Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface for Recording, Producing and Engineering — High-Fidelity, Studio Quality Recording, with Transparent Playback

Product Information

Focusrite's Scarlett 18i20 3rd Generation is a rugged, rack-mountable USB audio interface with comprehensive simultaneous inputs and outputs, featuring a total of eight mic preamps, 18 inputs and 20 outputs. Discover the key differences between the Scarlett and Vocaster ranges, so you can find the right interface for your needs. The high-impedance, high-headroom instrument inputs are great for recording guitar or bass without clipping. It has an ESS ES9026PRO, I actually assume it must have 2 ES9026PROs as it has more than 8 channels of analog output. When activated, the Air setting gives you the Air effect found on the original ISA mic preamps, adding brightness and openness to your vocal and acoustic recordings.

To that end, your audio interface is protected against unwanted power surges thanks to Focusrite's analogue protection technology. I found that using the device's default internal routing settings works fine for recording in my DAW. I'm guessing this review is way off base and the reviewer didn't understand how to use the interface software.

On the output side, the i20 has two TRS jack outputs for your monitor speakers which include anti-thump technology and eight more jack outputs. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. Professionals that own a lot of gear or need to keep a lot of equipment will need an interface like this so that they do need to choose what instruments to input, with this there is no compromise.

Also it works under Linux (as of today there's kernel patch available on linuxmusicians fixing implicit USB feedback issue). While most interfaces have defaults for some of their outputs, like 1 and 2 are often the main outs, what actually goes to each output is selectable in the interface software. I am a classical musician but am finding I just need more preamps and that 2nd gen is a pretty value for 8 pres. As a result, creativity can flow naturally, and all of your ideas can be captured using XLN Audio Addictive Keys, Addictive Drums 2: Studio Rock Kit, Antares Auto-Tune® Access, Brainwork bx_console Focusrite SC and Softube Marshall® Silver Jubilee 2555.that extra headroom is often useful - on the scarlett I have to really crank my ribbon mic, meaning I probably couldn't use it as a room mic - although the pres are very low noise, even towards the top end of the gain range). It's possible to blend direct monitoring with low-latency digital monitoring via a front-panel control. The software control is very flexible and makes hooking up external fx and other outboard a breeze with no latency issues. The revamped mic preamps can emulate the Air effect of Focusrite's original ISA mic preamp on demand, giving your vocal and acoustic recordings a more transparent sound. In this way, consumers give each other guidance and give us the opportunity to continuously improve.

We are aware of issues that can occur when trying to change the clock source on these units to anything other than "Internal" when running macOS 10. I bought this to replace a first generation 2i2,which suffered problems with my guitar output level. I have two usages of this 18i20 where I need SPDIF from my TV (which is my main player atm: chromecast, tidal, my kodi ripped music collection) but would possibly like the option of digital XO in the future. But I was due a clearout so I wiped the C drive and did a fresh Win7 install, giving it a full set of updates.These discounts are usually communicated through newsletters, which are created and managed by us with the tool "Emarsys". Eight balanced line inputs for connecting synthesizers, drum machines, and other line-level sources. With that, all Focusrite would really need to do to provide Linux support is to make the device USB class compliant. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. This reversible connection allows faster data transfer, easier connection and can be flipped – no more plugging in upside-down.

The free/open source community will fix the driver issues in time, and the device is already quite usable, but all the troulbe make one beg the question: why make things so difficult, Focusrite? However, I was tearing my hair out when I first got it as there was no sound from either the speakers or headphone outputs. Your recordings will retain all of their sonic qualities so that you can hear all the details in your track on playback.With the lowest roundtrip latency in its range, the i20 will confidently and effortlessly record and monitor in real time with software effects. The third-generation Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 takes it up a notch with eight of Focusrite's best sounding 3rd Gen mic preamps, 18 inputs and 20 outputs in total housed in a 1U rack-mountable enclosure.