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Scarlett 2i2 users.. i need some help!

gustobassman

I'm only here for the after party..
Supporting Member
Mar 31, 2011
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I'll admit right out of the gate i am totally new at installing/setting up home recording gear. I just purchased the Scarlett 2i2 and i'm having some issues. here they are..

1. I'm having a ton of trouble getting the Ableton Live 9 Lite to work. Each time i open the program i'm asked to authorize my code. I've entered my code and each time i try to "authorize" my code it sends me back to the download page. I cannot save or export anything from Ableton because my code was not "authorized". What the heck am i doing wrong?

2. The 2i2 does work through Reaper. I was able to do some basic tracks last night with no issues. I managed to get the click to work (i said i was REALLY new at this), and record a line as well. However, i could not bring up the Scarlett plug-in suite that i have already downloaded. I have no idea how to do that. Will those Scarlett FX only work through Ableton? I was able to use some effects that i had in Reaper already, but i really wanted to try the Scarlett plug-ins.

3. I also realized i have no drum tracks or samples to use in Reaper like there are in Ableton. To me, the Reaper layout is much more intuitive, but i'm guessing i'll be limited without the drums/samples. Is there any free drum kit/samples out there i can use? Should i just suck it up and figure Ableton out?

So basically i'm totally lost with Ableton, i have a slight grasp of Reaper, and i can't get the plug-ins to work.

Thanks ahead for any help.
 
Sweetwater tech support could not figure out why Ableton would not authorize. We got Reaper running using the included Scarlett plug-ins, but then my new 2i2 took a crap i guess. I'm getting a window saying "the usb device you are trying to install has malfunctioned and will not operate". I recorded one track, unplugged the unit for a little while, came back and plugged in and nothing. Just the beeping it makes when it tries to be recognized by the computer and then i got the malfunction window. Fun fun fun.
 
Reinstall the driver for the Scarlett. Also you can use the drum loops and samples from the other software in reaper if they are standard midi and audio loops. You need to find the folder where able ton put them. You can then map reaper to it or just drag loops right onto a track.
 
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Reinstall the driver for the Scarlett. Also you can use the drum loops and samples from the other software in reaper if they are standard midi and audio loops. You need to find the folder where able ton put them. You can then map reaper to it or just drag loops right onto a track.

Reinstall the Scarlett driver? Easy enough.. Should i uninstall the one that i have in there first? I'll get to the second part of your reply in a bit... I mainly want this thing to work.. thanks!


EDIT: i tried the reinstall, no go. All the unit does is click and light up. And it keeps repeating the pattern. nothing happens. Like i said i got the "malfunction" window earlier, i think this may have crapped out.
 
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A couple of times I've gotten a similar message from my PC with my Scarlett. I turned it off on back of the unit and unplugged the USB cable from the Scarlett. Then I power it back on, then plug in the USB. That seems to do the trick.

FWIW, I use REAPER, never bothered with Ableton.
 
A couple of times I've gotten a similar message from my PC with my Scarlett. I turned it off on back of the unit and unplugged the USB cable from the Scarlett. Then I power it back on, then plug in the USB. That seems to do the trick.

FWIW, I use REAPER, never bothered with Ableton.

I've tried every which way i know of and i keep getting the same result. Mine doesn't have an on/off, it just plugs into USB. I was actually starting to dig what Reaper does, i'm a complete newb, but once i was able to connect the scarlett plug-ins i was having a blast!! The key word there is "WAS"... i'm sure Sweetwater will handle it, they rock..
 
Interesting. I never noticed but the 2i2 is USB powered. My 18i8 has a separate power supply (and a power switch on the back)

If you haven't tried a different USB cable, you might want to do that. If you have a printer, it probably uses the same cable (USB-B)
 
Interesting. I never noticed but the 2i2 is USB powered. My 18i8 has a separate power supply (and a power switch on the back)

If you haven't tried a different USB cable, you might want to do that. If you have a printer, it probably uses the same cable (USB-B)

So out of nowhere it decided to work. I've been using the 2i2 for the last 1/2 hour with no issues. may still return it just in case something is wrong, but i just had success in Reaper and was able to use the Scarlett plugins.. It's safe to say my word of the hour is "Confused".. lol
 
Well that was short-lived. It stopped working about 20 minutes after i made that post last night, and its not working today.
 
UPDATE: Sweetwater rules. Best CS/Tech support i've dealt with. Jim Cooper in tech support got Ableton running like it should and is sending me a new 2i2! I didn't even have to send the bad one back first, he's including a Return Label with the new one. Just awesome service all the way around.
 
Glad you got it figured out dude!! I have same setup, came with ableton 9 lite, ended up hating it tho, switched Reaper and am way happier with Reaper.

No issues yet with my interface (knock on wood haha)

Yeah, i'm not too hip on Ableton either. Makes me wonder why i gave a rat's behind to get it working.. LOL... At least i got it working!

Next step is trying to get the Bass Station software to run. I downloaded it, but i have no idea how to make it run. I read somewhere that the program is a VST/AU (whatever that means) and that certain DAW's might not run it. However from what i gather, the Scarlett Plug-in suite the 2i2 came with is VST/AU as well and i can run those on Reaper with no problems. So, therefore using "windows-math", i should be able to run Bass Station through Reaper too right?