD Arrow wins
Thanks for this video.
Behringer UMC 204HD vs Focusrite Scarlett ???
It should be good. I’ve heard good things but haven’t tried it myself.
Just get a scarlett. Behringer makes horrible audio gear.
Thanks @Sanjay! Yo need some help though. My recordings sound like they are boxey or muffled. Is that my microphone or Audio interface or Space. I thought it might be my microphone because I dropped it. But when I had a saffire pro 40 it never sounded this bad. But I had to switch to a different interface due to studio size shift and money. So I am just wondering if need to replace my interface or microphone.
How do virtual instruments sound? Better than the ones recorded through your interface?
@@SanjayC Yes by far.
not 3x better, but i still would go with the arrow
DO Uad VS RME