Scarlett interfaces are perfect for people who want to get a start in with home recording and have just started out on their musical journey. They’re not overly expensive, they sound great, and they’re versatile enough to be used for many different types of music-pop, country, and even death metal. (Our favorite!)
There’s no doubt that Focusrite Scarlett interfaces are a good way to go if you want something that will last you through your first few years as a home recording artist!
Some of the key features that you want to be aware of in an audio interface are:
- Build quality
- Connectivity
- Size and weight
- Analog I/O
- A/D D/A converters
- Phantom power for condenser microphones
- Affordability
Build quality
The Scarlett 2i2 is a pretty good build for an interface of its price range. It’s pretty lightweight, but it feels solid enough to not be flimsy or breakable. It has all the inputs that you could want- 3 XLR/TRS combo jacks (two for microphones, one for instruments), two RCA inputs (for stereo line-in recording) and a TRS quarter inch input as well. The unit comes packed with a 2 channel microphone preamp and also includes MIDI in/out. This is great because now you are getting your money’s worth!
The Scarlett 2i2 can record up to 24 bit / 96 kHz audio resolution on either Windows or Mac OS X and it has a simple, clean design that makes it look great on your desktop.
It has phantom power for condenser microphones and also has a low cut filter to eliminate unwanted background noise (this is not available on the Scarlett 2i4)
Connectivity
The Scarlett 2i2 comes with a USB cable to connect the interface up to any computer. No external power supply is needed because Scarlett interfaces are bus powered- this means you don’t have to lose your USB port! The unit also has MIDI in/out for all you MIDI lovers out there.
Size and weight: The Scarlett 2i2 is small enough to fit into a backpack which makes it great if you want to take this recording interface around with you. The Scarlett 2i2 is also pretty light, and weighs only 1.1kg.
Analog I/O
The Scarlett 2i2 has two channel microphone preamp which gives you a great starting point for home recording. The Scarlett 2i4 has 4 channel microphone preamps so if you need more channels the Scarlett 2i4 might be better suited to your needs.
A/D D/A converters
The Scarlett units make use of high quality, low noise A/D converters and industry standard 24-bit conversion sampling rates and convert at up to 96kHz sample rate on Windows and Mac OSX
Phantom Power
This is a real pro feature! The Scarlett 2i2 and Scarlett 2i4 both have phantom power for condenser microphones. It is also good to note that the Scarletts come with a free VSL software suite which allows you to record on your computer, edit, mix and master audio files.
Affordability
The Scarlett 2i2 comes in at only $149 bucks! If you are looking for an affordable way to start home recording this is probably one of the best ways to go because it has everything you need without all those extra bells and whistles that get in the way when you’re starting out with home recording. You can purchase these Scarletts directly from Focusrite’s website or check them out on Amazon here.
1. What is the Scarlett 2i2?
The Scarlett 2i2 is a great interface for any home recording artist. It provides you with everything you need in order to start your home recording career. The Scarlett 2i2 has a quality build, it is affordable, and it only weighs 2 pounds which allows you to take it anywhere.
One of the amazing features of Scarlett interfaces is that they are versatile enough to be used for many different types of music. They sound great and are one of the best interfaces for this price range in the market today.
Focusrite Scarlett interfaces have a build quality that you would expect from the leading brand in professional audio gear. The Scarlett 2i2 is very compact and portable which makes it perfect for people who are on the go. This interface has 1/4 inch inputs and outputs, so you can use it with any instrument headphone jack or microphone.
The Scarlett 2i2 is equipped with two input channels. One is for microphone input, and the other for line input. Besides headphones, the program offers studio monitor output. A condenser microphone (recommended for voice) can be used with the Scarlett interface under phantom power.
2. Benefits of Scarlett 2i2
There are plenty of reasons to use a Scarlett 2i2 for your home recording setup . The Scarlett 2i2 does not require any setup and is a plug-and-play device which makes it easy to use. It’s very compact, so you can take it with you wherever you go. And has the added benefit of being compatible with Windows 7 or later, Mac os x 10.8 Mountain Lion or higher, and Apple ilife (10.7).
3. How to use Scarlett 2i2
As a music producer, you know that getting the best sound is important not only for you, but also for the singer, musician or recording artist. The Scarlett 2i2 provides you with everything that you need in order to get excellent audio recordings.
You can plug your instruments and microphones directly into Scarlett interface in order to capture their sound quality without any distortion. There are two input channels on Scarlett-a microphone input and line input.
You should use Scarlett 2i2 when using studio monitors, headphones or both depending on your preference. If you wish to record using condenser microphones (recommended for recording vocals), Scarlett interfaces provide phantom power which is great news for home recording artists.
There are two output options on Scarlett-headphones out and studio monitor out. You can either listen to your recording process with headphones or use the Scarlett interface in conjunction with studio monitors to achieve a greater listening experience (recommended for beginners).
Scarlett 2i2 is not only affordable but it also has an excellent sound quality which makes it perfect for first time home recording artists. The Scarlett 2i2 is easy to use, allows you to get great audio recordings, and will last you many years of home recording. What more could a home recording artist want?
5. Scarlett price and availability
As we have already established, the Scarlett 2i2 is a great interface for home recording. It is full of features and high quality components which makes it perfect for any home recording artist.
Scarlett 2i2 is easy to use and versatile which means that you can record anything from pop music to metal with this Scarlett interface. What more could a home recording artist want?
Scarlett 2i2 is available at the price range of $99-500, depending on where you purchase from (Amazon or official Focusrite Scarlett website). This Scarlett interface has an attractive design and comes in many different colors including light blue, white, black etc.
It also has a two year warranty which is great news for home recording artists who are worried about it breaking down after only a few weeks or months of using it.
Get Started on your home recording journey!
If you are just starting out in the home recording world, Scarlett 2i2 is a great place to start. It’s not an overly expensive interface and it has two input channels-a microphone input and line input.
These inputs can be used for many different types of music which means that Scarlett interfaces will last you through your first few years as a home recording artist!
In addition, this Scarlett interface comes with phantom power if you want to record using condenser microphones (recommended for vocal recordings).
The Scarlett 2i2 also provides two output options-headphones out or studio monitor out depending on what type of listening experience you would like.
If all these features sound good so far, then go ahead and purchase one today from here.
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