Focusrite Scarlett 16i16, 18i16 and 18i20 4th Gen Audio Interfaces Overview

[@justinma]

per focusrite the new 18i20 can only receive 8 channels via adat, the two banks are for smux and higher sample rates (though it would rock if it can take 16)

[@BennSutcliffe]

….which the Audient Evo 16 can do, id44 also

[@mitchgallagher2755]

Yep, you are absolutely correct. I misspoke in the video. My apologies!

[@DevourTheBleak]

I use focusrite for my music on my channel and it’s an incredible audio interface…the solo specifically. Easy to carry, simple plug and work with windows and Daw. First audio interface in over 10 years and very happy with it…a fan.

[@LaidbackSounds]

Mitch is baaaaaaaaack !!!!

[@bassyey]

Would probably be a good upgrade from my dying 2nd gen 2i2 (I keep hearing wind noises even if I'm plugging in a guitar and no mics attached!). I'll get the 18i16.

[@kingech_B15]

10 out is a new standard.

[@monovision566]

Are they ever gonna update Clarett? Or are these finally up to par? I'm ready to update, but every refresh they do of the line still doesn't seem to match what I got from a Clarett in 2017.

[@zombizombi]

They just release newer generations for the cash grabbing. Then they start to neglect their older generations.

[@marcdevasconcelos]

Do the line level inputs go directly to the converter?

[@SweetwaterSoundcheck]

Hey there! Yes, the line input will bypass the mic preamp and go directly to the analog to digital converter. Thanks for your interest! Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 3230, [e-mail]

[@jesusguillermo]

How can you best record alternative rock drum tracks using the 4i4 using traditional drum kit? What mics would you use and how would you place them or set them up, knowing the number of inputs?

[@SweetwaterSoundcheck]

Hi jesusguillermo, great question! There are some creative ways to mic a drum kit with only two mics (since the 4i4 only has two mic pres). If I were tasked with this, I would start with a mic on the kick and an overhead for the snare and the rest. Balancing out the snare volume with the rest of the kit would require some trial and error with positioning, but can definitely be done! There are also some other creative two mic methods that can be explored and Sound on Sound has a great thorough article with examples for this: www.soundonsound.com/techniques/recording-drum-kits-only-two-mics But, the 4i4 does have a couple line inputs as well, so if you had some extra mic pres, or a mixer lying around, you could do the standard four mic method of Kick, Snare and Overhead pair which has been used on thousands of records since the beginning of recording! If you want to dig into recording techniques, I would love to chat, just give me a call! Drake Sobehrad, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 3271, [e-mail]

[@6582rg]

Need an 18i20.

[@citygent101]

Are the optical in and out ports only ADAT? can they be changed to SPDIF?

[@SweetwaterSoundcheck]

Hi, thanks for your interest! The optical I/O connections on the 4th Gen Scarlett interfaces are intended for ADAT. I reviewed Focusrite’s documentation and couldn’t find a way to change them to S/PDIF. Of course, these interfaces do also have S/PDIF connectivity on the coaxial RCA connections. I hope this helps a bit - feel free to contact me directly with any further questions, and thanks again! Caleb Lowrey, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1620, [e-mail]

[@alvarohernandez2764]

Great. If only they lasted. Ive had so many focusrites. 3 out of 5 have failed within 2 years. I really hope these things were reliable because when they work, they're awsome. I want to buy but I'm hesitant.

[@BennSutcliffe]

Are the 7/8 & 9/10 outputs still bound to the headphone mixes?? No one seems to know

[@_hide_-lb1gk]

Looks like they took some notes from the Audient evo16.

[@JayfkProductions876]

I wonder what a comparison would look like between 16i16 vs 18i8 3rd

[@kennyglod7]

SWEET!

[@Barryislarge]

Bought a saffire pro40 back in 2012 for a pricey sum. It stopped working on my pc, and they stopped updating drivers years ago. It's that forced obsoletion that is finally pushing me towards RME I think. Stability and consistency is needed in the focusrite company, and if they are planning on making the scarlett their one consumer interface, they need to come out and say so before anybody buys a clarett or otherwise.

[@Steve_Rotter]

yep, same here! I actually just got raked today when I decided to trade my saffire pro 40 in for cash. The guy asked if I ever used it. YES. Studio-kept. It just stopped working more than a few years back and that sucks! No updated drivers, won't work on newer OS versions. The thing is MINT and I can't use it!

[@Barryislarge]

@@Steve_Rotter bastards! I managed to get mine going again on pc through some older drivers, but it's clinging on for dear life. When I called the focusrite support team they were gobsmacked by it working at all and suggested I buy a gen 4 scarlett 😅 whats the bet in a decade they'd say the same thing and suggest buying a gen 9 one though! Is it so hard to ask for product stability??

[@Steve_Rotter]

@@Barryislarge YEP! I needed a newer Mac back then and it didn't work then. No firewire ports and the dumb software was buggy with the newer OS. Firewire to usb-c doesn't work and trying to marry it to an ADAT device is a nightmare just to get it to work. I was in the middle of recording a band's album. I had to front money to buy something else to finish the tracking when this happened. Luckily the drums were done. I went with Audient and I would recommend that to you. I have an Audient ID4, which only has ONE input but that's fine. I'm only recording guitar and if I need vocals, it's done separate anyway. One input is fine. I love this thing and it's about $200! Look at Audient. They have really pricey stuff but also nice units less pricey or the same as Focusrite. I loved Focusrite until I was put in a bad spot. The thing that bothers me the most is that it was mint and I never had an issue with it...just can't use it. No company is perfect but I'm sticking with Audient for now. Have a look. They have a nice simple small unit with 4 inputs for around $250!

[@SoundAloneband]

I'll stick with audient or presonus.

[@jrcallahan506]

All looks and sounds great but I’ll never buy a focusrite audio interface again. My first time buying one and it failed and wouldn’t recognize the usb connection. I have a RME babyface pro for 7 years and it never fail not once.

[@dannyvalentino328]

I’ve had a Focusrite 2i4 2nd Gen and it had never failed me not once. Just because you had bad luck with one product doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it in genera. Every single product made by humans has failed at least one person at one time or another. The fact that so many people use these interfaces and swear by them means that they are in fact very good products. If they weren’t, Focusrite would be out of business.

[@zombizombi]

@@dannyvalentino328 I too have had massive problems that I narrowed down to bad drivers with the help of other people in similar situations. Just because every KZbin producer that whores themselves out to sell products recommends them doesn't mean they're great. I've had several generations of the Scarlett series and also the Saffire and they've all fallen short. They're also constantly releasing new generations and neglecting their older ones.

[@Barryislarge]

@@dannyvalentino328 i mean that isn't true, Protools exists...

[@Kyp031]

Shit happens. Mine works great.

[@ct6929]

The 18i20 pairs perfectly with the RME digiface USB. With 4 18i20s, I get 32 ins and 32 outs going through the digiface via ADAT with the digital routing of RMETotalmix.

[@BennSutcliffe]

69db of gain RANGE, not 69db of gain. 53db would be more like it maybe

[@studio_person]

I have Scarlett Solo 4th Gen and RME Babyface Pro FS right now and I have spent few days compring them side by side and after a while I found that Focusrite sounds better overall. I dont like the sound signature of RME at all. Lifeless, dull and boring. Sounds like sh*t to be honest. I`m gonna keep my Scarlett. RME is about to go to ebay. It is overpriced IMHO!