Focusrite Scarlett Solo or 2i2?

[1llusion]

Hi,

I can't decide which one should I get. The Focusrite Scarlett Solo seems to be enough and the price is nice, however, the 2i2 seems better in the long run.

What I am looking for is an interface for home recording. I want to record mainly my bass and possibly electric guitar, but I will be most likely doing a recording through a microphone here and there too.

Which one would you suggest? Is there any big advantage of the 2i2 over the solo that I might regret not having in the future? Or should I be looking for something completely else?

Thank you very much!

 

[bholder]

I got the 2i2 for the reason you mention - want a little "room to grow" before I trade up. Worth the extra $$, hard to say. Haven't set it up and tried it yet though. Subbed.

 

[1llusion]

I got the 2i2 for the reason you mention - want a little "room to grow" before I trade up. Worth the extra $$, hard to say. Haven't set it up and tried it yet though. Subbed.

Well, I am trying to find out if it is really that big advantage in the long run. In my past, I have gotten a 4 track Tascam portable recorder only to find out a 2 track would be enough. Can it record the two inputs simultaneously? And... does anybody actually do that (in a home environment)?

 

[Freightshaker]

The Scarlett 2i2 can/does record two signals at the same time and does it darn well. Having two nice mic pre amps in the same box sold me. Unless you're never going to record with friends or band members, I would go 2i2.

 

[1llusion]

The Scarlett 2i2 can/does record two signals at the same time and does it darn well. Having two nice mic pre amps in the same box sold me. Unless you're never going to record with friends or band members, I would go 2i2.

That is the thing if I were to record with my band, two inputs seem a bit low (and wouldn't a proper studio be generally better?). I think I am decided and will go for the solo. Will report back!

 

[Freightshaker]

Support your local studio when you can or the need presents itself. IMHO, even a four channel is not enough for a full band with drums. Your future review of the solo may help others.

 

[1llusion]

Support your local studio when you can or the need presents itself. IMHO, even a four channel is not enough for a full band with drums. Your future review of the solo may help others.

Yeh, for the price of the 2i2 I could get a whole day in one of the best studios in my area. I am not sure if that is good or sad...

Anyway, I found out my local music store had last solo left and none of the 2i2 (so I would have to pay extra for shipping etc...) so I went ahead and bought it. Will report back

 

[KickingBass]

That is the thing if I were to record with my band, two inputs seem a bit low (and wouldn't a proper studio be generally better?). I think I am decided and will go for the solo. Will report back!

Im in a band with 2 guitarists, one of which is the vocalist, and a drummer. We have almost always recorded one instrument at a time. In my opinion it helps us focus on our individual part and listen to our monitor mix just the way we want it. Let us know how the solo goes, I'm very interested in the lightning version myself.

 

[Ender_rpm]

Best of luck with it, but I found I needed the input pads on the 2i4 in order to have any kind of useable gain range with both DI and miced bass/guitar signals. Unpadded works great for DJ/keys level signals, but almost any kind of signifigant signal at the input end overdrives the preamps IME.

And I always want at least 4 inputs for drums, more is possible. You can go into a mixer then just take a master stereo out, but then you have no ability to individually EQ/compress/etc tracks, which may work for you, may not.

 

[1llusion]

So far I am pretty happy with it. I was pleasantly surprised it worked out of the box with Arch Linux. No need for configuration etc. The inputs aren't as hot as people seem to say (I can put the input gain almost over 12 o clock before clipping with Schecter Hellraiser Extreme bass). Should I upload a sound sample?

 

[KickingBass]

So far I am pretty happy with it. I was pleasantly surprised it worked out of the box with Arch Linux. No need for configuration etc. The inputs aren't as hot as people seem to say (I can put the input gain almost over 12 o clock before clipping with Schecter Hellraiser Extreme bass). Should I upload a sound sample?

Sure, why not?

 

[seamonkey]

Some new Thunderbolt series at Musik Messe 2015
Clarett Range | Focusrite

Very expandable, optical I/O for more preamps later

Don't know the prices but sometimes a new line makes existing lines drop in price.

 

[1llusion]

Made a little recording of a practise piece. Not my best take... but anyway: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
So far this little box proved itself to be an excellent practising tool. Really happy with it!

Some new Thunderbolt series at Musik Messe 2015
Clarett Range | Focusrite

Very expandable, optical I/O for more preamps later

Don't know the prices but sometimes a new line makes existing lines drop in price.

I really hope I won't get the "I should have waited" feeling..

 

[12bass]

The Clarett range is more of a premium line with improved preamps and is Thunderbolt only. USB interfaces are not going to disappear anytime soon. Clip sounds good....

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Some new Thunderbolt series at Musik Messe 2015
Clarett Range | Focusrite

Very expandable, optical I/O for more preamps later

Don't know the prices but sometimes a new line makes existing lines drop in price.

(And it includes MIDI i/o)

Pricing and Availability. The Focusrite Clarett range of audio interfaces will be available for purchase sometime in Spring or Summer 2015, with the following US MAP prices: Clarett 2Pre – $499.99; Clarett 4Pre – $699.99; Clarett 8Pre – $999.99; Clarett 8Pre X – $1299.99.
Focusrite Launches New Clarett Series of Thunderbolt Audio Interfaces » Synthtopia

 

[seamonkey]

Made a little recording of a practise piece. Not my best take... but anyway: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
So far this little box proved itself to be an excellent practising tool. Really happy with it!


I really hope I won't get the "I should have waited" feeling..

No, you did good!
It's amazing how good the current interfaces are.

It's just also good to see Focusrite putting digital IO on the smaller interfaces for expandability. Sometimes I just want to carry a small box around, sometimes I want more channels.

Between USB and Thunderbolt - really no big difference or advantage for audio, just better specmanship. With USBc showing up more, maybe even on Apples, it could all settle back to USB eventually

 

[MobileHolmes]

I got the 2i2 pretty much for potential expansion purposes. I figured 2 would let me do some double tracking, either DI and mic for bass or 2 different mics for guitar

 

[Ulf_Hansson]

Between USB and Thunderbolt - really no big difference or advantage for audio, just better specmanship. With USBc showing up more, maybe even on Apples, it could all settle back to USB eventually

Seems Apple will be all about USBc, so I'd try to avoid Thunderbolt. If you buy an interface with nice preamps you'll want to keep it far longer than your current computer.

I'm actually quite surprised Focusrite is releasing TB-only boxes in 2015...

 

[12bass]

Between USB and Thunderbolt - really no big difference or advantage for audio, just better specmanship. With USBc showing up more, maybe even on Apples, it could all settle back to USB eventually

Actually, Thunderbolt facilitates much lower Round Trip Latency (RTL), which means better performance using amp simulators and soft synths, or tracking with effects. Even FireWire is generally better than USB, although RME USB drivers have excellent low latency performance.

 

[villis]

i am digging to a dead thread but its nice to have this information here for someone who is looking for a good interface for his recordings! scarllet solo is a great interface for recording you can listen my recordings in my youtube channel here villis kabas and see it yourselfs!