Recording - February 2017 - 53

desire to use the unit as a standalone mixer,
you can even pre-configure your mixes and
they will be retained in the unit's memory.
Additionally, you also have the ability to
control the unit in real time from your iPad,
iPhone, or iPod Touch, with the free iOS
Control app. All that's needed is a network
connection to the computer interfaced to
the 18i20. This lets you remotely tweak
mixes and monitors in venues or large
studios without being glued to your chair.

Conclusion
I really like the hefty construction of the
18i20, its ease of installation, and how
much fun it is to use, to say nothing of
how great it sounds. Everything is clearly
labeled and really straightforward, almost
to the point that you don't even need to
read the user manual. (I said "almost";
you should read it anyway, just in case
there are little hidden functional gems that
aren't obvious.)

Overall I would definitely purchase this
unit and use it as my studio hub for I/O
into my DAW (Cakewalk SONAR on Windows 7 and 10), which I intend to do. It
has sufficient analog I/O that my small
studio will be completely wired in, even
without adding any additional digital I/O,
and that's what really sells it for me. I still
have room for expansion!
Bottom line: you'd be hard pressed to
find the combination of quality preamps,
simultaneous I/O options, and controllability
at this affordable price anywhere else.
Price: $499.99
More from: Focusrite, www.focusrite.com
Allen Goodman (goodman@recording
mag.com) is a guitarist, keyboardist, composer, and recording musician, living and
working in the Denver area.

Scarlett On The Go:
The Scarlett 2i4
While Allen was gleefully rewiring
his studio to get working on the
Scarlett 18i20, I was enjoying one of
its smaller siblings. The new Scarlett
Range boasts six new units, all of which
have the improved preamps and high-impedance input sound quality promised in the new
lineup. The three largest units-the Scarlett 6i6, 18i8, and 18i20-have the remote Focusrite
Control capability as well. To cover the lower end of the range, I had a look at the Scarlett
2i4 ($199.99), the largest of the bus-powered portable Scarletts and the larger sibling of the
Scarlett Solo and Scarlett 2i2.
Housed in a sturdy red tabletop box with nonslip rubber feet, the 2i4 sports two front-panel
analog inputs with Amphenol combination XLR/TRS balanced jacks. Each input has a PAD
button and a LINE/INST switch as well as a Gain knob with Focusrite's classy and useful LED
halo to instantly see signal presence or clipping. There's a global 48V button for both inputs,
MIDI and USB connectivity LEDs, Direct Monitor control in mono or stereo with a mix knob for
the live inputs and playback from your DAW, a large and smooth Monitor level pot, and a 1/4"
headphone jack with level control and-the real joy of this slightly larger and costlier version
of the world-renowned 2i2-a switch to select which of the two output pairs it's listening to.
The rear panel has two balanced TRS outputs, four unbalanced RCA outputs (two of
which are identical to the balanced pair), MIDI I/O, and a USB B port for connectivity and
bus power. The unit can't be externally AC powered, which is no loss at all.
I've had years of experience with Focusrite interfaces, and as much as I've loved the
Scarlett Range of days gone by, I could hear significant improvements in the new models.
I borrowed an original Scarlett 2i2 from a friend and compared it to the new 2i4. While the
mic inputs were maybe a hair clearer, I felt the Hi-Z instrument inputs offered significantly
more clarity and dynamic response for my finicky piezo-pickup instruments.
Having four outputs is fantastic; not only do I work with mixes in quad (I know, I'm such
a throwback), but a second output pair for cue-mix work has proven very handy when
playing live. If that's not something you need, the Solo or 2i2 will suit your needs perfectly
well and save you a few dollars in the bargain, but it's hard to argue with how much you're
getting for your money in the Scarlett 2i4.-MM
RECORDING FEBRUARY 2017

http://www.focusrite.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - February 2017