Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Recording Interface
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Recording Interface
Product Information
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Overview
Focusrite's Scarlett 2i2 interface is built around two award-winning Focusrite microphone preamplifier that provide a clean signal path for mic, instrument, or line level sources. It also includes the Focusrite Scarlett Plug-In Suite, along with Ableton Live Lite. So you get everything needed to start recording right away.
Two high-quality preamps
For more than 25 years, Focusrite has produced some of the best preamps in the industry. Scarlett 2i2 features the same award-winning preamps found on interfaces costing many times more.
Anodized aluminum unibody chassis
The red anodized aluminum unibody chassis offers both excellent protection and fantastic looks.
Ring LED signal indicators
Surrounding the gain controls for each input channel are ring LED signal indicators, which give you a clear indication of a healthy signal level.
High-quality 24-bit/96 KHz USB interface
Features professional standard conversion ensuring pristine audio quality at all times.
Direct monitor function for zero-latency tracking
The direct monitor switch lets you hear what you're tracking without incurring annoying latency produced by going through the computer software and back to the interface. This feature is also great for practice playing—you don't need to configure any routing in your software.
USB bus powered
Since the Scarlett 2i2 is bus powered, no external power supply is needed—making it ideal for mobile recording.
Scarlett VST/AU/RTAS Plug-in Suite
This software offers compression, reverb, gate, and EQ. Whether you’re using Logic, GarageBand, Pro Tools 9, Cubase, or the included Ableton Live Lite, these plug-ins help give you a truly sophisticated mix.
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Highlights
- Two high-quality award-winning Focusrite preamps
- Anodized aluminum unibody chassis
- Ring LED signal indicators
- High-quality 24-bit/96 KHz USB interface
- Direct monitor function for zero-latency tracking
- USB bus powered
- Scarlett VST/AU/RTAS Plug-in Suite included
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Did you notice?
Take advantage of class-leading digital conversion and 25 years of excellent mic preamp design. -
Apple Recommends For
Equally useful for musicians new to recording on their Mac and those with plenty of experience who want a high-quality yet compact interface. -
What's in the Box?
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Interface
- USB cable
- Resources DVD (includes Ableton Live Lite 8 software (DAW), Scarlett 2i2 user guide PDF (English, German, French), Scarlett 2i2 drivers, Scarlett Plug-in Suite installer)
- Getting started guide
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Tech Specs
- Height : 1.8 in./4.57 cm
- Width : 6.9 in./17.53 cm
- Weight : 1.3 lb./0.59 kg
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System Requirements
Mac
- Mac OS X v10.6.5 or later and v10.7
Windows
- Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit)/XP SP3 (32-bit only)
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Manufacturer Information
Part Number
- Mfr. Part Number : SCARLETT-2i2
- UPC or EAN No. : 815301008170
Warranty
- Note : Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.
- Warranty : One year
Ratings & Reviews
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Buy this!
Lot's of options on the market, but I'm glad I bought this one. Unless, your mixing a whole band at once, or mixing down a drumme r that can't play dynamics, this is phenomenal. I coupled mine with a Rode NT1-A, and there is no -absolutely none- harmonic distortion (aka fuzz); in the headphones, through the computer, even during 8 way live simultaneous playback! even, with a long cable to my middle class amp, that's running mid size polk audios. After vocal recordings, with no compression, no fuzz! My 5 yr old daughter spent time screaming into the mic, and it still didn't distort, or pop on playback.
Don't be fooled by other claims, focus rite runs a true 96KHz sample rate. Some models run higher, but chances are, your recording software will compromise itself, or not benefit from a higher rate. Older products are still sampling at 48KHz. For what this costs, go the 96!
Does have phantom power (not mentioned on the apple site).
Thank you Focusrite! …- Written by Mark H from Brooks
36 of 36 people found this useful
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Great component to your home studio
I evaluated the usual options including Apogee, and decided on the Scarlet 2i2. Not having really thought through a home studio s etup; I realized what I needed was a single instrument interface, and microphone interface, that performed well. The Scarlet does just that! True optimum recording, do to all the variables that come into music is in the 60KHz range + or -. The Scarlett gives you up to 96 KHz and this is more than what is considered optimum. The Scarlett is not some stripped down model, but what really could be thought of as Focusrite Lite, i.e. with only 2 in /out, but high quality clean sound. The money I saved on the interface by not overbuying helped me purchase Blue's new Reactor Mic, quality Mic cable and stand. My MBP early 2011, Gargae Band found the 2i2 instantly after driver installation; and for the first run I plugged my Acoustic Electric into the Focusrite, and made a beautiful, fully present, good soundstage, natural recording. No problems with clipping, just adjusted the volume control on my active pickup. Nice buy! …
- Written by Chester A B from Kingsport
24 of 25 people found this useful
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Get pro-level quality at a Target-like price
This interface is utterly simple, solidly-built, and great sounding. I've been doing music production and recording for over 10 y ears, so I can assure you that if you are tight on space and cash flow, but don't want to compromise on quality, this interface is fantastic. You have 2 pro-level, mic-pre's that sound great, with bit and sample rates that far exceed CD-quality sound, encased in rugged, flashy, metal enclosure that is no larger than a wireless router. It is utterly perfect for mobile recording with a laptop, or a home/pro studio. With features like direct source monitoring, phantom power, XLR and 1/4" inch support, and a suite of decent FX plug-ins for your DAW, singer-songwriters, apartment producers, and budding musicians can now capture, edit, and produce professional-level material with any Mac, a Scarlett 2i2, a quality mic, USB keyboard, and a whole lot of imagination and talent. That is utterly amazing considering that 7 years ago, similar capabilities would have required thousands of $, much more space, and more-limited computing power and interface options. You should buy this just to celebrate your freedom from that reality. …
- Written by David M from New York
20 of 21 people found this useful
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Worked great on Lion 10.7, but no longer with Mountain Lion 10.8
Such a lovely piece of kit that worked great for me until I upgraded to Mountain Lion. Now there are endless issues.... Sadly I ca nt "go back" to Lion for software reasons, so am stuck. Focusrite Support have tried to be helpful, but ultimately, there is nothing they can do. So right now, as of this review date. I would AVOID if you're on 10.8.
NB. To be fair, it does say on the Apple site that its only compatible up to 10.7. But of cause, this is not something you're aware of when you hit upgrade. I just presumed that an international company such as Focusrite, would make sure their kit work on the latest Mac Software... I mean, why wouldn't they? Just crazy...! Especially when Apple sell it in their stores.
PS. Works great on my Windows machine, God Bless Microsoft! …- Written by Ross P from Cowes
1 of 4 people found this useful
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Do not buy this box.
This interface has issues with clipping audio. The guitar input has trouble handling the direct input from electric guitars and b asses. It just clips. Also, if you are planning to have anything loud come in through a mic that doesn't have a pad built in, it will also clip. This is not just my user experience. For more user complaints re: this issue go look up sound on sound magazine and type 2i2 clipping in the search. …
- Written by Don S from Vancouver
5 of 10 people found this useful
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Superb
Sound quality and ease of use/setup are amazing! Worked seamlessly with my Mac.
- Written by Roy M from Stony Creek
Questions & Answers
Answers from the community
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can this be used with turntables? mixing records
- Asked by Adam C from Germantown
- Mar 24, 2013
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Is this one good for recording digital piano casio px350 and microphone (scalett microphine or at2035) simultaneously? The best DAW for that?
- Asked by Anastasiia P from Falls Church
- Mar 16, 2013
Answer
Yes and no. Yes you can record piano and vocals at the same time however, It only has 2 inputs so yo u can only record mono piano and mono vocals. …
- Answered by Eric B from Seattle
- Apr 12, 2013
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Would the Scarlet 212 be compatible with a 2001 Kurzweil SP 88 digital piano.
- Asked by Whitney W from Overland Park
- Aug 7, 2012
Answer
Scarlett does NOT support midi interfaces -- so you would be better off with an interface that has m idi in and out that Garageband can recognize. M-Audio Fast Track sounds like it could work, but I'm sure there are cheaper options out there. …
- Answered by David M from New York
- Sep 7, 2012
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can you use the scarlett 2i2 with ipad 3?
- Asked by Michael L from Huntington
- Oct 25, 2012
Answer
I have an IPAD 3 with IOS6 loaded. I bought the Scarlett and a belkin powered usb hub. I am using Multitrack DAW as it will record 24 bit audio and allow you to record multiple channels at once. I hooked up the interface and I did not recieve any errors. Multitrack saw the interface as the input switched over to stereo and allowed me to arm two tracks pointing one to mono 1 and the second to mono 2. I will report back after I have actually recorded to both...but so far it looks good. …
- Answered by William M from Camp Hill
- Oct 26, 2012
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I was wondering if this can be used for Garage Band, and not just the plug-in suite it comes with.
- Asked by Caleb T from Quincy
- May 18, 2012
Answer
The 2i2 can indeed be used with Garage Band or Logic. Once the drivers are installed,it can be sele cted as the sound input or output for anything running in OS X. I am running mine on my Mountain Lion Air. …
- Answered by Thomas P from Richmond
- Aug 29, 2012
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What is the difference between the focusrite scarlett and the M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4-Input. Are these decent for a beginner? What else is needed?
- Asked by Rachel B from New York
- Apr 10, 2012
Answer
THe difference is that the MAudio would let you have 4 inputs simultaneously, and the Focusrite is l imited to 2. Sounds like that the Focusrite would meet your needs; I included a review of the product. I am new at this too, and as I stated in my review, you would need the Focusrite, a good Microphone, and any of the Blue Line is highly recommended; a microphone stand, and a cable to plug your guitar in, if you are recording electric. You can plug both the guitar and mic in, and the mic will lay another level of sound on the direct input instrument, giving it a richer deeper sound. In the Forums, they highly speak of Focusrite's audio quality so it is a good buy. If you buy the Focusrite or the M Audio, you wouldn't need the devices like the Yeti and Yeti Pro, as the Focusrite is a USB interface, you only need to add a MIC. THe Yeti and Yeti Pro are Usb interfaces and Mics, the Apogee one is an interface and mic, and the Apogee Duet is an interface. Hope this helps! …
- Answered by Chester A B from Kingsport
- Jul 6, 2012
