All user reviews for the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

The 2i2 features 2 XLR-TRS combo inputs with independent volume knobs that have an LED ring around them to indicate levels. These inputs can be switched between line and instrument levels independently of each other. There’s a 48v button for microphones that require phantom power. There are 2 ¼” TS outputs on the back for your monitors. You can enable direct monitoring via a switch on the front and control the overall output of the audio interface via the monitor knob. There’s also a headphone output with an independent volume knob. The interface is bus-powered and connects to your computer from one USB port on the back. The one downside to the unit is that it doesn’t have a MIDI input/output which some audio interfaces in this price range do have.


UTILIZATION

I've been using the 2i2 for 2 years with Renoise, Maschine, and REAPER on both a Windows 7 and 8 64-bit system using an Intel i5 2500k @ 4.5ghz. It's possible to get the latency under 10ms round trip, however, I ran into driver instability when trying to go lower than that where the driver would sporadically crash and cause lots of distortion and slowed down audio. Outside of that, absolutely no driver problems or latency when recording instruments.

GETTING STARTED

It’s a pretty simple interface and very straight forward to use. Very clearly labeled knobs and switches for all of the functions. The software for controlling the interface is a one function affair--changing the buffer length. All other functions like changing the sample rate and bit depth are done through the Windows Control Panel.


OVERALL OPINION

It’s a fairly low-noise unit, I’ve mostly used it for recording guitars or synths directly and I have no real complaints there. The headphone output is not bad even with high impedance headphones like my 250 ohm Beyerdynamic DT880s. There’s not a ton of gain and I need to set it about half way on the headphone volume knob to get to my preferred listening level, but it does drive them okay and the DAC is very good. It would certainly drive lower impedance headphones satisfactorily.

It’s a great interface for someone who doesn’t need a lot of inputs, outputs, or advanced DSP features. Although the lack of a MIDI in/out is a bit of a bummer, if you just need to record one or two instruments or if you need an interface for your mobile production setup, this is definitely something to consider.

Pros:
+ Great Price
+ Portable
+ Clear sound
+ Good monitoring features

Cons:
- No MIDI I/O

there knowing absolutely nothing of the mao I look into the opinions of some of my relatives who themselves are well wedged in millieux, and this interface as do almost unanimously have recommended it to me x times so I bet on trust ... and I was right .. especially as it is given.
is minimally equipped (yet) mao level, I plug my head of Blackstar amp HT20 its output out, I read them directly to the sound card, and nothing that I have a more than satisfactory sound! I also use it with a microphone and even the two simultanéement quality is in no way altered the ball .. what.
I use it mainly to record my riffs or compo, I also used to PSUs quality of my videos (ie micro + guitar)

UTILIZATION

the driver has nothing to say but does it work knowing there was nothing that stuff I just prefer to say that everything works without niqeul hooked.
I use reaper and audacity in sequencer.
the sound card has two independently adjustable inputs, left able to be extremely strong while the right will be very low, with the system "halo" that measures the intensity of the gain (gain is pushed when the knob turns red is that yen have too so it faudras rebaisser to iron in green) all become extremely intuitive and easy to use.
NO latency

GETTING STARTED

for instalation I dl a driver because I do not see ais in the box .. maybe I'm next to go against .. by Ableton is provided with (and is frighteningly complicated to use ..) is a ous for instaler, chopper must be a code entered on the site of the galley Focusrite etc ...
the manual is really THE downside of the beast .. the sound card is certainly easy to use, so the manual is quite fin..tellement end he do that 3pages (LAMINATED) AND in English! so if we mess this faudras English look a little on the beast .. an example of AC, a phantom power system is available, in addition to what we can know what is in what can he serve? if not draw in the instructions we'll never know and if you do not speak English ca quickly become crap! and phantom power system is a system for powered static microphones, besides then activated with a dynamic microphone plug can screw up the latter, and the record is the burn ..

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for quite a few and I think I go around, although he heard me time to faudras well used, but I ais level functionality in popoche (or so) I know what corresponds to what Button function etc. ..
I try ais little but I had many opinions.
what I like most about this sound card, it's already easy to use, it is elegant, cheap and excellent quality just for what I like least I would say the manual and ableton ..
value for money it's a scam .. seriously do this Focusrite realize they LOSE money ?? !! a beast that gives Pariel ca not !! biensur we did not plaindras
with the experience I think so, but I did not yet know enough to make me a real opinion about it, expect to be more equipped to be fixed ^^

There is a year I was looking for a sound card really cheap on Ebay and I came across the bundle of this soundcard with a microphone and headphones CM25. I look at other models of the other company, at that price with what came with my choice was already made!
I use it for a year and it's perfect for me, I never saw any default.

UTILIZATION

I use Cubase 5 and the only problem I encountered is the latency, but playing in Cubase I found a way to reduce it.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is simple ULTRA, some stuff to install and that's it!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a year and I repeat .. but this is perfect for me! To get the max I bought monitors M-Audio AV-40 and a midi keyboard Behringer UMX490 and now my home studio is complete. I used the microphone CM25 few times, but I prefer the sound of the Shure SM58 and the headphones are always useful for touching me some details of a mix or mastering. If want to see what sort of wonder you can do with this sound card, here's one:

I have not tried other models, but with this one, I do not need to look elsewhere.

USB powered
Red aluminum housing, which looks very nice and solid
The plastic buttons do not seem very sturdy (especially the inst/line switches)
2 line/instrument inputs on the front panel
Master output
I use it at home to record guitar/bass
The preamps have received several awards

UTILIZATION

I use it on a Mac (OSX 10.9) and have no stability issues
With Live, the latency is around 14ms at 256 samples, which is slightly perceptible
Further down I explain the problems I've had with this card.

GETTING STARTED

Almost plug & play installation
Easy setup, no incompatibilities found, the manual is very basic.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it around 6 months before changing it
From the start it was impossible to record without the clipping LED turning on, even with the gain at 0. I was forced to toggle to "Line" mode and bypass the preamps, which seemed to be of very bad quality. I had this problem both with active and passive instruments.

I returned it right away and the store where I bought it gave me another one (the same model). When I got home, I plugged it and had a constant buzz when I armed the track to record. And yet I can see lots of home-studios where they use this soundcard (Misha Mansoor of Periphery, for example).

I returned it again and bought a Steinberg UR44, which is twice as expensive, but much more reliable.

For the price, it's surely a good soundcard, it was my first card of this type, and I was disappointed. I wouldn't choose it again.

It was a bit thanks to AF that I bought it
I use it to record (with the two inputs) my sweetie on the piano, as well as piano/flute piano cello

I have a compacq 6710b. It's not a last-generation computer, but it's good enough for me.
I have 80 GB dedicated to recording

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable
The scarlett comes with ableton live 8
When you install the scarlett have it updated on the website
We record at least 8 tracks
Latency is pretty low
You need to adjust the audio right from the start, so read the software's documentation
(it took me several days to understand how it works)

GETTING STARTED

Hassle-free installation with the CD
But, just in case, copy the CD to your computer (I threw mine away my mistake)
You have to set up the audio, but there's a step-by-step guide
Go look for ASIO online and install it, then choose scarlett in the audio options
Once you install ableton you'll need to pay good attention to the included manual

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for two months now.
Easy to use
It's my first digital experience. I have a revox B77 and a yamaha MG124C mixing console
It's a good value for money (i paid $160 at my local store)
The scarlett is all right to record two mics

But I will have to go up to a higher quality level to record classical trios and quartets

The main motivation was the USB power, I said yes it will be great I could save anywhere my bass guitar or percussion but in fact I have never had the opportunity to do that. I'm never out in the street with my MBP and my sound card to make recordings. So after reflections it was not as great idea.
But if that's enough for you go the DI is not bad and not terrible but enough preamps. By against low output.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are super stable, it is almost plug and play I think. Plugs except I failed to install or authoriser. Use with Protools, Logic and Live.

GETTING STARTED

Yes no problem.
Very very simple, too.

OVERALL OPINION

I sold too few inputs and outputs for me actually. I do a bit and thought I could DJ mixer by using it but the Phones output is just the same as the Master Out so blah. Good value for money.
Not the same choice.

For use at home on a laptop not very powerful, in Reaper.
Compact, USB-powered, nice design, double entries combo XLR / jack.
The big volume knob plastic is convenient.

UTILIZATION

Map ultra stable.
No noticeable latency in Reaper 512 samples.
I did not count the maximum number of tracks playing but recording no worries (2 tracks 44.1 is nothing to USB 2.0).
The preamps are OK for the price.
This is transparent to a certain extent.

GETTING STARTED

It should download the latest drivers on the Focusrite website.
Installation ok.

OVERALL OPINION

Since I sold it but I regret it because for the price and if you do not need more than 2 inputs and 2 outputs, there is no better in its price range.
In addition she is pretty!
I highly recommend.

I bought this card because its USB I needed a mobile audio interface efficient, and simple just have two mic inputs.
If we focus on the functions of the interface:
The system-perfect leds
Perfect-Knobs
Plugin provides very interesting.
Very very very decent sound quality-

UTILIZATION

Perfect Ableton and FL

GETTING STARTED

No problem on W 7

OVERALL OPINION

In summary for my use, it suits me perfectly, but of course, if we add some more tickets, we can have a better quality audio interface. To do this, it will try to use the interface suffer.

2 I / O
iMac

UTILIZATION

Reason 7.

GETTING STARTED

RAS

OVERALL OPINION

I could use this card a few days. Perfect to install and use but from the outset we feel that the material is fragile, both in the metal structure as buttons. I quickly got a small electric whistling very annoying. Back to SAV.
I receive a second card. Unpacking I have an audio output that cracks as soon as I touch the volume. Back at Thomann. How can we sell equipment also ended badly. I need "of a sound card soon I found myself with nothing. This card to rip the small southern homes like me. Focusrite despise this part of the market with this product so a brand that I highly recommend and I boycotterais now.

Price was one of my motivations for easy use and also brand that has very good reputation

UTILIZATION

no drivers problemes.je am CABASE 5 with track by piste.par against direct monitoring there was a bit of lag even with the settings a little worried about me fond.donc

GETTING STARTED

very simple installation on windows 7 no problem

OVERALL OPINION

I have it sold because I have a pod hd me suiffe.au sound level converters are very good for its price and the card is very stable.pour me apart latency direct monitoring c is a very good card for small home studio.

I went for it due to its value for money
Excellent preamps, level indicators and phantom power
I make pop music
Vocals, folk guitars and percussion, captured with an Apex 435 mic
The electric guitars I plug directly into the 2i2
With a good plug-in (Simulanalog Guitarsuite) there's no need for an amp!

UTILIZATION

I use Reaper on a PC, the Apex 435 mic, a Tannoy Reveal 501a set and Addictive Drums

GETTING STARTED

No issues whatsoever under windows 7

OVERALL OPINION

I recorded a 12-track album with it
You can listen to 4 of the tracks here:
https://docvinegar.bandcamp.com/

see on the site.
https://global.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i2
on paper ... exceptional
use for processing sound and music

UTILIZATION

very simple, so simple that it does not work properly at all, just by the time andwithout reasons ... and then without any change, just wait a little ... and the galley again ...
in reality this interface is not compatible with the Mac system.

I tried it on Windows 7 it seems to work better

GETTING STARTED

very simple to implement, too simple also because it is impossible to make it work properly with an iMac 27 "i7 3.4 Ghz 16MB! OS 10.8.5

probably a problem with USB3 drivers or Core Audio or flagrant incompatibility with Mac and still I am not passed under the new Maverik 10.9 Mac system probably even less compatible.

OVERALL OPINION

it's been a week that I always down with the inability to record without crunches or electrical noise from Amadeus, Cubase, and any soft internet.
Apple iTunes only seems to overcome these problems with only CD files.

In short, I got screwed.

Recommended by one of musicos I play with me to record or save a "home" demo. I use it directly connected to my Mac 2.7ghz 8gb ram -> plug and play: when connected, it works. I use Ableton Live Lite. Jack or XLR cables to choose from. Steel case (it inspires confidence).

UTILIZATION

Stable drivers used with Ableton Live Lite, and Logic Studio. The sound card records in two direct tracks or one track selection (stereo or mono). I can not give more memory latency but it is more than reasonable ...

GETTING STARTED

Installing plug and play, very easy to adjust, all just works ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few months and I have no complaints. I took a board and I'm very happy. It is easy to use, it looks solid and everything works now. I would do this choice without hesitation (although the version with more inputs would be even better but I have a really?). Price / quality: excellent.