Best Audio Interface Under $500? Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen Review
Vložit
- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- Are you looking for a great audio interface with tons of I/O, great sound quality, and a price under $500? The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Generation could be the one for you! Check out my video review, which goes over the features, installation, and an audio test of the unit that pushes the preamp in the Focusrite to its max. Stay tuned until the end for my impressions using the unit daily for 2 weeks, plus my final recommendation. Thanks for tuning in - and hit those Like and Subscribe buttons for more audio tech reviews coming your way!
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 on Amazon: amzn.to/2BpBsZQ
If your I/O needs are more modest, I also use and recommend the Focusrite Scarlett Solo: amzn.to/2QXCXsb
How to Delete Audio Preferences on Mac OS X: support.focusr...
Problems with your Focusrite interfaces? Check here: support.focusr...
My Video Gear:
Canon EOS Rebel SL2: amzn.to/2Bl5fTH
Canon EFS 18-55: amzn.to/2S4tuwq
Neewer 176 LED Light Stand Kit: amzn.to/2S4yMbc
Viltrox L116TLight: amzn.to/2Bp3GUE
THE MOST in depth, helpful and well done review ive found while trying to figure out if the 18i20 is right for me - thanks!
I could listen to this guy all day and not get tired or annoyed. Great presenter and review.
This is easily one of the best reviews for gear out there. Keep up the great work man.
Thank you Juan - that means a lot and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I've used it for home recordings. It's a great piece of gear. Nice review ,Rokken!
Thanks Luke!
I am a student engineer as well as producer. I have been looking at upgrading some gear in my home studio just to improve the quality and it helps all the local artists I work with. After watching this, I for sure want to purchase this gem now. Thank you for a great in depth, quick to the point review. You didn’t bs around you made everything very clear! 👌🏻
I ended up purchasing the 18i20 and I love it! Your review was the best one I found. All your reviews are super high quality and helpful. Subscribed :)
Thanks dude - I really appreciate that!
I've been searching for a new audio interface. Been looking at this unit.... and this review helped me make my decision. Thanks
You're welcome Sleepy Eyez - enjoy it!
Thank you again for the thoughtful video. And you did say pretty much exactly what I said in my comment on your original video - Most importantly it's up to "you" and what "you" like and hear. I'm also glad you mentioned about not getting in the trap of trying to buy better gear to make your music better. It won't.
Honestly I've heard extremely talented people make tracks with a cheap MXL mic and Behringer interface, and those tracks would blow away stuff I've heard by bands in a full pro studio. Because of the emotion and energy by the performer. The performance is everything. But if you have the means, absolutely buy the best gear you can afford. It's only money and you only live once. Rock on.
yes is true! i like this interface, my is the 1st gen Scarlett ... works well to
Thank you so much. This was very helpful. I just received mine a few days ago and I’ll register it this weekend. I have some monitors I can’t wait to blast now. Best review of gear I’ve seen so far. You’ve got a new fan!,
Thanks Leroy! I think you're going to be VERY happy with the Scarlett, and am looking forward to hearing what you create on it!
Mike Rokken appreciate that. Make sure you subscribe.
Thank you for the very thoughtful and comprehensive review. Definitely helping in my deliberations!
Great review Mike. Some brands of audio interfaces suck up a lot of CPU, making CPU usage to go through the roof. I've read a review where someone with issues switched to Focusrite and their CPU usage problem was solved. What experience have you had with the Focusrite as far as cpu usage goes?
Hi Vlad - I'm happy to say that the Focusrite is very easy on CPU. It's process, called FocusriteControlServer, is only using 0.4% CPU on my Mac Mini. Thanks for bringing that up... I'll be sure to cover CPU usage next time I review an audio interface :)
Thanks my G. Getting one this weekend. Mainly to hook all 4 keyboards up and be able to adjust gain from the hardware itself. I have the other focusrite 6 and I hate having to open that damm software app up to adjust levels
Great review, very helpful. I have an SM7B and your test sold me!
Thank you, Vermont - The SM7B and Scarlett are a great combo!
Thanks for a really well done review. I'm a beginner and the information and explanation is verifying what I had hoped this unit can do for me. Can't wait to get one.
You're welcome Cindy, thanks for watching!
Looks good. Looking for a more capable interface with ADAT I/O to replace my Focusrite Scarlett 6i6. For the price this looks pretty bloody spot on. Excellent review.
Nice one Mike, the Scarlett range is solid, especially for being so inexpensive.
Thanks Nagasaki!
if u guys had to choose between the scarlett 18i20 or clarett pre4, what would u guys choose?
Hey Gabriel - They both sound fantastic, but the main difference besides the form factor (rack mount vs. tabletop) is that the Scarlett is USB, while the Clarett is Thunderbolt. There are some other important differences, check here for a comparison: compare.focusrite.com
This is a great video! I'm actually recording a video next week and I'm renting an 18i20 using SM7Bs. I currently use a 6i6... but this is great!
great review man
Thank you Mario!
Nobody talking about that Snake Plissken shirt??????
Hi, great video dude! I have a question... 8 channels with phantom power cannot work at the same time??
Great info thanks.
Solid review bruh
I have lots of issues with my Mac sleeping and logic loosing my interfaces (I have a 6i6 and an 18i20 now). I usually go into my preferences, Audio then unselect/reselect my interface (or aggregate device when I have my AxeFx plugged in also) and hit apply. Logic with recycle and pick up the interface again. Sometimes my Scarlett’s 6i6 will turn off though and I’ll have to cycle power again. Keep rockin’
Hey 2, an easier thing that works for me when it looses connection... you just flip the on/off switch on the Focusrite. Try it and see if it works for you.
forget the audio interface...WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SHIRT?!?!?
You have an awesome channel I subbed
Thank you Random!
You're welcome +1 sub :)
Hi, thank you for the video. Your video was one of the reasons why I choose this model. It's been few months, but still can't figure out what's the problem. When I go to Device Settings it says ''No inputs with software controls''. I see that at 5:54 you don't have a panel to switch from Mic to Line as well. Did you experience the same problem?
Waiting to see his reply?
@@kevinacres1699 Miracles happen.
nice......thanks for the answer
how to use 20 out-puts? or why? I am not a music professional just watching the reviews to buy one to play rocksmith. which one would you recommend me to buy?
Out of curiosity- what is your primary higher end audio interface?
Hey man. I m actually going to be ordering this same interface with the shure mic you used. Does it need a cloudlifter or would pro tools be able to boost the gain enough for vocals?
Hi Tanner - you do not NEED a Cloudlifter, the SM7B with the Scarlett will give you a very usable signal that you could further boost inside Pro Tools if you need to. I would recommend you try it first without the Cloudlifter, and you can always order it later if you want to. That way, you don't spend any $$ that you don't need to.
Would it be a good idea if I am new to recording to purchase a used focusrite 2nd gen 18i20? Will it still work for years and have software available for it? The 2nd gen is for a good deal and having the additional mic inputs may be cool for recording demos. However, my intention was just to get a focusrite 3rd gen 18i8. So I guess my question is this. If I found a 18i20 2nd gen for $320 used or a 18i8 3rd gen for $399. Which one makes more sense?
Just wondering if anyone has tried using this 2nd gen 18i20 with OS X 10.9.5? It isn't officially supported on the Focusrite website but it says it may work due to class compliance. I can't upgrade my OS because I'm using Logic Pro 9.1.8 and upgrading would make this incompatible. I have a 1st gen 2i4 that works without any issues.
Is this suitable for recording drums, I need 12 inputs, this one only actually seems to have 8 as far as I can see (despite the name), unless I'm missings something?
Here's the solution for all 18 inputs: support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/206850129-How-do-I-use-all-18-inputs-on-the-Scarlett-18i20-
hey mike thanks for the video. could you find any solution for the problem, with driver/sleeping?
Hi Freedom - the only solution I found was to quit my DAW (Logic) before leaving my Mac unattended for too long. That seemed to correct the problem when awaking it from Sleep mode.
Ive always used a PCI Express sound card, but I'd like to switch to this USB3 to save an express slot. Im worried about the latency of USB3 vs PCI-E. Is there a difference in latency, with respect to playing VST instruments and using multiple VST plugins at once in Pro Tools?
setting up my focusrite on my table for 1h, then I realized I must pull it out again under all the things on top, because I need to look at the serial number. screw my life
I've done that before too :)
Hello Im trying to stream my little rock band, Is this gear right for me ?
i have my drums set up with the focus rite 18i20 2nd gen but i need 2 more tracks for a bass and guitar on my mac..how can i plug my focus rite 2i4 to my focus rite 18i20 to add 2 more tracks
use the adat
Hey. Top review. How has this device held up since your review?
Also my DAW pc is connected to a 43inch 4K tv. Do you think this would work as an AV receiver so I could use the TV's optical sound out to the Scarlett's optical in and therefore use my studio monitors and subwoofer as the speakers for my tv? My old Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 was able to do that but unfortunately that is Firewire which I dont have on my new pc.
Nevermind, found out it works only with the spdif coaxial input on the Scarletts (so optical to coax converter needed) but does work on the Saffires, Claretts and Red interfaces.
Glad you found the answer to the optical question. As to your other one, I'm happy to say the unit has held up very well and is working great. Occasionally it will lose connection if my Mac goes to sleep overnight, but a simple flip of the on/off switch on the Scarlett restores the connection.
And where did you come up with that cool outro music??
Hey Mr.C - I think it's from the CZcams Audio Library. They have a lot of tracks in there you can use for free.
newcomer here. The phantom power CON... what's that in layman's terms? I understand what phantom power is but could I run mics that don't need it alongside one that would, hypothetically? For a small home studio, do I need phantom powered mics and/or are they generally preferable?
Here's my 2 cents. There are definitely some mics that can be damaged by the 48v phantom power, so you'd need to be very careful when you're using 2 mics at the same time when only 1 mic needs 48v. As you'll find, mics are all over the place when it comes to what's best for which purpose, but I'd say you'd almost certainly encounter this situation at some point. Condenser mics usually need 48v but wow, they're usually astonishing in what they pick up -- think crystal clear vocals or acoustic guitar. But if you're recording a loud 4x12 guitar cabinet, a tried-and-true Shure SM-57 won't disappoint.
Most of the nicer mics should be fine and will ignore phantom power if it's not using it, but always make sure that switch is OFF when plugging in 2 mics. I encounter the same worry using one Audio Technica AT-2035 condenser that required 48v and a Shure SM-57 dynamic that didn't. To use them simultaneously, I made 100% sure the SM-57 would simply ignore the 48v power -- and of course it does. Hope that helps.
About to get one of these, my question is: do I get to separate all the 8 inputs to separate tracks or is it 2 inputs as L and R?
You can certainly separate them as 8 separate tracks. You can route each input to whichever track you want.
Is the sound floor better on the Scarlett 2nd gen than the Saffire Pro 40?
Maybe the answer is buried in the specs, but....when upgrading from say, the 2i4 to the 18i20, are you paying the higher price just for the extra I/Os or is there an actual upgrade in the pre-amps as well? Thanks!
Hi Don - I do not have any experience with the 2i4, but you might be able to dig around on Focusrite's site and find the answer: focusrite.com/
I'd suspect you're only paying for more IO rather than sound quality
nice pro video Mike. My channel uses it for a Live youtube maker show. 5:40 is Valuable
Hey. Can you send channels from your daw to a mixer for external processing with it.
Does the 2nd gensupport 5.1 aswell?
Hey so my 18i20s dim switch keeps flicking on and off. Anybody have any ideas?
What type of connections should the computer have? And about how many of each?
Hey Kevin - all you need is a USB cable to interface with your computer.
It's because it's a USB unit. Not waking... just my guess.
Can we connect to the studio monitors with XLR?
I can’t get line outputs 3 onwards to work (either on headphone or other outputs I prefer). Only 1-2 (which of course are specifically “monitors” and not just a line outputs) are outputting audio. Tweak with the focusrite control but still not getting any sounds on those mentioned outputs. Any help would be really appreciate. And thanks in advance!
Hi Paul - please try Focusrite tech support here: support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb
It says 18 Inputs but I only count 8. Am I missing something?
Yes, the 10 inputs right next to the 6 xlr inputs at the back lol
I am wanting to get a high end audio interface for recording vocals, what would you recommend thanks
uad apollo
HOW DOES THIS WORK WITH PC WINDOWS 10 IS THERE KNOWN LATECY PROBLEMS
Check this page for compatibility info, Frank: support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/206849319-Windows-10-Compatibility
also had problems with several focusrites but aparrently not a single presonus interface:D
How many octopre pres can connect to it?
Hello! I have that interface and I'm having problems. I can't hear anything in my headphones. What can I do?
Hey Shirley - sorry for the delay. Check your volume knob on the front where the phones are plugged in, and then check the Focusrite Mix Control software to make sure the headphone volume is turned up there too.
Have you used midi with this? I saw another envies where some say it drops out
Hi Dennis. I haven't tried out the MIDI on it so can't comment on that.
I use midi with it, works smoothly with no issues
Windows 2
Is the same on the 18i8 ..also do you use a pcie usb card?
Hi Sco B - I'm going straight from the Scarlett to a Mac via USB, no card.
Weird I am issue with a Audio hiccup randomly. What intel processor and whats you setting in daw...1024 buffer muti processor 48k 16bit ? I love this interface but the playback sucks. I get making music and then all of sudden crackle and back to the music basically a small glitch. GC says i cannot return it but heard other people having the same issue ..suck because my m-audio playback is flawious but the pre-amps suck .....maybe i can set the my 1814 firewire to windows only and focusrite just for abelton. seems to be a window issue taking control of the unit and yes i uncheck the windows prgram exec in properties.
I'm on a 2017 iMac and the 18i20, so can't speak on your problem in Windows. However, crackles and glitches with any interface are almost always an issue with DAW settings beings set too aggressively for hardware. Try lower resolution and sample rates. Also, check here: support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb
Does the 18i20 also suffer from BSOD?
Sorry but for me the Behringer umc1820 is better sounding for under € 500,-
Hello sir.....can u plz explain how to use it? because iam new user.
your beard grew
Thanks for comparing the preamps to something else in quality.
is there a reason why its so cheap?
Hey Dylan, I believe Focusrite just have so much experience making gear over the years that they have efficiency of production down to a science and can make units better/cheaper than everyone else, without compromising the audio quality like other companies. The fact that the Scarlett line has several different versions also enables them to develop the tech once, then duplicate it in different I/O configs at a lesser cost than creating new models every time. amzn.to/2Swp1CV
Sub’d too
too bad the idiots refuse to use USB 3.0 on these interfaces. WTF is the deal with that.
I m happy i didn t buy this focusrite shitter and found a used motu ultralite mk4 instead for a good price i love the motu
Are you on meth?
Make the soundcraft ui 24 the same work.?