Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Generation) Review
2x2 USB Audio Interface
- Singers, Guitarists, Podcaster Duos
- USB Type-C Connectivity
- 2 Mic/Line/Instrument Preamps
- 1 Headphone Out, Stereo Monitor Out
- 24-Bit / 192 kHz Converters
- Bus Powered / Mac, Windows, iPad Pro
- Phantom Power, Direct Monitor
- Mic Air Mode, Multicolor Gain Halos
- Compact, Rugged Housing
- DAWs, VIs, Loops, and Samples
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 623,790 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Generation). This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Generation). For example, 91% of 306,795 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Generation) have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 480 Reviews
Simple to use, great sounding audio interface!
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
IMO the one of the best things about this audio interface is its ease of use. On a Mac, it's plug and play using the built in core audio driver. The sound is detailed, clean and hiss free and the pre-amps sound great either with a mic or a guitar/bass direct in. But my favorite thing about this unit is everything is operated by real knobs and switches. No software virtual mixer needed. No one knob that controls 20 different functions. And the round trip latency (7ms on my 2012 MacBook Pro) is low enough that I don't even bother with the direct monitor switch. Probably the best thing I can say about the 2i2 is I can focus on making music and not on troubleshooting why it doesn't work. ... More
Good fit for high-quality mic-ing for Zoom meetings
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Jason on B&H Photo Video
I needed to connect my Sennheiser wireless mic to the computer. I bought a $15 usb sound card that provides separate line-in and line-out 3.5mm ports and it works fine for the price. The 2i2 allows for greater control of the gain and provides a really valuable visual cue: clipping. When I speak, the gain knob lights up. Green is good, yellow is warning and red is bad clipping. What I've learned is that when I test my mic setup before a Zoom call that I'll be teaching on a topic, I can get the gain set just right so it's always green with an occasional blip of yellow (I can't hear any distortion with a brief blip of yellow). However, once I'm on the Zoom call, I notice I put on my teacher's voice and I usually talk much louder than normal, so having immediate visual feedback that my audio is clipping is super helpful so I can turn it down then and there. I've had one complaint/problem with the 2i2. I'm an amateur with this audio equipment, so I don't know if this is common knowledge amongst pros or if it's a feature of the 2i2. I'm also not 100% sure what is exactly causing the problem, but here's my thoughts. At any gain level, I can get crackling, distorted noise. Not super bad, but very annoyingly so, especially for the hundreds of dollars I've now spent on higher end gear. Here's what I think may be causing the problem and how I fixed it: * If I turn the gain up so high that it clips into the red range at all, then when I turn the gain back down, it seems the 2i2 introduces some noise. Turning the gain up or down will change the overall volume (and the noise) but the noise doesn't go away. * Using the app Voicemeeter seems also to produce this noise, but I'm still not totally convinced it's the app at all and not just the 2i2. * The FIX is to go into the Focusrite Control software and Restore Factory Defaults under the File menu. The device will reboot itself in about 10 seconds and the noise is gone. It took me a while of trial and error to find the solution to this. Finally, I also had volume problems. I had good volume in Audacity and Zoom, but in OBS I could barely hear the mic recording. Something to to with ASIO and/or WASAPI low-latency source vs. MME in Windows. Audacity by default (at least in my installation) selects MME, which had no audio problems, but apparently can introduce more latency, which hasn't been a problem for me so far. When I switched to WASAPI source in Audacity, then I got the same low-volume problem as OBS. The fix was to turn up the Sensitivity on the Sennheiser G4 transmitter from -24 to -12dB. Finally I chose the 2i2 over the SOLO version (which is about $60 cheaper) because on the SOLO version you can only output from channel 1 *or* channel 2...not both at the same time. Since my wife and I plan to co-teach some classes on Zoom, we need to be able to have two live mics at once. ... More
Very satisfied with digitizing LPs
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Ron on B&H Photo Video
When my previous audio interface (Griffin iMic) broke I sought a replacement that I could trust to have quality electronics, 24-bit stereo audio, low latency, and musicality. I went for an interface designed for musicians because they need reliability and ruggedness as well as audio quality. I chose the Scarlett 2i2 over a similar Behrenger product because I like the layout of the controls and the connections. Here is what I found: It feels solid - I don't think the internals will easily get shaken up. The dials, switches, and connection sockets feel sturdy and have no play (they aren't loose). Connections were easy. Getting it all to work together with the laptop and stereo took a little fiddling but worked well when I got familiar with all the components. Getting the software is a pain. It took multiple account creations to get the Pro Tools installed and it still won't let me actually run it. Sound is excellent. It is clearly better than the iMic. Signals when recording or playing are strong and clean. Using the highest quality capture and file format gave a pleasing musical tone. I played back a sample I made from an ELO LP and thought, "That's a lot of sound." Channel separation was fantastic, dynamic and frequency range were also very good. The "sound stage" was tall and wide and full of detail. Other notes: To record from LP, I plugged the turntable directly into the Scarlett 2i2, set the #1 and #2 inputs to Line level, turned both dials to max. Results were good with Final Vinyl but better with Audacity. I got best results using OGG; keep sample rate at 24-bit or better (I think the Scarlett maxes at 24). All analog connections to the stereo required 1/4"-RCA patch cords. I got a 5 foot cord and 1 meter cord but it's not enough. I recommend a 6-8 foot patch cord or USB cord (A-B connectors). It powers up if you connect the USB cable to a power block but it won't send any signal unless it's plugged into a computer. ... More
Excellent interface with some great features.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Rip Van Dan on Guitar Center
Was a professional musician on tour in the early 70's. Now weekend gigs are (were) the norm. Bought this after tripping on a wire and pulling my old interface (Behringer UMC202HD) off computer and fell on the floor. Broke the power connection and it would only work intermittently. As expensive to fix out of warranty as it would be to buy a new one, so I stepped up to the Scarlett 2i2 Gen3. Some great features here: • Inputs take either connector (balanced amphenol) or 1/4" plug. • level lights come on around volume controls - green=good, yellow=approaching clipping, red=clipping (causing distortion). Saves you from doing retakes due to distortion. • Push button on each channel for Instrument or mic line levels. When instrument is chosen, a red indicator saying "INST" lights up. That way you know you are matching the line level to instrument or mic for best results. Mics have much lower signal than instrument inputs. • 48v phantom power can be turned on if you're using a condenser mic that needs it or otherwise uses batteries. And a red "48V" light comes on so you know it's engaged. • Direct Monitor has three modes - off, mono, or stereo. • "Air" option changes the way the preamps work a bit. To me, it was a subtle difference totally missed on my bass but noticeable with vocals. • The preamps on the channels really sound good, better than the "Midas" preamps in my Behringer interface. • Another plus is the balance 1/4" outputs on the back. They use the TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) to transmit a balanced signal without the need for the amphenol "mic-type" balanced connectors. Very few other interfaces seem to feature that. But, even though lots of folks use this to hook up to band members using JamKazam, I couldn't do that. The latency was low enough (it's adjustable through the ASIO driver) but my internet upload speed was less than 1mbs and they won't put you through to anyone unless you have that upload speed. Still it's a great audio interface! ... More
A definite step up from more inexpensive interfaces
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Sam on B&H Photo Video
I use the interface to use my computer as a digital reverberation processor. The interface looks solid, using an aluminum case instead of the plastic casing more inexpensive interfaces have. The interface has a high signal to noise ratio and the noise it has is a pleasant white noise instead of the unpleasant whine more inexpensive interfaces have. The interface has reasonable latency for its price. At higher sampling rates, I have seen it have a total round trip latency as low as 6.9ms using the third party ASIO4ALL driver (as measured using RTL utility), or a RTL of 7.8ms using the official drivers for the product. At a 44.1khz sample rate, the RTL I have seen is approximately 11ms. One plus is that the interface is USB powered, leaving me with one less wall wart to deal with in my studio. I have had no issues with ground loops and have not needed to use a transformer to connect it to other devices in my studio. I use the unit at line level so I have not personally evaluated the preamps, except to note that they can increase the signal level it receives to acceptable levels without any noticeable coloration. There are reports from some users that, since this unit does not have input pads, some guitar pickups are too loud for the interface, necessitating buying either a direct box to attenuate the signal, or using the higher end Scarlett 2i4 interface, which, in addition to having input pads, also has MIDI ports and four instead of two outputs. I have not evaluated the software one can download when purchasing this interface; I use outboard gear to record music but reports are that it's quite good. It's a good unit for its price point. Four stars because its latency is a little higher than I would like, and because the lack of pads can sometimes be an issue for guitar players. ... More
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The best preamps I've ever heard
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by wmb1969 on B&H Photo Video
I am recording a solo vocal hymns and praises for church and I have tried all kind of audio interfaces that are available for home recording and non of these interfaces gave me the professional sound that I've been seeking. Since I am recording only vocals, therefore the entire focus is on vocals so they have to be loud, clear and sweet with no distortion. I have tried the Fast Track Pro, Desktop Konnekt 6, Cakewalk UA-25 EX, the new Mbox Mini, Apogee ONE and Duet FW. None of theses interfaces satisfied me. I've tried all of them with AKG 220 Perception and AKG C414 B-XLS. I finally tried the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 with the Blue Spark Mic and it was perfect, just what I was looking for. I am disappointed that even Apogee Duet with its 75db preamp is not as strong, rich and phat as the Scarlett 55db preamp. The apogee has weak and thin preamps that couldn't handle my strong male voice! The Scarlett preamps are much stronger and warmer than the Duet! This device came with Abelton Live 8 software and Scarlett plugins, which is a great tool to start recording professionally. I use this interface with GarageBand also, which sounds amazing. You won't regret buying this interface, I sold my old gear Duet FW and AKG C414 and bought the Scarlett 2i2 with the Blue Spark and I'm getting much better results. The sales man in B&H let me try the mics in the audio room and it was very helpful. ... More
Best Bang For The Buck Period!!!
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Telstar on Guitar Center
Can't say enough good things about this interface. 3rd generation is a huge upgrade over second gen. Air function makes this a no brainer in this price range! Amazing sound! You will not find a better deal at this price point in my opinion. Buy it already!
Big improvement, easy to use
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by pat on Guitar Center
I did not have a preamp and struggled with getting a good signal into GarageBand for recording. This unit is a plug-and-play preamp that easily and quickly brings in a great sounding signal. The price is right and the results are a big improvement to what I had before.
Excellent USB audio interface
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Rahul on B&H Photo Video
I am using the Scarlett with 2 CAD M179 mics. One question that surfaced was whether the Scarlet 2i2 can supply the current the M179 needs. The information is not documented, but Focusrite support told me that the device is capable of supplying 14mA per channel. Relief!Setting up the drivers was easy, though not without some head scratching. I am relatively new to the recording process. The driver and Ableton was easy to install and start up. Getting the plug-ins going was more complicated. For users who are expert at setting up these components, its simple. If you are new to this, then be aware that you need to change the default directory for VST instruments to the directory where the plug-ins are loaded. It took me a while searching on the web before I figured this out. Note to Focusrite: Your startup guide can definitely be improved to point this out. Other than this one glitch, the setup process was smooth and simple.I have only done a little bit of recording so the device and the included Ableton Live Lite. Its really easy to get going with this package. The product is highly recommended for its overall ease of use, the sound quality, and overall value. ... More
Had to review this, so flipping easy!!!
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Guy from Denver on Guitar Center
Just buy this! Old gigging musician (ex touring road rat) - have many ways to record. Been researching using PC laptop for live tracks, etc. Using Audacity for now. Formally had a digital mixer to connect to PC, horrible connectivity issues, wasted hours EVERY time I tried to use it... Admittedly I'm not all that IT computer savvy. Fought this digital PC conversion for forever (analog GUITAR PLAYER!), paralyzed by research... Was going to buy an expensive Audio interface, but had a friend who recommended Focusrite and Scarlett 2i2 3rd Generation... Here is where it gets good; purchased this unit from Guitar Center on 6.23. Plugged it in, no connectivity issues! Audacity recognized Focusrite immediately, playback and monitoring are in sync, EVERYTHING worked almost too easy? Bought this on Wednesday 6.23, solo gigged with 5 new easily recorded background tracks 2 days later.. Should have made this move sooner. I did not have to download ANY drivers, no hassle set up, pretty much, PLUG & PLAY, for this older musician - this is how technology is supposed to work. For less than $200, I now have another great tool to digitally record. The reason I am writing about how "easy" this was; is I was "frozen" due to my first experience trying to sync up digital mixer, huge hassle for me. But took the leap, bought the Scarlett, not looking back, don't hesitate, EASY, quiet, and Pre Amps sound fantastic for the price! Thanks Memphis and Dave! ... More
Keeps developping annoying bug, last one after barely 3 weeks
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
Reviewed by B S. on Reverb
My device worked fine for 9 mths, but then developed this BOG (detailed in my video) causing any audio running thru it to quickly rise in volume about 20-30% and then repeat the last few milliseconds 3-5x. That made the device completely unusable. The video describes the problem, listen around the 22 second mark. I must have followed the tech support advice to delete dreaded files and reinstall the thing a million times, no cigar, but when I finally got a hold of Focusrite (sadly they don't work on weekends), I was partly relieved that the warranty seemed to have kicked in nicely, and I got a new device after spending time and money to get the old unit back to them. Believe it or not the second - (claimed to be new) Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen - they replaced my original faulty unit with, developed the exact same problem as the first one. Except this time it developed this same problem less than 3 weeks after I received it... The first time around, Focusrite claimed 'rare' hardware faults like that can happen, but how do you define 'rare'? I cannot believe that this is a 'rare hardware fault' as the company claimed when dealing with my first faulty unit... there is something else going on. I went through the hassle of making of video with audio illustrating the issue. You can see and hear it here... https://youtu.be/ht8SYyYNUhY At this point, I just want my money back... I will let you know if that happens ... More
Most Popular For A Reason
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Slug Fingers on Guitar Center
I've been recording for 10+ years, I'm not at a professional level but I like to think I know what sounds good and what doesn't. This interface is great! I was on the fence for a long time, but finally decided to pull the trigger and get the Focusrite, and I'm very happy with it. It's one of the most popular interfaces for a reason. I'd been using an M Audio 2 Track + for a long time, and it was good, but the focusrite has capitalized on my recording quality.
Solid
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Claus on B&H Photo Video
The articles are very well packed. The set seems also to be very sturdy. Sound quality of the interface is terrific. The headphone is ok for it's price. Pretty clean sound, comfortable enough. The ears might get sweaty after a while though. Microphone is solidly built, sound is not bad for entry level. All cables in red are cute detail. For the price you get a load of software and and plugins that, by themselves are already worth the money you pay for that kit. everything works fine on my MacBook - absolutely plug'n'play - but there seems to be an issue with Pro Tools on Windows 10. Can't even download it. Recording to Logic works perfectly. Plugins also registered at start up. Couldn't test it with an instrument yet, but, with voice, latency is barely recognizable in Logic. You'll have to listen very closely. Ableton looks a bit weird to me. Would have preferred Cubase like in the old model (at least for my Windows machine) The microphone doesn't fit into a Samson SP01 shock mount (you need one if you have a table mic stand as bumps are easily transmitted). For a beginner or student, this is a terrific set. You might later on exchange the microphone and headphones for something higher class (the interface is a keeper though), but for student projects or YouTube narrations this kit shines. Verdict: Go for it. You an't get anything better for this price. ... More
Good Hardware, Invasive Software
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by William on B&H Photo Video
The hardware itself is ok, but it's a bit awkward to use and the software it requires does some really sketchy stuff. Focusrite Control auto-starts when Windows does, regardless of whether or not the unit is plugged in. The program itself does not give you an option to disable this behavior; you need to go into the task manager and manually stop it from doing that. But even if you sort that out, you can't actually close the program for real when you're done with it. Sure, it will make a big show about how it's closing when you X out of it, but the program will still be running in the background and in the system tray. You need to kill it in the task manager to truly close it. This is the kind of behavior I expect from malware, not a bare-bones audio program. At this point I would not be surprised if it was also connecting to the Internet and sending data back to a server. Another annoying thing is that you to set your mic input to mono in the Windows system settings, or else it will record only to the left audio channel. (This is intended behavior--the manufacturer even has a page dedicated to this on their website.) I'm returning this and spending a little more money on something from Audient. ... More
Not a Big Fan of This Device or the Company
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Todd on B&H Photo Video
I purchased this product originally for a network because they were looking for a streaming option for BlackMagic. We used the ElGato for video along with this device. Ultimately the audio was just barely adequate. I also bought one for myself thinking it would help with getting better quality during online meetings. The audio in this instance was only moderately helped. You would think with this hardware that it would be fairly simple to operate. But alas it's not. The control panel app is a joke. The manual for the 2i2 is also wanting. I've been forced to go to multiple online videos in an attempt to get answers to my questions, but it's become a very piecemeal effort... a little info here, a little info there. Worst of all, I've made multiple attempts to contact Focusrite's corporate office for various questions. Their customer service is abysmal and slow. Actually, I'm being too kind because the honest truth is that it's a complete joke... as is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. ... More
Great interface
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Shannon on Guitar Center
The interface is great. As a first time user there was a bit of a learning curve so a few things I had to find out for myself. First off...If you previously used "ASIO4ALL" for everything, DON'T USE THAT..use "focusriteASIO" Using ASIO4ALL my recordings were off beat and I had crazy latency. After hours of changing sample rates I found out to just change the setting. I found the direct monitor function to do me no good at all because you can't adjust the volume of the mic to hear yourself properly when you record. You can only adjust the gain which then will distort your recording if you turn it up too high...so...useless. Better to just use your DAW. Also I got running noise from my computer going through my monitors from the interface. Using ground loop isolators degraded the quality of the playback audio. So I found the only options to be deal with it, or pay a crazy amount for a power conditioner. So...I deal. I also didn't hear much difference in my vocals using the AiR filter. I have a decent mic, so maybe it helps lower end ones idk. Outside of those things, it works great! No latency, once it's set up it's easy to use. It seems solid, and I hear it's reliable. I hope I can save someone a headache or two. ... More
GREAT Interface
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
Reviewed by Daryl T. on Reverb
These gen 3s are awesome - I picked this up on a steal so I could have something mobile and comparable to my Clarett 4pre, and I am not disappointed. It’s small, light, affordable and just works really well. Pre’s sound great, I love that they’ve included ‘air’ on these guys, I really like was that option does for my acoustic guitar recordings and actually when I ‘line-in’ my synth too. If you are looking for an affordable interface and only need a couple of mic inputs - stop searching and buy this one. Or if you’re looking for a compact, portable option that actually *feels* like it could survive a nomad kind of life - I’ll say again: you’ve found what you need right here. Build of knobs, and unit as a whole just feels solid. Additionally, the latency comparison between my clarett (which is lightning connection) and this guy at 256 samples was only a difference of about 4ms - it holds it own on every level and sounds awesome and costs a fraction of other big-name interfaces. BUY NOW ... More
Not compatible with Mac?
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
Reviewed by David C. on Reverb
I am unable to write a review because the product doesn't seem to work with Mac Catalina OS... Super bummed. If anyone knows any methods to help my Mac to recognize this piece of equipment, it would be most appreciated.
Nothing Else
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Mike on B&H Photo Video
Used many of these on shows and finally purchased one for myself. Nice and compact, amazing sound quality, and love the USB-C option for direct connection to my laptop. They include a USB-C to A cable in the box which is also helpful for older systems or when you don't have a spare port. Big fan of the customizable gain halo colors. Volume control is nice and smooth without any jumps or audible noise during changes. There is a slightly high noise floor on the 1/4 monitoring output, but it honestly may be my cheap IEMs. Initial setup is a bit more involved than most DACs. Focusrite does a great job of walking you though all the steps. Though I'm not a fan of creating another account to manage the Scarlett, I do appreciate the app support to change all the parameters. Overall this is the only way I'd go for simple live stream audio capture. Extra inputs would be nice if I we're a DJ or didn't have a mixer in front of it, but truthfully not necessary. Can't go wrong here though. ... More
Great Great Great
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by I.C.E.man on B&H Photo Video
I haven't had any problem with mine playing through the monitors. Sorry to the other guy that did have that problem. I love this thing, I have had it for two months now and its sounds wonderful. The mic pres are excellent, the independent volume controls for the headphones and the monitors work great. It is very solid, it has a very beautiful red, almost woodgrain looking finish. Focusrite is the best for basically giving this thing away. The plug ins that come with it are incredible, its worth buying it just for those, then you the mic pres, if you are building a studio on a budget, then don't look any futher because this thing rocks. I'm about to get another one becuase I have two homes, and every one of my producers friends are about to get one. This is by far the best deal on audio interfaces. I say the only way you can beat it is by spending a few grand for one. ... More
