The USB type is a major difference between the 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen. With that cleared up, let’s get onto the new range. Another performance difference between 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen Scarlett Solo and 2i2 is the Air mode. Both interfaces are engineered such that if you’re monitoring via headphones, you hear your inputs with zero latency. text-align:center; All interfaces are fitted with the same, high-quality converters that can route up to 24-bit/192 kHz audio to your DAW. Tools and addons: With these audio interfaces, you get more than just an external soundcard and preamp. Note that the 3rd gen 2i2 now uses USB-C. The main features that have improved are on the physical aspect of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2  and the most obvious ones too. Focusrite Interface Comparison | Scarlett 3rd Gen, compared the 2nd and 3rd generations of the Scarlett range, The Scarlett interfaces all have a consistent look and feel, excluding the, While the other interfaces have Scarlett’s recognizable red finish on the top, bottom, and side panels, the 18i20 is black all over. Then plug these interfaces with USB to your pc or MAC. At the end of the day, it comes down to what works for you. Every interface also offers Air mode on at least 1 input. 2i2 on the other hand, allows you to record from both channels at once. The green light for channel 1 and red for channel 2. You get a maximum sample rate of 192kHz at 24-bit quality. display:inline-block; Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) USB Audio... Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen) USB Audio... HyperX QuadCast vs. Razer Seiren X: No Brainer Choice, 5 Best Microphones for YouTube Gaming in 2020, Clocks (Coldplay) – Easy Piano Notes With Letters, The Scientist (Coldplay) – Easy Piano Notes With Letters, Into The Unknown (Idina Menzel and Aurora) – Easy Piano Notes With Letters. Let me answer all these questions in this article. It works well for years which generation version. ul.eci-related-products .eci-product-image img{ The Solo and the 2i2 interfaces do not have a MIDI input/output. To complete our Focusrite interface comparison, we have added the key specs for each interface to the table below. Both Scarlett Solo and 2i2 can supply up to 48V phantom power. (I know the G2 has 24/192 capabilities over the G1's 24/96, but that's it) I have the Focusrite Scarlett Studio Bundle (which comes with the Gen 1 interface, mic and headphones) and I'm not sure as to whether or not I should upgrade to the Gen 2 model. They are ¼ inch jack ports. So upgrade if you need the two extra inputs. So Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $160 PreSonus Studio 24c, as seen on the chart below. Also, you can use any of the two inputs for either voice or instrument. The consistent quality means that Focusrite has an interface that will satisfy any artist, without forcing them to pay for features they don’t need. Offering a whopping 18 inputs and 20 outputs, it’s twice as wide and heavy as the, . height:auto; @media screen and (max-width: 768px) { Note that Scarlett 2i2 is a USB 2.0 device, and thus the USB connection requires a USB 2.0+ compliant port on your computer. Contact: bmitchell@focuscamera.com. When I first got it, I plugged it into my desktop, and when I pushed the phantom power source to test my microphone, my PC would give me a dreaded blue screen. All six interfaces offer a sleek build, high headroom instrument inputs, Air mode, and powerful 24-bit/192kHz AD-DA converters. For producers, even if you’re a beginner, it’s better to go for Scarlett 2i2. Therefore, this should be your main consideration when deciding which Scarlett interface is right for you. Dear Gearslutz, How does the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Generation 2 audio interface fare when compared to the Generation 1? Focusrite says that the 3rd generation Scarlett interfaces are characterized by high gain values and low noise. Headphones are great, the interface includes phantom power for condenser mics and the mic itself produces great audio. You can easily recognize it by the guitar sign that’s right above the port. Gen mic preamp is the best Scarlett has ever created. The microphone preamps come with 48V phantom power. As the name indicates, the Solo interface is best suited to a vocalist or musician who only ever plans to record a single input. While both interfaces are low latency devices, the 3rd Gen versions will do better, since they transfer data faster via their USB-C ports. While the other interfaces have Scarlett’s recognizable red finish on the top, bottom, and side panels, the 18i20 is black all over. With USB-C, you have lower latency because the information travels faster from your computer to the audio interface. font-weight:bold; So Focusrite Scarlett 4i4, while being a pricier option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $160 Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen, as seen on the chart below. Solo also has two outputs: left and right. Dedicated to helping the next generation of artists achieve their creative goals, we're a photo and imaging retailer from Brooklyn, NY. I use it still on a spare computer but am glad to have upgraded to the 3rd gen. width:49%; ul.eci-related-products .eci-product-image span{ Scarlet Solo 1st gen vs. Last update on 2020-12-14 / Affiliate links / Updated prices and images from Amazon Product Advertising API. With these audio interfaces, you get more than just an external soundcard and preamp. } Fitted with a set of rack-mounting ears, the 18i20 is a studio-grade interface. If you’re an artist or songwriter who just wants a much better recording of your songs and ideas, Scarlett Solo will serve you well. The 3rd generation Scarlett range offers an impressive suite of features throughout all its interfaces. display: table; However, when we consider these two external soundcards: Are there any differences? } If you plan to connect your interface to a MIDI keyboard or sound module, you’ll need a Scarlett 4i4 or higher. Do you have anything to lose by choosing Scarlett Solo over 2i2? This means you can’t simply plug them into a power outlet. While you can technically record both inputs simultaneously on the Solo, they are summed in mono to your DAW. Copyright © 2020 SoundMaximum | Designed and Maintained by KreativeKraft Designs, Scarlett Solo vs 2i2: Let’s find the winner. If you are a home studio owner on a budget, the Scarlett Solo or 2i2 can be a good starting point for you. However, these interfaces will still require the software for firmware updates or to utilize their full functionality at sample rates higher than 48 kHz. You never know when you might need it. Today in this post we are going to review Scarlett Solo vs 2i2 and help you decide which one is best for your needs. By their own account, the Scarlett range has helped produce more records than any other range of interfaces in history. All other Scarlett interfaces have 2 combo microphone/instrument/line level XLR inputs. For this review I'm going to compare the 2nd generation Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface with the 1st gen 2i4 model, and list the differences between the 1st and 2nd gen Scarlett models in general. That’s where most of your mics go into. Asides the number of inputs, there’s not much difference between these two audio interfaces. Focusrite Scarlett Solo and Scarlett 2i2, in particular, are quite common among home studio owners. ul.eci-related-products li a{ I compared latency measures given on the Net for a 2i2 3rd gen with my 2i4 2nd gen. The biggest differences between the 2nd gen Scarlett 2i2 and the Rode AI-1 are: The 2i2 2nd gen uses a USB-B cable for output, while the AI-1 uses USB-C. If you’re getting this version, then be sure to have the correct cables. Another performance difference between 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen Scarlett Solo and 2i2 is the Air mode. } width:24.5%; They are designed to be powered through the USB port. If you have a Scarlett Solo/2i2/2i4 1st Gen & 2nd Gen or an iTrack Solo, download the latest version of the driver. width:100%; Depending on your I/O demand, there’s a Scarlett interface that’s right for you.ul.eci-related-products{ Each interface also features balanced, hum-free TRS outputs on the back panel that help protect from interference when connecting to a monitor or speakers. powered by the USB-C cable that’s used to connect to your computer. Air mode offers a high frequency boost that can enhance the quality of acoustic and vocal recordings. Moving up the range from the 2i2, the name of each interface indicates how many inputs and outputs it can simultaneously record. The sampling rate for both interfaces is 24-bit/192kHz. On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen is a more popular audio interface, based on its 9,000+ reviews. The Scarlett Solo, their smallest, most affordable interface, is the most unique in this regard. Despite being two of the cheapest audio interfaces today, both Solo and 2i2 give you top tier audio quality. Focusrite’s Scarlett USB interfaces combine excellent sonics and audio flexibility at an affordable price point, and the third generation units have just landed. It also works well with older computers. These lights come on when the gain level is getting close to the maximum. It’s also the only Scarlett interface with a talkback microphone, allowing you to speak to the artists using the interface through their headphones. 1. On the other hand, Scarlett 2i2 has two preamps. If you turn over your Scarlett unit, you should see a sticker containing a barcode on the base of the unit, below this will be a serial number, the prefix of your serial number will denote which generation Scarlett you own: The Focusrite software, Focusrite Control, is also included with each Scarlett interface, although it is primarily required for use with the larger Scarlett models (4i4 and up). 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