The entire line of the new 2nd Generation Scarlett USB 2.0 interfaces are all updated inside and out with significant changes and improvements.
Inside: all Scarlett interfaces are now capable of up to 24-bit and up to 192kHz operation and have redesigned instrument inputs with more headroom for hotter signals. A super important internal improvement is the 2nd Gen’s lower latency performance—as low as 2.74ms. Now you can record through your DAW’s plug-in effects instead of relying on other ways of monitoring yourself.
Outside: the Scarlett 2i2 is sleek; it sports a brighter aluminum extruded cabinet, and the front and back panels use a screw-less design. There are also new knurled aluminum control knobs and no-slip rubber feet. I couldn’t wait to hook up my Scarlett 2i2—there is plenty of headphone volume for low impedance studio headphones and sufficient monitoring output level from the L/R rear panel TRS jacks to drive any set of powered monitors.
I hooked up my Ear Trumpet Labs’ Josephine condenser microphone, switched on +48-volt phantom powering on Scarlett, and I was recording instantly with Direct Monitoring switched off. I found the mic pre-amp sounded great for mics, direct instruments or synthesizers with hot line level signals.
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 sells for $149 MAP.
us.focusrite.com/scarlett-range
BARRY RUDOLPH is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
