Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio 4th Gen User manual

Scarlett 2i2 Studio 4th Gen
User Guide
The complete studio for the artist
Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen Studio PackUser Guide
Version 3.0

Table of Contents
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
What's in the Box? .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
System Requirements ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Soware System Requirements ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Getting Started ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Powering On your Scarlett ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Easy Start ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Windows ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Mac ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
All Users ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
What is Focusrite Control 2? ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Installing Focusrite Control 2 ................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Manual Registration .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Disabling Easy Start .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Hardware Features ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Front Panel In Depth ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Setting Preamp Input Gain .................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Select Button ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 13
48V Button (Phantom Power) ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Inst (Instrument) Button and Line Level Inputs ............................................................................................................................................................ 15
Auto Gain .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Multichannel Auto Gain ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Clip Safe Button ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Air Modes .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Output Control and Level Meter ............................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Direct Monitor Button ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Headphone Output ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Back Panel In Depth ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22
USB Connections ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Speaker Outputs ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Microphone Inputs .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Studio Pack Accessories ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
CM25 MkIII Microphone ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 23
SH-450 Headphones ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
DAW (Recording Soware) Setup ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Logic and GarageBand ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 26
Ableton Live ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Pro Tools ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Reaper ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31
FL Studio ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Cubase ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34
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Examples of Use ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 36
Connecting Inputs and Outputs .................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Connecting Line-Level Devices ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Loopback ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 37
Standalone Mode .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Focusrite Control 2 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Focusrite Control 2 Settings ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 39
Sample Rate (kHz) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Analytics ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Updating ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Updating Focusrite Control 2 ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Updating your Scarlett .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 41
Specifications ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 42
Performance Specifications ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Physical and Electrical Characteristics ............................................................................................................................................................................. 43
Channel Order ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
CM25 Mk III Microphone Specifications ............................................................................................................................................................................ 44
SH-450 Headphones Specifications ................................................................................................................................................................................ 45
Notices ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Copyright & Legal Notices ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Credits ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen Studio Pack User Guide
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Overview
Introduction
Welcome to the Scarlett 2i2 4th generation.
We've designed the Scarlett 2i2 for the artist who never stops creating. Get studio-quality sound
wherever you are with the latest generation of Scarlett:
• Make the most of any mic or guitar with +69dB of gain on each input.
• Set your levels in seconds, and never lose a great take again with Auto Gain and Clip
Safe.
• Re-engineered Air mode with Presence and Harmonic Drive.
• Remote control your preamps using our Focusrite Control 2 soware.
• Record straight out of the box with Easy Start and a complete suite of studio soware
included.
What's in the Box?
The box for your Scarlett 2i2 includes:
• Scarlett 2i2
• USB-C to A cable
• Getting Started Information (printed inside the box lid)
• Important Safety Information sheet
• Scarlett CM25 MkIII Microphone and 3m XLR cable
• Scarlett SH-450 Headphones
• Cardboard microphone stand, integrated into the Scarlett Studio packaging
System Requirements
The easiest way to check your computer’s operating system (OS) is compatible with your Scarlett
2i2 is to use our Help Centre’s compatibility articles:
Focusrite Help Centre: Compatibility
As new OS versions become available, you can check for further compatibility information by
searching our Help Centre at:
support.focusrite.com
Soware System Requirements
To check Focusrite Control 2 is supported on your operating system (OS) please use our Help
Centre’s compatibility articles:
Focusrite Help Centre: Compatibility
As new Focusrite Control 2 or OS versions become available, you can check compatibility
information by searching our Help Centre at:
support.focusrite.com
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Getting Started
Powering On your Scarlett
To power on your Scarlett 2i2, connect a USB cable from your computer to the USB port on the
back panel.
For a few seconds, the Scarlett goes through its start-up procedure, then the USB icon lights
green.
Important
If your Scarlett powers on but isn't recognised by your computer, the USB icon
lights white. If this happens:
• Make sure you have installed Focusrite Control 2 on your computer
• Check your Scarlett's USB cable is connected to the correct port (USB) on the
back of the Scarlett.
• Test a dierent USB port on your computer.
• Test a dierent USB cable.
If the USB icon flashes red, your Scarlett is not getting enough power.
To power on your Scarlett 2i2 without a computer, see Standalone Mode [38].
Easy Start
Easy Start gives you a step-by-step guide to setting up your Scarlett and creates personalised
tutorials based on how you plan to use your Scarlett. This online tool also guides you through
your Scarlett’s registration process and accessing the soware bundle.
On both Windows and Mac computers, when you connect your Scarlett to your computer, it first
appears as a Mass Storage Device, like a USB drive. Open the drive and double click ‘Click Here To
Get Started.url’. Click ‘Get Started’ to open Easy Start in your web browser.
Aer you’ve opened Easy Start, please follow the step-by-step guide, to install and use your
Scarlett.
Windows
Aer you connect your Scarlett 2i2 to your computer, a device appears in File Explorer called
Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, this allows you to access Easy Start.
To access Easy Start:
1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen (D:). The letter may be dierent.
3. Double-click Click Here to Get Started. This redirects you to the Focusrite website,
where we recommend you register your device:
4. Click Get Started, and we'll take you through a step-by-step setup guide based on how
you want to use your Scarlett.
During Easy Start, you'll install Focusrite Control 2 . Aer you install and open Focusrite Control
2, click 'Update Scarlett 2i2'. Do not disconnect your Scarlett while Focusrite Control 2 updates it.
Aer the Focusrite Control 2 update is complete, the Scarlett no longer appears as a Mass Storage
Device on your computer.
Your operating system should change the computer’s default audio inputs and outputs to the
Scarlett.
To verify this, right-click the speaker icon on the Windows taskbar, and make sure Scarlett is your
Sound output.
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Mac
Aer you connect your Scarlett 2i2 to your computer, a Scarlett icon appears on the desktop or, if
you use Chrome, you'll see a pop-up:
Scarlett Easy Start icon: Double click and start from step 1
below.
Chrome pop-up: Click and start from step 2 below.
To access Easy Start:
1. Double-click on the icon to open the Finder window shown below:
2. Double-click Click Here to Get Started. This redirects you to the Focusrite website,
where we recommend you register your device:
3. Click Get Started, and we'll take you through a step-by-step setup guide based on how
you want to use your Scarlett.
During Easy Start, you'll install Focusrite Control 2 . Aer you install and open Focusrite Control
2, click 'Update Scarlett 2i2'. Do not disconnect your Scarlett while Focusrite Control 2 updates it.
Aer the Focusrite Control 2 update is complete, the Scarlett no longer appears as a Mass Storage
Device on your computer.
Your operating system should change the computer’s default audio inputs and outputs to the
Scarlett.
To verify this, go to System Settings > Sound, and ensure the input and output are set to Scarlett
2i2.
All Users
The second file - 'More Info and FAQs' - is also available during the setup process. This file
contains some additional information about Easy Start, which you may find helpful if you have
any issues with the setup.
Once registered, you have immediate access to the following resources:
• Focusrite Control 2 (Mac and Windows versions available) - see note below.
• Multi-language User Guides - also always available from downloads.focusrite.com.
• Licence codes and links for the optional bundled soware in your Focusrite account. To
find out what bundled soware is included with Scarlett 2i2, please visit our website:
focusrite.com/scarlett.
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What is Focusrite Control 2?
Focusrite Control 2 is the soware application you use to control your Scarlett interface.
The Focusrite Control 2 icon
We occasionally update your Scarlett 2i2's firmware with new features and improvements, to
make sure you are getting the most from your Scarlett. Your Scarlett 2i2 is updated through
Focusrite Control 2.
Depending on your model Focusrite Control 2 allows you to control various features of
your Scarlett from your computer.
Note
Focusrite Control 2 is compatible with most major screen reader soware, allowing you
to control the features on your Scarlett.
Installing Focusrite Control 2
You can install Focusrite Control 2 on Windows and Mac. To download and install Focusrite
Control 2:
1. Go to the Focusrite downloads website:
focusrite.com/downloads
2. Find your Scarlett on the Downloads website.
3. Download Focusrite Control 2 for your operating system (Windows or Mac).
4. Open the Downloads folder on your computer and double-click the Focusrite Control 2
installer.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Focusrite Control 2.
6. If it’s not already, connect your Scarlett interface to your computer with the USB cable.
7. Open Focusrite Control 2 and it detects your Scarlett automatically.
Note
On Windows, installing Focusrite Control 2 also installs the driver. You can
download Focusrite Control 2 at any time, even without registering from
downloads.focusrite.com. On macOS, you don't need a driver, you only need to install
Focusrite Control 2.
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Manual Registration
If you decide to register your Scarlett at a later date, you can at: customer.focusrite.com/register
You need to enter the Serial Number manually: you can find this number on the interface's base
(the white number below) or the barcode label on the gibox.
We recommend you download and install Focusrite Control 2. Opening Focusrite Control 2
disables Easy Start and unlocks your Scarlett 2i2's full feature set.
In Easy Start mode, the interface functions at up to 48 kHz sample rate; once you install Focusrite
Control 2, you can work at sample rates up to 192 kHz.
If you don't install Focusrite Control 2 immediately, you can download it at any time from:
downloads.focusrite.com
Disabling Easy Start
Aer you've been through Easy Start, installed and opened Focusrite Control 2, your Scarlett is no
longer in Easy Start mode.
If your Scarlett 2i2 is still in Easy Start mode, or you have chosen not to install Focusrite Control 2
to disable Easy Start Mode:
1. Turn o your Scarlett 2i2
2. Press and hold the 48V button.
3. Keeping the 48V button held, power on your Scarlett 2i2.
4. Wait for the front panel to light up, then release the 48V button.
5. Restart (power o and power on) your Scarlett 2i2.
Your Scarlett powers on with Easy Start disabled.
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Hardware Features
Front Panel
1. Input 1 Gain Control and Gain Halo - The Gain control sets the input level and the Gain
Halo shows you the input and preamp gain levels for either the jack or XLR Mic input 1.
2. Input 1 Neutrik® 6.35mm (1/4”) jack socket - Accepts both unbalanced mono (TS) and
balanced Mono (TRS) jack cables at line or instrument-level. Connecting a cable here
disables the corresponding XLR input.
3. Input 2 Gain Control and Gain Halo - The Gain control sets the input level and the Gain
Halo shows you the input and preamp gain levels for either the jack or XLR Mic input 2.
4. Input 2 Neutrik® 6.35mm (1/4”) jack socket - Accepts both unbalanced mono (TS) and
balanced Mono (TRS) jack cables at line or instrument-level. Connecting a cable here
disables the corresponding XLR input.
5. Select button - Press to move the selection to the next preamp. The other buttons
change to control the input you select. The currently selected channel's number lights
green.
6. 48V button - Press to turn on 48V phantom power at the XLR mic input to power
condenser microphones.
When 48V is on, the Scarlett 2i2 applies 48V phantom power to both inputs.
7. Inst button - Press to toggle the selected 6.35mm (1/4") input between Line or
Instrument level.
8. Auto button - Press to start the Auto Gain feature (see Auto Gain [16]).
9. Safe button - Press to turn on the Clip Safe feature for your input (see Safe [18]).
10. Air button - Press to turn on AIR mode (see AIR [18]).
11. Main Speaker Output Control and Output Level meter - Control the level going to
Outputs R and L, the meter shows you the level being sent out.
12. USB LED - Lights green when the interface is recognised by your computer, white
if it is connected but not recognised and o if it is not connected.
13. Direct Monitor Button - Press to toggle between three settings, O (white), On Mono
(Direct green), and On Stereo ( green).
14. Headphone Level Control - Control the level sent to your headphones.
15. Headphone Output Socket - Connect your headphones here using a TRS 6.35mm
(1/4") jack connector.
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Back Panel
1. - Kensington Lock, use a lock to secure your Scarlett and deter the.
2. 5V DC - an optional USB-C connector to supply power to your Scarlett 2i2 if your
computer can't supply 1.5A USB-C power to your Scarlett 2i2
3. USB - USB-C connector to connect your Scarlett to your computer.
With most computers, you can transfer data and power the Scarlett using only this USB
port.
4. Speaker Outputs R and L - 6.35mm (1/4") jack (TS or TRS) sockets to connect your
Scarlett to speakers or an amplifier. We recommend you use 6.35mm (1/4") TRS jack
cables for balanced connections.
5. Inputs 2 and 1 - 3-pin - 3-pin Neutrik® XLR connectors to connect your microphones.
Connecting something to the corresponding line-level input disables the XLR input.
Tip
The Scarlett 2i2 has XLR inputs at the back for microphones and 6.35mm (1/4") jack
inputs on the front for instruments or line-level devices.
Using the front panel jack input(s) disables the XLR mic input. If you're not getting
sound from your XLR input(s), ensure nothing is connected to the front panel jack
inputs.
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Front Panel In Depth
This section covers all the features on your Scarlett 2i2's front panel, what they do, how you
might use them and how they work in Focusrite Control 2.
Setting Preamp Input Gain
The preamp input gain controls how much signal you are sending into your computer and
recording soware.
It's essential to set a good level for the preamp input gain so you get the best quality recording. If
the preamp input gain is too low your signal will be too quiet and when you try and boost its level
later you may hear noise in the recording; if the preamp input gain is too high you might 'clip' the
input and hear harsh distortion in your recording.
To increase the input gain move the gain control clockwise, as you move the gain control the Gain
Halo gradually lights clockwise to show you the gain level. This diagram shows the gain at various
levels:
1. No input gain
2. 25% input gain
3. 50% input gain
4. 75% input gain
5. 100% input gain
When you adjust your input gain while you send a signal into your preamp, the ring lights the
same way as above but a colour, green, amber or red, shows how much level is going into your
computer. Shortly aer you stop adjusting the gain the meters revert to input meters (see Input
Metering).
1. Gain at 40%, signal good.
2. Gain at 40%, signal pre-clip.
3. Gain at 40%, signal clipping.
1. Green shows your signal level is good.
2. Amber shows your signal is pre-clip, any higher and you are likely to clip the input
3. Red shows your signal has clipped, you should reduce the gain.
Soware Gain Control
You can also control the preamp gain remotely using Focusrite Control 2.
To adjust the preamp gain in Focusrite Control 2:
1. Click the virtual knob for the channel you'd like to adjust or use the tab key to select
the preamp gain control.
2. Move your mouse up and down or use the arrow keys to increase or decrease the gain
(in ±1dB increments).
The following images show the preamp gain at minimum, medium and maximum gain.
No input gain 50% Gain
100% Gain
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Input Metering
When you're not moving the input gain control the input metering uses the entire Gain Halo. As
the incoming signal gets louder (for example with a higher input gain setting) the Gain Halo lights
from green through to amber before the entire Gain Halo flashes red to show you the input has
clipped.
This diagram shows the meters at dierent levels to show the input signal level:
1. No input signal
2. -42 dBFS
3. -36 dBFS
4. -24 dBFS
5. -18 dBFS
6. -12 dBFS
7. -6 dBFS
8. 0 dBFS, clipping - turn down the input gain to avoid distortion and clipping.
Tip
If your signal clips the clip indicator at the top of the meter lights red. If this happens,
select that channel and reduce the gain.
Soware Metering
In the same way as the input meters on your Scarlett 2i2's front panel, you can see the incoming
signal on the meters in Focusrite Control 2 to set the correct preamp gain.
As the signal gets louder the meter in Focusrite Control 2 lights from green to amber (pre-clip).
The indicator above the meter shows you the peak level (in -dBFS), the highest level on this track
since you started monitoring the input. When you hover over the Peak level Meter you can click to
Reset the value.
Tip
When you're recording, it's a good idea to aim for a -12dBFS peak level. This ensures you
have enough headroom when you've recorded all your tracks.
Waiting for an input signal. The input signal has reached -18dB.
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Click to Reset the Peak Level meter.
When you overload the preamp, with too much input signal, or by adding too much gain, the
Peak Level Meter lights red. Hover over the Peak Level Meter and click to Reset the value.
The Input has clipped. Click to Reset the Peak Level Meter aer clipping.
Select Button
Many front panel controls on your Scarlett 2i2 are shared across the preamp inputs. The Select
button moves the preamp controls to dierent inputs.
At least one preamp is always selected, to change which preamp(s) the controls are aecting,
press the Select button. When you do this the newly selected preamp's number lights green and
the preamp setting lights change to match the new preamp.
When you turn on your Scarlett 2i2 the last selected preamp before you turned it o remains the
selected preamp.
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Linking Preamps
Linking preamps allows you to control two preamps simultaneously using one set of preamp
controls. You can match gain controls for two preamps and enable other preamp controls. This is
useful for stereo recording, for example, a microphone pair, stereo synthesiser, or keyboard.
To link preamps:
• Press and hold the Select button for one second.
When you've made the Preamp Link :
• Both preamp numbers light green and the Gain Halos light temporarily to their preamp
level.
• The preamp gain level is set to the lowest value of the newly linked pair.
• The preamp settings are inherited from the currently selected preamp, e.g. preamp 1 is
selected, therefore Preamp 2 inherits, Air, Safe and Inst settings from Preamp 1.
• Changing any preamp setting changes the state for both preamps.
• Adjusting either gain control changes the gain level for both preamps and is shown on
both Gain Halos.
• 48V disables for both preamps.
Unlinking Preamps
To unlink preamps, hold the Select button for one second. When you unlink a pair:
• The first preamp of the previously linked pair becomes selected and lights green.
• Gain levels and preamp settings stay the same, but you can now change them
independently.
Linking Preamps in Focusrite Control 2
Linking Preamps
To link preamps from Focusrite Control 2:
1. Hover over the preamp you want to link.
2. Click the ellipses icon .
3. Click Link with Analogue 2 (or similar depending on the preamp).
Linked preamps show the icon next to their name.
Unlinking Preamps
To unlink preamps from Focusrite Control 2:
1. Hover over the preamp you want to unlink.
2. Click the ellipses icon .
3. Click Split channels.
• The first preamp of the previously linked pair becomes selected and lights green.
• Gain levels and preamp settings stay the same, but you can now change them
independently.
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48V Button (Phantom Power)
48V, also commonly referred to as 'Phantom Power', sends 48 Volts from your interface's XLR
connector to devices needing power to work. The most common use is sending power to
condenser microphones, but you may also need 48V for inline mic preamps, active dynamic
microphones and active DI boxes.
To turn on 48V:
1. Connect your microphone, or another powered device, to an XLR input on your
interface using an XLR cable. 48V is not sent to the 6.35mm (1/4") jack inputs.
2. Turn down that preamp's gain control to avoid any unwanted pops and clicks.
3. Press the 48V button (or the corresponding soware button)
The 48V icon lights green to show it is enabled.
48V phantom power is now being sent to both XLR inputs on your Scarlett 2i2 and to any devices
connected to the XLR inputs.
48V (Phantom Power) Soware Control
To enable 48V (Phantom Power) from Focusrite Control 2 click the +48V button. This is the same
as pressing the 48V button on the Scarlett 2i2 hardware.
+48V Phantom Power o +48V Phantom Power on
Important
If you accidentally send 48V phantom power to the wrong input, most modern
microphones of other types, e.g., dynamic or ribbon, will not be damaged, but some
older microphones may be. If you're unsure, please check your microphone's user guide
to ensure it is safe to use with 48V phantom power.
Inst (Instrument) Button and Line Level Inputs
The Inst (Instrument) button only aects the 6.35mm (1/4") line input for the selected channel.
It changes it from an input suitable for line-level devices to an input better suited for instrument-
level devices.
To enable, or disable, instrument mode for the 6.35mm (1/4") jack input, press the Inst button
once. Green shows Inst is enabled, and white shows Inst is disabled. When you enable Inst and
connect a jack to your Scarlett, the minimum gain for the input is changed to +7dB.
Note
When the Inst light is white, the 6.35mm jack input is at line level.
When Inst is enabled (green) you can connect instrument-level devices to the 1/4" inputs such as,
but not limited to:
• Electric or electro-acoustic guitars directly and via eects pedals.
• Electric basses
• Acoustic instruments with pick-ups such as violins, double-basses etc.
When Inst is disabled (white) you can connect line-level devices to the 6.35mm (1/4") inputs such
as, but not limited to:
• Synthesisers
• Keyboards
• Drum Machines
• External Microphone Preamps
Instrument/Line Soware Control
To change between instrument and line from Focusrite Control 2 click the Inst button once.
Line Instrument
Note
When you switch between Inst and Line, the gain remains at the last level you set.
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Auto Gain
Auto Gain allows you to send a signal into your Scarlett 2i2 (for example singing, or playing your
instrument) for 10 seconds and let the Scarlett set a good level for your preamps. If you find
the levels aren't right, you can adjust the gain controls manually to fine-tune the levels before
recording.
To use Auto Gain:
1. Press the Select button to move your preamp controls to the correct preamp.
2. Press the white Auto button on your Scarlett, or the corresponding soware button.
The Auto icon lights green for ten seconds. The corresponding Gain Halo turns into a
ten-second countdown timer.
3. Speak or sing into the microphone, or play your instrument during the Auto Gain
countdown. Perform as you would while you're recording to make sure Auto Gain sets
a good level.
If the Auto Gain was successful, the Gain Halo lights green before the gain value is shown on the
Gain Halo for a second. The gain is now set at a good level for your recording.
If Auto Gain fails the Gain Halo lights red. Please see the section, The Gain Halo turned Red [17],
for more information.
Note
Scarlett's Auto Gain makes sure your levels are set right not only using the input signal
but also factors in:
• The preamp's noise floor.
• Digital silence.
• Inter-channel crosstalk.
• Unwanted knocks or bumps on your microphones.
Auto Gain Soware Control
To use Auto Gain in Focusrite Control 2:
1. Click the Auto Gain button in Focusrite Control 2.
2. Speak or sing into the microphone, or play your instrument during the Auto Gain
countdown. Perform as you would while you're recording to make sure Auto Gain sets
a good level.
The Auto Gain process starts and the soware Gain halo turns into a countdown timer.
If the Auto Gain was successful, the Gain Halo lights green before the gain value is shown on the
Gain Halo for a second. The gain is now set at a good level for your recording.
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The Gain Halo turned red
If the input signal is unsuitable for Auto Gain (for example no signal), aer ten seconds, Auto
Gain stops and the Gain Halo lights red for a second. The gain returns to the value you set before
starting Auto Gain.
Hardware Gain Halo Focusrite Control 2 Auto Gain unsuccessful
Before running Auto Gain again, make sure your input has something connected to it correctly, if
you're using a condenser microphone, 48V is on, and you are making sound while Auto Gain runs.
Note
To cancel Auto Gain, press the Auto Gain button again at any time during the process.
The gain returns to the value you set before starting Auto Gain.
Multichannel Auto Gain
Auto Gain allows you to send a signal into your Scarlett 2i2 (for example singing, or playing your
instrument) for 10 seconds and let the Scarlett set a good level for your preamps. If you find
the levels aren't right, you can adjust the gain controls manually to fine-tune the levels before
recording.
Multichannel Auto Gain starts the Auto Gain process for all the preamp channels on your
interface. This is particularly useful for quickly setting levels for situations where you are using
multiple channels simultaneously, for example:
• Setting levels for yourself if you're playing guitar and singing simultaneously.
• Setting levels for a drummer when you have multiple microphones on the drum kit.
• Setting levels for a band recording 'live' together.
To start the multichannel Auto Gain process:
1. Hold the Auto button for two seconds.
The Auto icon fades between o and Green for ten seconds, and the Gain Halos for all
channels turn into ten-second countdown timers.
2. Speak or sing into the microphone, or play your instrument during the Auto Gain
countdown. Perform as you would while you're recording to make sure Auto Gain sets
a good level.
If the Auto Gain was successful, the Gain Halos light green before the gain value is shown on the
Gain Halos for a second. The gain is now set at a good level for your recording.
Note
To cancel Auto Gain, press the Auto Gain button again at any time during the process.
The gain returns to the value you set before starting Auto Gain.
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Clip Safe Button
The Safe button applies Clip Safe which automatically adjusts your preamp gain if you're at risk
of clipping.
Clipping happens when your gain is set too high for the sound being recorded and your input
overloads the preamp. A clipping symptom is preamp distortion, which is oen unpleasant and
can ruin a recording. Clip Safe helps you avoid this so if your input gets near to clipping, Clip Safe
reduces the preamp gain, so you won't have to re-record your take.
Note
Clip Safe is only available at up to 96kHz, you cannot use it at quad-band (176.4kHz and
192 kHz) sample rates. The Safe LED lights red to show when it's unavailable.
To enable Clip Safe:
1. Press the Select button to move your preamp controls to the correct preamp.
2. Press the Safe button on the interface or the corresponding soware button.
When you enable Safe, the Safe icon lights green. The Safe icon lights white when it is disabled
and available.
When you have two inputs selected using Preamp Link, Safe is applied to both preamps.
Tip
When you enable Clip Safe, your Scarlett continuously monitors your input signals, up
to 96,000 times a second, and through a combination of analogue preamp adjustment
and DSP, Clip Safe significantly reduces the risk of clipping.
Clip Safe Focusrite Control 2
To enable Clip Safe from Focusrite Control 2, click the Safe button:
Safe o Safe on
Air Modes
Air lets you change your Scarlett's preamp sound with two dierent modes; Air Presence or Air
Presence and Harmonic Drive.
Air aects the mic, line and instrument inputs.
To enable Air, select your input, press the Air button once for Air Presence, again for Air Presence
and Harmonic drive and again to turn o. The Air LED changes colour to show which mode you
have selected:
Mode Description AIR LED Notes
O The preamp is clean White
Air Presence An analogue circuit gives a presence boost to your
sources.
Green
Air Presence and
Harmonic Drive
Adds harmonics, in addition to the analogue Air
circuit.
Amber Only available at up
to 96kHz
Air Soware Control
To enable AIR from Focusrite Control 2 click the Air button. This is the same as pressing the Air
button on the Scarlett 2i2 hardware.
Air O
Air Presence selected Air Presence and Drive selected
When you click Focusrite Control 2's Air button the last selected Air mode becomes activated.
To change the selected Air mode (Presence or Presence and Drive) click the arrow to show the
dropdown menu.
Air Presence selected Air Presence and Drive selected
Note
Air Presence & Drive is only available at up to 96kHz, you cannot use it at quad-band
(176.4kHz and 192 kHz) sample rates.
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Output Control and Level Meter
The Output control and Output level meter are related to the signals going to Outputs 1 and 2 on
the back of your Scarlett 2i2, the outputs you'd most oen connect to monitor speakers.
The Output control sets the level at the outputs from nothing (fully anti-clockwise) to full-scale
output (fully clockwise).
The Output Level meter around the Output level control is a pre-fade meter (it is not aected by
the control's position) showing you the signal level coming from your computer.
Note
On some occasions you may still hear sound from your monitors when the Output
control is fully anti-clockwise, you can adjust your monitor levels to resolve this:
1. Turn down your interface's Output control and your monitors' level control.
2. Turn the Output control to maximum (or just below maximum).
3. Play sound from your system.
4. Turn up your monitors' level controls until the level is the loudest you need.
You should no longer hear sound when the Output control is at its minimum. You also
have more control over the level with the full range of the Output control. By setting it
at just below the maximum, you also have a little extra volume if you need it, or want to
listen to sounds at a louder-than-normal level.
Direct Monitor Button
Direct Monitor allows you to hear the signals coming into your interface's inputs without
them going through your computer. This means you hear the inputs without any latency and
without eects.
You might want to use Direct Monitoring for two reasons:
1. You're experiencing latency or a delay between making a sound and hearing it back
from your soware. By muting your soware inputs and turning on Direct Monitor, you
no longer hear latency.
2. You want to hear the clean unaected signal going into your Scarlett, instead of
listening to the soware output, which may have eects and plugins changing the way
your source sounds.
When Direct Monitor is o, the icon lights white. The Scarlett 2i2 has two dierent Direct
Monitor settings, mono, and stereo, to enable Direct Monitor:
• Press the button once for mono direct monitoring, signals present at input 1 and
input 2 will both be in the centre of the stereo image. This is useful for recording two
mono sources, for example, a guitar and a voice.
• Press the button for a second time for stereo direct monitoring, input 1 is panned le,
input 2 is panned right. This is useful for recording a stereo device, for example, a stereo
microphone pair, a stereo synthesiser, or a keyboard.
Note
If you're hearing your signal twice or getting a doubling or slightly phased sound, it's
likely you've got Direct Monitor switched on, and you're hearing the sound back from
soware. You can either:
• Mute the track you're recording to in your DAW soware.
• Turn o Direct Monitor and only listen to the sound coming from your DAW
soware.
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Direct Monitor Adjustment
From Focusrite Control 2 you can enable and adjust the Direct Monitor mix to balance your inputs
with the Playback channels from your soware.
To enable Direct Monitor click on the Direct tab in Focusrite Control 2 and click the Direct Monitor
soware switch at the top of the tab. The switch lights green and Direct lights green on your
Scarlett 2i2's front panel.
Direct Monitor O Direct Monitor on
To adjust your Direct Monitor mix:
1. Open Focusrite Control 2.
2. Click on the Direct tab.
3. Use the Mixer Channels, (faders, Mute and Solo buttons) to adjust the levels for
Analogue 1, Analogue 2 and Playback 1-2.
The final meter under Direct Monitor shows the combined level going to your monitor
and headphone outputs.
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