That "Safe Mode" sucks... it lowers the volume preventing clipping, but it's not a limiter, so the volume stays down. That is: half of your recording will have a lower volume, which you'll have to correct in the DAW. Better not use it and stick to the "Auto Gain", which is indeed a time saver.
Hi and thanks, this is very helpful. Btw any views on the Clarett when compared to the new 4th gen Scarlett - is there a 4th gen version of the Clarett, is that or the existing one worth the price difference.
Hi. Talking about the line outputs for the stereo monitors, reading on the Focusrite website the model "Solo" has 200 ohm of impedance and the 2i2 model has 100 ohm of impedance. Can you explain what it implies with studio monitors? The 2i2 model can drive speakers with more power or what? I hope you will reply. Thanks!
Which one should I get? Nuemann NDH 20 (will keep my old Scarlett Solo Gen 3) ... OR ... Beyerdynamics DT 770 250 ohm with Scarlett Solo Gen 4 upgrade?
Great information, thank you. I am buying a Scarlet Focusrite 2i2 4th generation since I have a Shure SM7B and it saves me from buying a Cloudlifter. Mac
Which one has the fastest roundtrip lacency in Windows the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen or the Motu M2? Because I'm mostly interested in playing my guitar with AMP sims.
I’m new to this stuff I’m a total beginner. Can the scarlet solo be played in bandlab but make the sound on the AMP at the same time or would I need the 2i2 to hear it in the amp
Personal opinion: as decent a card as it is, it will always remain on that low-mid range as quality and with a sound that is a bit too squashed and poorly defined. For the same price you can find boards of significantly higher quality. I recently made the audo interface swap and switched from Roland to a PreSonus Studio 68c and to say that I am more than satisfied is still an understatement.
How can you say that? Do you know what AD/DA conversion mean? I bet you don’t. A dynamic range of 120db will not sound squashed and less defined. The previous versions have lower than 110db, this new version is up there with the pros. You haven’t even heard these new ones in person, yet you judge right away 😂. Your personal opinion is unfounded
Cheap items often come with a hidden cost, which can be higher than the cost of buying higher quality items. Cheaper products are usually of lower quality, meaning they are likely to break or be unusable more quickly than a higher quality item. This means that while the initial cost may be lower, the cost of replacement or repair may be higher in the long run. Furthermore, higher quality items tend to last longer, meaning they are a better economic choice in the long run.
There is no such thing as a perfect audio interface because different equipment has different features and capabilities. Depending on the type of audio production one is doing, certain features may be more important than others. Additionally, different audio interfaces may be better suited for different audio projects, making it difficult to find one that is “perfect” for all tasks. Furthermore, audio interfaces are also subject to physical limitations, such as the size of the unit or the number of inputs and outputs, making it difficult to find an interface that meets all of one’s requirements.
1db of gain, less noise and more dynamic range. There are a lot of people that will appreciate that. Plus the separate headphone volume. It may not entice people to upgrade from the 3rd gen but will help to bring them more buyers of the solo.
I just got the Antelope audio gen go usb audio interface . I have yet to use it as I didn’t have the proper connections for it and I want to run it though my condenser microphone . I just don’t know how to work any daw software is what’s holding back . I use to have a Scarlett audio interface in 2018. I just didn’t feel comfortable with it. But the plug and play was much easier then my last two audio interface .
Is the solo 4th gen can record the microphone in stereo or only mono like the 3rd gen? Or is the 2i2 is the soution or not? I’m trying to find the information, but clearly fail! 🫣 Thank you so much, your videos are very useful!
The solo only has 1 mic input so it can only record mono. The 2i2 has two mic inputs that can also be 2 line inputs or 2 instrument inputs so it can record 2 mics in stereo or 2 line inputs in stereo.
I have a question? I’m putting together my own home studio and I’m wanting to know between the solo and the 2i2 which one would work best with my Focal Alpha 65 Evo monitors? In addition, with the solo did you say that I have the ability to record a mic and my guitar at the same time? Respectfully, Brian
Either interface will work well with the monitors. With the Solo you can record a mic and guitar at the same time to two different tracks. With the 2i2 you have a little more flexibility because you have 2 combo jacks so you could record 2 mics at the same time. Plus other configurations but the big thing is the 2 mic inputs and more gain for each input.
Does it mean that we can have 4 inputs at the same time (2 mics & 2 guitars)..? Or if not then how does the interface/daw know which one to use when all are plugged in..?
For a lot of people the solo is all they need but having two mic pres or two line inputs can come in handy as you get more into production. Also the 4th gen 2i2 has more gain so it can work better with some mics. If youre just recording guitars direct then the solo is perfectly fine for that.
@@AudioTechTV that gain is there for mic inputs though, so yeah if you do vocals/podcast or record acoustic it makes sense. Line in 59db gain is more than enough with Solo though.
How should I use 2i2 to livestream on TH-cam? What settings do I need to make? When I turn on music from the computer, does the music come to my headphones along with my voice?
Make sure the 2i2 is the default audio device on your computer. Then use the free OBS Studio. Set the audio device in OBS to be the 2i2. Set the microphone in OBS to be whatever input you have the mic connected to. Everything you play on your computer will go through the 2i2 and output to YT live through OBS Studio.
It’s taken four generations to get decent headphone volume? Air is is gimmick easily obtainable with eq And where’s the midi in and out gone that was on the first gen?
Yes you can use EQ to achieve a similar sound to AIR. Some people like to capture or stream their audio with that eq effect on. I have older mic preamps that have similar eq settings on board and it’s nice to use them for some situations. There are a lot of people that like to start with the sound that they want before they start mixing. So it could be a gimmick for some people or a useful tool for others. I have a 2i2 first gen that I used for years and it never had midi on board. The 1st Gen solo didn’t have midi either.
I know very little about these things so let me get this straight. That loopback-feature enables the possibility of me hearing my own voice when recording vocals and I get it just by purchasing that box and not through some software that requires license of any kind that expires over time? 🤔
The direct monitor feature allows you to hear your voice or whatever you’re recording into the interface. But recording software typically has a monitor button that you can enable and hear your voice while recording. Direct monitor allows you to hear it with zero latency though. The Loopback feature allows you to record the audio of anything you’re playing on your computer like if you were playing a TH-cam video and wanted to record the audio onto a track in your recording software you can use that. Or maybe you’re taking or performing with someone on Skype or zoom and you wanted to record them into your recording software, you could use Loopback.
$30-40 price increase, not worth it. They need to put the controls on the top of the box so you can actually see them and don't have to pick it up off the table all the time. Those gain knobs don't have a marking.. how do you know what it's set to? Air button is a gimmick, adds a ton of hiss.
I think it’s still the same mic that came with the 3rd gen bundles. I used it with the 3rd gen solo bundle and it was decent for an entry level mic. If you’re basing your purchase on the mic, I would go with just the interface and purchase an AKG P120 or Audio Technica AT2020 separately. Both of those mics are better in my opinion. But the Scarlett Bundle mic is still very usable. The bundle is $100 more than the interface on its own and those 2 mics that I mentioned can usually be purchased for around $100 sometimes less if on sale. You won’t get the headphones. I haven’t used the new ones that come in the bundles but the last gen headphones were nice but you can find other budget headphones from Tascam, Mackie, and the entry level ones Audio Technica that will be around the same quality.
I don’t know for sure but I have a feeling that there will be more of their interfaces getting the 4th Gen treatment so hopefully the 18i20 is part of that.
I guess we'll find out soon enough? Thank you for the response. Your videos are a great source of information. Thank you for doing what you do.@@AudioTechTV
Hi I am buying first audio interface. Should i buy 3rd gen or 4rth (which is most costly)? Purpose: live streaming and recording concerts and lections to zoom / TH-cam, band (drums, keyboard, gitars), church. Source of sound: mixing console, stereo pair (jack jack).
Need help, please. Is the USB connection on the 4th Gen Scarlett Solo good? Does it snap into place like a phone cable? The 3rd Gen Solo that I bought new came with a loose connection. The cable would try to fall out when moving the interface. Thanks.
@@yungbevvo Yes, I returned the first one and then the second one had the same problem. Recently got the Gen 4 solo and the usb connection is very secure, but it does not snap into place like on a smart phone. Perhaps the makers are trying to save money? Unfortunately, the drivers for the solo is causing my DAW to freeze up when opening a project. Trying to use ASIO4all. Looking for another alternative driver. (windows 10, cakewalkbybandlab).
@@yungbevvo i might have to update the BIOS, I guess. Even with the the Aiso4all drivers, the Gen 4 sounds very very good in studio headphones. thanks for your responses. wish you well.
Neither of these interfaces have midi i/o so you can’t connect midi to them. You’ll need either use a separate usb midi interface or you can use a USB midi keyboard.
@lemon__j the USB port is just to connect it to the computer. You can’t plug a usb midi keyboard into it if that’s what you were wondering. If you want a similar interface to the 2i2 but with midi i/o have a look at the Mackie Onyx Producer 2x2. It’s a decent audio interface with midi.
@@AudioTechTV How about connecting the e-drumkit directly into an ipad via a midi to usb cable. Could I then tell the DAW to use the audio interface as the sound source. I need to be able to connect the e-drumkit and an electric guitar which will be played at the same time. Thanks again for any help.
Quality Sound is subject to personal opinion so I can’t speak for your personal opinion only my experience and I think it sounds great when I plugin a guitar or bass directly into it. Even with guitars that have hotter pickups. It’s way better than the first 2 gens. I didn’t have a problem with Gen 3 and I haven’t compared the two yet but the 4th Gen should be a bit better due to the converters and lower noise. I have more videos planned for these and guitar recording is one of them. So I’ll do a deeper dive then. Thank you for watching. Keep creating! 👊👍
Yes. I’ve done it with a 3rd gen solo so the 4th Gen will be fine. I’ll try to get a video out to show the quality. You have to crank the gain and speak firmly. If you have a softer voice or speak quieter then it won’t be the best for you.
Next check out what's in the Hitmaker Expansion Bundle here th-cam.com/video/4NVhwxIc2rE/w-d-xo.html
That "Safe Mode" sucks... it lowers the volume preventing clipping, but it's not a limiter, so the volume stays down. That is: half of your recording will have a lower volume, which you'll have to correct in the DAW. Better not use it and stick to the "Auto Gain", which is indeed a time saver.
Can't believe he didn't mention this. It's a stupid feature
Glad I saw this comment I was about to go with 2i2 for the safe feature now I’ll avoid it lol
a latency performance-test would be the most important thing to know.
that and the cleanness of your inputs
Itll be probably better than the 3rd gen... Which was like 2-3 ms in fl studio
@@jame7518Focusrite is super clean I own one. Im looking to upgrade though to something with midi, but these I guess do not have midi
biggeest difference for me is the switch of the xlr outlet from the front to the back. i used to bend my mic cable very questionably
Personal opinion: Focusrite boards are ok, but currently many other producers are getting my attention (Audient, Arturia,SSL...)
Those you listed usually have higher price and higher latency
@@INeedsMoneys I do not agree
@@furiobisotti8150 what do you mean? You don't agree on facts?
They aren't the value that the focusrites are though. 😎
@@INeedsMoneyshe doesn't agree with the facts
I use an SM7B with my first-generation 18i8 and have no issues with gain. I just ust turn the knob clockwise until its loud enough.
They add loopback and separate volume control in the solo, all I wanted to change the interface, now Ijust have to buy the v4
This was awesome. Thanks for the detailed review! I ended up picking up the Motu M2 after watching this.
so nice!! how about latency for guitar? is the same?
Hi and thanks, this is very helpful. Btw any views on the Clarett when compared to the new 4th gen Scarlett - is there a 4th gen version of the Clarett, is that or the existing one worth the price difference.
Thanks man for your time to give us these reviews. Really appreciate it😁👍
I want another color 🥲🥲🥲
🤣🤣🤣
It has "Air" not airbrush ;-)
The case is aluminum. You can take it apart and have it anodized a different color. Not expensive.
is it just me ? sounds a little muddy?
Hi. Talking about the line outputs for the stereo monitors, reading on the Focusrite website the model "Solo" has 200 ohm of impedance and the 2i2 model has 100 ohm of impedance. Can you explain what it implies with studio monitors? The 2i2 model can drive speakers with more power or what? I hope you will reply. Thanks!
Which one should I get? Nuemann NDH 20 (will keep my old Scarlett Solo Gen 3) ... OR ... Beyerdynamics DT 770 250 ohm with Scarlett Solo Gen 4 upgrade?
and which of those you decided to purchase?
Great information, thank you. I am buying a Scarlet Focusrite 2i2 4th generation since I have a Shure SM7B and it saves me from buying a Cloudlifter. Mac
concise and clear! thank you
Thank you! Keep creating! 👊👍
Good info! You do an excellent job with your videos!
Very nice tutorial! Thanks a lot.
Is the Scarlet Solo good for streaming?
Yes
Which one has the fastest roundtrip lacency in Windows the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen or the Motu M2? Because I'm mostly interested in playing my guitar with AMP sims.
M2
I’m new to this stuff I’m a total beginner. Can the scarlet solo be played in bandlab but make the sound on the AMP at the same time or would I need the 2i2 to hear it in the amp
Great review. Thank you!!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for watching. Keep creating! 👊👍
Thank you for this amazing explanation
Personal opinion: as decent a card as it is, it will always remain on that low-mid range as quality and with a sound that is a bit too squashed and poorly defined.
For the same price you can find boards of significantly higher quality.
I recently made the audo interface swap and switched from Roland to a PreSonus Studio 68c and to say that I am more than satisfied is still an understatement.
i have a presonus GO. that sleeps the solo . for $80
How can you say that? Do you know what AD/DA conversion mean? I bet you don’t. A dynamic range of 120db will not sound squashed and less defined. The previous versions have lower than 110db, this new version is up there with the pros. You haven’t even heard these new ones in person, yet you judge right away 😂. Your personal opinion is unfounded
Cheap items often come with a hidden cost, which can be higher than the cost of buying higher quality items. Cheaper products are usually of lower quality, meaning they are likely to break or be unusable more quickly than a higher quality item. This means that while the initial cost may be lower, the cost of replacement or repair may be higher in the long run. Furthermore, higher quality items tend to last longer, meaning they are a better economic choice in the long run.
There is no such thing as a perfect audio interface because different equipment has different features and capabilities. Depending on the type of audio production one is doing, certain features may be more important than others. Additionally, different audio interfaces may be better suited for different audio projects, making it difficult to find one that is “perfect” for all tasks. Furthermore, audio interfaces are also subject to physical limitations, such as the size of the unit or the number of inputs and outputs, making it difficult to find an interface that meets all of one’s requirements.
@@reianae.smiley8573lol you're overthinking... The solo doesn't sound bad at all lol
Wow, we're so excited for 1 db on gain and noise .. WOW ! Amazing !
1db of gain, less noise and more dynamic range. There are a lot of people that will appreciate that. Plus the separate headphone volume. It may not entice people to upgrade from the 3rd gen but will help to bring them more buyers of the solo.
I just got the Antelope audio gen go usb audio interface . I have yet to use it as I didn’t have the proper connections for it and I want to run it though my condenser microphone . I just don’t know how to work any daw software is what’s holding back . I use to have a Scarlett audio interface in 2018. I just didn’t feel comfortable with it. But the plug and play was much easier then my last two audio interface .
Is the solo 4th gen can record the microphone in stereo or only mono like the 3rd gen? Or is the 2i2 is the soution or not? I’m trying to find the information, but clearly fail! 🫣 Thank you so much, your videos are very useful!
The solo only has 1 mic input so it can only record mono. The 2i2 has two mic inputs that can also be 2 line inputs or 2 instrument inputs so it can record 2 mics in stereo or 2 line inputs in stereo.
I have a question? I’m putting together my own home studio and I’m wanting to know between the solo and the 2i2 which one would work best with my Focal Alpha 65 Evo monitors? In addition, with the solo did you say that I have the ability to record a mic and my guitar at the same time? Respectfully, Brian
Either interface will work well with the monitors. With the Solo you can record a mic and guitar at the same time to two different tracks.
With the 2i2 you have a little more flexibility because you have 2 combo jacks so you could record 2 mics at the same time. Plus other configurations but the big thing is the 2 mic inputs and more gain for each input.
has Scarlet Solo 4th gen enough gain for shure sm7b?
Did you not watch the video?
The Solo will have enough gain if you speak or sing a little on the loud side. If your voice is a little softer then it may not sound that great.
@@AudioTechTV thanks
I'm gonna have to give ya a fist bump for this one mann, I appreciate it very much. 💯😎👊
Does it mean that we can have 4 inputs at the same time (2 mics & 2 guitars)..? Or if not then how does the interface/daw know which one to use when all are plugged in..?
Max is still 2 simultaneous inputs. I’m guessing the select button is how you can hot swap between the mic and line.
@@IlNeige Ah okay.. i don't know why they went with the back side inputs.. that might be pretty annoying to swap out mics..
@MreenalMams I guess to improve the optics on the front side.
Thanks!
Yeah I don't really see any point in getting 2i2 over Solo for home recording. Unless you absolutely want 2 guitars plugged in at the same time.
For a lot of people the solo is all they need but having two mic pres or two line inputs can come in handy as you get more into production. Also the 4th gen 2i2 has more gain so it can work better with some mics. If youre just recording guitars direct then the solo is perfectly fine for that.
@@AudioTechTV that gain is there for mic inputs though, so yeah if you do vocals/podcast or record acoustic it makes sense. Line in 59db gain is more than enough with Solo though.
How should I use 2i2 to livestream on TH-cam? What settings do I need to make? When I turn on music from the computer, does the music come to my headphones along with my voice?
Make sure the 2i2 is the default audio device on your computer.
Then use the free OBS Studio. Set the audio device in OBS to be the 2i2. Set the microphone in OBS to be whatever input you have the mic connected to.
Everything you play on your computer will go through the 2i2 and output to YT live through OBS Studio.
Is the solo good enough if you only want to record 1 guitar
Yes it’s perfect for that.
@@AudioTechTV would i need 2i2 or just solo if i only want to record 1 guitar? i have been using 2nd gen solo for a long long time
direct monitoring should be a fader. for the price the Tascam 102i has the way better features and two headphone outs.
@@reianae.smiley8573 229
The Tascam 102i is actually $279, which means it’s more expensive than the Scarlett Solo/2i2.
Is that for people with two heads?
@@MagicPumpkin no, for two different mixes for producer and artist.
ahh
still missing dual headphone outputs. even on 4i4
It’s taken four generations to get decent headphone volume?
Air is is gimmick easily obtainable with eq
And where’s the midi in and out gone that was on the first gen?
Yes you can use EQ to achieve a similar sound to AIR. Some people like to capture or stream their audio with that eq effect on. I have older mic preamps that have similar eq settings on board and it’s nice to use them for some situations. There are a lot of people that like to start with the sound that they want before they start mixing. So it could be a gimmick for some people or a useful tool for others.
I have a 2i2 first gen that I used for years and it never had midi on board. The 1st Gen solo didn’t have midi either.
I know very little about these things so let me get this straight. That loopback-feature enables the possibility of me hearing my own voice when recording vocals and I get it just by purchasing that box and not through some software that requires license of any kind that expires over time? 🤔
The direct monitor feature allows you to hear your voice or whatever you’re recording into the interface. But recording software typically has a monitor button that you can enable and hear your voice while recording. Direct monitor allows you to hear it with zero latency though.
The Loopback feature allows you to record the audio of anything you’re playing on your computer like if you were playing a TH-cam video and wanted to record the audio onto a track in your recording software you can use that. Or maybe you’re taking or performing with someone on Skype or zoom and you wanted to record them into your recording software, you could use Loopback.
@@AudioTechTV Thanks for the lesson bro. 👊
$30-40 price increase, not worth it. They need to put the controls on the top of the box so you can actually see them and don't have to pick it up off the table all the time. Those gain knobs don't have a marking.. how do you know what it's set to? Air button is a gimmick, adds a ton of hiss.
Do you have it?
What about the mic quality that comes with a bundle?
I think it’s still the same mic that came with the 3rd gen bundles. I used it with the 3rd gen solo bundle and it was decent for an entry level mic. If you’re basing your purchase on the mic, I would go with just the interface and purchase an AKG P120 or Audio Technica AT2020 separately. Both of those mics are better in my opinion. But the Scarlett Bundle mic is still very usable. The bundle is $100 more than the interface on its own and those 2 mics that I mentioned can usually be purchased for around $100 sometimes less if on sale.
You won’t get the headphones. I haven’t used the new ones that come in the bundles but the last gen headphones were nice but you can find other budget headphones from Tascam, Mackie, and the entry level ones Audio Technica that will be around the same quality.
@@AudioTechTV thanks a lot!
@@ambc38vsxn get a better mic,
The thing that comes in the bundle is a toy not a mic.
Do you know if They will they be releasing a 18i20 gen 4?
I don’t know for sure but I have a feeling that there will be more of their interfaces getting the 4th Gen treatment so hopefully the 18i20 is part of that.
I guess we'll find out soon enough? Thank you for the response. Your videos are a great source of information. Thank you for doing what you do.@@AudioTechTV
Hi
I am buying first audio interface. Should i buy 3rd gen or 4rth (which is most costly)?
Purpose: live streaming and recording concerts and lections to zoom / TH-cam, band (drums, keyboard, gitars), church. Source of sound: mixing console, stereo pair (jack jack).
Need help, please. Is the USB connection on the 4th Gen Scarlett Solo good? Does it snap into place like a phone cable? The 3rd Gen Solo that I bought new came with a loose connection. The cable would try to fall out when moving the interface. Thanks.
I don't have this problem with my Gen 3… you honestly bought it defected
@@yungbevvo Yes, I returned the first one and then the second one had the same problem. Recently got the Gen 4 solo and the usb connection is very secure, but it does not snap into place like on a smart phone. Perhaps the makers are trying to save money? Unfortunately, the drivers for the solo is causing my DAW to freeze up when opening a project. Trying to use ASIO4all. Looking for another alternative driver. (windows 10, cakewalkbybandlab).
@@johnwinslow8841 it could be your computer man… I'm not having any of the problems you are listing.
@@johnwinslow8841 use FL 21
@@yungbevvo i might have to update the BIOS, I guess. Even with the the Aiso4all drivers, the Gen 4 sounds very very good in studio headphones. thanks for your responses. wish you well.
How do you connect Midi to these things?
Neither of these interfaces have midi i/o so you can’t connect midi to them. You’ll need either use a separate usb midi interface or you can use a USB midi keyboard.
@@AudioTechTV Right, so the scarlett has a usb port on it then.
@lemon__j the USB port is just to connect it to the computer. You can’t plug a usb midi keyboard into it if that’s what you were wondering.
If you want a similar interface to the 2i2 but with midi i/o have a look at the Mackie Onyx Producer 2x2. It’s a decent audio interface with midi.
@@AudioTechTV Looks interesting, especially at that price. Thanks.
@@AudioTechTV How about connecting the e-drumkit directly into an ipad via a midi to usb cable. Could I then tell the DAW to use the audio interface as the sound source. I need to be able to connect the e-drumkit and an electric guitar which will be played at the same time. Thanks again for any help.
Is it still ass sounding if I plug an electric guitar straight into the interface?
Quality Sound is subject to personal opinion so I can’t speak for your personal opinion only my experience and I think it sounds great when I plugin a guitar or bass directly into it. Even with guitars that have hotter pickups. It’s way better than the first 2 gens. I didn’t have a problem with Gen 3 and I haven’t compared the two yet but the 4th Gen should be a bit better due to the converters and lower noise.
I have more videos planned for these and guitar recording is one of them. So I’ll do a deeper dive then. Thank you for watching. Keep creating! 👊👍
I came here for midi but I don't see anything about this having midi
@@RobRuffMusic no midi on the solo or 2i2 which is why you don’t see anything about these having midi.
there was discord noise issue on 3rd gen. is that fixed?
Would the Solo’s gain be sufficient to power a SM7B w/o cloudlifter (or the like)?
Yes. I’ve done it with a 3rd gen solo so the 4th Gen will be fine. I’ll try to get a video out to show the quality.
You have to crank the gain and speak firmly. If you have a softer voice or speak quieter then it won’t be the best for you.
Audient and Arturia are more value for money
🙂👍