Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB Audio Interface

Robust 2 in, 4 out USB powered recording interface.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 is a robust 2 in / 4 out USB recording interface that combines affordability, cross-platform operation, a comprehensive feature set and the best audio performance in its class. It’s a perfect match for both the musician and the digital DJ – and it comes in an elegant, road-ready anodized aluminum unibody case.

Scarlett 2i4 is a great tool for any musician, with its two award-winning Focusrite microphone/line/instrument preamps accessed via universal front-panel XLR/TRS sockets, combined with professional 24-bit, 96kHz conversion, plus class-leading analogue and digital design from input to output to ensure pristine audio quality throughout the signal path.

With its 48V phantom power capability, Scarlett 2i4 is perfect for recording guitar, vocal, or even stereo piano, with high-quality condenser mics. You will love the direct monitoring mode, which removes the latencies associated with listening back to the input signal through the DAW. You can record into the DAW in real time, whilst hearing a zero latency monitor feed from their input sources, controlled by a single knob for easy blending between direct monitoring and DAW playback. In common with other interfaces in the Scarlett series, input level controls feature a novel LED “signal halo” around the knob that indicates signal presence (green) and input overload (red), while a large-diameter silver volume knob gives you full and accurate control over monitor levels at all times, so whether you are mixing your music, or listening back to the track, the levels will always be in your control.

Alongside the two Focusrite preamps are four RCA phono outputs, two of which are also available on balanced TRS sockets. These, coupled with the high-level headphone output and flexible monitoring capability make Scarlett 2i4 ideal for digital DJs. Send outputs 1 & 2 to the main PA and use 3 & 4 for cueing, or send all four to a mixer. The converter performance ensures that the quality of the audio streamed from the computer is sonically superb. An A/B source switch for monitoring either of two stereo output pairs via the high-level headphone output provide everything that’s required from a DJ interface.

MIDI input and output are included in Scarlett 2i4, allowing capture of performances with MIDI keyboards and controllers and the ability to play parts out to instruments and sound modules, recording their audio via 2i4’s TRS inputs.
Scarlett 2i4 comes complete with an excellent package of software tools to help you get your music down straight away. The latest version of the Focusrite Scarlett Plug-in Suite includes Compressor, Reverb, Gate and EQ in the form of VST/AU/RTAS plug-ins. Focusrite’s established Xcite+ bundle is also included, which features Ableton Live Lite (for all your production, performance and compositional needs), Novation’s Bass Station soft synth and over 1GB of royalty-free samples from Loopmasters.

Scarlett 2i4 delivers high quality, 24-bit 96kHz audio to and from both Macintosh and Windows computers with USB 2.0 capability – and it’s bus powered so you only need to plug in the included USB cable to start making music.