Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First, 18i20-8 Mic Pres (AMS-SCARLETT-18I20-2ND-GE)

I am very pleased with this audio interface. Sound quality is superb and its appearance is visually stylish. Internal routing from the inputs to outputs is very flexible and powerful and is managed via the software Focusrite Control. A number of presets are provided to help get you started. The 6i6 2nd Generation software Focusrite Control is much simpler to use than the Generation 1 Scarlett MixControl software.The device comes with lots of free audio software, including a limited version of Ableton Live and Pro Tools.Latency (the time delay between pressing a keyboard key and hearing the sound in the computer monitors) is very low when using this device. This makes recording a second track in a DAW while monitoring an already recorded first track much easier.Drivers are available for Windows 7/8/10 and MacOS. it also works in Linux: while Focusrite does not provide drivers for Linux, the 6i6 interface is class compliant and the Linux kernels have built in support for it so that it "just works" at first boot up. I managed to get it working successfully with Ubuntu Studio 18.04 and its Ubuntu Studio Controls software.I have so far not found a Linux replacement for the Focusrite Control software. The workaround is to set up the desired internal routing in Windows or Mac. The device then "remembers" these settings and they are retained when the device is subsequently connected to a Linux computer. I found that using the device's default internal routing settings works fine for recording in my DAW.I hope in the future that Focusrite will cooperate more with the Linux community to provide a version of Focusrite Control for this platform so that this workaround is not necessary. People should be allowed to choose their own platform.Focusrite has excellent and very professional tech support: the website for example has a chat app that enables you to talk directly with tech support staff.I highly recommend this audio interface.

This is a very well made product that seems a lot more expensive than it actually is.I purchased this device for myself for Christmas. It's been a while since I've dabbled in music creation.Currently, I'm using this device with the following.Edirol PCR 500 connected via Midi.Electric Guitar my friend gave me ages ago connected via jack plug as an instrument.Cheapo BM800 XLR microphone connected via XLR cable.Drivers & Software.I'm running the Ableton Live Lite that was provided free with the product. Registering this software requires signing up for various accounts (Ableton, Focusrite) and registering the Focusrite serial numbers and a code included in the box, and then you're provided with a serial number. Some of the software (TubeAmp, for example) required some kind of licensing management software with yet another third party. However, this isn't any fault of Focusrite, they cannot be held responsible for third parties way of doing things.Along with Ableton, I'm running GuitarRig5 and the Korg Legacy Pack as VST Plugins. I did notice some glitches, pops and dropouts when using GuitarRig5 (Standalone) with Korg Legacy Pack running through the Focusrite ASIO drivers. Changing the sound buffer on the audio driver did nothing to alleviate these glitches. As it turned out the issue was running 32bit VSTs at the same time as running 64bit VSTs. Unfortunately, the Korg Legacy pack only has 32bit VSTs. And by default Ableton Lite provides you with the 64bit version. Once I had downloaded the 32bit version, I was able to run the Korg Legacy Pack from within Ableton, alongside the 32bit version of GuitarRig 5. At that point, the glitches and pops and dropouts disappeared. If you intended to run this device on Windows 10 AND use 32bit AND 64bit you will get audio glitches with the current Focusrite drivers. If you run this device on Windows 10 AND keep to either 64 OR 32bit audio software you can set the latency really low and not get ANY glitches. I'm not taking off a star for this because it works perfectly with all 32 bit OR all 64 bit software, and I can't say for sure if this issue is down to Focusrite or an underlying issue with Window 10 itself. Something you need to be aware of though.The Noise Floor on this devices is fantastic for the price. I recommend using a dedicated USB socket, preferably on the rear panel of the PC (desktop) rather than a Hub (Desktop/Laptop) so you enable the shortest path (better for lowering latency) and reducing noise/interference.Microphone Input.Using an XLR mic with an XLR cable allows for a noise-free experience. I was amazed at the quality of the BM-800. This is a cheap Chinese Microphone that goes toe to toe with the Rhode NT1a. The BM800 requires Phantom power to operate fully, the Focusrite deftly provided a sold 48v phantom power to the Mic, and it worked perfectly. There is some noise and background hum if you turn the gain up above 80% on the mic input. It's very slight. And I believe it's from the Mic itself (It is a £20 mic after all), but you wouldn't run an xlr condenser mic with 48V phantom power above 70% in all honesty, you'd just run into distortion and clipping as soon as any input occurred. I have this Mic set at 40% and that's plenty. At this level it's perfectly silent. Very impressed.Instrument Input. (Electric Guitar)Each input on the focusrite has the ability to either accept XLR input or Standard Line in Jack. There is a switch that enables/disables the preamp for instruments that require them. Line would be for powered devices like a synth or a guitar that's run through an external amp, or any other kind of line input. "instrument" is for devices such as an electric guitar that's plugged directly into the focusrite. The preamps are perfectly acceptable in this price range. There are better preamps, but obviously, you need to pay for that quality. You can always change over to Line if you wish to go down this route.I was getting a great clean signal into Guitar Rig5, with no latency. Or at least none that I could really notice. Of course, this depends entirely on your PC. With a good quality PC you will not get any latency issues. Which is imperative if you want to play electric guitar via any kind of software AMP. I did notice some serious feedback when using this guitar on certain presets on Guitar Rig 5. But this I believe is down to the shielding on the guitar itself rather than any issue with the focusrite. (If I sat too near my keyboard (Corsaire K95) I got feedback).MIDI device.I had an old Edirol PCR500 knocking around for ages (I''m a bit of a hoarder of old electronics). This isn't compatible with Windows 10 (No drivers). So I rigged up some MIDI cables and changed the system settings on the PCR. Ableton instantly picked up the Midi from the Focusrite.With regards to latency, there is no noticeable latency using the instruments in Ableton or any of the Korg legacy pack either standalone or via VST (just remember to keep it all 32/64 bit, and not mix the two). Latency was my number one concern, but thankfully I neednt have worried. Once again I am left very impressed.Overall.A splendid device with a low noise floor, decent 48V phantom power for XLR microphones, competent instrument pre amps, zero latency (or as good as) midi. Very well built with no obvious manufacturing issues (at least on my device). I'm very impressed with this device given the price it's being offered at. For sure, there are better devices out there. But for me to even consider them I'd need a professional sound booth, and once were going down that route then the cost rises considerably and is outside the scope of who this device is actually targeted at.This is a great device for a band just starting out. Anyone learning or getting into producing music. Hobbyists such as myself who want clean Semi-professional recording at bargain basement prices. It's also a PERFECT device to carry to places. It really is a good device that you can spend 10 times as much and get pretty much the same sound quality.I'm running a MIDI keyboard, electric guitar AND an XLR microphone into this device and it handles it wonderfully with aplomb. Highly recommended from me.

Fantastic high quality interface, I had a driver installation issue but was sorted out very quickly with help from Focusrite online support. It is a solidly build box with very good sound quality for this price. Very very good value for money. If your budget is low for a recording interface buy this over anything else. I used to have a presonus when it worked it was great however had nothing but software issues with it. This is a much more reliable option. No big pops or squeaks on power on and off, nice loud and clear headphone output, nice loud and clean monitor output. Good gain on preamps very clean and detailed recordings. I have used better sounding interfaces but they have cost five times more. I use it for voice over work and mastering and its given very high quality recordings that I have used professionally. If you just record tracks individually and don't need to recorded many tracks at once this is perfect.To some up if your recording signal is through a high quality mic and you use professional recording software like Cubase or Logic then you will not be disappointed at this price point. I have also had great results with Reason aswell.Worth every penny :)