Recording - April 2015 - 36

BY DARWIN GROSSE

Focusrite

Forte

As studio racks shrink into laptops, the audio interface takes on
a greater role for the recording enthusiast. Where the interface
used to exist solely for the purpose of moving audio into and out
of the computer, now it does extra duty as a monitor controller,
mixer, metering system, and even MIDI controller. While there are
many configurations of interfaces available, one of the most useful
but underappreciated formats is the 2-input, 4-output interface.
What's so useful about this particular setup? Well, first of all, few
people working alone have a need for more than two input channels. If you are a vocalist, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist or other
non-drum instrumentalist, two inputs will get the job done. But having output flexibility is where it's at; being able to maintain a headphone mix that is different from the monitor mix can make overdubbing a dream rather than a nightmare.
A popular addition to this do-a-lot class of interfaces is the
Focusrite Forte. The Forte is a paperback book-sized desktop box
that at first glance calls to mind the layout of similar devices from
other makers-it has a large encoder, a nice display with attractive metering, a front-mounted headphone jack, and a series of
rear-mounted I/O jacks. So how is it different from those other
boxes, and how do you know if it is right for you?

A portable audio interface with a lot to offer
Features, functions, form factor
The Forte interface is packaged in a now-common format: a flat desktop unit with controls and display on the top and wiring coming out the
back. This format is common because it works; you can set up a studio
on a desk or tabletop with very little mess. There is a front-mounted headphone jack, a large multipurpose control encoder, and an OLED display
that shows both status and levels. There is also a touch strip that allows
you to choose the function of the knob and display, switching between
input levels, speaker levels, headphone levels and DAW control.
While the top of the unit is squeaky-clean, the back is pretty
crowded. There are the two main (speaker) outputs, a USB connection for the computer, and a power cable. There is also a multipin connector that is used for the input harness-a breakout cable
that provides two microphone and two line inputs to the system.
One thing to note regarding the power connection: while you
can power the Forte from the USB port of your computer, this will
cause the Forte to operate in "Low Power" mode-a mode where
phantom power is not available and the output levels are reduced.
Having the ability to use the device without a power connection is
certainly useful for those times when an ultra-portable setup is
required, but for my tests I chose to always use the wall wart power
supply, since the output levels were important to me.
Let's get back to those connections. The breakout cable contains
two XLR mic connectors and two ¼" TRS line inputs, even though
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RECORDING April 2015

the Forte is only a two-input interface. This works out pretty
well, since you can connect microphone and instrument
inputs as permanent fixtures in your studio, then switch them
using the on-device programming or the provided Mac- and
Windows-compatible Forte Control software. You aren't limited to just "both XLR" or "both TRS", either; you can use any
combination of two input jacks to get the job done.
Changing the input selection couldn't be easier: you can
do it at the device by pressing on the input icon on the touch
strip, touch it a second time to jump from one input to the
other, then hold the icon for a second until the display comes
up. From there, you can select a setting to change, and press
the encoder to change values. In fact, there isn't any feature
that can't be set on-device. Of course, if you are more comfortable with using the software interface, that's available
too; I just happened to really like the Forte's onboard system.
The Forte's speaker connections are two balanced ¼" TRS
jacks built directly into the unit. This is useful, since it means
that you can do monitoring without the breakout cable connected to the interface. While this makes the back of the unit
a little more crowded, it is helpful because the breakout cable
is a little stiff, and isn't always cooperative when you are trying to route your cables on a desktop. I can easily see performers and producers using the Forte without ever connecting

Recording - April 2015

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