Should you use a Focusrite 2i2 to record your bass?

[JimmyM]

Um, maybe get a different interface?

 

[bolophonic]

I haven't had any problems with clipping on mine. I will now brace myself for a fight…

 

[socialleper]

I use a Gen 2 to record all the time. With slap. No issues.

 

[Matt R.]

I have never had this issue with this piece of gear

 

[2thAche]

I've used a 2i2 for a few years. I've used 4-5 different basses all different; passive / active / direct / through pedals / from amp DI, without a problem. Use the PAD for really hot signals and set the level right. I've never run into a situation where the bass doesn't sound right, not sure what would cause your problem.

 

[brianrost]

the input will occasionally clip with certain guitars with higher outputs. We are aware of this issue with the 2i2 and all we can suggest is to use a D.I box or turn down the output level of the guitar

I paid for the volume controls on my basses, so I use them all the time

TFocusrite Scarlett Gen 4 that has some "Clip Safe" feature. I don't know what it does, but they added it for some reason.

"Plug in to 2i2 or 4i4, and while you're playing, Clip Safe is all ears, checking your levels up to 96,000 times a second – more than the most careful studio engineer. Clip Safe will automatically adjust the gain if you're at risk of clipping, protecting your audio from distortion. No compression. No limiting. No effect on your sound. Lose yourself in the music, without losing any takes."

The "up to 96,000" means it is making the adjustment per sample. This is probably to compete with interfaces that set gain automatically, like the Audient EVO series...plug in your source, press the gain set button, sing or play so the interface can detect the peak input level and then set the gain appropriately. It's a strong selling point for people who want to record without having to understand setting levels.

 

[azureblue]

sounds like the poster is a greenie. I have a 3rd G 212 and a bart pre in my BB5000. I have no problems, because (duh) I make sure the input VC is set properly, and for sure where the halo light does not go red. Plus I check my software input levels before recording and make (as anyone should ) a test run to double check the levels. What I like, when I am tracking skinny string slap bass parts, is to use the "air" button. Works nice for some flat picked parts, too.

 

[JRA]

Sounds like user error to me.

easy to do if you miss your nap time.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

 

[marmadaddy]

I've lost count of the tracks I've recorded using mine. Not one mixing or mastering engineer or producer has had any issue with the tracks I've delivered. Here's an album I recorded with it.

 

[Dbassmon]

Interesting approach the OP has to interacting with colleagues trying to help.

I suspect he may spent his high school career stuffed in a locker and he is attempting revenge on unsuspecting members of the TB community.

Would anyone want to make music or be in a band with this guy?

 

[Medicine Man]

Yeah. I don't see torpedoing a product just because it's possible to overload the preamp gain. I can send too hot of a signal to anything if I try hard enough. Just record with headroom and slam it up to the line with multiband compression during mastering like how we do these days.

 

[Obese Chess]

Neither is true, and yet it's probably the most popular consumer-tier line of interfaces in history with far more people using it successfully than the vocal minority complaining about its supposed shortcomings. If it were truly as ill-suited to the simple task of recording bass via a built-in hi-Z input, why then is it so overwhelmingly successful?

In good faith: it's fine for recording vocals, guitars, and passive basses, which are all fairly common applications. There is no db pad on the 2i2 - there is on all of the other Scarlett offerings - and an active bass, a comparatively less common application, will clip on the 2i2 even at low gain. This problem is more pronounced on Windows computers than Mac, in my limited experience, but it is fairly commonly reported. I got rid of mine for the same reason - I did not have the same issue with the Scarlett 2i4, which does have a pad.

 

[silky smoove]

There is no db pad on the 2i2

There is a pad. You just have to access it via the Focusrite Control software. It's been years since I touched a 2i2, but that's my recollection.

 

[Obese Chess]

There is a pad. You just have to access it via the Focusrite Control software. It's been years since I touched a 2i2, but that's my recollection.

A cursory google search suggests that this is the case, however, Focusrite Control was introduced with the third gen in late 2019 - it's not compatible with the first or second gen - and I had a second-gen. So if OP had a first or second gen 2i2 then he's correct.

And if he had a third or fourth gen, Focusrite should have made that whole thing more clear, because I really had to dig for the information.

The 2i4, in contrast, as well as the rest of the Scarlett line, just has a big button on the front next to each input that says PAD and the instruction manual says "if the signal is too hot and clipping, hit this button to knock 10db off." So, again, I understand his frustration, having gone through the same thing a few years back.

 

[brianrost]

an active bass, a comparatively less common application, will clip on the 2i2 even at low gain.

My active NS Design Radius CR5 has an 18V preamp and actually has lower output when dimed than my AmStd J5 unless I crank up the bass and treble controls.

A Sadowsky preamp has 0dB of gain until you turn up the tone controls. Set them full CCW and toggle from passive to active and the level stays the same.

I guess people just use a lot of EQ boost on their active basses. Most onboard preamps can boost each band 12-15dB.

 

[CatOnTheBass]

This might sound weird but some Focusrite Scarlett owners have reported better performance if they use a higher quality USB cable instead of the provided cable.

 

[Egg250]

Never used this interface. It seems to me, if your signal is clipping, reduce the incoming signal. Turn the volume pot down, use a compressor, use a DI box (like Focusrite advised)....you could also reduce the input gain on the interface itself.

Having never used this interface, I'm sure I'm missing something, but...

 

[silky smoove]

So if OP had a first or second gen 2i2 then he's correct.

If that's the case then the OP is only correct in that it lacks a pad function. They are not correct that it's not an easily resolved concern that anyone can easily address using only the volume knob on their bass with no additional purchases or gear to connect. I don't have access to a gen 1 or 2 Scarlett 2i2, but if anyone wants to send one to me I will happily demonstrate just how simple this really is.

 

[silky smoove]

My active NS Design Radius CR5 has an 18V preamp and actually has lower output when dimed than my AmStd J5 unless I crank up the bass and treble controls.

That's because increased voltage provides additional headroom, not additional output.

This might sound weird but some Focusrite Scarlett owners have reported better performance if they use a higher quality USB cable instead of the provided cable.

Total placebo effect in those cases. A USB cable either works or it doesn't. It's digital. A better cable doesn't provide higher quality 1s and 0s than another, nor does it provide additional 1s and 0s.