Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) USB Audio Interface Review / Explained

I got a Scarlett solo. Looking to upgrade. Any recommendations? Considering universal audio vault, solid state logic, or the motu. Any thoughts?

As subscriber from Finland, it was funny to see that documentation -clip with finnish text towards camera. 😀

Seems odd to only switch 48v to both XLR at once. More understandable if it were a physical switch. I looked and on the 3rd gen it's the same. 0 or 2 channels of 48v. I guess they assume the user won't be mixing microphone types, or that it's mostly safe to push the volts into a device that doesn't need it. I guess the most likely mixed case would be a preamp booster on one channel and hopefully nothing fragile on the second.

It annoyed people on the third gen as it defaulted to off when you turned the device off/on. Easy and forget and worse if it's not accessible. Eventually they altered the software so you could tell it to preserve the setting across restarts.

would you suggest this or ID14 MKII for making music?

The rear XLR port seals the deal.

No sticker?!

still dont like that you cant see how much ganin you give,.... what is a gain of 1 o'clock ? Gain a Stereopair with that ,... THX RME for having Total Mix FX

I don't understand why they removed the XLR inputs on the front? How do you connect a microphone with an XLR connection to the front? Must you use an XLR to TRS cable now? The fact that the clip button lowers the volume and does not limit is just stupid in my opinion, the audio is already damaged.

Excellent review. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the video! I have a question. I have the 2i2 4th Gen and the Shure SM7B, am I going to have more clean gain with a FetHead or a Cloud Lifter? I know the interface is ok without them, but is it better with them?

good throw! hey have you considered eating progressively hotter chicken wings while you do your amazing reviews... prbly you have already, have a great day! and thanks

Great review, as always. I'm overall still partial to the MOTU M2 except if you're also connecting to iPad, in which case I'd say go for one of the Arturia MiniFuse interfaces because of the built-in USB hub which can power your controller. (The MiniFuse 2 is $150, and the MiniFuse 4 is only $20 more than this Focusrite... but has TWO USB hub ports.)

Thank you

Autotune Access, Addictive Keys, Addictive Drums, Massive, Sonnox Doubler, Relab LX480, BX Foucusrite channel stip and more :O I would recommend this over any other interface just for this outstanding package that is amazing to start music.

Now i'm definitely going to buy that first thing you recommended because maybe $200 is the goldilocks of audio interface and you're really praising that 1st recommendation

Can you read the Finnish documentation?

Fun song!

Unfortunately the headphone amp section has certain quirks that make it a no go depending on the headphones you use.

Good day. To be connected to a laptop, is it necessary to connect the interface to an outlet?

Danke! Call me crazy, but I liked tzd Air2 mode, especially with the SM7B, because it takes away, whatever I don't like about this mic.

Thank you for testing the clip safe, that's the only reason I considered this interface but not anymore lol.

These interfaces can work in standalone mode without a computer, for guitar practice for example. That's where the '5V DC' USB-C port comes into play.

I am also using a 2nd Gen 18i20 as my primary studio device. Also using a 2nd Gen 2i4 for my main PC setup.
Built to last.

Should I upgrade from last gen?

One more comment. Knock - NICE. 😊 Wow, wow, poop))

hard work pays off! 👏

No MIDI ? Boo !!👎

how can I know which windscreen will be good for my mic?

I want a (monitor | usb playback) balance knob, an actual physical knob

Do you think I would need a Cloudlifter with an Electro-Voice RE20 on this interface?

Already we have a light. Three days without 😢.

Relaxing with best audio content😊😁

The focusrite drivers for 3d gen on windows are garbage, crackling audio at random.

The expanded music review portion.... Fn killing it! Love hearing a mic in it's various most used applications. Thanks as always

Flirff gen you say...

I assume the Solo 4th gen uses same amp for headphones. Struggles to push my HiFiMan He400i.

Dammit, do I upgrade my 2i2? I like the new buttons! I wonder if the new software will be usable by the 3rd gen? I mean, I have apps that do the same jobs as the new buttons. Maybe I'll just keep what I've got and wait for any sales...
Thanks Bandrew! I can always count on you to give me the FOMO Gimmies.

focusrite has come a long way

My Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen, still solid as a rock to this day.

No Sticker????

I have the 2nd gen of this interface and still love it. The only things I'd love are those Air circuits, maybe more gain for dynamic mics but mostly I use mine for guitar signal. Hoping the new control apps work with screen reading software, or it's not as interesting for me.

That music sample slaps! Love it!

have they finally gotten rid of the frequent popping/clicking during playback and recording that all focusrite scarlet interfaces have been plagued with since they began??

Лучший обзорщик в сети

Worth upgrading from the 2nd Gen?

Shure SM7B Vs Universal Audio SD-1 🤷‍♂🤷‍♂

If anyone in the comments has experience with the headphone direct monitoring and 250ohm 770's using a Shure SM7B let me know if the volume is good, I can never really crank it up without putting the gain up and then clipping when I get loud on streams. I seen the Julien Krauss video, but I'm an audio idiot so not sure if the 250ohm direct monitoring shenanigans is good on this new version compared to the 3rd Gen 2i2

And Whats About Stickers ? 😂😂

Dobalee doo'd! I found myself looking for a small interface for a client about a week ago and was researching the heck out of these. Been trying to figure out
1) why focusrite DOESN'T make larger leaps with newer versions and
2) why people think that ASIO4ALL drivers are still a good thing when even focusrite says not to use it unless all else fails. It seems every where i turned someone was having some kind of problem with drivers on windows with these things... thankfully the client is using a mac, so not a problem, but dang, the amount of posts out there about this is just unreal.

By the end of my search, i wound up suggesting the UA Volt over this because
1) power switch
2) can be powered by bus OR a separate adaptor
3) MIDI input (this particular client has a midi keyboard that DIDN'T have a USB connection... really old korg)
4) offer of free UA plugins... which... pretty much top of the line for plugins.

Great review as always! Keep em comin!

This channel is amazingly blind friendly. I am blind and so glad to hear that all settings are accessible through the description as text on screen is hard but not not impossible for people like me to read. Regarding the Scarlett, my target audio interface...Now what I use is the fricking oldish Lexicon Lamda which to be fair gets the job done until now. I'm not sure it's still the same when I upgrade to Windows 11.

Upgrading to this soon, got someone coming to by my 3rd gen, did me good for the last 3 years but I need those upgraded preamps for my mv7x! Great video as always!!