Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface for Recording, Songwriting, Streaming and Podcasting — High-Fidelity, Studio Quality Recording, and All the Software You Need to Record

I have an x370 asus crosshair vi hero motherboard with onboard sound and its supposed to have upgraded sound. I got new creative gigaworks t20 series II speakers and i could never turn my bass up near halfway because it would sound awful. I thought the speakers just couldn't handle the bass, i tried movies, games, many different songs, cds, the speakers just seemed like they couldn't handle the bass. with the new focusrite sound mixer, i plugged these up and the sound was 100% better. I could max out the bass if i wanted to, and it was clear and smooth. It sounded great at any settings i changed on the speakers, just like if you liked that setting. it sounded like it was working. there is no lag or any problems with this compared to a regular like pci card soundcard. its awesome and i plugged up a microphone and it sounds 100x better than my old onboard made my mic sound. people said it sounded basically before like a robot, very low quality with no real lifelike sounding to it. it made it sound way better. i got a new mic and it sounds very good for the quality of the cheap microphone that i did get. this is the best sound mixer/card ive ever got. great price to performance ratio. Update 4yrs later: The mixer has started to have audio crackles and starts to fritz out on me occassionally now after having it about 4 years. I have to unplug and plug it back up to get it to work again. Beyond any warranty period and a bit high for this length of working time. I've heard other comments but I can't confirm anything but have found a few other same results on focusrite. I dont know what else to pick, maybe should have picked something else. Should have done some research before I picked this up. I dont know if the newer versions would be any better. The sound was much better than my other motherboards "upgraded" sound compared to it, though.

Review: The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface is an absolute game-changer for anyone involved in recording, songwriting, streaming, or podcasting. As an owner of this remarkable device, I can confidently say that it has revolutionized my creative process and elevated the quality of my audio productions. First and foremost, the audio fidelity delivered by the Scarlett 2i2 is unparalleled. The pristine sound reproduction, powered by Focusrite's renowned preamps, captures every nuance and detail with remarkable clarity. Whether you're a vocalist, musician, or podcaster, this audio interface ensures that your recordings are professional-grade and sonically pleasing. Setting up the Scarlett 2i2 is a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly design. The intuitive controls and clear LED indicators make it easy to navigate and adjust settings on the fly. The inclusion of two XLR/TRS combo inputs allows for simultaneous recording of vocals and instruments, accommodating versatile recording scenarios with ease. One standout feature of the Scarlett 2i2 is its exceptional compatibility. With USB connectivity, it seamlessly integrates with your preferred digital audio workstation (DAW) and is compatible with both Mac and PC systems. This versatility ensures that you can unleash your creativity without any limitations. Furthermore, the Scarlett 2i2's rugged and robust build quality inspires confidence for both studio and on-the-go use. Its compact size makes it highly portable, allowing you to take your recording studio wherever inspiration strikes. Whether you're an aspiring musician, established artist, or content creator, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface is an indispensable tool. It empowers you to capture professional-grade audio with ease, elevating your recordings, songwriting sessions, streaming performances, and podcast episodes to new heights. Investing in the Scarlett 2i2 is a decision you won't regret. It's a reliable and versatile audio interface that unlocks your creative potential, making it an essential addition to any studio setup. Get ready to experience audio excellence like never before with the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface!

I chose the 2i2 to digitize my vinyl and it works well. It was quickly recognized by Windows 10; the supplied software allows good control of the digitizing rate. The Nuetrik style input connectors accept 1/4-in phone plugs (simple tip & ring) for line-level inputs. Two RCA-to-phone plug cables connected the line level outs from my amplifier to the 2i2. Having a simple knob to adjust the input sensitivity is very welcomed. The pictures on line show a green ring around the left channel gain knob and red around right. This is totally an artificial effect; the color changes to indicate if the input level is good (green) or clipping (red) and typically is quite dynamic as it changes with the actual level of the music. The color can be changed by the Focusrite software from the PC, but I used the defaults. The front panel headphone jack is a real convenience for getting the initial analog setup all scoped out. Critically, the Focusrite software does NOT provide actual recording capability; it simply makes the 2i2 available as a audio device for your computer. Other software will provide your web hosting or album recording function. I chose Vinyl Studio software and the 2i2 integrated beautifully into that package. I did not try the mic input function; this uses the XLR-style input on the Nuetrik connectors. If you need to do a stereo mix of mics and line level inputs, you may need the 4i4. Otherwise, this is a great little input device with very clear directions and driver software that loaded easily on a fully patched Win 10 PC. I did not need to contact Focusrite tech support as the directions were easy to follow and everything worked the first time.

In general most interfaces in this price range perform about the same. I upgraded to the Scarlett from a Behringer unit and there is an upgrade in sound quality but it’s subtle. I’m just juicing an extra 5%-10% performance from my signal chain at this point. What made me pull the trigger on this was that for some reason my Behringer 204HD was clipping when using the XLR input from the load box I use with my amp. There was no clipping in the DAW and the interface said the signal was not clipping but I still got this little bit of distortion that was driving me nuts. I hoped that the Scarlett would fix this issue and it did plus I got an overall boost in sound quality. There’s definitely something to be said for the quality of ADC/DAC chips. The preamps on the Scarlett are brighter and have more headroom than other interfaces I’ve used. The Air feature is especially nice when using microphones to record acoustic performances including vocals. The setup process seemed unnecessary to me. You plug in the unit, it shows up as an external drive, then you have to go to a website and download and install the drivers. As someone who used a Mac I’ve never had to deal with stuff like that and I’m sure it wasn’t necessary but the process is simple enough. The fact that you have to go through a little tutorial as you set it up is annoying but I’m sure it’s helpful for people who have never used an interface or just aren’t as tech savvy. The plugins that you get free are worth as much as the box itself. I’d get it for those alone. The plugins from Mastering the Mix are the only disappointments because you basically are getting a free trial and not a truly free plugin. The Scarlett is pricey compared to a lot of competing products but is great for beginners and those looking to juice just a little more from your current setup.

REVISED REVIEW: I'm an easy customer. The thing works, I'm happy. Thing doesn't work, I'm unhappy. The Focusrite worked out of the box (YAY!). Then it has issues (BOO!). Then I resolved said issues (YAY!). Now it works as expected. Has this device been a walk in the park? No, not really. There are some tweaks you need to make to your computer (See Update 7/7/2020 & 8/21/2020). With that said, I have been using my Focusrite LITERALLY every day. I have a Rode NT1 attached and I use that for video conferencing, recording vocals for my band GreyHalo, for podcasts, and for playing only D&D with family and friends. It's been a huge asset in this online life, and I have to say .. I'm happy I got this. While I originally said I would hard pass in the future, I've decided I LIKE my Focusrite 2i2. It's nor perfect, but from what I've read on other audio interfaces, nothing is. My son has a PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 2x2 USB Audio Interface and we've had to do some tweaking to his laptop to get it to work as expected. I realize that it's impossible for any company to know how everyone's computer will work with their hardware. So would I recommend this again? Yes, yes I would. And in fact, I have. And with that, I've also told them the tweaks I've made and how to do it so they can get faster results. I still have latency in my DAW of choice (Reaper), but that's something I'll have to resolve in the DAW. Not Focusrite's fault. But I've used some pretty hoity-toity VST/VSTi with this Focusrite 2i2 and it's handled everything like a champ. I'm not disappointed one bit in my purchase. And in the future, when I need something beefer, you can be sure I'll look to Focusrite once more. UPDATE 8/21/202: OK! After scouring the interwebs, I think I found out the issue with crackling in certain software (Discord, Facebook video, Steam chats). It turns out most of those software requires a higher sample rate. I had my Focusrite set at 44100, which was the default that the audio interface started at. HOWEVER, if you put it at 48000 with a buffer size of 192 then the crackling is gone and you can use any software as excepted. UPDATE 7/7/2020: After finally getting through to customer support (took some time) I have finally fixed the issue. It's actually a USB issue. Windows has a feature that puts USB devices to sleep, and for some reason does not see the audio interface as an active device even if it's being used. Which is weird and frustrating. Once I disabled the option it's not had any issues. The lack of star is because it took so blooming long for them to get back to me I almost abandoned all hope. However, since I had it fixed I recorded several songs with no issues. Lord willing my music career will finally see some fruition. Is it worth the purchase? For the price, yeah it's a decide device. I do wish I would have gotten the Presonus as it has midi in, but I think if you don't have a need for midi this is a solid device that should last a while. ONE last issue. Latency. If I can use Guitar Rig with my guitar in real time that would be great. But I haven't figured out if that's because of my DAW (Reaper) or the device. ORIGINAL REVIEW: I'm going to start this off by saying I work in IT. I'm also not new to the recording world as I've used other products in the past. So I know my way around buffer sizes and sample. With that said, I'm going to flat out say that this has been nothing but a pain in my neck. I bought the Scarlet 2i2 with the intention of recording voices for games and animation, as well as podcasts. Since the quarantine order, I've used it for video conferencing with work. And, it works. I have a Rode NT1 and everything sounds amazing. HOWEVER, the driver will crash constantly. I'll be watching a video, and it will just stop working. I'll be in the middle of a conference call, and it will crash. It's crashed while recording a podcast. It's crashed while recording a video. It just .. crashes. And the only thing I can do is force it to restart by changing the buffer size. Then it kicks back in and I'm good for a while. It's beyond infuriating. There are no errors in the event log. All the drivers are up to date, as far as I know. Except the Focusrite website is always seems to be down. My computer is more than powerful enough to run this relatively simple device. I really want to like this, and I really want to recommend these to my friends who also are looking for hardware for recording their own podcasts and videos and so on. In this time of isolation, people are looking for professional solutions to record good audio. This interface ... I'd do a hard pass.

What a great device. Made a big difference in the signal quality from my Tascam 12 and equipment running through the Tascam 12 onto the computer. Love it. Update 2 - Still LOVE this device. That being said I bought a Tascam US-2x2HR on Amazon after I read a review of it. The person has both devices like me and makes some of the same points I make here. a) The Focusrite is a bit better than the Tascam as far as control and sound quality. Not by much b) I like the Tascam because it has the ability to use an independent power supply. The Focusrite does not. The Focusrite requires power via the usb interface. I like the Tascam because I can still use my main studio without turning the computer on. c) The Tascam is much cheaper and provides a similar experience. Update 1 - I failed to mention that the device can operate as a USB speaker device off the PC. So for example, the computer is running VLC playing tunes into the Focusrite via USB. Meanwhile my monitor headphone device (a powered splitter for 4 headphones - on Amazon, love it, love it) is plugged into the monitor headphone jack on the Focusrite. Then into the main Focusrite inputs is the output from my 12 track Tascam - also on Amazon. love it love it). So this allow us to listen to music, but only record the instruments into the 12 track. Meanwhile, OBS is running and can take in either all of the Focusrite or just the passthrough from the 12 track. This helps us determine how well we are coming along learning a tune. Finally, sometimes, I want to record the computer audio to the multitrack. I use the audio output jacks to the 12 track. In order to do so, the Focusrite USB speaker has to be disabled to avoid a feedback loop. This requires requires knowledge of Windows Device Manager. The main studio is on Win11. My mini studio in my office is on Win10. Device Manager is the same on both.

This is a fantastic audio interface that can be used in a ton of different applications. I’ve used this to record guitars, keyboards, vocals and more and it has never given me any issues. It’s super simple, yet it does exactly what it’s supposed to do and it does it well.

Updating my review as I now own both the 3rd and 4th Gen versions of the 2i2. I've been using the 3rd Gen for months and recently acquired the 4th Gen. 3rd Gen: The device is great. I prefer the analog knobs for gain adjustment, unlike the new system where you rely on software to fine-tune the precise dB you want. Occasionally, on my Windows 10 machine, I experienced hiccups requiring a reboot or device refresh to resolve scrambled and choppy audio during gameplay while recording. However, I didn't encounter this issue with my Apple Mac Studio. I use a straight USB-C to USB-C cable with the Mac Studio, and it has been flawless. The AIR mode enhances the sound of my Shure SM7B mic. PROS: --Volume knobs don't require software. CONS: --XLR input in front. 4th Gen: I was initially confused about how auto-gain and clip-safe functioned, so I decided to test them out. Autogain analyzes your voice briefly and recommends a dB level, in my case, 22dB with a Shure SM7B with an inline booster. I also tested the new AIR+Drive mode. While I appreciate AIR, I found the drive mode less favorable, especially with vocals, as it resulted in over-processed distortion. Adjusting the notices on my SM7B mic for different frequencies, combined with AIR mode, yields optimal results. The recording quality of my voice sounds slightly better with the 4th Gen over the 3rd, likely because I can keep the volume knob lower, minimizing background noise. PROS: --XLR input in the back. --Auto-gain assists in setting the ideal dB level. --Better gain, allowing for lower volume knobs and reduced background noise. CONS: --Digital volume knobs require software for precise dB adjustments.