Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB Audio Interface for Recording, Songwriting, Streaming and Podcasting — High-Fidelity, Studio Quality Recording, and All the Software You Need to Record

I started taking vocal lessons recently and bought a kind of cheapo mic from a store in town. It was working okay until a software update completely screwed up my mic settings. The mic had a voice effects option, but I never used the option, hadn't wanted it, and only bought the mic because it was decently priced and pretty much the only one my store had in stock. I didn't think it would matter.Fast forward two months and following a software update, I started my online lesson and found my instructor was completely thrown because I sounded "weird" to him. After several attempts to figure out what was wrong (I wasn't hearing it on my end), I finally had to do my lesson via cell phone and only got 15 minutes' worth of instruction. When I went back and watched the Skype video recordings of our attempts to fix whatever he was hearing, I was absolutely mortified to hear that the update had very obviously applied a random voice effect and made me sound like a cartoon. I also couldn't get the effect turned OFF.That was the event that led me to buy a much better mic and audio interface. After doing a bit of research, I settled on the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd generation interface. I can only speak to how well this works on Skype for vocal lessons, but would imagine it's just as great with instruments and recording. As this was my first audio interface, I did have to ask the company a few questions. But their customer service is superb and I was able to easily set this up and use it pretty quickly. It's been working great and--best of all--I no longer have to worry about audio issues or having my voice unexpectedly start sounding like Yogi Bear to my instructor. The price was really great as well.

If you need an interface between $100-$150 this is the one to get! My recordings are so crisp with my Rode NT1 mic hooked up. Love the way the inputs are setup and the build quality/value for money is insane. Be sure to register yours and update the firmware with the free software provided by Focusrite. Very ease to use too!

Connected to my M2 mac without any downloads, no issues. Looks amazing, sounds amazing. I like how the 4th gen has a dedicated volume control for headphones, allowing me to leave them plugged in all the time and switch between the main speakers and headphones by simply rotating each control.

Not the right tool for what I wanted it for, unfortunately.

Very functional after you get all of the computer settings set up. I bought this to replace a Donner 2i2 and this is quite a step up. Very good value/good quality. Infinity gain dials.

Had the Roland Duo-Capture EX for several years and got the job done. After upgrading my home studio, I plugged in my Roland to my MacBook Pro and well… nothing. Come to find out they stopped supporting Mac on OS 10.4.Always had friends that ran the Scarlett interfaces and with the price of this Gen 4 model I decided to give it a try. USB-C is so much nicer to work with and the unit looks and feels premium! I am in love so far.Added bonus was after registering the interface, you get Ableton light, 20% off Fruity Loops and all these awesome extra plugins, instruments and VST’s FOR FREE.The value for money can not be beat 🔥💪

The unit is heavy and beautiful, the dials are all nice and weighty and tactile, it's super easy to power (at least through my Mac, your mileage may vary!), and the app is functional and easy to use. Safe mode, perhaps unintentionally, is also super useful in my current situation because not only does it prevent me from clipping but it also cuts out much of the echo in my untreated environment. It ain't perfect but it's better than nothing and super helpful! The only gripe I've got with this is the amount of information it asks for when installing the software, which technically isn't required but may as well be for all intents and purposes. You can skip it (thank God) but it was a bit hard to catch. Respectfully, I don't want to register my audio interface with my e-mail and a password and an account I'll never use but get lots of emails from — just want my device! So if you can get past that, and so long as they always allow users to opt out, it's a great buy that I'd ABSOLUTELY recommend!!

Used the 2i2 1st gen for about 8 years worked flawlessly until it eventually died. Purchased the 4th gen and now I am not able to record. Seemed to work okay for about 30 minutes then started geeking out recordings sounded all jumbled. Couldn't play any of my recordings in the DAW I use. The DAW is completely up to date. I replaced 212 with an old Behringer from about 10 years ago and it works perfectly. I believe it's some sort of driver issue, but have had no luck figuring it out. I am so disappointed and disgusted. Will be returning and going with a different piece of hardware.Update: After editing my computer's registry to remove remnants of the 1st gen hardware, I was able to get it working properly.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB Audio Interface is an industry-standard audio interface that delivers professional-grade sound quality. Whether I'm recording vocals, instruments or podcasts, the clarity and warmth of the audio are outstanding. The 4th generation model has improved preamps and converters, making it even better than before. Setup is straightforward, and the interface is user-friendly, with intuitive controls and seamless integration with my DAW. It's an essential tool for anyone serious about their audio work, offering reliability and top-notch performance.

Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB - I love it. I am using a long line of multiple 2i2 devices from Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3 for years. I am happy with all of them. Very good built quality, plain, low noise, low distortion. They all meet manufacturer specifications. No inflated claims like some manufacturers do. Each model had some tiny glitches that did not affect my experience. So my expectations are high on 4th Gen. A box arrived quickly. I opened it and realized a box has no protecting layer to soften shocks, blows during transportation. Just over box inside of almost identical, only slightly larger box! This experience was not a good welcome to me. I believe such packaging of any electronics reduces product reliability. Didn't you see how sometimes drivers drop packages on concrete floor? So I almost feel like getting used product, am I too sensitive about it? Alone in my opinion such product should have some shock absorbing layer of foam material or air bubbles sheet?After opening a box I see a piece of paper printed with miniature characters. Microscope could help... But no guidance here how to get the first steps. Only warnings in very many languages. As I would need all this, very high priority to manufacturer but not to me! I think this excellent product has new functions that a purchaser is not familiar with. It would be highly beneficial if a a small hard card size like 2-3 business cards shows briefly what happens when each of new controls used. OK, I can find it in pdf user manual, but I don't want to print user manual for one of 15 models audio interfaces I have. So I will work with audio recordings while scrolling through pdf file, at least till I am familiar with all this product offers. After such observations I wish to get to recording... And pdf file does not tell clearly up front that utility program is actually a driver. I have to spend time to learn it. This is the very first item to perform after purchase, but info is written among other content, not up front. I want to install utility program but no info provided if 2i2 Gen 4 should be connected or not, during installation. I learn here I should go to the internet, manufacturer' webpage and get information how to proceed. A suggestion is strong - identify yourself first! So you can get audio recording software. But I don't use the internet on sacred computers. I don't wish to be exposed to Spyware and threats from Microsoft like this one: You paid for our Office Suite, but we make it stop at our convenience under pretense we check if you are the correct user???? So I will to install a driver only, no suspicious activities and forced "updates", no spyware on my precious computer. How do I proceed considering above? I loaded needed file on another computer, copied it to one working with 2i2 Gen 4. It works fine that way. The utility is just sampling rate changing program combined with a driver, at least on my computer. Nothing else. A device works well, nothing wrong. I enjoy it from that moment. I don't need extra programs for musicians.Now most enjoyable part - distortion and noise testing. Both are excellent low, exactly as shown on specifications. I really enjoy low noise that is closer now to that of higher grade Clarett noise. Regarding distortion, Clarett has specs about 0.0003% while Scarlett 2i2 spec is around 0.001% for all generations 1, 2, 3, 4. Truly excellent product here, amazing performance for $200 and this product is far ahead of other USB audio interfaces I used before. Important to me is the fact it can work with no AC/DC power adapter. Through my career I experienced scenarios that noise reading was lowest if USB audio device was powered through USB cable. Then noise reading was even slightly better if power supply disconnected from laptop. The noise reading was consistently worse if given USB audio interface AND laptop used both AC/DC adapters. The difference could be a few dB but sometimes noise spikes were 10dB and more above noise floor, depending how clean was power line, individual wall outlets. I will check later 2i2 Gen 4 on that noise immunity and will update my review.In terms of reliability, all earlier Scarlett 2i2 I used full time worked a minimum of 5 years. If something wrong happened, it would be in the "abuse" category like frequent plugging, unplugging in, out cables with ESD damage maybe. Or connecting to multiple other devices powered with AC/DC adapters and no isolating transformers between. I am a laboratory user, not a musician, so different considerations, scenarios. Scarlett 2i2 Gen 4 is a great tool now for my audio experiments, audio test fixtures, audio signal measuring / analyzing setups.5 stars, but no 5 due to less perfect packaging with less perfect protection against abuse in transit.