The Evolution of Focusrite Audio Interfaces: A Review of the Scarlett 2i4

It was around this time in 2015 that I first began reviewing audio interfaces for my channel, starting with the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the iTrack Solo. Since then, I've had the pleasure of using both of those interfaces, and they still hold a special place in my heart today. As I continue to explore the world of audio interfaces, I'm excited to dive into the latest addition to the Focusrite family: the Scarlett 2i4.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 is a USB audio interface that boasts two line or instrument inputs and up to four high-quality outputs. With its impressive feature set, this interface is designed with musicians in mind, but as a voice-over artist, I'll be exploring its capabilities from my unique perspective. While I won't be delving into the technical aspects of audio interfaces, I'll be sharing my hands-on experience with the Scarlett 2i4 and highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

Hooking up the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 is relatively straightforward. Simply plug in the USB 2.0 connector to your PC and connect your inputs. However, it's essential to note that this requires a direct connection into a USB port on the computer, rather than a hub. This is because the interface requires a significant amount of bandwidth for audio, and using a hub can cause issues. Additionally, I recommend avoiding USB 3.0 ports, as they seem to have some compatibility issues with third-party software.

One feature that sets the Scarlett 2i4 apart from other interfaces is its ability to serve as both an analog audio interface and a MIDI device. This makes it an excellent choice for musicians who need to connect their instruments directly to their computer or external gear. The interface automatically detects any XLR inputs as microphones and sets the correct low impedance for optimal performance. However, when recording instrument tracks, it's essential to test your setup and adjust the settings accordingly, as some users have reported clipping issues with "hot" guitar signals.

The 48v phantom power on the Scarlett 2i4 is a welcome feature that works seamlessly and doesn't introduce any additional noise into the system. This is particularly important for voice-over artists like myself who often rely on high-quality audio equipment to deliver crisp, clear performances. The Blend knob allows me to blend my inputs and playback, which is incredibly useful when recording vocals or creating music.

In terms of performance, the Scarlett 2i4 delivers a superclean audio signal over USB at high resolutions. It's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and flexible interface that can handle a wide range of applications. While I've had some issues with the drivers in my system, this appears to be a rare issue and one somewhat unique to my PC setup.

Overall, I'm still in love with Focusrite interfaces on the whole, and the Scarlett 2i4 is no exception. This provides an excellent balance of clean audio performance, flexibility, and features that make it well-suited for musicians and voice-over artists alike. If you're in the market for a new audio interface, I highly recommend considering the Scarlett 2i4 – it's definitely worth checking out.

As I conclude my review of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, I want to emphasize its importance as an evolution of the company's existing products. The Scarlett 2i4 takes the best features from previous interfaces and builds upon them, creating a more powerful and versatile tool for audio professionals. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting out, this interface is sure to deliver exceptional results.

In the world of audio equipment, there are few companies that can match Focusrite's reputation for producing high-quality products. From their entry-level interfaces like the Scarlett 2i2 to their more advanced models like the Scarlett 2i4, Focusrite has consistently demonstrated a commitment to delivering exceptional sound quality and innovative features.

For voice-over artists, the Scarlett 2i4 offers an attractive solution that balances clean audio performance with flexibility and features. While it may not be perfect – I've experienced some issues with the drivers in my system – this interface is still an excellent choice for anyone looking to upgrade their recording setup. With its ability to serve as both an analog audio interface and a MIDI device, the Scarlett 2i4 provides unparalleled versatility that makes it well-suited for a wide range of applications.

As I wrap up my review of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, I want to encourage all of you to check out this incredible interface. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your audio journey, this product is sure to deliver exceptional results. With its impressive feature set, clean audio performance, and flexibility, the Scarlett 2i4 is an excellent addition to any home studio or professional recording setup.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enIt was quite literally just around this timein 2015 that I did my first audio interfacereviews - for the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 andthe Focusrite iTrack solo. The channel hascome a long, long way since then, but I stillenjoy and use both of those interfaces today.Well now it’s time to look at the biggerbrother to the 2i2 - the FocusRite Scarlett2i4 USB audio interface.Costing around $200, the Focusrite Scarlett2i4 is a USB audio interface with two lineor instrument inputs and up to four high-qualityoutputs. There are a lot of features herethat would be great for musicians, but I willbe covering this from the perspective of avoice over artist. I can speak briefly onsome of the more music-oriented aspects, butI cannot provide any useful direct feedbackor tests.Taking a physical tour, we have a large, scarletbox. It’s housed in an anodized aluminumcase which looks great and stays durable,but makes awful noises if you touch anythingelse metal to it, with a grinding sound Inever want to hear again.The subtle brushed aluminum look with theminimalistic Focusrite logo on top looks great.On the bottom you have 4 nice rubber feet,which keep the interface up off the groundand keep it from sliding around.Over on the front input panel we have… alot compared to the 2i2.To start, you have the two line and microphoneinputs. This is a convenient design with anXLR connection and a Line In port inside thecenter of the XLR port. This way you havethe option of hooking up both without takingup too much space. For each input you havea gain knob, a line or instrument switch,and a PAD button. The PAD button reduces inputsensitivity by 10db for very “hot” inputs.These inputs have FocusRite’s “award winning”pre-amps in them - the same as the Scarlett2i2. They are very clean, but I find for mymicrophones that once you start getting past+50% gain for my microphones, at least, unnecessarynoise is introduced. Much less than my Behringermixer by a LONG shot, but still some. To mitigatethis, I use the CloudLifter CL1 pre-amp.Past that, you have the 48v phantom powerbutton, which lights up red when phantom poweris on, and a MIDI and USB activity lights.This last section is where things get fun.So you have your one fourth inch headphoneoutput and a headphone volume knob. But thenyou have so much more.As with previous interfaces, you have controlover the Direct Monitor interaction with yourheadphones. But instead of just being “onor off” you have a dial which allows youto blend your monitoring of your inputs andplayback via USB or MIDI. That way you canadjust it to ONLY hear the inputs, ONLY hearwhat’s playing back through the device,or a blend of both. This is really, REALLYcool.You also have a switch to affect whether yourdirect monitoring is in Stereo - with leftand right channels separated per inputs - ormono - where everything is mixed to mono andbalanced to both sides for monitoring.Next, you have a monitor volume knob. Thisaffects the balanced ¼ inch outputs on theback, as well as the unbalanced RCA outputslabeled 1 and 2. We’ll touch on this ina moment.Lastly, there’s a switch to control whichset of outputs your headphone monitoring isbased on. You can either choose 1-2 - whichis the balanced ¼ inch and #1 and 1 RCA onthe back - whose volume is controlled by thatMonitor volume knob, OR choose 3-4 - whichis for the unbalanced RCA outputs labeled3 & 4 that stay at a constant, fixed volume.The sound being outputted is the same sound,but volume levels differ.If you choose 1-2, you have both the big Monitorknob and your headphone volume knob that canaffect sound levels within your headphones,whereas if you choose 3-4, only the headphonevolume knob affects what you hear in the headphones.That was a lot. This is one complicated interface.I love all the options that’s available,and it makes this one very flexible interface.Now that we’ve had a breather, let’s tacklethe rear I/O.On the back, we have a Kensington lock, theUSB 2.0 a to b connection, a MIDI in and out- yes, this interface can actually act asa MIDI interface for your computer and DAWsoftware, eliminating the need for an internal- or separate - MIDI card or interface, sothat’s pretty cool - and then your otheroutputs.For this, you have 4 unbalanced RCA outputs,labeled 1-4 and 2 ¼ inch balanced outputs.1 and 2 of the RCA and the 2 ¼ inch go togetheras grouping 1-2 for the headphone switch onthe front and are controlled via the Monitorvolume knob. 3-4 of the RCA outputs outputa fixed, unbalanced signal at all times.Phew! That’s a LOT of I/O! This interfacecan do a ton.As I said, I’m not a musician, but I doremember “back in my day” having a MIDIcard being a big deal, so it’s pretty neatthat this device can serve as an interfacefor both MIDI and mic or instrument analogaudio.Hooking it up is fairly straightforward - plugin the USB 2.0 connector to your PC and hookup your inputs! Make sure you plug it DIRECTLYinto a USB port on the computer, not a hub,as it requires a lot of bandwidth for audio,and their drivers still seem to have somestalling issues. Also, I recommend avoidingUSB 3.0 ports for this. While it still worksfine in USB 3.0 for direct ASIO interactionvia something like Adobe Audition, normalinteraction with third-party software suchas OBS, Skype, Discord, Elgato’s Game Capturesoftware, etc. does NOT seem to work at allif connected via USB 3.0. This is weird andI really hope we get some new driver soon,as it’s been a while.Make sure your line-instrument switch is setcorrectly. Personally, I did not notice anydifference when recording my XLR microphonesin the Line mode or Instrument mode. I’veread online that the interface automaticallydetects any XLR inputs as a microphone andsets the correct low impedance for the mic.This is potentially true. However, for instrumentusage, depending on your setup running tothe interface, you’ll wanna do some testrecordings and see which is best for you,as I’ve seen some have clipping problemswith “hot” guitar signals on the Instrumentmode. Again, not something I can test or speakon.If your signal is “too hot” in generalon the 2i4, then you can utilize the PAD buttonsto lower input sensitivity by 10db. Thankfullythis applies to the inputs individually.Their 48v phantom power works great and doesn’tintroduce any additional noise into the system.Since I use these interfaces as DACs whenthe drivers are behaving, having the Blendknob to blend my inputs and my playback isreally quite nice. When I’m recording, Ican lean towards the mic and hear myself better,and when I’m jamming out to music I cancompletely mute out the microphone input.I really appreciate this.Overall, I’m still in love with Focusriteinterfaces on the whole. This provides a superclean audio signal over USB - and at highresolutions - while providing mixer-like features.I still have trouble with their drivers inmy system where if I use it while heavilytaxing my system with other processes, suchas video editing, gaming etc. the driver stallsand I lose my interface as a connection entirely- but sadly this appears to be a very rareissue and one somewhat unique to my PC setup.More reason to build a higher-end PC whenI can afford it, I guess.So this is my review of the Focusrite Scarlett2i4 USB audio interface. It’s a badass andflexible interface that is definitely well-suitedto be the 2i2’s little brother.Links to my other interface reviews will bein the description below. Thanks for watching!Smash the like button if you liked it, don’tforget to subscribe for more awesome techvideos, and otherwise, I’ll catch you inthe next one!\n"