Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen - USB Audio Interface Review (Air Mode, Clip Safe and Auto Gain)
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- In this video I we are having a look at the 4th generation Scarlett 2i2 from Focusrite and compare it to the previous generation.
Sweetwater US | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen: sweetwater.sjv.io/eKJOzr *
Thomann EU | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen: www.thomann.de/de/focusrite_s... *
Amazon US | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen: amzn.to/3Fk5dgm *
Support the channel on Patreon: / juliankrause **
Follow me on Twitter: / thejuliankrause
00:00 Intro
00:32 Hardware Overview
03:21 Internals
04:04 Mic Input Performance
05:08 Mic Preamp Performance
07:20 Air Mode Audio Samples
08:30 Line Input Performance
09:11 Main Output Performance
09:57 HP Output Performance
10:53 Controversial Change
13:15 Software Overview
15:01 Direct Monitoring Latency
15:15 Round Trip Latency
15:40 Verdict
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** Patreon is a platform where you can choose to support the channel by purchasing a monthly subscription. - Навчання та стиль
Finally the one and only authoritative review of this device. Thanks, Julian 🤘
Thank you for your videos. The detail you go in was monumentally useful for deciding what best fit my use case. I knew my requirements but was struggling to find the information I needed and your videos had everything.
wieder mal ein sehr ausführliches und gut verständliches review👍Julian Krause steht für Qualität! ♥und glückwunsch zu den 100k abos 🥳
Thank you for another great video. I still appreciate the irony around the Kensington "locking point." It is indeed a very high security connection, and I feel that it really makes the world a better and much safer place.
Thanks so much Julian much appreciated your videos.thanks for bringing it up mate.
Thanks for this very accurate and comprehensive summary! It really helped a lot. Hats off!
Geil! You are the best in interface review world man! Thanks!
I'd love to see how these modern interfaces stack up against some of the older stuff that's out there. We tend to accept new products at face value, but realistically things like low latency were worked out a really long time ago, 20 years ago with RME's Hammerfall and even in the late 2000s with DICE II Firewire interfaces from Focusrite, Presonus, etc. How are manufacturers pushing the envelope these days, particularly in the budget space that JK likes to feature most often?
I AM EARLY TO A JULIAN KRAUSE VIDEO! WOOOOOOOOOO!
Awesome review. Love the scientific detail
Danke fürs Video!❤ Ich bin gespannt😮
If I had to buy an Audio interface I‘d watch your test reports about interfaces in any case! 👍🏻💪🏻
It's about time someone showed us some specs. I get tired of just hearing how great something sounds, or about some feature. Give me the technical data.
Thank you Julian
Thank you for another very thorough and comprehensive review!!! I'll stick with my 3rd Gen 2i2.
Danke!
Thanx! Got the 2i2 today and i am happy about how much you get in this days compare to 10 years ago. The soundcard sounds good.
Hi Julian, You're my source for all insights regarding interfaces. When you have time, can you review the Solo Gen 4?
UA-camrs & Podcasters would love a SYSTEM AUDIO BUTTON. I never use air mode. That's what EQ's and saturators are for. So you could get rid of this button. And a Direct Monitoring gain knob would rock! Most of us don't want to deal with any latency. We're happy with hearing exactly what we put in during our overdubs because we do most things in post anyway.
Hey thanks! Great video on the unit. Im doing research on mic pre coloration. I'm trying to find something incredibly "sterile" and i think the focusrite is probably the least common denominator for a lot of things. Going to need to pick one of these up.
Currently have a Motu M2 but would like an interface with the mic inputs on the back. This one looked so promising up until the ever disappointing headphone output. Bummer.
SSL2(+) or even the 12 ...it keeps surprising me, even compared with interfaces 3x the cost.
in love with the term "fetclouder"
Great review Julian. What mic do you use to record your videos?
hey man you did good job i hop you doing good man have a good day
Thanks for the review. Too bad that, as I use 48Ω headphones, my return window is closed. Just a question, could you review the AXE I/O from IK Multimedia? I would be very intersting in having your feedback on it. It is marketed as an audio interface for guitarists, but is a fully capable interface! Unfortunately, I've never read a serious and objective review of this card.
Hey Julian, Thank you for the video as i would like to ask you what is the best portable sound card that you recommend as i am a voice over artist so i am going to use it just for voice over work. Thank you
Great Stuff! Would you personaly pick the 2i2 4th or the Motu m2?
Great video! Would love a review on the Apollo Solo and Twin since they are so popular.
Great review, thank you! The round trip latency seems to be higher on the 4th gen compared to the 3rd gen. In your review of the 2i2 3rd gen the RTL was 3.5 ms at 48Khz@16 samples. It seems that at the same settings 2i2 4th gen has RTL of 5.1ms. The 3rd gen has a setting "Safe Mode" in the "Latency information" section of the Device Settings and it is adding 1ms when enabled. Is there a similar setting in the 4th gen and when you measured the 3rd gen was this setting on or off? I have Solo gen3 and 8i6 gen3 and I am thinking about getting the 2i2 4gen, but the higher latency is something I don't like as I am using these interfaces with my guitar and every ms matters.
Hey Julian, thanks for the content. I have a suggestion, would you be willing to test mixer/interface like the Tascam 12 or others?
Yesss please do Julian!
hi, thanks for your great detailed reviews. how would you compare the scarlett 2i1 4th gen to the clarett 2 pre mk1 ? greets Karl
at 6:52, you have the Rode AI-1 at the bottom of "maximum gain of mic input chart", is this before or after the 1.3.1 firmware update where they increased the gain of the microphone input? I had to check here since this is your latest video.
Hi Julian, great videos. What do you recommend between iD4 MKII, Solid State Logic SSL 2, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th gen.)? I have Shure SRH1540 headphones (46 ohms). I have Windows 11. Thank you.
I would like to know if theres any chip processor wich works better than others in terms of DAC or ADC, because the improvements of chips are uncomprensioble for most of us, can you do a review of those dear Julian?
I was going to buy the 2i2 but with the headphones that I use ath m40x (32 ohms) glad I didn't! As always thanks for your excellent and precise review
"Eye candy" or not, those meters are much nicer than, say, three green LEDs with a yellow and red one. 👍
Well, I just bought a second Gen3, and after watching this, I'll stick the the two Gen3's I have.
Can you do the same level of testing you do for these audio interfaces but with the Samsung s23 ultra? I wanna see a motu m2 vs s23 ultra mic comparision. Specially using the dolby recoding app I get some amazing stuff.
i was hoping to find the solo review gen 4 but havent seen it yet. since i could save some money since i dont need more than one input for the setup
So recently I noticed that there was a significant amount of noise on the Hi z input of my audio interface . It is significant enough to cause some harsh frequencies when you run a di through amp sims. It would be nice if you compared some di tracks recorded with each interface you have because although Neural Dsp plugins come with a noise gate this simply removes the noise when you're not hitting the strings . The impedance is different on every interface and it would be cool to hear some feedback from guitarists on how the interface hi z responds compared to playing with a real amp .
1. Check your grounding installation. Harsh noise, especially amplifed when using guitar sim usually indicating lack of ground installation.
2. Hi-z input on modern interfaces are decent enough for direct guitar input. (Older entry level scarlett interfaces are sucks in this area btw). If you are still not happy, you could just buy inexpensive buffer pedal, if you don't want to buy a DI box.
@@diazzsama it's an older presonus itwo interface, and the grounding is nonexistent due to being in a third world country and running on a solar inverter /lithium battery. I have tried using the buffer on an old boss distortion pedal and it didn't seem to solve the noise issue.
Solo Review Please!
69 - NICE! You crack me up. Another great review as always, you are the king. And I'll put in another plug for a comparison of Active DI boxes ;-)
Hi Julian, very informative review as always, thanks! Could you please disclose which headphones have been measured in the "controversial change subchapter"? :)
For the measurement at 11:30 I used:
Red: Sennheiser PC38X
Green: No-name 32 Ohm Headphone
Blue: Sony MDR-V700
@@JulianKrauseany audio interface recommendations for the pc38x?
can U compare/consider Rodecaster DUO or Rode Streamer X to be used as an audio interface in a an Audio Studio
Specially considering the Pre-amps performance
Thankyou
I want the inputs on the sides.
What happens if you connect an unbalanced output (specifically a 3 pole connector such as trs with a different signal on the left and right channel) into a balanced input? How do audio interfaces handle such cases? Thanks
We’d love to see an evo 16 review. So curious how it sounds compared to the iD line.
Thanks!
Basically very close to the EVO8. The reason that the card is so competitively priced is that they were able to utilize the same components, circuit designs, tooling across 3 units. If I was on a budget, this would be a very serious contender. I'm an RME guy, but I have owned a couple of EVO8s (I still have one). I"ve owned 100+ interfaces in the past 20 years. Julian is a man of my own heart, testing out all of these. A real man of integrity (especially now that he's got the hang of blinking on camera)
I just checked Sweetwater and the most expensive reference headphones $3k were 32 ohms. The others were too with some down to 24 ohms.
What would be the best audio interface and headphone combo for mixing, recording?
How can headphone output noise level at minimum gain be _lower_ than at 1 Vrms nominal? The 2i2 gen4 is the second interface to do that. If this is real, that could be a sign of power supply noise being coupled into the volume pot ground return, which can happen with shared power/ground returns (especially if voltage rail impedance is low and there is a substantial amount of decoupling capacitance - you basically get a voltage divider consisting of rail Z + decoupling C / return R). Thankfully it's all at a very low level.
Note how the headphone amp on the 2i2 gen4 is a traditional job with an analog volume pot while the 4i4 out clearly is digitally controlled.
What's up with the headphone out 50 Hz distortion? It doesn't really seem to be load-dependent, so is there an internal stage with smallish ceramic coupling caps or something?
It's clear that if you want the cleanest line-in for measurements, you'll want the 4i4 instead (much like MOTU M2 vs. M4). The 2i2 is clearly built to a price. The Solo should be even more so.
Output should be measured with a 10kΩ load, that is the standard in most of the proaudio equipment.
why is individual phantom a concern? If you have a mic that doesn't require phantom, it's just ignored, there is no downside. Or am I missing something?
Hi Julian. Thanks for your hard work and great videos. One main issue remains that those bare measurements say nothing about the 'musicality' of the DAWs. Take a guitar amplifier as en example. A tube amp may have considerably more distortion than a transistor based one, but may sound, subjectively, much better. Therefore I suggest you also include playback recordings of musical passages for each of the DAWs. I hope this makes sense. Niels
This is an audio interface review, not an amp sim or plugin or DAW review...
@@Summer-xu8qu sorry, meant 'audio interface' not DAW, thanks!
Hi, I need a bit of help to decide, I will use the interface with studio speakers (JBL LSR 305 + sub) to listen to music and for electric guitar with amp sim (NAM or something like bias) I am among 2i2 4th gen, Audient iD14 MKII or iD4 MKII, So I only care about the quality of guitar input and audio outputs, which characteristics should I focus on? Line input performance, main output performance and round trip latency right? Thanks in advance!
quick question, for Voice over and live stream would the Connect 6 be the best option?
I'm connecting the Sm7DB and the SE Electronics V7 for a podcast... Would turning on the 48V of Phantom Power hurt the SE electronics mic? I need it to have a lower noise flower for my sm7db by activating the +18DB on the mic
Can you stell us what headphones you used and which ones were "heavily impacted"? Thx
Guys, if any of you have bought it.. please reply this if you find any problems. I'm curious if this gen has any possible weird problematic thing that might not be detected at first but starts showing up after a while. Thank you 👍
It's not a bad idea to get something with more outputs. I used an extra pair to connect a relatively cheap headphone amp to my old 6i6 2nd gen and I'm happy I could do that, I'm no audiophile and even with my DT770s 80Ohm I hear a clear difference. The headphone output is somehow... lifeless, compared to the headphone amp.
Waiting for you to review the Black Lion Audio Revolution 6x6.
Haha, I saw their release as well. Not sure if I'm going to review it.
@@JulianKrause Hope they really lower their noise floor. They really use good components, just hope that they become better at designing the circuitry.
Thanks for the review and the no nonsense approach of your videos. This is perhaps a noob question. I'm a drummer first and guitarist second, but after spontaneously recording some shouts for a song at my friend's studio, I was hooked on the idea of trying out more of this vocal stuff. Thanks to Cyberweek happening, Thomann right now offers the 2i2 Studio 3rd Gen set with a CM25 MkIII condenser mic (and headphones) for about € 184 and the same set with the 4th Gen for € 290. Would my modest home recording justify spending $100 more for the 4th Gen, or would buying the 3rd Gen set be still quite sufficient? May be obvious but I also don't know if that Mic is any good as well. Thanks in advance.
(hätte ja auch auf Deutsch fragen können, aber dann antworten vielleicht mehr Leute. :D )
Its almost always worth it to invest more money in equipment if its something your serious about.
@@Anouyz Well, I'm serious, but also on a budget. I want to get better at screaming/singing and record some stuff at home. I can't afford the high end stuff and don't have the space for a lot of equipment. But honestly I went with the 3rd gen set and it's pretty good. I'm also very happy with the microphone, it's good enough for my needs. I invested the 100 dollars I saved in sound absorbers and a microphone screen, which makes it sound pretty decent. Can always upgrade to a better microphone in the future :)
What was the impedance of the headphones you used in your test?
As somebody who records myself, I REALLY enjoy being able to set my input gain/settings from the computer/software. I'm, personally, willing to deal with some other...'shortcomings' for that QOL improvement.
I monitor with Sony MDR 7560's (63 ohm). I notice a bump in the lower frequencies, but the headphones still expose everything in the mid-range, fine - which is what I use them for.
I wish that I could plug 4 inputs in and just select which 2 (at anytime) to make active. That would save me some of un/plugging... But, I guess that's the point of splurging for the 4i4.
Currently experiencing a crackling issue (just like I had with my previous 2nd gen). It's, perhaps, the fault of +my own settings+ or proximity to my PC so I hesitate to even mention it. (Happens about once a week and is remedied by un/replugging the USB cable for a second.) I'm willing to deal with it BUT an on/off button would be nice for this purpose.
Air feature works great with my AT2020. Air+Presence works pretty good for my SMBeta58a.
All in all, I'm happy with my purchase but A LOT of that has to do with being able set input gains from the software.
EDIT: The crackling, more specifically, is usually remedied by "jostling" the usb at the back of the 2i2. So, I should prolly try a replacement usb-c cable...and it maybe has nothing to to do with the unit itself.
Are you using and amd processer?
@@Durkhead Intel i5-3470 @ 3.20GHz
Great review, Julian 👍 I was just getting more and more excited 😆 as the your review went on, thinking that maybe it was time to for another compact Focusrite. However, when you got to the headphone section I basically switched off (switched off interested not form your review). Given that many people will use these types of interfaces in home environments, the use of headphones is quite high. Even in a commercial facility, you constantly check stereo imagery and balance on headphones, regardless of how good your main monitors are. Why on earth Focusrite would have what would appear to be a really good transparent output and very good overall signal path from start to end, to then wreck it all with the headphone output, basically remixing your low end 😆 Is beyond my comprehension. I also like that you check to see if these interfaces can be used stand alone with power as a stand alone preamp, great idea 😆 Anyway, great review, Julian 👍 Cheers, Dave.
It can be standalone mixer, preamp, level control, headphone (pre)amp.
Am i OCD or is there a woofiness on his voice at around 500-600 hz? Not specific to the featured interface, but on the entire vid?
Seen the 4i4 and now the 2i2, great job on both. I'm still pretty sold on the MOTU. Question though, Is there no difference in quality between the MOTU M2 and M4? Just curious because only the M2 was ever reviewed by you.
There were some measurements on audiosciencereview. The M4 was slightly better, but I don't remember what it was about... You can find it online
I know nothing about audio interfaces. I would want to record with my pedals. Is this something you can connect them to for recording? If not, what would I need?
I see you've taken to using the Steinberg UR22C as the worst case pre-amp noise examples again - not the much noisier Apogee, did someone have a quiet word with you?
Any plans still to review the 4th gen Scarlett Solo? Curious on the headphone output impedance on that one.
Hey, Solo review is coming soon. Sadly the headphone impedance is the same as the 2i2...
How about Scarlett Solo 4th gen? Is it having the same specs ?
Not sure why they dont provide a usb c to usb c cable.
Julian! Would you be reviewing the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen? I want to wait for your review on it before I buy one. I'm concerned about the headphone impedance if it's high since I only have an ATH M50
He will, but said in a comment already the solo has the same problem regarding headphone output
@@Alex-bl8uh Thanks! That's what I thought too. I believe they have it on their website the headphone impedance, which is the same as the 4th gen 2i2. So I end up getting the 3rd gen solo. It's pretty amazing so far
@waterbottle2963 glad you found an option that worked for you. I am happy with my 2i2 since I have 250 ohm headphones 🎧 ✅️
REVIEW MOOER STEP 2, PLS!!
Great review, thank you, Julian!
While I see the progress from 2nd and 3rd gen to the now latest 4th gen, I think most people who already own one of those predecessors need to update.
Looks like my Motu M2 is still the best value for the money after almost 2 years.
It's not 😂
@@olivermirez6667 Care to elaborate?
This is almost the only audio interface I can use bc I need the xlr on the back
11:16 what do the color lines mean? What is those headphones impedance ?
It's not an elegant fix, but having a small profile headphone amp with high input impedance and low output impedance connected to the HP output of the interface will fix the frequency response issue if the external amp is well designed and the gain of both amp and interface are dialed in to limit noise and clipping
Thx
I still marvel at the quality of even the cheap audio electronics these days. Back when I was actively involved in music -- the '80s and '90s -- you were doing VERY well to get a piece of audio equipment to output a noise floor below -75dB. And today, the WORST interface in your list is -93.5dB. And the *vast* majority of them are better than -100dB, with several better than -110dB. Beyond belief!!!
What did you mean by the sm7b for noise performance comment?
The 4i4 gen 4 can control the XLR phantom power per channel
Curious if you think the 4th gen is better than SSL2 ? Thanks
Ooo I think watching your video answers the question for me
Supposedly 48v will not damage a dynamic mic so is it really necessary to have 2 switches for the inputs?
Good thing I got the old one new, when I did…
Which is better LEWITT CONNECT 6 or Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen for condenser microphone and vocals singing?
Sooo is this now better than the last clarett ? which came 2 years ago ? Or should I wait for a new clarett ?
excellent video, that headphone output sucks....so I guess when you get one of these you need a dedicated headphone amp...that increases the cost a lot, especially compared to the Topping one....
also Julian, 0:50 they can actually win, if they do it like Antelope with the Discrete 4 pro (not that I would want antelope with their ridiculous account coupling nonsense, but still
Just use your old scarlett as a hph amp.
Are you able to Test if you can play backing tracks from your 'Samsung Phone' VIA the USB C port, I do this on my Solo Gen 3 and it works perfectly out through my monitors, I just dont want to buy this product and realize that Focusrite have changed something.
Will you also test the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen?
I'd like to know, if this one has that high impedance as well.
For me it's an absolute NoGo.
Hey, yes I'm currently testing it. Spoiler: it has the same headphone output impedance...
@@JulianKrause Thx a lot for your hard work!
Bummer. 😥
I'd still also be interested to know more about the loopback-functionality.
Is it possible to loop-back the output of an ASIO-powered VST-Host into a virtual input?
I am searching for an interface with such functionality for a while now to apply effects to my mic for live-streaming.
(I think it might be possible with the bigger Scarlett interfaces, but not sure.)
Currently I use an extra software called "Synchronous Audio Router" for this. It works very well, but it's discontinued. So it's only a matter of time until it won't work anymore.
Somehow this (imo obvious) usecase seems to be overlooked by all audiointerface manufacturers.
Or routing with virtual in/outputs in general.
HI Julian, If we use an external preamp, does the dynamic range follow the external preamp?
The dynamic range will always be limited by the ADC.
I'm going to bug Julian again to review the RCF TRK PRO. RCF's first audio interface that's supposed to be built rugged and road-worthy.
Would be interesting, but it doesn't look very feature-rich, no DSP mixer or anything. I'd expect it to be decent, but it's a hard sell when Audient EVO8 performs so well for the same price and has a DSP mixer for setting up submixes.
@@Blewis-Diarrheo I’ve had their made in Italy powered speakers for FOH and considered them as one of the best. My interest for their TRK PRO is for the fact that they are supposed to be rugged and road worthy with option of being rack mounted.
Hey Julian, I want to connect Neumann KDH-30 Headphones to this soundcard. Do you think the output for this headphones is loud enough and the sound is not inked since the Neumann are 120 Ohm headphones? Thanks in advance for your answer.
they will be impacted noticeably
Trying to fix what's not broken always ends up being a mistake.
Oh, it was broken allright.
This is what 21th century is all about
This device is so much better than 3rd Gen. What are you talking about?
@@olivermirez6667so much? Only dynamic range is "much" better. Autogain, clip saver is not must have in audio interface. And finally they change realy bad Focusrite control and made it exclusive for 4th gen showing love to 3rd gen community which wrote a lot of messege what they should change in this "software". This is why I never again buy Focushit
What is wrong with this? Seems like the best in it's price range according to specs, better than audient id44 and ssl?
well what does it practically mean if the output impedance is 50 ohms instead of less than an ohm in the 3rd gen? 32 ohm headphones will be so quiet? then why do they give 32 ohm headphones in thier studio version of the 4th gen?
what is the word for the headphones characteristic? high impeance? mp’s?
Where did the jolly outro music gooo
Hi Julian, I've a Beyerdinamic 900 pro x (48 OHMS). Do you think I could have problems using my headphones with this Scarlett?
Yes. Beyers are probably the ones he used to show the big bass boost, they really suffer when the output impedance is high.
You will have a ~3dB bump centered at around 50Hz, so there will be a noticeable bass boost.
Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'll buy a Moto M2
Do you suggest turning off safe mode?
replacing my clarett 2pre Thunderbolt to this scarlett 2i2 4th is stupid Idea only for vocal?
I recently bought the 2i2 4th gen. Regards to the headphone jack... I have a splitter in it to spilt same signal to two separate headphones. One seems fine but the other one have a buzz noise when I increase headphone volume dial of interface to about 3'o clock. I tested the cables and everything. It seems to be the headphones themselves, having the buzz. It is cheap headphones as students of mine use it that is very young. The other one is a more expensive type.
Can it then be the headphones as I heard you mentioned some info regards headphones.
I just read on a website that the headphones having the buzz has the following impedance...Impedance 32Ω±15%. Do you therefore think that os why. As my other headphones coming from the same jack, being split out together with the problem one, does not have a buzz.
Otherwise it sounds great. I upgraded from solo 3rd gen.😊