Scarlett 2i2 and low end tone suck

[Real Soon]

Hrm.

Have you done a similar comparison with audio that's actually recorded in GarageBand vs what's coming straight from the VU2?

Also, do you have speakers connected to the Scarlett's line outs? And if so, how's the difference there? I'm wondering if maybe the issue is the headphone monitoring circuit. It's not impossible that preserving the low latency with high-fidelity audio involves some manipulation of the signal to reduce bandwidth.

I haven't heard any such issues with my Clarett 4Pre, but I know that's not quite the same beast. You could have a faulty unit, or the headphone monitoring could be filtered a bit by design.

Another test is: does your computer have a separate onboard audio output? If so, you could record some stuff, export that to .wav or .mp3 or whatever format works, and play it in a media player using the onboard drivers. If it's still thin, that's proof there's a real problem with the Scarlett's actual recording functionality.

 

[rohi]

I'm not 100% familiar with Focusrite's control/routing software, but is it possible you're routing the signal in such a way that it's audible through 2 different sources? Such as the Focusrite Control software and also your DAW? This would introduce phase issues which could lead to a tinny sound and also explain why the straight headphone out from the pedal sounds different than the interface output. I've seen this before, but as I'm not explicitly familiar with Focusrite Control, I can't say for certain it's even possible to route the audio in such a way, even accidentally.

 

[PJsaure]

What you are hearing with the headphone output on your Darkgkass pedal is the cabsim.
Just buy an XLR cable, activate the cabsim on the side of the pedal, and you will have the same sound.
I usually plug my Alpha Omega Ultra into a small mixer for practice purposes, and I hear the dramatic difference you describe if I deactivate the cabsim.
Don’t buy another interface to fix this, you are going to be very disappointed in the results.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Thanks!

I could have a bum unit, and it may just be a headphone output thing. It sounds like you have a very similar setup and any such issue (if it exists for you) doesn't matter as the recordings sound great and that's your concern, any monitoring tonal differences are irrelevant.

I am curious - if you plug in headphones to the Vintage Ultra, then compare with the headphone monitor on the Scarlett, if you hear any difference. If so, I can chalk it up to the headphone output on the Scarlett, which wouldn't make any real difference in the long run.

It could simply be that the headphone out on your pedal is tuned to appeal to you as a bass player practicing. We like our low end, so it would make sense that dark glass would supe up the low end on the headphone out. The 2i2 is probably much more accurate. I have the 18i8 and its amazingly accurate.

 

[rtav]

What you are hearing with the headphone output on your Darkgkass pedal is the cabsim.
Just buy an XLR cable, activate the cabsim on the side of the pedal, and you will have the same sound.
I usually plug my Alpha Omega Ultra into a small mixer for practice purposes, and I hear the dramatic difference you describe if I deactivate the cabsim.
Don’t buy another interface to fix this, you are going to be very disappointed in the results.

Problem is I have not loaded any cab sims as I don’t like any of the default ones, and in fiddling with it to account for the difference insured the cab sim button (next to the DI) on the pedal was not pushed in.

So that’s not what I’m hearing, and if it was, it too should be affecting the sound in the Scarlett as it would become part of the overall signal.

 

[rtav]

I'm not 100% familiar with Focusrite's control/routing software, but is it possible you're routing the signal in such a way that it's audible through 2 different sources? Such as the Focusrite Control software and also your DAW? This would introduce phase issues which could lead to a tinny sound and also explain why the straight headphone out from the pedal sounds different than the interface output. I've seen this before, but as I'm not explicitly familiar with Focusrite Control, I can't say for certain it's even possible to route the audio in such a way, even accidentally.

Thanks but it’s not happening. My computer is set to use my speakers as outputs but the 2i2 has a direct monitor button that I’m using to compare the sounds, so I’m directly hearing the signal in the Scarlett. The volume on my speakers is zero, very simply plugging and unplugging headphones from the pedal to the direct monitor headphone output.

 

[Kelly robinson]

This is just a thought but perhaps your AKG's are being driven much better by the Darkglass than the Scarlett . So you now hear a distinct difference between the two sources . The AKG's are power hungry headphones - I have them and a pair of Sony 7506's and there is no comparison in the efficiency between the two - the Sony's are louder and hence sound better at the same volume levels as the AKG's . Just a thought anyway .... Kelly

 

[brianrost]

Try plugging the headphone output of the pedal into the Scarlett instead of using the 1/4" out. It won't hurt anything. As others noted, it could be that the headphone out has pre-baked EQ.

 

[PJsaure]

Problem is I have not loaded any cab sims as I don’t like any of the default ones, and in fiddling with it to account for the difference insured the cab sim button (next to the DI) on the pedal was not pushed in.

So that’s not what I’m hearing, and if it was, it too should be affecting the sound in the Scarlett as it would become part of the overall signal.

As far as I am aware, there is no way to deactivate the cab sim for the headphone output.
There is a default IR loaded in the pedal, I am pretty sure it is the one named Forrester’s punch.

As far as I understood, you are plugging into the Scarlett via the 1/4" output on the pedal. That output is not affected by the cab sim, even with the button pushed in.

Headphones out : cabsim always on
1/4" out : cabsim always off
XLR our : cabsim on or off, depending on the push button state.

Hope it makes sense. But before trying anything else, I strongly suggest buying or borrowing an XLR cable and try that into the Scarlett.
Maybe @Darkglass can help with the issue here.

 

[rtav]

As far as I am aware, there is no way to deactivate the cab sim for the headphone output.
There is a default IR loaded in the pedal, I am pretty sure it is the one named Forrester’s punch.

As far as I understood, you are plugging into the Scarlett via the 1/4" output on the pedal. That output is not affected by the cab sim, even with the button pushed in.

Headphones out : cabsim always on
1/4" out : cabsim always off
XLR our : cabsim on or off, depending on the push button state.

Hope it makes sense. But before trying anything else, I strongly suggest buying or borrowing an XLR cable and try that into the Scarlett.
Maybe @Darkglass can help with the issue here.

Well if I push the cab sim on or off button, there is no difference in sound. It may be different with your pedal than the Vintage Ultra V2; besides I’m running 1/4” out to the 2i2 only.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I just checked on the input specs for your interface.
Frequency Response for both Mic and Instrument.
20Hz - 20kHz ± 0.1dB

No low end rolloff unless you are using a HPF maybe?

I would guess it's a gain staging issue, as the headphone out jack is amplified.
I suppose you could use the headphone out as a more fair comparison.

What happens when you remove the Dark glass?

Good luck,
Dirk

 

[rtav]

As far as I am aware, there is no way to deactivate the cab sim for the headphone output.
There is a default IR loaded in the pedal, I am pretty sure it is the one named Forrester’s punch.

As far as I understood, you are plugging into the Scarlett via the 1/4" output on the pedal. That output is not affected by the cab sim, even with the button pushed in.

Headphones out : cabsim always on
1/4" out : cabsim always off
XLR our : cabsim on or off, depending on the push button state.

Hope it makes sense. But before trying anything else, I strongly suggest buying or borrowing an XLR cable and try that into the Scarlett.
Maybe @Darkglass can help with the issue here.

See this - page 5:
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[rtav]

I just checked on the input specs for your interface.
Frequency Response for both Mic and Instrument.
20Hz - 20kHz ± 0.1dB

No low end rolloff unless you are using a HPF maybe?

I would guess it's a gain staging issue, as the headphone out jack is amplified.
I suppose you could use the headphone out as a more fair comparison.

What happens when you remove the Dark glass?

Good luck,
Dirk

The Darkglass has my bass in and goes out the 1/4” to the input on the 2i2. From there the 2i2 connects usb to my Mac, which isn’t routing sound through the 2i2 but rather to the external speakers connected to my Mac and the volume on it is down all the way.
I set the 2i2 to direct monitor so I can hear the input at that stage then plug the same headphones into the Darkglass and the difference is undeniable.

 

[rtav]

It may be an anomaly with the headphone outputs on the pedal and the 2i2 - I will have to do some recording to see if the difference is only the headphone outputs or if it is a meaningful difference.

 

[Kro]

It may be an anomaly with the headphone outputs on the pedal and the 2i2 - I will have to do some recording to see if the difference is only the headphone outputs or if it is a meaningful difference.

I'd definitely reach out to Focusrite as well if you already haven't, just to see if there is some technical issue that you're experiencing with the 2i2. What you're experiencing should not be typical, and isn't IME.

 

[PJsaure]

Well if I push the cab sim on or off button, there is no difference in sound. It may be different with your pedal than the Vintage Ultra V2; besides I’m running 1/4” out to the 2i2 only.

See this - page 5:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Yeah, normal behavior. The only output which is affected by the cabsim button is the DI out (XLR), which you don’t use as far as I am aware.
So It is normal you don’t hear any difference when pushing the button, both on the headphone out and the 1/4", as they are not affected by it.
The Vintage Ultra V2 and the AOU behave the same way regarding this.

What you are doing is comparing the two outputs which are the most further appart in terms of tone : one with an undefeatable cabsim, and one without any cabsim.

So I stand by what I say, just try an XLR cable to plug into your Scarlett. Or alternatively, try plugging the headphone out into your Scarlett.
You will see that the bandwidth from the Scarlett is more than capable of handling any low end that the Vintage Ultra is capable of putting out.

 

[LoTone]

Recently, I bought this and I am quite fond of it: AXE I/O.
The advertised frequency response is 3Hz to 32 KHz. I am using it only with a 4-string bass though. I do not know how it would react with a 5 or 6-string bass.

 

[PJsaure]

Recently, I bought this and I am quite fond of it: AXE I/O.
The advertised frequency response is 3Hz to 32 KHz. I am using it only with a 4-string bass though. I do not know how it would react with a 5 or 6-string bass.

Not sure if it would really help for the problem at hand here, but with such a large bandwidth, it would definitely be out of the question if it is able to handle whatever you throw at it or not.
I have been completely GASing over it for a few weeks, trying to justify the cost to my inner mediocre bassist...

 

[74hc]

I would venture a guess that your Darkglass is coloring the sound.

 

[LoTone]

Since @rtav has already invested in a nice Darkgalss pedal. It's probably better to work a solution where that pedal is being used for recording instead of buying yet an audio interface.