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Focusrite Scarlett vs. Steinberg UR22

deepestend

deepestend

Commercial User
Feb 21, 2003
6,249
8,171
Brooklyn via Austin and NOLA
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Website and Social Media at Sadowsky
#1
Does anyone have experience with both? I'm trying to decide between the two. For practice, light recording, and hooking up to IOS/iPhone.

Seems like they are basically the same in the end, but having trouble cutting through the online noise.
 
#3
They will perform about the same. If you want MIDI ports or think you may want those in the future at some time, get the Steinberg. If it were me I'd get a Focusrite, only because they're a known quantity.
 
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#4
cornfarmer said:
They will perform about the same. If you want MIDI ports or think you may want those in the future at some time, get the Steinberg. If it were me I'd get a Focusrite, only because they're a known quantity.
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The focusrite does seem like more of a known quantity, which is a reason to lean that direction. I don't care about MIDI.
 
#8
sweepsr said:
I recently switched from my old MBOX3 to a Focusrite Scarlett . I found the sound quality is great and I am much happier. Granted, the MBOX was on a Windows PC (ProTools) and I now use a new iMAC with Logic Pro X so that could have something to do with the better sound quality.
Click to expand...

What Scarlett did you end up getting?
 
#9
The 6i6 in the link. It has dual headphone jacks which is nice for recording with a friend. I have found I can setup and forget about it too. I have my POD plugged into inputs 3/4 , 1 for Mic, 2 for Direct Instrument, and midi to my roland synth. It made things so simple now. I used to have to unplug this and that to get stuff working.
Now I can actually work on becoming a better player, songwriter, engineer, human! :D
 
#10
deepestend said:
Now, I'm leaning a little bit towards just playing ebay till I get the Steinberg for a great price. I just can't tell if the focusrite stuff is being pushed by a super marketing team and that's why I see it everywhere or what.
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Well FWIW Focusrite's been making quality/high end mic preamps for a while i.e. the old Red series. I'm sure the Steinberg isn't a slouch, like I said they're probably going to sound identical to the average user.
 
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#11
cornfarmer said:
Well FWIW Focusrite's been making quality/high end mic preamps for a while i.e. the old Red series. I'm sure the Steinberg isn't a slouch, like I said they're probably going to sound identical to the average user.
Click to expand...

The only real differences between the two seem to be
—the Steinberg has the option to run off of USB power (not bus power), but can also run on bus power as well.
—the Scarlett is $30 more
—the Air option on the 3rd Gen Scarlett

So, probably sound the same, just slightly different options. One has a nicer design and a simpler layout and one can do bus or external power.
—the Scarlett has a much cleaner design and look (which I like)
—MIDI on the Steinberg (not going to use anyway)
 
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#14
deepestend said:
Now, I'm leaning a little bit towards just playing ebay till I get the Steinberg for a great price. I just can't tell if the focusrite stuff is being pushed by a super marketing team and that's why I see it everywhere or what.
Click to expand...

The Steinberg UR242 (not the UR22) ran me around $130 or so from ProStar or somewhere similar IIRC. But it looks like the list price has gone up subtantially since I bought it. The Steinberg is actually a Yamaha product BTW.
 
#19
I have a 1st gen 18i8 which I think is an excellent product. My guitarist friend has a 2i2 2nd gen, which is also an excellent product, but is only powered by the USB port. When he (we) tried using it with his iPad, the iPad complained about the 2i2 taking more power than the tablet could supply on it's USB / lightning port, even with a powered hub connected in the middle as a test, and wouldn't connect to it. My 18i8, which has its own power supply, connected immediately, and the tablet recognized it without a problem.

Food for thought if you are set on using an iPad with this device. On any PC, Windows or Mac, the 2i2 worked immediately.
 
#20
LUpton said:
I have a 1st gen 18i8 which I think is an excellent product. My guitarist friend has a 2i2 2nd gen, which is also an excellent product, but is only powered by the USB port. When he (we) tried using it with his iPad, the iPad complained about the 2i2 taking more power than the tablet could supply on it's USB / lightning port, even with a powered hub connected in the middle as a test, and wouldn't connect to it. My 18i8, which has its own power supply, connected immediately, and the tablet recognized it without a problem.

Food for thought if you are set on using an iPad with this device. On any PC, Windows or Mac, the 2i2 worked immediately.
Click to expand...

Got it today but the adapter for the iPhone doesn’t come till Tuesday. Will report back!
 

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