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As we already mentioned earlier, this unit is really well adapted for any gear-hungry producers. The added input capabilities through the optical I/O lend the interface to a wide variety of different setups. As a custom, the unit features Focusrite’s iconic Air mode on the preamps. Some of you may already be familiar with it, but the design of these preamps were custom-made by Rupert Neve for none other than George Martin sometime in the mid-80s. In terms of connectivity, the Scarlett is clearly the stronger candidate of the two here. However, the Revolution’s preamps are arguably better depending on your preference. Between the two of them, you can’t really go wrong but it depends on your needs. Incl. USB cable (type C to A), power supply and Hitmaker Expansion Software Bundle (Ableton Live Lite, 3 months Splice Sounds membership and Plugin Bundle for songwriting, mixing and mastering) Eight inputs and four outputs; four 3rd Generation mic pres, two Hi-Z instrument inputs, four fixed line inputs, and four balanced outputs plus ADAT input for up to eight more channels.
For all intents and purposes, the 18i8 3rd Gen is a monstrously clean-sounding interface. The company has a solid reputation for the high performance of its products and this is no different. The 2nd generation of Scarletts may have already sounded fantastic, but the 3rd generation sounds even better. Your recordings will shine with professional clarity with its 24-bit/192kHz converters. At the same time , Air mode (also present in the Clarett USB range but works slightly differently) emulates the famous boost in the mid-high frequency range — adding unique high-end detail, which was a renowned characteristic of Focusrite’s original ISA mic preamp at the famous AIR Studios. Your new Focusrite audio interface comes with a killer software bundle headlined by a 3-month Avid Pro Tools Artist subscription and Ableton Live Lite. Focusrite has also partnered with Splice to give you a free 3-month Splice Sounds subscription when setting up a new Splice account. Splice Sounds offers millions of high-quality, royalty-free loops, one-shots, and presets, with new releases daily from your favorite sound designers, artists, and producers. Artists are using Splice to create all kinds of music, from chart-topping pop and Grammy-winning albums, to underground mix tapes, and even cinematic scores. Making studio-quality productions has never been easier when you buy a Focusrite. Along with this, you also get the Focusrite Hitmaker Expansion, which includes: Please note, as we only support the use of these interfaces with Mac and PC computers, we may not be able to offer Technical Support if the interface is not working with an iPad for any reason. The specific Input Channel will vary depending on your interface and Sample Rate. Below are the input channels for Scarlett 3rd Gen interfaces at a Sample Rate of 44.1-48kHz. For more information, see the Focusrite Control User Guide for your specific interface.
On the surface, these two units look pretty similar but this isn’t the case in terms of their performance. The Scarlett is the obvious winner here. Three Month Avid® Pro Tools® Subscription: get a taste of the industry standard recording experience with this legendary DAW. You’ll also gain access to a number of other software, such as the Focusrite Red 2 & Red 3 Plug-in Suite, the Softube Time and Tone Bundle, and several others. This third generation of Scarlett interfaces might not seem a radical step up from the previous range, but Focusrite has scattered some well-needed upgrades among the set, from boosting the tech specs, to adding inputs and improving the whole user experience – especially for newcomers to music-making. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test.
The ‘Air’ mode, inspired by Focusrite’s legendary ISA preamp, adds a unique breathy detail to higher frequencies, perfect for injecting life into vocal recordings. Next up, 24-bit/192kHz converters offer unprecedented clarity for an interface at this price point. Intuitive, Professional, State-of-the-art Additionally, you will receive Focusrite Control– a control surface software that allows you to configure your internal routing, enable Air mode, as well as set levels, panning, etc. Compared to other audio interfaces Added the ability to choose whether 48V is retained after restarting Scarlett 3rd Generation interfaces.
If you're connecting a guitar/bass to one of the first two inputs on the interface, you need to select the Instrument circuit rather than the Line circuit. This can be done at the bottom of Scarlett Mix Control (or on the front panel of the 18i20). If your Focusrite interface needs a firmware update, it will update when you open the latest version of Focusrite Control, on a Windows or Mac computer. You need to connect your Focusrite interface to your computer before Focusrite Control will tell you if it needs a firmware update. Within the Control software, you can also bring the Air option in the Input Settings tab and also switch between input line and instrument levels and the Pad option (to prevent clipping with hotter signals). See the first picture in the Control boxout for more. Overall, the Control software is very easy to use and configure – setting up Custom Mixes really is a breeze – and an essential part of the Scarlett experience. The hardware How do I connect my mains-powered Scarlett, Clarett+, or Clarett USB interface to an iPad (Lightning port)?
You will need to configure Scarlett Mix Control/Focusrite Control and then save those settings to the interface because the settings cannot be changed while the unit is connected to the iPad. Scarlett Mix Control/Focusrite Control dictates which audio signals get routed to each output on the interface. The below steps show you an example of how you may wish to route the audio on your interface. Includes Ableton Live Lite, three months of Pro Tools Artist, and the Hitmaker Expansion, with plugins from Antares, Softube, Landr, XLN Audio and more. What’s more important for you in your situation, are the specs of your computer. The Scarletts are super-low latency, so if you do find you are having dropouts, audio pops, etc — it’s more than likely going to be an issue to do with the overall computer specs. Writing with loads of channels of CPU-intensive orchestra libraries and VSTs will take its toll on your computer’s resources, regardless of how low latency the audio interface is. While the Focusrite 18i8 has no issue sitting on a desk, it’s a perfect candidate for mobile recording. It’s a lightweight and compact unit, so traveling with it isn’t a hassle. Build quality 5.0 The following products are not tested or supported with iPads that have a USB-C port but should work:However, on the upside the 8i8 has two headphone outputs with individual level control. These are hard-wired to output assignments 3 to 6, keeping them clear of the main monitor outputs. It's great to see twin discrete headphone feeds on the unit. This perfectly suits modern recording practices, where you're often recording and monitoring in a single room, and both monitoring on headphones. Focus-right It would seem, then, that the differences between Scarlett and Clarett would simply be down to Scarlett’s USB v the faster Clarett Thunderbolt interfacing standard. I say ‘would’, because Focusrite now has the Clarett USB range for super-low USB latency. You might then be asking what the differences are between Scarlett USB and Clarett USB and this comes down to better mic pres and other audio specs on the Clarett range – more on these later. Finally, there are the Reds, a pro-end range of interfaces with masses of digital and analogue I/O with Dante, DigiLink connectivity and even better preamps. Sorted? The new 3rd-Gen range Focusrite has done a great job with the new 3rd generation interfaces. While first glances may give the impression that they are just a prettier version of their former selves, the real magic lies under the hood. This is evident in many of the upgrades: Before all this, I was in IT supporting Windows NT on Wall Street in the late 1990s. I realized I’d much rather play with technology and write about it, than support it 24/7 and be blamed for everything that went wrong. I grew up playing and recording music on keyboards and the Atari ST, and I never really stopped. For a while, I produced sound effects and music for video games (mostly mobile games in the 2000s). I still mix and master music for various independent artists, many of whom are friends.
It feels solidly made and should withstand regular use for a number of years. One interesting feature is input level metering. This has been incorporated into the gain knobs themselves in what Focusrite calls a 'gain halo'. The colour is green when the signal reaches -24dBFS and turns red at 0dBFS. In use, we think an interim colour prior to 0dBFS would also be helpful. Focusrite claims that the 3rd generation Scarlett interfaces are characterized by high gain values and low noise. Making mic preamps since 1985 (Rupert Neve founded the company until being sold to Phil Dudderidge in 1989), they have skin in the game regarding developing high-end gear. The unit is very good sonically. Mics sound clear and open with plenty of gain for lower output dynamics and ribbons. Meanwhile, guitars and basses via the instrument input sound solid and uncoloured. The upgraded specs and added features are welcome additions, and we think they’ve done well to remain competitive. That being said, if you’ve only recently bought a 2nd gen interface — we wouldn’t worry.As the quality of the Scarlett range has now clearly taken a step up – in terms of the preamps, the dynamic range and lower latency – it now appears to sit closer to the more expensive Clarett range with similar specs but using USB. The 18i20, for example, now looks more than a match for the Clarett 8Pre, but costs a lot less. Finally, ensure the sample rate is set at the desired rate and your sync source settings are correct (if you're not connecting any additional equipment digitally via ADAT or SPDIF, this should be 'Internal'). High channel count. Small footprint. Whatever you’re recording, wherever you are, take your whole studio with you. 18i8 is studio sound for the whole band.
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