DON’T BUY ONE OF THESE! Universal Audio Vs Focusrite

[@EdThorne]

➡SPECS & COMPARISON CHART: edthorne.com/exclusive-content ⬅ 🔥Get your tracks mixed by Ed: edthorne.com/mixing 🔥 🎬 Best Interface For Mixing! This HP Amp is Insane!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGHJqnmIoZeFaJY 🎬 Scarlett 4th Generation vs 3rd Gen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX2nda2prdVkl5I

[@Hermiel]

In 2022 sound quality is basically a wash. The preamps and converters on these things are 95% identical from a utility standpoint. Write and record great music and don't spend any energy on which sounds marginally better. Your listeners certainly won't care.

[@EdThorne]

Can’t argue with that. Music listeners won’t but KZbin viewers definitely will 😜🤘

[@Hermiel]

@@EdThorne Ha, fair enough.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

Too true Hermy

[@mangadolo]

To be honest with you…. I think music sounds better when it feels/sounds a bit antiquated.

[@ponternal]

The Focusrite is better because my favourite color is red

[@maxborbass]

Thank you very much for this great review: not only I was able to hear a clear demo comparison, like the guitar one you did, but also the technical comparison was very clear and informative. This and other reviews help me choosing between the two (I got a Volt).

[@EdThorne]

Oh, wow! You’re my first Super Like donator - THANK YOU very much!! I’m glad the video helped 🙂🤘

[@Geoswich]

​@@EdThorne which is better for vocals , please I need to know?

[@EdThorne]

As with all audio products, it’s how you use. An interface doesn’t discriminate against different instruments. However, the compressor on the Volt 276 and Vintage mode on this model do enhance vocals nicely.

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

What's with the "Don't buy one these in the title"? For click bait? Sounds like you gave them both a good review.

[@ritchski1]

I was wondering the same thing. silliness.

[@spikesguitarcamp]

I'm listening on studio monitors, and I have to say that the Scarlett "Air Mode" was my favorite, and I really couldn't hear a difference between the two "dry" modes". The "vintage" mode actually sounded a little dull. These are obviously just my opinions.

[@dr34m-r20]

The air mode is just an eq. U can put it manually. It isnt equal to isa one preamp

[@spikesguitarcamp]

@@dr34m-r20 And your point is?

[@dominicmcmahon4798]

@@spikesguitarcamp his point is .. if you have a daw then you can simply eq it in to sound like air for free. So it's a trashy gimmick of no real value.

[@thomashambrecht6435]

We use multiple Scarlett 2i2 for audio editing at multiple locations. We record with several 8-channel RME, Focusrite and Presonus. There isn't a big difference.

[@juanmejiar]

you are right, i have also tried several including rme, apollo, ssl and focusrite never failed me in terms of software and durability, it has gotten me out of trouble many times.

[@masterr2667]

yes , i sold my apollo 8 quad , for a scarlett focusrite and i have been able to get better sound out of the scarlett than before when it works with other top interfaces on the market , i have learned through 30 years of producing career that sometimes one as a producer is it limits a lot in musical productions or in post-production for audiovisuals, when using a certain piece of equipment in an ecosystem as closed as that of apollo and I cannot exploit the full potential of a musical production, for my focusrite it has not failed me in compatibility, software , resistance to take it wherever you want without worrying about damaging it , for my focusrite very reliable.

[@juanmusic8806]

Yes the scarlett focusrite is the best interface of the market

[@IgneelS11]

what about latency?

[@davidvicars6688]

@@IgneelS11 I would like to know this as well.

[@macmovieman1]

I am a very basic user, and I love my Scarlet 2i2 and I never really did a research to see whether there were other brands for available. It seems to work really well for my vocals, guitar and speakers.

[@O_pai_fpv]

for most users, I believe the scarlett line is perfectly fine. As an audio engineer though, I've had my share of problems with their interfaces from the old sapphire to the scarletts. I actually own a scarlett 4i4 that lives in my backpack as a backup. There are a lot of other brands available and quite a few quality "entry level" products like the scarlett. Audient is an excellent option, in my opinion

[@brucerain2106]

@@O_pai_fpvwhat kind of problems did you have with Scarlett?

[@keithbutler2222]

I got the volt 2 and it sounded great, but after a while drop outs and outages would creep in. I exchanged it for another model, thinking it faulty...same problem. I've swapped it for the Focusrite which I've worked to death for the last two days...no issues

[@TurtlesWithAutism]

Did you try updating firmware and driver?

[@keithbutler2222]

@@TurtlesWithAutism yes all of those...I replaced the unit too

[@black_deus]

@@keithbutler2222funny, I’m having this issue but with w a focus rite

[@keithbutler2222]

@@black_deus oh that's a shame...clicks pops and dropouts?

[@ManWatchingtheStars]

I have both and I noticed right away that the Line Out from the Volt 2 to my Neumann KH120 monitors had a different sound. Mostly rounder, with the highs less crispy than what I heard from the Scarlett. I also really love the premium feel to the Volt 2 knobs and the lights that indicate the audio output peaking/loudness.

[@PNWGuitar]

Any differences between the volt 2 and volt 276?

[@EdThorne]

@PNWGuitar The compressor…

[@rosalioestrada5733]

Hey I noticed the same thing the volt 2 was lacking alot of bass...I was very disappointed...the Scarlett sounds better

[@lyniseuk]

Alot of these budget sound interfaces contain similar chip sets. The main difference is in features and build quality. My point is they are all good at this budget end.

[@EdThorne]

Compared to 10-15 years ago, the low cost interfaces available now are unreal, especially for the price!

[@jackedkerouac4414]

That being said my Scarlett Solo 3rd gen has excellent build quality. The knobs feel just as solid as my $1000 dj mixer

[@DuaneDouglas]

I chose to get the Volt over the Scarlett because of the MIDI jacks and on/off switch. Those extra features determined my choice.

[@rebeccaschade3987]

To me, the midi-interface on the Volt makes it a much more attractive option than the Scarlett 2i2. I don't get why so many budget interfaces have dropped midi these days. There are plenty of musicians out there still using synthesizers without USB, so not having midi on the audio interface means having to spend extra money on a dedicated midi-interface. That's like a €60 added value if we go by the price of a Roland USB midi interface.

[@CrashTestSkater]

Oh waow, thanks for the tip man! My particular situation actually would have required that anyhow, so much appreciated ❤️

[@gaetanobruno5889]

nowadays, you can buy a MIDI-USB cable for 5 bucks only. its very easy, plug and play and same latency. but i get your point.

[@LTPottenger]

Yes and my synth cost 600 bucks so I don't want to bin it or buy a new one that's twice the price and half as good, which is the other option.

[@iainmcguire7190]

@@LTPottenger why would you bin it, when a USB to midi adapter is a very cheap purchase?

[@ISOwav]

Great video, but this comment section is gold in terms of thoughts on the interfaces, really informative

[@LeeLimerick]

Cheers Ed, finally sat down and had a watch. I gotta do something about that double-chin! Nice to catch up and hang out mate :)

[@EdThorne]

Ha. I didn’t even notice, I was too mesmerised by your playing 😘 Thanks again for playing in the video!

[@EddyLynnMusic]

had the Volt for 2 weeks.. something wasn't right and was noisy. Omg ... Got the scarlet and wow! Love it!

[@ilemas79]

I'm just setting up a home studio, and have been watching a lot of equipment reviews. I have preferred the sound of the Volt over the Scarlett in all of them even though the difference is very subtle.

[@fred4664]

The volt has a separate power supply which is necessary when connecting to an I pad since the I pad doesn’t have enough power to run the Volt 2. That was the deciding factor for me in purchasing another brand. Being a novice recorder I’m starting with Garage Band as a DAW.

[@EdThorne]

Good shout. This is a detail to forgot to mention in the video. I believe the iPad Pro is powerful enough to power both devices though.

[@gkiss2030]

That sucks. UA put out bus-powered interfaces in the past (Arrow, Apollo Solo).

[@EdThorne]

@@gkiss2030 This is bus powered….

[@raulgarcia1718]

You can use a powered usb hub to power both the iPad and audio interface

[@glennusher4160]

All Interfacers are great.. I've been in many studios and seen the top and best Producers use the cheapest interfaces and make hits.. It's mostly about the Mics, the Plugin and the hardware they have connected to it. i use the Presonus Studio One and also the Apollo..

[@koltonjacobs6584]

Also speakers

[@andysixxlett2632]

The song matters most…..a bad song is bad regardless of how it’s recorded

[@taylorcliff6609]

@@andysixxlett2632 not entirely true. ive been in sessions where the artist has layed down some terrible songs come back the next day and somehow the engineer made it into a banger. people dont give engineers anywhere near enough credit for what comes out today. 90% of the top artists have fairly terrible vocals, the amount of live performances ive been to that just sound so bad compared to the studio mix is crazy. its almost like all the talent these days is in the mix and mastering side not the actual performance of it.

[@taylorcliff6609]

@@JohannesLabusch dont ever think that being part of an older generation means there is no merit to your wisdom. there is no such thing as a grumpy old man, only ignorant young people have made that a term. as a fresh 30 yr old i see it from both sides and can say with confidence that i want someone older sitting in my sessions. not only for their expertise but also their life wisdom. ive been in recording sessions with a lot of dudes coming into their 50s and 60s and its such a good experience. they are patient and genuinely show more love for the art no matter what. ive sat there with young producers and engineers who refused to do what i want/ask because they have this weird chip on their shoulder. the older guys didnt care, they listened to my bulshit for 8 hours and a complete album was the bi product of being made comfortable. much love to you. sorry for the tangent.

[@PendelSteven]

Actually, the features on the interface are the most important: do you need SP/DIF? MIDI? Amp out? ADAT? And for some: software that comes with it.

[@RogerZoul]

What amazes me is how good everything in this video sounds on my iPhone 11 Pro at 4 inches from my face! I have the Scarlett and am happy with it for my simple needs. Nice vid!

[@larryvaughn5843]

I use some Yamaha studio monitors and the sound is much better than when it comes from a tiny speaker.

[@lolilollolilol7773]

I have always read very good feedback on the Roland audio interfaces, in particular the Quad and Octa-Capture. It would be nice to have a review of them.

[@juanmejiar]

I have used the octa-capture it is very good, it has a very balanced sound with good definition, but after a while the buttons began to fail, I ended up selling it

[@juanmusic8806]

I did not like it, and it is true the buttons are of poor quality

[@apg91]

I'm buying the Volt 1 because all I need is a DAC with volume control and balance output. Having a separate power then the USB is a big advantage if you are using it in a USBSwitch

[@mdsoulsounds]

Thanks for your clear direct and honest review. You ran it down very well. Only Focusrite set back for me was the old usb female input which has finally completely stopped working. Even with Focusrite changing to gen 3 usb c input , I want to try the Volt now .

[@johnwinslow8841]

Using budget studio headphones, I turned my head to not know which of the two were being used under a dry signal. The volt sounded better to my ears.

[@hostilekeldon]

It depends on the use, for portability, a USB powered interface seems better to me, and the converters nowadays are much less the weak link in your chain than a decade or two ago, plus all of them come with nice software. and External DSP importance is falling two with the newer Ryzen and M1 chips anyway, depending on the price difference I can really relate on buying a UAD device, so for low budget I'd go for Focusrite, for mid a UAD Volt, for small device but better budget, an RME most likely.

[@ORACLEBALL]

I've owned the scarlett 2i2 for 10 years now, 1st gen. Believe me, I've ran that thing through its paces, gotten to know if very well, and beat this crap out of it, taking it everywhere with me. It still works perfectly fine, and I still use it from time to time in a crunch and as a traveling interface. That thing is reliable. On the contrary a few years ago I upgraded to the Audient ID44. I now run my home studio with that hooked up to 2 asp800's. I remember the day I swapped out the scarlett for that interface, my jaw dropped. My speakers sounded better (I still have my speakers, krk gen 3 rokit 5's, I know them like the scarlett), the inputs are insanely clean, noise floor super low, headphones sound better, and my sub pac went from feeling fluffy to tight like a sub woofer. As nice as those things are, I can still work with the scarlett anywhere and feel confident working. Universal Audio is a great company and I love their products, but I thought there was some value to be said about the longevity of those scarlett's.

[@Pavelkozhin]

As for your words, the difference in sound, it looks very contrived

[@ORACLEBALL]

@@Pavelkozhin yes I'm sponsored by focusrite 😂

[@Pavelkozhin]

@@ORACLEBALL I get your joke, yes. I think marketing is doing its job, just

[@ORACLEBALL]

@@Pavelkozhin By no means do I live or die by any company, just sharing my experience. I'm not familiar with any of these companies making durability a main marketing tool of their products - which was my main point.

[@Pavelkozhin]

@@ORACLEBALL I mean, our perception of the sound of any equipment is influenced by too many parameters - design, price, even the name, which can be more pleasant or more harsh. All this deceives our senses. If you test the audio paths of your sound cards, the frequency response will be plus or minus 1 dB or less at the ends of the range, which our ears almost never hear.

[@LEGEND.408]

Switched from focustite to volt hella better now I got no problems at all

[@gazzyb85]

Volt is better, and my opinion is better than most😜

[@mikesmith1290]

The biggest difference for me when I upgraded my 2i2 1st gen to the Apollo X Twin was the mic pre. My scarlet couldn’t really preamp my sm57 that well. Then I’d have to run it thru an eq and compressor, etc With the Apollo, I run the compressor on the unison preamp, eq to the mix and done.

[@EdThorne]

Yeh man. The Apollos are so powerful if you use them like you are!

[@thomasaudio8585]

Use mine the same way, absolutely love it. Won't be looking back for sure.

[@AB-wy7dr]

Sorry can someone explain more what makes the Apollo X Twin so much better for 5x the price? Thanks!

[@nejih1323]

A comparison like this between the volt 2 and the audient or the SSL 2 would be awesome. I can't decide between those as a guitarist/vocalist and the volt seems quite complete with all the midi stuff added

[@EdThorne]

This video is in production, featuring those interfaces and the M2. Be out next Tuesday hopefully.

[@Lovingdeadboy]

Due to the A Class Preamp in Audient's Interfaces you should expect a better/ sweeter/ preciser amplification on your microphones with their id series

[@gkiss2030]

@@Lovingdeadboy I really like m iD4 MKII. Even though I have UA Twin X next to it (the converters are more precise on that one, but the sound is more sterile).

[@Lovingdeadboy]

@@gkiss2030 absolutely agree, i got an ApolloX8 to get clear daad through my externals RVBs and stuff. Absolutely in love with their DAC applied on my Monitor output and their unisson technology on my inputs

[@gkiss2030]

@@Lovingdeadboy They a price for it, but it shows.

[@juliussharrock8943]

As the owner of a 16i20. Cannot say enough good things about Focusrite. Record rappers, drum Kits, full bands and use outboard mixer in conjunction. Great company. Great piece of kit - it never leaves my top rack mount on the desk itself!

[@zenemij]

I just bought the Focusrite 2i2 3 gen , and I see this 😭💀, but I love the interface , I been using the Apollo twin and it’s almost the same thing , the Apollo just dont have any latenci and that’s it

[@EdThorne]

I mean the features on the Apollo are vastly superior to a Scarlett but the best interface is always the one you when inspiration strikes!

[@lojibaybee]

Just bought the scarlet sound is bomb air mode is cool but i always prefer a low down dirty heavy thick old school vocal that’s volt provides

[@ROCKNROLLMODS]

I just purchased a volt interface on a whim. I figured "I can finally afford a universal audio product" seems like it might have been a good choice. Hopefully when the Sweetwater delivery gets here I'll have a similar experience

[@ItsTheMajorScalebro]

How is it?

[@ROCKNROLLMODS]

@@ItsTheMajorScalebro works great I use a 16 ch tascam for tracking. For some reason it seems like overdubs periodically get out of sync. I think the 16 channels has just got the processor too busy. So I use the UA for overdubs, and it sounds better than the tascam's pre's. Definitely the best mic preamps I have used aboard an inexpensive interface.

[@kanaille7485]

hi , i've just purchased the volt176 and it's for me the best choice for the budget , Ed thx for the cool contents .

[@EdThorne]

That’s great! Glad you’re enjoying it!

[@Faahlew16]

Thank you for your great presentation. I learned a lot just in 11mins. 👍🏽

[@KordTaylor]

Nice video. Thank you. It was great hearing the Air circuit on acoustic. Really nice. And also the Austrian mic was mmmmmm. 🔥

[@mudi2000a]

In this comparison the Arturia Minifuse is missing. I have it and it is cheaper than the other 2 plus it has a mixer for direct monitoring as well as an integrated USB hub. It also works fine on the iPad Air without the need of an additional power supply.

[@EdThorne]

I reached to Arturia but never heard back.

[@jitterbugzombies6441]

I recorded my album using a cheap m-audio from 2005 and published in 2017 in vinyl, everybody was amazed by the sound. Get a cheap sound card, but just don't buy the cheapest and don't go too crazy about it. Focus on making good music.

[@Ixiom64]

All depends on how you use what you got. I've been using a 1st gen Scarlett solo for almost 10 years and still can get the sound I need

[@leonardodicaprio5676]

do you use it for electric guitar? if so, is it a good audio interface?

[@Gretsch0997]

I don’t get the title of the video.

[@Bashanvibe]

Ok so I was debating on these two beast interface for live performance using AL after watching this I think I’m going to stick with Focusrite I already have a twin as my main set up!!!

[@earlitymeproductionz]

Will the Scarlett solo be able to drive the Beyerdynamic DT 770 80ohms well?

[@EdThorne]

Yes.

[@ReinQuest]

Your really selling the Volt for me. I’m coming from a Yeti looking to upgrade so I might be able to break into VO work. The yeti is great for its intended use but it falls short when you start wishing your budget could fit a 416. 🤣

[@rikyriky966]

Instead of these two, I just bought a MOTU M2 (v2 - after 2021 version) and I am SOOOO HAPPPYY with it

[@siquierostreaming5620]

I just buy a unite of Universal Audio Volt 476 and his sound is amazing! on the headphones sounds clear and louder than previos Focusritte i had (clarett 8 pre).

[@gibson2623]

The carett 8 pre is much better, on another league.....Ignorant

[@jcm5888]

Great information source. I'm a novice and I independently narrowed my choices to the Volt and Focusrite but wanted an expert opinion...........this is where ED came in. Do you have a more detailed video of either?

[@EdThorne]

Thanks, Jorge. I’m glad the video was helpful. I have a whole playlist of interface reviews and comparisons, including many videos featuring these two: kzbin.info/aero/PLPGp5cq-hMjzcuVrYrnbZUbZ39nqFWpeb

Why does the caption say "don't buy" them?

[@ivandubinsky1857]

clickbait

[@666thsense]

the scarlett is a stellar dac though, even outshining some of the actual dedicated dacs in the audiophile world, how does the volt hold up as a dac when just listening to music through it? because quality out will let you also have quality in.

[@macseigel7295]

The Scarlett uses the same mass produced converter chips as every other budget interface in the world. Those are every bit as good as most top-of-the-line DACs from 20 years ago, so it's nothing to complain about, but I wouldn't call it a meaningful difference.

[@l.m.892]

This review seems to be centered on hardware specs of the interfaces. There may be little difference between the two. In terms of practical use, I have found the configuration interface of the Focusrite Scarlett to be not only confusing, but not well supported in their tutorials. This is a fundamental flaw for those of us who compose and need to reconfigure IO.

[@allendean9807]

Love my 4i4. Though i did have a 2i2 through about 3 generations. Very good interfaces.

[@guyb7005]

need to make a more thorough comparison and see if this ranking holds: Motu M2, Volt 2, SSL-2, Scarlett 2i2, Behringer UMC202HD, Macki Onyx 2x2, Arturia Minifuse 2, M-Audio Air 192, NI Komplete Audio 2 & RME Babyface Pro 2

[@thehomerecordingstudiozone1868]

Really useful comparison Ed for these entry level contenders . Btw looking well Holiday? also love the Piano backing track you used on this great choice..

[@EdThorne]

Thanks, Ricky. Yeh, had a break from YT and a trip to the Caribbean🔥 The background music is from Epidemic Sounds 👌

[@TyKingsSon]

@@EdThorne Hi Ed thx for sharing w us. I know have 3 interfaces and need to sell one which should I get rid of? SSL2+, FOCUSRITE CLARIET USB W AIR MODE, APOGGEE ELEMENT 46

[@EdThorne]

@@TyKingsSon Oooh, tough show down. I’d keep the Clarett and decide between the other two on a resale value vs functionality decision based on what features you need.

[@TyKingsSon]

Now have typo...

[@TyKingsSon]

@@EdThorne Sweet what island? I grew up in Antigua 🇦🇬

[@AD-ou7si]

NIce comparison video, thanks. Have enjoyed my Audient ID 14 which suddenly stopped registering on my MacBook Air M1. Despite updating firmware, etc. and troubleshooting with tech support, I suspect it is and internal or hardware issue in the unit and not worth fixing. I'm on the hunt for a replacement. My travel rig for Voice Over made by CEntrance is amazing!! It even has a built in limiter. It's my main right now and super easy to use - flawless - , but might go with the Focusrite due to the 'air' mode for my home studio. Hoping it won't amplify pesky sibilants, however.

[@EdThorne]

This maybe an obvious question but did you try a different USB cable/USB port? Occasionally on my M1 I have had to restart the computer because it’s stopped recognising the USB ports.

[@justinbouchard]

I used a scarlet solo for years, the headphone monitor out wasn't working for about a year and I just replaced it with a behringer umc204hd. The difference in sound quality was shocking to me. The behringer was so much clearer and seemed to be more dynamic as well, guitar and mic. Also the amount of i/o and options on this compared to any other brand at the same price is not even comparable.

[@justinbouchard]

something that I thought after using it for about a week or so is that focusrite is the "apple" of interfaces and behringer is the android, i have no idea where UA fits in but it's too expensive for me anyways lol

[@strictlyboys]

@@justinbouchard I disagree, i believe M-Track Duo sounds way better than the UMC absolutely

[@strictlyboys]

@@justinbouchard It does not only record a little bit clearer but also improves a lot on the low end.

[@justinbouchard]

@@strictlyboys how bored are you? This video was comparing Scarlett to UA audio volt, my comment compared my Scarlett to my umc 204. I have no idea what m track duo is, nor how you somehow took my comment and created this scenario in your head where I compared anything to an m track audio.

[@justinbouchard]

@@strictlyboys I had to look it up. I cannot believe you're coming here out of fucking nowhere comparing an Amazon interface to Behringer. Clean your house or something if your this bored.

[@gregfabb869]

Interesting video. Absolute beginner. Hoping to use to record demo ideas to take to the band. Using a dynamic mic. Going for a refurb scarlet simply on cost. Dont need high quality

[@EdThorne]

Go for it!

[@mawo1096]

Scarlett sounded clearer and more musical for me.

[@Dante-qf9yd]

I would like to see the Volt compared to the more expensive Apogee Symphony Desktop in quality of sound. I have an older Apogee that might not be compatible with the MacBook M1 Max I’m getting, so I’m interested in a really good interface.

[@EdThorne]

They’re in very different price leagues. An Apogee/Apollo might be a fairer comparison. I’ve reached out to Apogee’s distributors a few times about reviews to no avail…

[@Dante-qf9yd]

@@EdThorne They know that you will tell the truth about their products. That Volt might be good in sound as my older Apogee interface. I’ll be able to find out this summer. I already heard the Scarlet 2i2 yesterday. My Apogee sounds better, but not $1,000.00 better. Good mixing skills would make them equal. My Apogee just sounds bigger in frequency.

[@hamricmike8]

For me, the only negative about the Volt 2 is that it doesn't have line inputs, it's only mic/instrument inputs. So if I want to connect my outboard tube preamp and compressor, I would have to route it in some way that changes those line-level outputs into mic or instrument-level signals going into the interface which I don't really want to do. It's cool that the Volt has MIDI in/out but most MIDI stuff these days are USB so I probably wouldn't use them. Both seem like great choices but I'm leaning slightly toward the Scarlett for what I need.

[@EdThorne]

So get the Volt 4 👌

[@TheTimidPimp]

According to this video, you can use line level inputs. Basically, just turn off the INST and 48V buttons. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnWTpKNpnNOMiK8

[@stuartewoldt1513]

The volt 2 sounds better I've owned both but I screwed up. When you put those together it sounded great

[@poulwinther]

What never seems to earn a mention are the drivers. I always perfect stability and zero problems with Focusrite - which I can't say about any other interface I tried.

[@EdThorne]

I’m a Mac guy, so all interfaces are class complaint and work without drivers - so I can’t comment on PC drivers. I’ve only ever had monitor software issues with one brand (neither of these).

[@poulwinther]

@@EdThorne Class compliant is only a fancy name for the equivalent to Windows standard drivers. I doesn't mean they work which a quick search will reveal.

[@EdThorne]

@@poulwinther I’ve never had a problem with an audio interface on my Mac - and I’ve used A LOT. They ALL just work. Literally, the only people I hear complaints from about comparability are PC users. Which interface are you considering anyway?

[@poulwinther]

@@EdThorne I know you test a lot but it's not the same as heavy use. I had M-audio in the past and it was the worst junk ever to get connected to my system. I've been using Scarlett 2i2 since gen. 2 and never had a glitch. Since it now in a suitcase that the airline cannot even register after three days I need a new one. I was starting to lean strongly towards Audient iD4 or iD14 because of all the positive reviews but just found on Reddit that a lot of people have terrible problems with them. So the slight advantages over the Focusrite are not worth the issues and I think I will stick with them. The UA is fine too but it's unknown territory for me and they are well known for terrible software support. Besides I find it almost criminal that the interface doesn't allow use of UA plug-ins.

[@kaivrock]

I’d add that all these little boxes in this price range are the same. Scarlett, MOTU, Volt, Presonus, Behringer, just take your pick. You’re not going to get anything noticeably better without going into the 7-800 dollar range.

[@EdThorne]

For the most part, yes. Whatever UA have done with the Volt though does give it the edge sonically.

[@saplouie]

If you need the Midi then definitely go with the Volt. I already have multiple usb midi controllers, but I know many people with electric pianos that only have the midi out option. Price wise, I've always found that the Focusrite was a bit cheaper. For example, Amazon has the 2i2 for 148 and the Volt 2 for 163 right now.

[@donteroberts5467]

Say Less you made it all better for me to really to buy the Volt 2 because it should be perfect for me recording in mpc beats and fl studio.

[@mitchdodgemusic]

I personally had a weird experience with the Volt - and it’s intermittent… but my tempo when playing back various audio through either Spotify, Music (iTunes), or even Ableton. The interface will actually slow the tempo down when playing back audio as normal… I had never actually had this problem before // haven’t seen anyone else post about it with the Volt - previously had the Motu M4 and never had an issue like this.

[@atonementaudio]

Super old comment but I have this issue with my Scarlet all the time! It slows it down to almost comedic lengths so I have to restart spotify

[@davidfabien7220]

In my opinion, the UA VOLT sounds slightly more musical than the Focusrite Scarlett.

[@seantatalovich9760]

why does the volt have a electric input? I thought it ran on USB-C? I notice 2 cables come in the box?

[@EdThorne]

So you can power the device whilst using the USB-C connection to record to an iOS device.

[@judsonchristudas]

Which of these have good preamps for Electric Guitar for recording Heavy Metal?

[@sonofnothing]

As expected, extremely close. What matters more? 1. PERFORMANCE 2. Mic choice 3. Mic placement 4. Room

[@EdThorne]

Very true. Plus: 5. Instrument. 6. Player. 7. Gain Structure. 8. Mixing. 9. The Song. 10. Mastering

[@volanterodas]

i own a scarlet 2i2 2generation for some years now and im very happy with it, this little thing is fantastic. im biding on a Universal Audio Volt 276 USB Audio Interface on ebay but reading some comments not sure if i bid again.

[@EdThorne]

Definitely get the Volt!

[@volanterodas]

@@EdThorne the amps are quite similar volt headphone better it seems but i got midi 2x2 from creative that is really nice and i was thinking for Scarlett 3rd generation sometime already but the volt got so much nice reviews ehhhh. we addicts to guitars to software daws plug ins and anything in between etc...

[@rolo8436]

I have been very happy with my behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD which cost half as much money as these 2 and so quiet and much better than the Presonas Firestudio which I had before - it was very noisy

[@mikerammel8731]

The focusrite solo third gen, is awesome I love it.

[@dougkidder9069]

Great Video Ed 😃

[@EdThorne]

Thanks, Doug! 😊🙏

[@Rowe4900candymachine]

Another bonus is if the volt's cable breaks you can actually find usb-c cables easily. edit:Nevermind I was thinking about an older version of it.

[@adainjarrio]

They're both USB-C though.

[@Rowe4900candymachine]

@@adainjarrio I was thinking about the older version I own thanks for pointing that out.

[@simonkormendy849]

I've bought two Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 usb audio interfaces, both of them caused me problems and one of them, a generation 2, actually stopped working, I've actually bought three Focusrite audio interfaces, two 2i2s and a Saffire Pro 40, all three of them caused me technical problems.

[@doremind1]

i bought the Steinberg one...perfect.

[@CaptainPlanetMoo]

Respectfully. The Scarlett will not provide enough clean gain for suitable recording levels on the Shure Sm7b. The next Gen Clarett lineup doesn’t even provide enough clean gain. In comparison the UA products from the Volt to the Apollo series will provide enough clean gain without the use of a cloud lifter And no “learn how to project” is not a valid response.

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

You skipped over the included software pretty quick. I would guess that with other factors being so close that would be a significant factor.

[@EdThorne]

I did, I’m sorry. There was so much to cover already, these videos can get very long if I dive into micro-nuances.

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

@@EdThorne I understand. Although included plug ins won't be a nuance for me. As I am currently using Logic Pro and own no vsts. I am in the market for a better audio interface. And if I can get some great compressors an eqs into the bargain that will be significant.

[@caiocarvalhotube442]

Between Volt and Minifuse (Minifuse being cheaper) wich one do you recomend for a mixing and mastering work/>?

[@EdThorne]

Hi there. I haven’t tried the Arturia interface so I can’t reliably comment. What I would say if you’re looking at mastering is get a device with the best converters you can afford. The Focusrite Clarett+ or Apollo Twin Xs have great converters.

[@trentfranks4507]

I feel like the volt having midi capabilities also is a solid for it. The new Scarlett 2i2 does not.

[@tonezou3918]

Does the Volt come with a DC adapter? I'm asking, because I'm using my Focusrite on a USB hub and it makes issues sometimes, because the Focusrite is only USB powered, while I noticed the Volt has a DC input. Can the Volt be USB powered only, without external DC adapter?

[@EdThorne]

Yes, it comes with a power supply so you can use the USB-C port to connect to an iPad/phone for iOS recording. It is also bud powered via the USB-C port if needed.

[@tonezou3918]

@@EdThorne But I guess I can use the power adapter on PC as well?

[@Imjonbell]

I was a sucker and clicked on this video haha. Thanks mate.

[@EdThorne]

So did 200k other people 😜 Hopefully it was helpful🤘

[@Imjonbell]

@@EdThorne absolutely. Learned a lot.

[@TuMalditaMadre]

The monitor outs on the Volt interfaces are also CV gates.

[@JuancarLord]

I still can't find a youtuber that compares the DI input on these interfaces

[@MikaelKonradsson]

I bought a Scarlett 2i4 First gen back when I wanted to get into making music maybe 6-7 years ago, but I have not really started yet since other life stuff got in the way. Now I feel very excited and motivated to finally learn about music production et.c. In todays standards, does my old 2i4 1st gen "hold up" to todays interfaces or do I need to upgrade to something like these ones? Its obviously for budget home studio use and mostly used to record D.I guitars+bass and some vocals I suppose.

[@EdThorne]

You probably wouldn’t notice a difference. The converters are slightly better on these newer models but you’d be hard pushed to hear it. Good luck with your new music journey.

[@MikaelKonradsson]

@@EdThorne Thank you so much for your reply! I really appreciate it :)

[@alienz1494]

I've heard some people had problems with the volt 2 glitching/popping/cracking. Is this a common problem? I'm considering to buy one, but it's holding me back.

[@EdThorne]

The likely cause for this is A) PC drivers, and/or B) un-synced sample rates between computer and device (again, usually only on PCs). I’ve not had a problem on my MAC.

[@MervinRijo]

Air mode on on Focusrite introduce Hamonics minor but present alongside EQ curve..

[@campar1043]

I bought the volt and previously had the twin x, the preamps are virtually on par

[@johndivy]

Both links to Volt2 (Sweetwater and Thomann) link to the Volt276 rather than Volt2, just heads-up

[@EdThorne]

My apologies. I shall amend. Thanks for the comment.

[@luciano.armani]

ive found the scarlett to work great on mac but be HORRIBLE on windows. all sorts of artifacts and bs. i wonder how the UA is regarding that.

[@Underhills]

So, what's best for voice over work of these two?

[@EdThorne]

Whichever one sounds better to you. I prefer Vintage mode over Air mode for voice overs.

[@Underhills]

@@EdThorne Agree. Too bad it only has USB-C and not USB-2. Just discovered it. I can't afford a new PC and don't wanna mess around with cable format converters. Seems impracticable and potentially degrading to audio quality.

[@Христосович-ц1ф]

What is better for an electric guitar recording?

[@BlakeMlungisi]

Hi. I think you mistakenly sais iOS instead of macOS. There are devices supported on iOS and that can be quite confusing.

[@EdThorne]

Volt is supported on iOS iPhones and iPads 👌

[@nekolivegaming]

9:37 i have the scarlet solo myself, and it can power the SM7B somewhat fine, but ur running the gain pretty much maxed out. so i would add as i have done, i have an Gear4Music just basic MB1 cloudlifter/ Mic Booster, on the line so instead of having my gain maxed out im running it about 25 to 50 % gain instead of like 95%, their like 25 bucks and suprisingly they work very well for their price and fyi, I mainly use it for voice recordings for gameplay, so i dont excatly shout into this thing, but if ur screaming like some death metal or something u 'll probly get away without an cloud lifter

[@LarsBohr5]

I like that the Volt has s power switch.

[@andynonimuss6298]

If you are Windows user though... the drivers are a concern since Universal has had so many driver issues in Windows.

[@bisaillion]

They're the same. They both sound the same. The difference seems to be with the Air - Vintage modes. Something about the Vintage made me think of LedZep III. Maybe it's the term vintage that brought me there but there you go

[@Gratomiccom]

I need high loudness What sound card do you suggest for very high loudness?? I do not need sound card for record!! And I mostly need a sound card that is good for mixing and mastering Especially for loudness Please guide me to buy a suitable sound card thank you❤❤

[@EdThorne]

For mastering you probably want the best conversion possible. Loudness isn’t really an issue, all interfaces have loud line-outputs. It’s the dynamic range of the converters that’s important. The Black Lion Audio Revolution and Antelope Zen series have great converters. Or go for a specialist DAC unit.

[@Gratomiccom]

@@EdThorne thank you Now I know what to look for Thank you so much

[@poinguan]

Sorry if my question is a bit silly as I'm new to these stuff. How do I test if my computer audio output is clipping before fed to the speakers? Is there a way to test it?

[@EdThorne]

If you’re on a Mac you can view the output display in Preferences/Sound.

[@poinguan]

@@EdThorne I'm on Windows.

[@AT-wl9yq]

The first thing you have to do is look at all the "volume" controls in the signal chain and determine which ones are really volume controls, and which ones are gain controls. Volume controls are on output side of a component and gain controls are on the inputs. Once you have that figured out, any problems you have with regards to distortion/clipping have to be dealt with using the gain controls. Volume controls can't distort the signal, only gains can. Reduce gain until the distortion/clipping goes away, then use volume controls to achieve the desired loudness.

[@johnwinslow8841]

does the volt 1 have the same preamps as the volt 2?

[@EdThorne]

Yes. And the Volt 276, 4, 476, 476p… the whole range is identical.

[@godsinbox]

the red ones are everywhere on the second hand market. I saw a stack of them holding up a car with its tyres stolen. must mean something, right?

[@EdThorne]

🤣