Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

[mili9152]

Just came out...looks sweet too. Could be a great alternative to the Saffire 6 (for those only recording DI guitars/bass). Does not have a pad switch, but I read the Saffire 6's pad didn't prevent clipping anyways.

Only $150! Also, has USB 2.0, which might not be necessary, but can't hurt, right?

Opinions? First impressions?

Thinking about finally upgrading my crappy M-audio fast track when I return to the States this month.

 

[deLuther]

From specifications of instrument input: "Max Input Level -3dBu"
http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio_interfaces/scarlett_2i2/specifications/
It`s some kind of joke?!
What pickups have such small level, some singles?
Much worse than Saffire 6 (+7 dbu).

 

[RevoltStudios]

Just got one and it took me one song to notice it plain sucks. I had a Saffire Pro 10Io before and went smaller for money's sake. The 2i2 was a downgrade. Very cloudy and no punch anymore. I'm probaby gonna return it and try something else. Really not good.

 

[mili9152]

Wow, good to know. Thanks for the replies guys.

Honestly, I was mostly drawn in by the compact size and light weight as I work international and am never home. Looks like I might end up getting a Saffire 6 instead - I'll try to do more research though.

 

[Ze4th0x]

Hmm..I tried it from one of my friends that got one for his band and it didn't sound too far off from when I record with firepod.

http://ubuntuone.com/2RpwJR2zfrXPy8kw1jvxRt
http://ubuntuone.com/7ee8iZ6PWWKMa7znssBUyH

First Clip: Some LePou plugin
Second Clip: Pod Farm 2

Both have no eq or processing so the bottom end does muddy up the guitars a bit.

EDIT: Just noticed that there is some clipping though...But it wasn't the DI. the Guitar DI reached only to -4db at most. Maybe one of the plugins is causing it.

 

[Trevoire520]

Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 I've got pisses me off with it's lack of a pad on the instrument input. If it weren't for that then I'd be perfectly happy with it. Thinking about selling it and getting a Mackie Onyx Blackjack instead but I really liked having the extra ins and outs on the Saffire

 

[AD Chaos]

Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 I've got pisses me off with it's lack of a pad on the instrument input

Why so, guitars clipping much?

 

[viralz]

I bought the scarlett 8i6 a few weeks ago and the guitar input clips like a mofo. I had to turn down the volume pot of my guitar almost to zero to avoid clipping. I returned it to the store and got a Roland quad-capture instead. Really glad I did

 

[kylendm]

Just got a Pro24. Awesomeness to say the least. No problems at all!

 

[Ze4th0x]

I don't mind turning mine down to zero, at least I remember the level for my particular pick up, and a DI box would fix clipping with the pad. Besides imo guitar tracking should consist of a DI box with a pad anyways.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25341547/misc/Such Simple Wordsguitar.mp3
I got a better, non-clipping tone out of the scarlett 2i2. Turned down to zero on Instrument channel w/o a DI box.

i have to admit, at first 2i2 was crap to me, but the more I tweaked with it, I kind of want to buy it for myself.

 

[Trevoire520]

Why so, guitars clipping much?

Yeah, depends on the guitar as some of the lower output ones are ok, but my EMG's (18v modded) clip it, and I think my passive Barknuckles might aswell.

I don't mind turning mine down to zero, at least I remember the level for my particular pick up, and a DI box would fix clipping with the pad. Besides imo guitar tracking should consist of a DI box with a pad anyways.

The problem being that most DI boxes change impedance when you engage the pad. My BSS for example has an impedance of 1 Mohm, but if you engage the 20db pad it goes down to 47 Kohm.

 

[AllanD]

http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio_interfaces/scarlett_18i6/


That would have been PERFECT for tracking/expanding it with my Saffire40 if it wasn't FUCKING USB.

 

[Ze4th0x]

what's bad about usb? It's faster than firewire.

 

[Trevoire520]

Technically yes, but USB works differently to Firewire in that USB collects and sends packets of data in bursts, whereas Firewire is constantly streaming. So while USB is better from a speed point of view (i.e. for transferring files) Firewire tends to be better for audio recording.

At least that's how I understand it. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Torniojaws]

Not to mention USB uses more CPU the more USB items you use (I'm not sure if it also increases with data transferred...) making USB use a whole lot of CPU time (tens of percents), but Firewire is always around 1 % CPU time, more or less.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

Technically yes, but USB works differently to Firewire in that USB collects and sends packets of data in bursts, whereas Firewire is constantly streaming. So while USB is better from a speed point of view (i.e. for transferring files) Firewire tends to be better for audio recording.

At least that's how I understand it. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

nah speed is still better for firewire either for audio or data transfer in studio situations.
USB can't be chained like firewire devices. That's a big negative IMO.

USB2 has been around for a really long time but only recently companies started using it for interfaces. Probably the cost of development finally went down.
USB doesn't have the chipset problems that firewire does. So companies have less to troubleshoot and its more compatible with inexpensive computers.
Both USB and Firewire devices are suceptible to IRQ conflicts (audio doesn't work if wifi or printer connected etc) (on PC anyway)

 

[AD Chaos]

Actually, USB3 has been around for some time now..

 

[Ze4th0x]

I can see how that makes sense.

Yeah, depends on the guitar as some of the lower output ones are ok, but my EMG's (18v modded) clip it, and I think my passive Barknuckles might aswell.



The problem being that most DI boxes change impedance when you engage the pad. My BSS for example has an impedance of 1 Mohm, but if you engage the 20db pad it goes down to 47 Kohm.

Just curious, does this occur more in active or passive DI boxes?

 

[Trevoire520]

Not sure to be honest with you man. The BSS and MTR's I have both do it (though I'm not sure of the numbers on the MTR)

 

[AD Chaos]

what's bad about usb? It's faster than firewire.

From Wikipedia:

FireWire uses all SCSI capabilities and has high sustained data transfer rates, important for audio and video editors. Benchmarks show that the sustained data transfer rates are higher for FireWire than for USB 2.0, but lower than USB 3.0