Scarlett t Solo 4th Gen User manual

Scarlett Solo 4th Gen
User Guide
The songwriter’s 2-in, 2-out interface
Scarlett Solo 4th GenUser 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
48V Button (Phantom Power) ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Inst (Instrument) Button and Line Level Inputs ............................................................................................................................................................ 13
Air Modes .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Output Control .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Direct Monitor Button ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Headphone Output ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Back Panel In Depth ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
USB Connection ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Speaker Outputs ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Microphone Input ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
DAW (Recording Soware) Setup ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Ableton Live ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Logic and GarageBand ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Reaper ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 23
Cubase ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Pro Tools ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
FL Studio ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Focusrite Control 2 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Focusrite Control 2 Settings ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Sample Rate (kHz) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Clock Source ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Analytics ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Examples of Use ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30
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Connecting Inputs and Outputs .................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Connecting a Line-Level Device .................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Loopback ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31
Standalone Mode .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Updating ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Updating Focusrite Control 2 ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Updating your Scarlett .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Specifications ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Performance Specifications ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 34
Physical and Electrical Characteristics ............................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Solo Channel Order ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Notices ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Copyright & Legal Notices ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Credits ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
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Overview
Introduction
Welcome to the Scarlett Solo 4th generation.
We've designed the Scarlett Solo 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 +57dB of gain on each input.
• Re-engineered Air mode with Presence and Harmonic Drive.
• Record straight out of the box with Easy Start and a complete suite of studio soware
included.
• Scarlett's best-ever headphone performance with dedicated level control.
What's in the Box?
The box for your Scarlett Solo includes:
• Scarlett Solo
• USB-C to A cable
• Getting Started Information (printed inside the box lid)
• Important Safety Information sheet
System Requirements
The easiest way to check your computer’s operating system (OS) is compatible with your Scarlett
Solo 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 Solo, 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
• Test a dierent USB port on your computer.
• Test a dierent USB cable.
To power on your Scarlett Solo without a computer, see Standalone Mode [31].
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 Solo to your computer, a device appears in File Explorer called
Scarlett Solo 4th Gen, this allows you to access Easy Start.
To access Easy Start:
1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on Scarlett Solo 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 Solo'. 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 Solo 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 Solo'. 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
Solo.
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 Solo, 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 Solo's firmware with new features and improvements, to
make sure you are getting the most from your Scarlett. Your Scarlett Solo 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 Solo'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 Solo 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 Solo
2. Press and hold the 48V button.
3. Keeping the 48V button held, power on your Scarlett Solo.
4. Wait for the front panel to light up, then release the 48V button.
5. Restart (power o and power on) your Scarlett Solo.
Your Scarlett powers on with Easy Start disabled.
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Hardware Features
Front Panel
1. Input 1 (Line Level/Instrument) Gain Control and Gain Halo - The Gain control sets the
input level and the Gain Halo shows you the input level for the 6.35mm (1/4") jack line
level/instrument input on the front panel.
2. Input 1 Line Level/Instrument 6.35mm (1/4") Jack Socket - accepts both mono (TS) and
stereo/balanced (TRS) 6.35mm (1/4") jack cables at line or instrument level.
3. Inst Switch - Press to toggle the 6.35mm (1/4") jack, input 1, between line or
instrument level.
4. Input 2 (Microphone) Gain Control and Gain Halo - The Gain control sets the input level
and the Gain Halo shows you the input level for input 2, the XLR microphone connector
on the back panel.
5. 48V Button - Press to turn on 48V phantom power at the XLR mic input to power
condenser microphones.
6. Air Button - Press to turn on AIR mode (see Air).
7. Speaker Output level Control - Control the level going to Outputs R and L.
8. 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.
9. Direct Monitor Switch - Press to toggle direct monitoring on and o (see direct Monitor
Button).
10. Headphone Level Control - Control the level sent to your headphones.
11. 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. USB - USB-C connector to connect your Scarlett to your computer.
3. 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.
4. XLR Input 2 - 3-pin XLR connectors to connect your microphones.
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