Hi, this is a great video, if you can kindlly help me with this information. Since in the front panel when i activate the phantom power it wlll activate both the inputs, then in that senario if I connect a condensor mic in one input, and if i connect a ribbon mic in the other, wont that damage the ribbon mic system, same if I connect an instrument while the phantom power is switched on wont it affect the instrument signal
Thanks and great question! Using an instrument on the other input will not be an issue as long as you are using a 1/4" TRS cable since phantom power is only sent of XLR by the interface. For ribbon mics, it depends. Most vintage ribbon mics can be damaged by phantom power (many new ones are built so as not to be an issue, but I would check the specific documentation for your mic first). To be 100% safe, you can use an isolation transformer between the ribbon mic and the interface such as: www.tritonaudio.com/phantom-blocker or artproaudio.com/product/prosplit-transformer-isolated-mic-splitter/ or artproaudio.com/product/splitcompro-mic-splitter-combiner/ I have used all of these and they are effective and reliable. All are under $100 and worth the investment to protect an expensive ribbon mic imo. Hope this helps out!
My pleasure Manuel. I did some work on your voiceover sample recording today and just emailed you a couple of processed samples including one with music as a soundbed. I hope they capture the idea you had in mind.
Models with their own power supply offer more power compared to bus-powered interfaces. I have found the 8i6, 18i20, and Clarett+ 8Pre are capable of driving my HD600 (300ohms) and DT770 (250ohms) to a good level.
@@askdrtk ah brilliant, thank you for that. I have some DT990 pro's. And my Scarlett Solo was absolutely useless with them. Way too quiet when it came to making music and mixing. Had to crank the DAW master volume up, which isn't good. I like to mix my tracks at about -6db at most. Will definitely order the 8i6 now.
All good. Yes, the Solo headphone output is definitely underpowered for the 990s. The 8i6 fills a gap where you get the advantages of an externally powered interface but do not require a lot of IO for tacking (drums, bands, etc.) or for outboard gear. It does have SPDIF IO which is nice if you ever want to add a second converter to expand your monitoring options and it has a loopback which can come in handy...
Much appreciated and thanks for the question. Sorry for the rather lengthy response. There are a few considerations that for me are most important when looking at audio interfaces. Converters, preamp performance, and IO. For the purpose of your question I will focus on preamps as you only require one input for the sm7b and most modern interfaces have converters that outperform those from ten years ago for most applications other than high-end studio work. For built in preamps it generally comes down to sufficient gain vs noise. Some of the new interfaces offer simulations of famous console preamps (like "air mode" on the Focusrites or "tube mode" on the new UA Volts). You can use external preamps for added control, but I will set this aside. If you are interested in the difference preamps make, I have started including multiple preamp/interfaces combos in my mic reviews and comparisons (MV7X vs PodMic: ruclips.net/video/2MxBtAhJb_g/видео.html) and will have a video on this topic using the sm7b coming soon. The amount of gain vs noise the sm7b (and all mics) requires depends on the working distance you prefer from the mic. For example, the 8i6 has a max gain of 56dB with an EIN of -128dBu. Without going into too much detail, this means you can use pretty much all of that gain without introducing noise that will greatly interfere with the vocals being recorded (again, this is a bit oversimplified). With this amount of gain, it is reasonable to use the sm7b at a working distance of up to about 5-6 inches for a voice with average amplitude and to expect good performance. If you wish to use the sm7b at a greater working distance with the 8i6, you would need to add a mic booster or other external preamp to provide more gain vs noise to achieve a good working recording level vs noise. You can use these specs as a gauge for what to expect from a the built-in preamps for various interfaces. If your working distance from the sm7b will be less than 6 inches, some good choices include the scarlett's (particularly models with their own power supply), audient iD4 / EVO, Motu M2/M4, and if you want to go for a higher end desktop interface, the RME Babyface Pro is awesome (but expensive). If you need a working distance of more than 6 inches, I recommend an external preamp with superior gain vs noise specs or a mic booster. Hope this helps out, let me know if you need further detail, and thanks again for the questions and for watching!
@askdrtk thank you very much for your detailed answer it helps me a lot , I want to use it with more than 6 inches distance and available interface in my country is , Focusrite Scarlett 8i6, Audient iD14 MKII , scarlet 2i2 3rd gen, Solid State Logic SSL 2+, Universal Audio Volt 2 USB Audio Interface , Audient iD4 MKII, goxlr mini, and there is some options over 1000$ like RME Babyface Pro FS and Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 , Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO Heritage Edition but I cant afford them now, what's from these choices well suite me and give me the best of these mic and do I need a cloud lifter with it , thank you again
All good. While you may not use the features right away, from your list I like the 8i6 as the IO gives you room to grow - you never know when you may wish to add other outboard gear / processing... Also, being self powered, it is much easier to isolate and deal with any potential electrical interference vs usb powered interfaces. Not to say usb powered will be a problem, but self powered gives you more options. If you are going to have more than 6 inches working distance, I would recommend a mic booster such as the Cloudlifter. That said, I have a mic booster in from Klark Teknik (the CT-01) that I have been testing with the 8i6 and sm7b. My review on the CT-01 is coming soon, but for now, while it doesn't provide quite as much gain as the Cloudlifter, it has plenty for the sm7s, provides very clean gain, has great build quality, and is far more affordable. This may be worth considering if you are trying to keep cost under control (as we all are...)
Great review, great points! Bought an 8i6 last week. I already have a Clarett 4-Pre USB. I use a two-computer system, one to run VSTs, capture mics and audio signals and send all processed audio to the second one, which handles 4 cameras and other graphics in OBS in real time. I found the SPDIF to be the most efficient way to send the generated audio to the second computer, so the 8i6 became the obvious choice in relation to the other simpler models. Also, the 5-pin MIDI is a more professional and reliable (sometimes the only) way to connect instruments.
Thanks! Sounds like an ideal setup for your use case. I usually recommend getting "more interface" than you think you need...SPDIF and MIDI are two great reasons why (and I have some retro MIDI keyboards and modules...so I can never have enough 5-pin MIDI...) Cheers!
@@askdrtk Same here, lots of 80s and 90s MIDI gear I just can't let go! Just forgot to mention that as I'm still into occasionally listening to CDs, the SPDIF input also allows me to get the CD deck optical out straight into the interface, which results in an amazingly clear sound! Cheers!
Its funny, just last night I was looking for a specific sound for a project and I thought I remembered the exact sound I wanted from my K1. I fired it up and there it was (and then I spent a couple of hours on nostalgia). You just can't get rid of gear... Love the interface as a DAC for CDs.
Yes it is, it has two sets of outputs. There is only one monitor level control dial on the front, but you can control the output levels independently in the included audio routing software. Thanks for the question and for watching!
@@askdrtk thx so much! I am now between the 8i6 3rd gen and the Komplete audio 6 mk2! :( Because i want 2 instrument inputs 2 headphone outs, and 2 monitor outs. Do you have a recommendation ore should i just buy one XD
Since these interfaces will provide similar audio performance, for me it comes down to one thing. The 8i6 allows you to direct monitor through both sets of monitor outs as well as through headphones whereas the 6 mk2 only allows direct monitoring through headphones, not through your studio monitors. Aside from that, I like the meters on the 6 mk2, but I like the additional 2 inputs on the 8i6 for future expansion and the self power which can help with RFI/EMI - PC USB power is not always the cleanest. Ultimately it depends on how you like to record, but for me, I like the ability to direct monitor through studio monitors when recording instruments. Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk Insane thanks to you man! Because i play e guitar my choice is now the 8i6 because of the direct monitoring over speakers. Thx again man! You helped me so much! Thanks!
Hi, great review! I didn’t realize it has its own supply. Can it be used without a computer? By that I mean connecting a synth to it and then listen to the output without the interface being connected through USB at all. Thanks. F
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yes you can use the 8i6 in what is called “stand alone mode.” You would connect the 8i6 to a computer and use the Focusrite Control app to setup whichever inputs you wish to monitor through either headphones or through outputs to studio monitors and you can then disconnect it from your computer and use it with your synth. Levels for headphones and monitors are then adjusted using the front panel controls on the 8i6. I have a full tutorial on Focusrite Control which includes stand alone setup if you end up going his route.
Great question. I have a friend that uses the UR44 and I have had a chance to work with it and to mix / master a few recordings he has made, so I have some opinions to share. First I will say that while the UR44 has built in DSP, it is very limited in terms of how many simultaneous inputs can use it - only one guitar for example, and the channel strip is quite limited in features. While I appreciate that some wish to "bake in" processing into recordings or hear a "somewhat" finished sound for zero latency monitoring, while others like the idea of live streaming with outboard processing to save cpu resources, for me, there are simply too many great free and paid plugins offering superior performance for the finished product. Also, the UR44 wouldn't be my first choice for simultaneous recording of tracks with and without DSP. Next, and for me the most important considerations are the mic preamps and dynamic range. The preamps on the UR44 are considerably noisier vs the 8i6. This is more of an issue when driving the gain above 1:00, so for me if you like to use any dynamic microphones (sm57 for acoustic guitar, etc.) the UR44 is a non-starter. The 8i6 recordings sound noticeably cleaner with dynamic mics. For condenser mics I notice little difference where gain is below 12:00. The additional two xlr inputs on the UR44 are nice, but imo if your recordings require more than 2 mic inputs it is time to consider a higher end solution. The 8i6 also has almost 10 percent more dynamic range, which again can help separation between noise and signal. These are of course only my opinions and audio is subjective. Finally I will mention UR44 vs UR44C, with the difference being the "C" model offers bus power as an option on a usb c port only and also 32 bit (both the UR44 and 8i6 are limited 24 bit). Bus power is convenient for portability, but offers fewer opportunities to control RFI / EMI, and so I prefer self powered audio gear for the cleanest recordings where power conditioning / isolation are available, and while 32 bit offers the ability to capture more "information," I believe the mic preamps in the UR44C (same d-pre's as UR44) and limited dynamic range negate any benefit of 32 bit for the UR44C vs the 8I6. Again, only my opinion. Sorry for such a lengthy answer, in short, for me the 8i6 recordings are superior. I know others will disagree and that's 100 percent fine - audio is a personal thing... Hope this helps out and thanks again for the question!
@@askdrtk thank you for the detailed reply! I went with the 8i6, your points about noise made the difference. It should arrive later this week, looking forward to making some music with my hardware synth! Thanks again
Hi @askdrtk. Thanks for the great video. Question - does the interface work without a computer turned on? I'd like to connect my turntable and use it with my sound monitors, but don't want to keep my PC turned on while just listening to the music. Scarlett 8i6 has its own power supply but not sure if that's enough.
Glad to help out! Yes, the 8i6 works in standalone mode without a computer. You would first use the Focusrite Control software to configure the inputs from your turntable to be monitored on outputs 1/2 (or whichever outputs you monitors are connected to). You can then use the 8i6 as a monitor controller to listen to your turntable. I go through how to configure Focusrite Control in my two part tutorial. Part one: ruclips.net/video/bwwNlOaGZbw/видео.html
@@askdrtk Amazing, thank you for the detailed answer. Just watched some of your other videos and want to thank you for the great job you're doing. I love your video style - well prepared, clearly explained. Keep it up!!
Thank you for this! Quick question, for silent jamming purposes, could a guitarist and bassist plug in from their pedalboard into this at the same time and both have headphones out to hear each other?
Sorry I'm seeing your question a bit late. Yes you can setup the mix in Focusrite Control for live headphone output to include the two instrument inputs. Connect your pedalboards and you are good to go. If you you need help configuring the setup, I made a complete Focusrite Control video that shows how to set it up. Cheers!
Great question! Let me first say that the 18i8 2nd gen is still a very good interface for many applications. That said, for your application, there is one most important advantage for upgrading to 3rd gen. The microphone preamps on 3rd gen have been upgraded with an additional 6dB of gain (for a total of 56dB), an additional 2dB of dynamic range, plus improved noise and THD performance. Even if you technically don't require the additional gain, using less of the preamp's capability means less noise. While these may not sound like big numbers, for voiceover this will add up to a lower noise floor which means better recordings. There are other "nice-to-have's" with 3rd gen such as loopback, but for your application, lower noise floor alone would be the compelling reason to upgrade. I will mention out one other option which would be the Clarett+ 4pre (which has similar IO, but an extra 2 mic pres and and optical input). Admittedly this is more expensive, but if you don't need all the IO, the Clarett+ 2pre brings the price down a bit. The reason I mention it is that to really level up the quality of voiceover recordings, the preamp and converter specs on the new Clarett+ range are up there with many pro studio level gear. For the preamps, you would end up with an extra 7dB of gain (for a total of 57dB), but most importantly, dynamic range would increase by 9dB (to 118dB), not to mention improved noise and THD. The other factor is the vastly improved converters on the Clarrett+. Due to chip shortages, Focusrite changed the converters being used in the new Clarett+ interfaces to high end chips from Cirrus Logic. Without getting into too many details, these converters can hang with some of the best. Voice recordings done on the Clarett+ are dead silent between speaking if you have a good sound isolated space. The 3rd gen Scarlett 8i6 is a step up and probably the better value, but if you are looking to get into pro voiceover studio level sound, the Clarett+ are amazing at a far better price than the competition. Sorry about the lengthy response, but I hope this helps out!
Thank you, you definitely helped me to meet decision buying this sound card to my iMac 24" - if someone had a bad experience, plese leave here the comment - thank you all
You must have known lol... I finished recording one last week and it goes public this coming Tuesday (Nov 30)... Thanks for asking and checking out my 8i6 review!
@@askdrtk I have bought an InterFace 8i6 6 months ago.and i use it with Cubase .But i can't connect it correctly.i'll wait to see your video in the next days.Sorry for my bad English.
Good for knowledge for recording. I have Focusrite 6i6 2nd Generation and using it for 6 years and have had no issues. But I want to upgrade my studio. Is it advisable to buy Apollo Twin Dual Thunderbolt for Dell Laptop Windows? Thanks.
The Apollo Twin is an excellent interface but the drivers for Windows are not as reliable as when it is used with Macs. For some reason Universal Audio has not put the work into creating rock-solid Windows drivers. I have a Twin and move it back and forth between my Mac and Windows systems...never any issues on Mac, but when connected to the PC it will not reconnect if you turn it off. This is not a Windows / Thunderbolt issue as I have other interfaces that work flawlessly. If you are looking for an interface upgrade for a Windows PC I recommend the RME Babyface Pro FS as it has excellent Windows drivers, very low latency, and has the added benefit of ADAT in and out for further expansion. If you are looking for an interface with DSP, the Antelope Zen Go Synergy Core offers effects as in the Apollos but with very stable Windows drivers. Note that the Zen Go does not have ADAT input like the Apollo Twin, if that is something you want the Zen Q Synergy Core adds that expansion capability. I hope this helps out!
@@askdrtk Sir, Thank you for your quick reply. I am since a long time roaming after Apollo Interface, and now I get rid of Apollo. Your information will stand me in good stead. Thanks again and again.
very nice. Sir please help, if I want to connect 4 microphones condenser type and 4 instruments to record with Ableton which Focusrite audio interface should I consider ? is any mixer will also be to connect.? I am new to setup for recording music (Vocal+instrument). I hae Scarlet Solo studio 2gen with one condenser mic at the moment. your help will be very highly appreciated.
Glad you enjoyed my look at the 8i6! For your use case, there are two setups I would recommend for you. The first, and my preferred option, would be to go with an interface that has at least 8 inputs. The Scarlett 18i20 would be a good choice as it has 8 analogue inputs (all with preamps) so you would be able to connect all 4 of your microphones and your 4 instruments. The 18i20 is also expandable to up to 20 inputs, so you would have room to expand in the future. What I really like about this option is that you can record each input (all of your mics / instruments) on individual tracks in Ableton which is going to make recording / mixing more convenient without the need for overdubs. Focusrite has Scarlett 18i20 2nd gen's available for $350 usd and 18i20 3rd gen (upgraded mic preamps) for $439 usd refurbished ( come with full 3 year warranty) or $550 usd new. You could also go with the Clarett+ 8 pre (same number of inputs/outputs but with further upgraded preamps and converters) for $1000 usd, but the best value imo is the Scarlett 3rd gen refurb or 2nd gen. store.focusrite.com/en-gb/categories/focusrite/usb-interfaces The second option would be to use a mixer with at least 8 channels. The issue is that not all will output individual tracks to your computer - you may end up with only a stereo mix of all mics / instruments. Some mixers do not incorporate an interface (they are analogue only) and in that case you would still need an audio interface, again 8 inputs would be the best, and therefore we are back to option 1. Hope this helps out and let me know if you have further questions.
Thank you for the microphone demonstrations included in your review. The Isobar (which I never heard of until your mention of it) seems like a practical and useful thing to consider as well.
Glad the microphone demos helped out. The isolation between individual outlets combined with the build quality of the Isobars is a level up and can make a big difference in noise, especially if you have any power adapters plugged in.
Thank you for this video! Will Focusrite 8i6 3rd gen. work with macOS Monterey 12.1 ? It's a bit unclear if it is truly compatible - or if there are critical lacks... Hope to hear from someone on this subject :)
I've had several confirmations that the 8i6 (2i2 and 18i20) all work on M1 with Monterey. You will need to install the latest version of Focusrite Control 3.7.4. There have been some instances (since HS) were you need to unblock the system extension for all Focusrite and TC Technologies apps/drivers, but other than that full function is available. While I didn't set the interfaces up, I have seen the three of them working on Monterey in Studio One. Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk That's so great to hear - thank you for your reply! 🙂🙏 So just to decipher, since I'm new on Mac: there have been some instances where you need to allow "reduced security" in the "startup security utility"...? I already checked this box (allowed reduced security) in my system the other day when struggling with Steinberg UR22MKII. This is what might also has to be allowed for Focusrite, right...? Best regards from a total newbie 😄
Glad to help! Allowing reduced security should do the trick, but if you still experience issues you may need to actually unblock specific system software. Focusrite has a great step-by-step guide I am linking here: support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115005086925 If reducing security doesn't fully solve your issues (with the UR22MKII as well), this approach will get the job done. We're all newbie's at something...😀
All good! That's my goal for this channel - I'm trying to build a community that will help each other out. That said, I am opening up my new Discord server soon and would like to hear more about everyone's experiences across a variety of platforms. Maybe we can chat if you consider joining. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Thanks for the question. In Windows audio, you have the option to expose or hide any or all of 6 analogue, 2 channels of s/pdif, 2 channels of loopback, and 3 pairs (6 channels) of outputs. All of the inputs and outputs are also available using ASIO (I use this). All inputs and outputs are available in your DAW either way. Gain on the line inputs is adjusted through Focusrite Control (installed with the driver). Sorry for not including this in the video. I'm still trying to figure out just how much detail everyone is looking for in interface reviews. I use the line ins for hardware synths and will start including them in future interface reviews. I do appreciate your question and pointing out what information was missing. This will help me improve future reviews with more info for viewers! 😀
I haven't run into that issue and I have used Korg, Kawai, and Roland synths with the rear line inputs. If you are using the 8i6 (and other Scarlett / Clarett interfaces) for monitor or headphone output, the input level is adjustable in Focusrite Control mixer section.
The 8i6 requires a power adapter due to it's additional IO. The Scarlett 4i4 provides 2 preamps, 2 additional line inputs, and 4 line outputs + midi in and out. It runs off usb power without an adapter. I reviewed it here: ruclips.net/video/RtFB7gLxhDU/видео.html Thanks for the question and I hope this helps out!
Hello, I it possible to use the input on the front for a 48 volt mic an in the input next to it on the front for a electric guitar at the same time? isn't the 48 volt effecting the guitar while the phantom power is on?
Great question! Phantom power is only sent through XLR connectors (phantom requires 3 connectors), the TS cable from your guitar will not carry 48V from input 2.
3rd gen has more dynamic range and lower self-noise, but with 56dB of gain…if I remember right the 1st gen 6i6 has 60dB. The difference is most noticeable on sources with strong transients (drums).
this is a really great and informative review thank you, if i was to use this how would i plug my headphones into to this to hear sound from the PC but also monitor my microphone and other connected instruments would that go into the back in the SPDIF ports or would plugging it straight into the phones port work? or would i need multiple inputs
Thanks! You will be able to configure a mix through the headphone port using the included Focusrite Control software. This allows you to route audio from your PC and any microphones or instruments you have connected to the 8i6 through any of the outputs including the two headphone ports. Focusrite Control essentially allows you to use the 8i6 as a mixer. I have two complete tutorial videos on how to configure Focusrite Control. They are lengthy, but I have included timestamps and you would be looking for zero latency monitoring. This is a link to the first video: ruclips.net/video/bwwNlOaGZbw/видео.html Hope this helps out and let me know if you have any further questions.
Hello, how would you connect the Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 with the Soundcraft Signature 22MTK (mixer), the BOSS RC-505mkii LoopStation, The Roland VT-4 Voice Transformer, the Axiom49 MIDI Controller Keyboard, an electric guitar, and a microphone? And the softwares: Logic Pro X, Mainstage, Komplete 13. And can I use my guitar tube amp as an output or do I need to buy speakers?
The short answer is , I wouldn't... Since you have the MTK, about the only reason for adding another interface would be the additional IO if you wanted to take the RD-505 and VT-4 off the Aux's/ stereo channels and route them as plugins through Logic Pro. The number of analogue ins and outs on the 8i6, not to mention the latency from the 8i6 is not what you are looking for. If you want to move all your effects off of the board and route them in Logic, a good choice would be to add up something with alot of IO, but without extra mic pres. Quantum 48x48, or a Motu 16A are a couple of good choices that will give you low latency round trip for your effects as they both have very low latency (less of an issue for guitar, but bothers most vocalists). Keep the amp for those times you want to mic it up instead of using an amp sim, and add a good set of monitors. If you are recording several musicians live, the extra IO on the Quantum or 16A will give you plenty of space for separate monitor mixes for each person.
@@askdrtk Thanks!! :) So i would plug the mic into the VT-4 into the Boss RC and then into the audio interface and then into the mixer, and both the audio interface & mixer as well as the MIDI keyboard into the computer? And the guitar into the Boss RC after going through the guitar pedals?
The two most common configurations for your gear would be option 1: mixer only (no additional audio interface as your 22MTK has a built in audio interface) and option 2: connect the analogue outs from the mixer to the inputs on a separate audio interface. Option 1 allows you to record up to 22 separate tracks in Logic which is great if you want to record a whole band, but the 22MTK has a sample rate limitation of 48kHz (not an issue in most cases). Option 2 is limited to recording two mixed channels sent from the 22MTK to the separate audio interface, however a new interface will likely support higher sample rates (often unnecessary) and could have higher quality analogue to digital converters and lower latency (nice for overdubbing or recording/monitoring through plugins in Logic). Either way, the most common connection configuration is as you have said, however if you are going to use a separation audio interface exclusively for recording and playback from your computer (option 2) there would be no need to connect the 22MTK via USB. For option1, connect your monitors (powered speakers) to the 22MTK, set your computer to playback on channels 21/22, and enable the USB return option on channels 21/22. For option 2, connect your monitors to the separate audio interface monitor out connections, set your computer to playback on the default monitor channels for the interface, and then configure the two inputs you have connected to 22MTK to so that they are also sent to the monitor outputs (every brand works differently, but usually this is done in software such as Focusrite control). As option 2 is limited to two tracks, an interface such as the Scarlett 8i6 will work in this application. I previously recommended an interface with more IO only for future expandability (recording many sources at once such as a band, or using a lot of outboard hardware effects). Hope this helps out.
Thanks and I'm glad your enjoyed my review. Both the 8i6 and H6 have similar gain on the mic preamps however the H6 preamps have more self noise vs the 8i6, so the useable gain is slightly less. As interfaces, both provide 24-bit (H6 in multitrack mode only - driver required for windows and only 16-bit available on iPad), but the 8i6 samples at up to 192 whereas the H6 maxes out at 96. This is not an issue in many cases where 48 is commonly used. All this adds up to the 8i6 offering potential for greater dynamic range and cleaner recordings. It is also worth noting that the 8i6 offers greater flexibility in input/output allowing for more sources as well as the ability to use hardware inserts for processing + additional monitoring options. Hope this helps out.
The 3rd gen Scarletts including the 8i6 are a big step up from previous generations. Quality and performance are all far above what was available a few years ago. Of course you can spend more and get preamps with wider dynamic range (not really as issue on vocals imo) and superior converters, but you need to spend alot more to notice a difference - the recording space and microphone will have more impact vs a more expensive interface. You can make great sounding vocal recordings on an 8i6. The 8i6 is currently priced around $300 usd. Match is up with a good large diaphragm condenser mic (NT1 or WA-47jr are great values) and record in a treated space and for around $550 usd you are making recordings that are very usable for production. Hope this helps out!
@@askdrtk what do you think about diy vocal booths and how does these diy vocal booths affect bass trap low frequencies in home studios and high frequencies in home studios?
Hi I’m thinking to get a scarlet, the 2 series, or should I get the 8 series. I want it to work with a MPC, also it has to be class compliant. Is all of the scarlet machines class compliant. If so I would get the 8 series. Please can you help.
Thanks for the question. All Scarlett interfaces are class compliant - can be connected to a Mac without installing additional drivers. I have both the 4i4 and 8i6 and although both are very good, I would recommend the 8i6 as it has its own power supply which can help out if you ever run into rfi or emi issues with your setup. Also, the additional IO vs a 2i2/2i4 is nice to have for for your MPC and other future devices that may become part of your workflow. Hope this helps out and thanks for watching!
Great and informative video! I just recently picked up ableton to record my guitar and bass, and i've so far used the multimix8 usb fx from Alesis, but i feel like an entire mixer is a big bite for me to chew when i'm relatively new in the game (about half a years experience). Also, it was overwhelmingly cheap. I'm getting a very unclear signal with this particular piece of equipment, almost like a loud white noise that won't go away when i record, despite the fact that i've turned and tweaked each and every knob in the entire channel i'm using. This option seems like it could give me a much more clear signal, without all the fuzz of a mixer, no?
Thanks! Unfortunately the multimix 8 has a reputation for electrical interference. I haven’t tried it myself, but some have suggested it is the power adapter it comes with that is introducing the noise. That said, I haven’t heard of anyone solving the issue with a new power supply…so I’m a bit skeptical. The 8i6 has very quiet preamps / circuits in general and I find I can record jazz guitar without any noise becoming an issue. I have power conditioners and triplite isobars for all my pc and audio gear to ensure noise free recordings, but even without those, I would expect the 8i6 to provide a far better recording experience for you vs the Alesis (Scarlett’s are known for very good clean recordings in the price range). As a general best practice, I also recommend routing your usb cable s far away from power bricks as possible. Balanced audio cables are generally not an issue, but I would also try to keep your guitar cables away from power bricks as well. Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk Thank you for the reply, i saw results immidiately after i reorganized my cables. Is it possible to hook up a condenser microphone that require phantom power, and a Dynamic microphone which doesn't require phantom power, without damaging my equipment and/or the audio? I've heard that phantom power shouldn't be used on a dynamic microphone, so i was wondering if i would use them simultaniously on this 8i6 with phantom power on ?
Glad the cable reorg helped out! Modern Dynamic microphones are not generally affected by phantom power (several decades ago this used to be an issue). I haven't seen any dynamics made in the past 10-15 years have an issue. I often connect both condenser and dynamic mics to my 8i6 with phantom power on. I also saw your question about monitors outs. Although you can change the monitor audio routing (see my Focusrite Control tutorial video), by default, outputs 1 and 2 (1=Left and 2=Right) is the standard configuration for connecting monitors to the 8i6. Thanks again for the questions!
Thanks for the help again, everything has worked out perfectly! This'll be my final question (sorry in advance haha) - do I need to use the instrument mode on the 8i6 when using a shure microphone in front of my guitar amp, or is this not required? And thanks again for your help, much appreciated! Happy New year from Denmark
Glad to hear and no worries on the questions, I'm pleased to help out! The instrument mode is only for when you want to connect a guitar directly to the 8i6 (for direct recording, amp sims, etc.) Your microphone will work the same with the interface whether you use it to mic an amp, acoustic instrument, or for vocals, no need to make changes (other than adjusting the gain or phantom power for condensers) for any source you intend to mic. All the best in the New Year!
Focusrite control will allow you to create custom mixes and you can use the loopback function to return one of the mixes to your computer for use in OBS, DAW, or other application. So multiple headphone mixes and a "recording / listening" vs "streaming" mix back to the computer are possible, however you will not be able to individually mix separate applications (games, VLC, etc.) If you are using OBS Studio, you can overcome this issue by using the plugin for application audio control that I went through in this video ruclips.net/video/Q8ySOGRIeRU/видео.html I hope this helps out and if you provide some additional details on the functions you are looking to replicate from voiceMeeter I may be able to assist further. Thanks for the question!
Yes it will, but I wouldn't recommend impedance any higher than 250 ohm. I have tested it with DT770 and DT990 250ohm models. If you like your headphones very loud, you may want to use an amp, but for general listening / mixing the audio gets loud enough and remains clear for me.
Great option and should me Clarett 2-pre ever take a dump, would strongly consider. The one thing that drives me up the wll with this and many other interfaces is the "one 48v for all mic inputs" switch. I am a podcast and that drives me up the wall. I can't imagine what musicians think of this?
THe extra IO on the 8i6 is a nice fit for a two person podcast. I agree on the phantom power, I use a Clarett+ 8 Pre and Scarlett 18i20 in the studio and they are split 1-4 and 5-8 for phantom power on each unit. It doesn't take much to get a lot of mics going when we are recording a drum kit and we even use 3 mics on a guitar cabinet from time to time. Most new dynamic mics aren't harmed by phantom power, but we sure do have to watch out not to plug and unplug live cables...
Both are solid choices. The ssl 2 has excellent preamps in a bus-powered interface. I find the IO to be a bit lacking in terms of future expansion and I prefer to create my own audio processing chain rather than use built-in "one setting only" effects (applies to "4K" on the ssl 2 and "air" on the Focusrite). Portability is an advantage of the ssl 2, but the self-powered 8i6 has an advantage in IO for expansion and provides the opportunity to better control emi-rfi noise imo. The ssl 2 has a slight advantage in mic preamp gain at 62dB vs 56dB for the 8i6, but I have also been told by a regular ssl 2 user (studio) that the ssl 2 lacks fine gain adjustment in the low range when using microphones with a very hot output - have not tested this myself. Hope this helps out and thanks for watching!
Thanks for the question. I normally would not include music in the background of an audio gear video, but unfortunately my neighbor has been doing some noisy renovations to the exterior of their house. I inserted the music to help smooth out the jarring sound of air nailers and hammers right outside my window as I don't use noise reduction processing during my audio gear videos. I did not use background music during the audio test portions of this video so viewers could only hear the mics and interface (it took 11 attempts to shoot the audio tests and I finally gave up and recorded them at night). Thanks again for the question and for watching.
@@askdrtk Thank you for the explanation. I don't have to deal with human sounds so much here, instead it is roosters crowing and coyotes howling. Anyway I find voice over music hard on my ears. Otherwise great video looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Great question - Yes, the 8i6 is class compliant and will be recognized in IOS (it isn't officially supported, but it works fine in my testing). To configure output routing (zero latency monitoring as well as custom output mixes) you will need to connect the 8i6 to a Mac or PC and use Focusrite Control after which you can connect it to your IOS device. Once the interface is setup to your preferences (can be a one-time setup), you are ready to record, mix, and playback with GarageBand, etc...
Nice choice, the SSL2+ is a well built interface! To use it with an iPad you will need to connect it through a powered usb hub as it is usb powered and the iPad does not provide enough power over usb. I'm curious, which headphone amp did you go with?
I have one and i highly regret it. It doesn't worth the price at all there is so bad things about it. But at least you have zero latency and a good sound.. very low.. but good
Nice video!. I just have two problems with the methodology used in preamp self noise test. 1.- Self noise test is meaningless if not in reference to a signal (Signal to noise ratio is the real deal) and SNR performance is variable with gain (because of phisycal stuff). 2.- FFT resolution too low. Thanks.
Thanks for the comment. I have always used the 150 ohm resister (on xlr plug while increasing gain from 0-100%) method to measure preamp noise. It would probably be helpful if I showed an inset view of the gain control while the spectrum graph is on screen for cross reference. Greater FFT res would also be good. I have been thinking about how I could show self noise and a "real world" live signal (spoken word or acoustic guitar instead of the resister) on a spectrum graph, but I am not sure how I would deal with (and accurately measure) the microphone and room noise to accurately calculate preamp noise- too many variables given the equipment I have to provide meaningful feedback. Thanks for watching and I appreciate your thorough approach when watching my review!
@@askdrtk I would insist on measuring SNR. Maybe here FFT is not so important as we are not so interested on frequency of noise, we are interested on amplitude of noise. (Frequency is more important when discussing "sound color of noise"). The procedure as following. Put microphone on a standard sound source for certain delta of time, at a certain distance then record some silence. Repeat while increasing gain from 0 to 100 on discrete steps. Normalize all recording to certain db. Compare the signal to noise ratio. (RMS of sound source / RMS of noise) Because you would be measuring differences with almost same conditions, you could have certain relative useful scale that you could compare with other preamps. And then you could conclude if SNR improves over increases of gain. And you could conclude relative to other preamps if noise preamp is better or worse (because better or worse SNR).
Thanks again for the recommendations. I believe I will conduct these measurements on a number of preamps/interfaces using my sine wave generator and a dynamic mic in my isolation box for comparative analysis. As you have said, measuring differences under almost similar conditions would provide useful comparisons. The information would likely benefit viewers assessing SNR performance of preamps and interfaces as a component of a purchase decision.
![Which Focusrite Scarlett Interface Should You Buy? [Solo vs 2i2 vs 4i4 vs 8i6 vs 18i8 vs 18i20]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ymp2M0Ztpfk/mqdefault.jpg)
This was incredibly informative, clearly explained and unbiased. Great content, subscribed.
Much appreciated and I'm glad to help out!
Hi, this is a great video, if you can kindlly help me with this information. Since in the front panel when i activate the phantom power it wlll activate both the inputs, then in that senario if I connect a condensor mic in one input, and if i connect a ribbon mic in the other, wont that damage the ribbon mic system, same if I connect an instrument while the phantom power is switched on wont it affect the instrument signal
Thanks and great question! Using an instrument on the other input will not be an issue as long as you are using a 1/4" TRS cable since phantom power is only sent of XLR by the interface. For ribbon mics, it depends. Most vintage ribbon mics can be damaged by phantom power (many new ones are built so as not to be an issue, but I would check the specific documentation for your mic first). To be 100% safe, you can use an isolation transformer between the ribbon mic and the interface such as: www.tritonaudio.com/phantom-blocker or artproaudio.com/product/prosplit-transformer-isolated-mic-splitter/ or artproaudio.com/product/splitcompro-mic-splitter-combiner/ I have used all of these and they are effective and reliable. All are under $100 and worth the investment to protect an expensive ribbon mic imo. Hope this helps out!
@@askdrtk thank you so much for your reply, i really appreciate it, and also appreciate all the hard work you do in educating people with your videos
perfect! I'm looking forward to more unboxings from you
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!
Great video and extra knowledge you threw in there. Thanks!
Thanks and I'm glad to help out! Hope you found the info you were looking for.
This is great i love spending time listening to all the diference each gear makes.
Thank you.👍
My pleasure Manuel. I did some work on your voiceover sample recording today and just emailed you a couple of processed samples including one with music as a soundbed. I hope they capture the idea you had in mind.
Are those powerful enough for 250ohms headphones? My last Scarlett wasn't loud enough to power my headphones.
Models with their own power supply offer more power compared to bus-powered interfaces. I have found the 8i6, 18i20, and Clarett+ 8Pre are capable of driving my HD600 (300ohms) and DT770 (250ohms) to a good level.
@@askdrtk ah brilliant, thank you for that. I have some DT990 pro's. And my Scarlett Solo was absolutely useless with them. Way too quiet when it came to making music and mixing. Had to crank the DAW master volume up, which isn't good. I like to mix my tracks at about -6db at most. Will definitely order the 8i6 now.
All good. Yes, the Solo headphone output is definitely underpowered for the 990s. The 8i6 fills a gap where you get the advantages of an externally powered interface but do not require a lot of IO for tacking (drums, bands, etc.) or for outboard gear. It does have SPDIF IO which is nice if you ever want to add a second converter to expand your monitoring options and it has a loopback which can come in handy...
hello , nice review , whats the best interface for sm7b?
Much appreciated and thanks for the question. Sorry for the rather lengthy response.
There are a few considerations that for me are most important when looking at audio interfaces. Converters, preamp performance, and IO. For the purpose of your question I will focus on preamps as you only require one input for the sm7b and most modern interfaces have converters that outperform those from ten years ago for most applications other than high-end studio work. For built in preamps it generally comes down to sufficient gain vs noise. Some of the new interfaces offer simulations of famous console preamps (like "air mode" on the Focusrites or "tube mode" on the new UA Volts). You can use external preamps for added control, but I will set this aside. If you are interested in the difference preamps make, I have started including multiple preamp/interfaces combos in my mic reviews and comparisons (MV7X vs PodMic: ruclips.net/video/2MxBtAhJb_g/видео.html) and will have a video on this topic using the sm7b coming soon.
The amount of gain vs noise the sm7b (and all mics) requires depends on the working distance you prefer from the mic. For example, the 8i6 has a max gain of 56dB with an EIN of -128dBu. Without going into too much detail, this means you can use pretty much all of that gain without introducing noise that will greatly interfere with the vocals being recorded (again, this is a bit oversimplified). With this amount of gain, it is reasonable to use the sm7b at a working distance of up to about 5-6 inches for a voice with average amplitude and to expect good performance. If you wish to use the sm7b at a greater working distance with the 8i6, you would need to add a mic booster or other external preamp to provide more gain vs noise to achieve a good working recording level vs noise. You can use these specs as a gauge for what to expect from a the built-in preamps for various interfaces.
If your working distance from the sm7b will be less than 6 inches, some good choices include the scarlett's (particularly models with their own power supply), audient iD4 / EVO, Motu M2/M4, and if you want to go for a higher end desktop interface, the RME Babyface Pro is awesome (but expensive). If you need a working distance of more than 6 inches, I recommend an external preamp with superior gain vs noise specs or a mic booster.
Hope this helps out, let me know if you need further detail, and thanks again for the questions and for watching!
@askdrtk thank you very much for your detailed answer it helps me a lot , I want to use it with more than 6 inches distance and available interface in my country is , Focusrite Scarlett 8i6, Audient iD14 MKII , scarlet 2i2 3rd gen, Solid State Logic SSL 2+, Universal Audio Volt 2 USB Audio Interface , Audient iD4 MKII, goxlr mini, and there is some options over 1000$ like RME Babyface Pro FS and Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 , Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO Heritage Edition but I cant afford them now, what's from these choices well suite me and give me the best of these mic and do I need a cloud lifter with it , thank you again
All good.
While you may not use the features right away, from your list I like the 8i6 as the IO gives you room to grow - you never know when you may wish to add other outboard gear / processing... Also, being self powered, it is much easier to isolate and deal with any potential electrical interference vs usb powered interfaces. Not to say usb powered will be a problem, but self powered gives you more options. If you are going to have more than 6 inches working distance, I would recommend a mic booster such as the Cloudlifter. That said, I have a mic booster in from Klark Teknik (the CT-01) that I have been testing with the 8i6 and sm7b. My review on the CT-01 is coming soon, but for now, while it doesn't provide quite as much gain as the Cloudlifter, it has plenty for the sm7s, provides very clean gain, has great build quality, and is far more affordable. This may be worth considering if you are trying to keep cost under control (as we all are...)
Great review, great points! Bought an 8i6 last week. I already have a Clarett 4-Pre USB. I use a two-computer system, one to run VSTs, capture mics and audio signals and send all processed audio to the second one, which handles 4 cameras and other graphics in OBS in real time. I found the SPDIF to be the most efficient way to send the generated audio to the second computer, so the 8i6 became the obvious choice in relation to the other simpler models. Also, the 5-pin MIDI is a more professional and reliable (sometimes the only) way to connect instruments.
Thanks! Sounds like an ideal setup for your use case. I usually recommend getting "more interface" than you think you need...SPDIF and MIDI are two great reasons why (and I have some retro MIDI keyboards and modules...so I can never have enough 5-pin MIDI...) Cheers!
@@askdrtk Same here, lots of 80s and 90s MIDI gear I just can't let go! Just forgot to mention that as I'm still into occasionally listening to CDs, the SPDIF input also allows me to get the CD deck optical out straight into the interface, which results in an amazingly clear sound! Cheers!
Its funny, just last night I was looking for a specific sound for a project and I thought I remembered the exact sound I wanted from my K1. I fired it up and there it was (and then I spent a couple of hours on nostalgia). You just can't get rid of gear... Love the interface as a DAC for CDs.
Is it possible to connect 2 pair of studio monitors to it?
Yes it is, it has two sets of outputs. There is only one monitor level control dial on the front, but you can control the output levels independently in the included audio routing software. Thanks for the question and for watching!
@@askdrtk thx so much! I am now between the 8i6 3rd gen and the Komplete audio 6 mk2! :( Because i want 2 instrument inputs 2 headphone outs, and 2 monitor outs. Do you have a recommendation ore should i just buy one XD
Since these interfaces will provide similar audio performance, for me it comes down to one thing. The 8i6 allows you to direct monitor through both sets of monitor outs as well as through headphones whereas the 6 mk2 only allows direct monitoring through headphones, not through your studio monitors. Aside from that, I like the meters on the 6 mk2, but I like the additional 2 inputs on the 8i6 for future expansion and the self power which can help with RFI/EMI - PC USB power is not always the cleanest. Ultimately it depends on how you like to record, but for me, I like the ability to direct monitor through studio monitors when recording instruments. Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk Insane thanks to you man! Because i play e guitar my choice is now the 8i6 because of the direct monitoring over speakers. Thx again man! You helped me so much! Thanks!
Hi, great review! I didn’t realize it has its own supply. Can it be used without a computer? By that I mean connecting a synth to it and then listen to the output without the interface being connected through USB at all. Thanks. F
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yes you can use the 8i6 in what is called “stand alone mode.” You would connect the 8i6 to a computer and use the Focusrite Control app to setup whichever inputs you wish to monitor through either headphones or through outputs to studio monitors and you can then disconnect it from your computer and use it with your synth. Levels for headphones and monitors are then adjusted using the front panel controls on the 8i6. I have a full tutorial on Focusrite Control which includes stand alone setup if you end up going his route.
@@askdrtk golden! Thank you so much. Subscribed!
Very concise video, cheers. I'm torn between the UR44 and the 8i6, what are you thoughts on these?
Great question. I have a friend that uses the UR44 and I have had a chance to work with it and to mix / master a few recordings he has made, so I have some opinions to share.
First I will say that while the UR44 has built in DSP, it is very limited in terms of how many simultaneous inputs can use it - only one guitar for example, and the channel strip is quite limited in features. While I appreciate that some wish to "bake in" processing into recordings or hear a "somewhat" finished sound for zero latency monitoring, while others like the idea of live streaming with outboard processing to save cpu resources, for me, there are simply too many great free and paid plugins offering superior performance for the finished product. Also, the UR44 wouldn't be my first choice for simultaneous recording of tracks with and without DSP.
Next, and for me the most important considerations are the mic preamps and dynamic range. The preamps on the UR44 are considerably noisier vs the 8i6. This is more of an issue when driving the gain above 1:00, so for me if you like to use any dynamic microphones (sm57 for acoustic guitar, etc.) the UR44 is a non-starter. The 8i6 recordings sound noticeably cleaner with dynamic mics. For condenser mics I notice little difference where gain is below 12:00. The additional two xlr inputs on the UR44 are nice, but imo if your recordings require more than 2 mic inputs it is time to consider a higher end solution. The 8i6 also has almost 10 percent more dynamic range, which again can help separation between noise and signal. These are of course only my opinions and audio is subjective.
Finally I will mention UR44 vs UR44C, with the difference being the "C" model offers bus power as an option on a usb c port only and also 32 bit (both the UR44 and 8i6 are limited 24 bit). Bus power is convenient for portability, but offers fewer opportunities to control RFI / EMI, and so I prefer self powered audio gear for the cleanest recordings where power conditioning / isolation are available, and while 32 bit offers the ability to capture more "information," I believe the mic preamps in the UR44C (same d-pre's as UR44) and limited dynamic range negate any benefit of 32 bit for the UR44C vs the 8I6. Again, only my opinion.
Sorry for such a lengthy answer, in short, for me the 8i6 recordings are superior. I know others will disagree and that's 100 percent fine - audio is a personal thing... Hope this helps out and thanks again for the question!
@@askdrtk thank you for the detailed reply! I went with the 8i6, your points about noise made the difference. It should arrive later this week, looking forward to making some music with my hardware synth! Thanks again
8i6 + hardware synth = New Music! I'm sure you'll enjoy your new recording setup!
Is there any ADAT port in this equipment ?
Great review. Thanks!
Thanks, I'm glad it helped out!
Hi @askdrtk. Thanks for the great video.
Question - does the interface work without a computer turned on? I'd like to connect my turntable and use it with my sound monitors, but don't want to keep my PC turned on while just listening to the music. Scarlett 8i6 has its own power supply but not sure if that's enough.
Glad to help out! Yes, the 8i6 works in standalone mode without a computer. You would first use the Focusrite Control software to configure the inputs from your turntable to be monitored on outputs 1/2 (or whichever outputs you monitors are connected to). You can then use the 8i6 as a monitor controller to listen to your turntable. I go through how to configure Focusrite Control in my two part tutorial. Part one: ruclips.net/video/bwwNlOaGZbw/видео.html
@@askdrtk Amazing, thank you for the detailed answer. Just watched some of your other videos and want to thank you for the great job you're doing. I love your video style - well prepared, clearly explained. Keep it up!!
Thank you for this! Quick question, for silent jamming purposes, could a guitarist and bassist plug in from their pedalboard into this at the same time and both have headphones out to hear each other?
Sorry I'm seeing your question a bit late. Yes you can setup the mix in Focusrite Control for live headphone output to include the two instrument inputs. Connect your pedalboards and you are good to go. If you you need help configuring the setup, I made a complete Focusrite Control video that shows how to set it up. Cheers!
Hey! I have a 18i8 2rd gen, i want to buy the 8i6.i ues it for voice recordings. Do you think 8i6 3rd gen is better than 18i8 2rd gen? Thanks
Great question! Let me first say that the 18i8 2nd gen is still a very good interface for many applications.
That said, for your application, there is one most important advantage for upgrading to 3rd gen. The microphone preamps on 3rd gen have been upgraded with an additional 6dB of gain (for a total of 56dB), an additional 2dB of dynamic range, plus improved noise and THD performance. Even if you technically don't require the additional gain, using less of the preamp's capability means less noise. While these may not sound like big numbers, for voiceover this will add up to a lower noise floor which means better recordings. There are other "nice-to-have's" with 3rd gen such as loopback, but for your application, lower noise floor alone would be the compelling reason to upgrade.
I will mention out one other option which would be the Clarett+ 4pre (which has similar IO, but an extra 2 mic pres and and optical input). Admittedly this is more expensive, but if you don't need all the IO, the Clarett+ 2pre brings the price down a bit. The reason I mention it is that to really level up the quality of voiceover recordings, the preamp and converter specs on the new Clarett+ range are up there with many pro studio level gear. For the preamps, you would end up with an extra 7dB of gain (for a total of 57dB), but most importantly, dynamic range would increase by 9dB (to 118dB), not to mention improved noise and THD. The other factor is the vastly improved converters on the Clarrett+. Due to chip shortages, Focusrite changed the converters being used in the new Clarett+ interfaces to high end chips from Cirrus Logic. Without getting into too many details, these converters can hang with some of the best. Voice recordings done on the Clarett+ are dead silent between speaking if you have a good sound isolated space.
The 3rd gen Scarlett 8i6 is a step up and probably the better value, but if you are looking to get into pro voiceover studio level sound, the Clarett+ are amazing at a far better price than the competition. Sorry about the lengthy response, but I hope this helps out!
@@askdrtk thanks a lot! Yes. Very helpfull
Thank you, you definitely helped me to meet decision buying this sound card to my iMac 24" - if someone had a bad experience, plese leave here the comment - thank you all
Please make a tutorial How to sett in Focusrite control ?
You must have known lol... I finished recording one last week and it goes public this coming Tuesday (Nov 30)... Thanks for asking and checking out my 8i6 review!
@@askdrtk I have bought an InterFace 8i6 6 months ago.and i use it with Cubase .But i can't connect it correctly.i'll wait to see your video in the next days.Sorry for my bad English.
Sounds good. Let me know if you have further questions after watching my tutorial and I will try to help you out.
@@askdrtk Thanks Bro
Thanks! Super helpful
Glad the video helped out - Thanks for watching!
is this better than 4i4? will 8i6 work on m2max Sonoma? also is there a 4th gen coming??
Great video!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the introduction to ReaFir
Glad to help out!
Good for knowledge for recording. I have Focusrite 6i6 2nd Generation and using it for 6 years and have had no issues. But I want to upgrade my studio. Is it advisable to buy Apollo Twin Dual Thunderbolt for Dell Laptop Windows? Thanks.
The Apollo Twin is an excellent interface but the drivers for Windows are not as reliable as when it is used with Macs. For some reason Universal Audio has not put the work into creating rock-solid Windows drivers. I have a Twin and move it back and forth between my Mac and Windows systems...never any issues on Mac, but when connected to the PC it will not reconnect if you turn it off. This is not a Windows / Thunderbolt issue as I have other interfaces that work flawlessly. If you are looking for an interface upgrade for a Windows PC I recommend the RME Babyface Pro FS as it has excellent Windows drivers, very low latency, and has the added benefit of ADAT in and out for further expansion. If you are looking for an interface with DSP, the Antelope Zen Go Synergy Core offers effects as in the Apollos but with very stable Windows drivers. Note that the Zen Go does not have ADAT input like the Apollo Twin, if that is something you want the Zen Q Synergy Core adds that expansion capability. I hope this helps out!
@@askdrtk Sir, Thank you for your quick reply. I am since a long time roaming after Apollo Interface, and now I get rid of Apollo. Your information will stand me in good stead. Thanks again and again.
very nice. Sir please help, if I want to connect 4 microphones condenser type and 4 instruments to record with Ableton which Focusrite audio interface should I consider ? is any mixer will also be to connect.? I am new to setup for recording music (Vocal+instrument). I hae Scarlet Solo studio 2gen with one condenser mic at the moment. your help will be very highly appreciated.
Glad you enjoyed my look at the 8i6! For your use case, there are two setups I would recommend for you.
The first, and my preferred option, would be to go with an interface that has at least 8 inputs. The Scarlett 18i20 would be a good choice as it has 8 analogue inputs (all with preamps) so you would be able to connect all 4 of your microphones and your 4 instruments. The 18i20 is also expandable to up to 20 inputs, so you would have room to expand in the future. What I really like about this option is that you can record each input (all of your mics / instruments) on individual tracks in Ableton which is going to make recording / mixing more convenient without the need for overdubs. Focusrite has Scarlett 18i20 2nd gen's available for $350 usd and 18i20 3rd gen (upgraded mic preamps) for $439 usd refurbished ( come with full 3 year warranty) or $550 usd new. You could also go with the Clarett+ 8 pre (same number of inputs/outputs but with further upgraded preamps and converters) for $1000 usd, but the best value imo is the Scarlett 3rd gen refurb or 2nd gen. store.focusrite.com/en-gb/categories/focusrite/usb-interfaces
The second option would be to use a mixer with at least 8 channels. The issue is that not all will output individual tracks to your computer - you may end up with only a stereo mix of all mics / instruments. Some mixers do not incorporate an interface (they are analogue only) and in that case you would still need an audio interface, again 8 inputs would be the best, and therefore we are back to option 1.
Hope this helps out and let me know if you have further questions.
Thank you for the microphone demonstrations included in your review. The Isobar (which I never heard of until your mention of it) seems like a practical and useful thing to consider as well.
Glad the microphone demos helped out. The isolation between individual outlets combined with the build quality of the Isobars is a level up and can make a big difference in noise, especially if you have any power adapters plugged in.
Thank you for this video! Will Focusrite 8i6 3rd gen. work with macOS Monterey 12.1 ? It's a bit unclear if it is truly compatible - or if there are critical lacks... Hope to hear from someone on this subject :)
I've had several confirmations that the 8i6 (2i2 and 18i20) all work on M1 with Monterey. You will need to install the latest version of Focusrite Control 3.7.4. There have been some instances (since HS) were you need to unblock the system extension for all Focusrite and TC Technologies apps/drivers, but other than that full function is available. While I didn't set the interfaces up, I have seen the three of them working on Monterey in Studio One. Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk That's so great to hear - thank you for your reply! 🙂🙏 So just to decipher, since I'm new on Mac: there have been some instances where you need to allow "reduced security" in the "startup security utility"...? I already checked this box (allowed reduced security) in my system the other day when struggling with Steinberg UR22MKII. This is what might also has to be allowed for Focusrite, right...? Best regards from a total newbie 😄
Glad to help! Allowing reduced security should do the trick, but if you still experience issues you may need to actually unblock specific system software. Focusrite has a great step-by-step guide I am linking here: support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115005086925 If reducing security doesn't fully solve your issues (with the UR22MKII as well), this approach will get the job done. We're all newbie's at something...😀
@@askdrtk Uhh - I did not know this! That just might save me hours of endless Googling 😀 Thank you so much for the link! 😊🙏
All good! That's my goal for this channel - I'm trying to build a community that will help each other out. That said, I am opening up my new Discord server soon and would like to hear more about everyone's experiences across a variety of platforms. Maybe we can chat if you consider joining. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Do you have all 6 outputs available in your DAW to record 6 tracks at once? How to set input gain for line ins? This is very incomplete review.... :(
Thanks for the question. In Windows audio, you have the option to expose or hide any or all of 6 analogue, 2 channels of s/pdif, 2 channels of loopback, and 3 pairs (6 channels) of outputs. All of the inputs and outputs are also available using ASIO (I use this). All inputs and outputs are available in your DAW either way. Gain on the line inputs is adjusted through Focusrite Control (installed with the driver). Sorry for not including this in the video. I'm still trying to figure out just how much detail everyone is looking for in interface reviews. I use the line ins for hardware synths and will start including them in future interface reviews. I do appreciate your question and pointing out what information was missing. This will help me improve future reviews with more info for viewers! 😀
@@askdrtk someone wrote: the rear line input have a very low volume also with synth. Is it true?
I haven't run into that issue and I have used Korg, Kawai, and Roland synths with the rear line inputs. If you are using the 8i6 (and other Scarlett / Clarett interfaces) for monitor or headphone output, the input level is adjustable in Focusrite Control mixer section.
Please will I be able to use the sound card without the power adapter ? Just the usb to power it
The 8i6 requires a power adapter due to it's additional IO. The Scarlett 4i4 provides 2 preamps, 2 additional line inputs, and 4 line outputs + midi in and out. It runs off usb power without an adapter. I reviewed it here: ruclips.net/video/RtFB7gLxhDU/видео.html Thanks for the question and I hope this helps out!
Hello, I it possible to use the input on the front for a 48 volt mic an in the input next to it on the front for a electric guitar at the same time? isn't the 48 volt effecting the guitar while the phantom power is on?
Great question! Phantom power is only sent through XLR connectors (phantom requires 3 connectors), the TS cable from your guitar will not carry 48V from input 2.
@@askdrtk Thanks for the quick answer. You really helped me out
Are the Preamps alot better than the 1st Generation? I have the 6i6 1st gen
3rd gen has more dynamic range and lower self-noise, but with 56dB of gain…if I remember right the 1st gen 6i6 has 60dB. The difference is most noticeable on sources with strong transients (drums).
this is a really great and informative review thank you, if i was to use this how would i plug my headphones into to this to hear sound from the PC but also monitor my microphone and other connected instruments would that go into the back in the SPDIF ports or would plugging it straight into the phones port work? or would i need multiple inputs
Thanks! You will be able to configure a mix through the headphone port using the included Focusrite Control software. This allows you to route audio from your PC and any microphones or instruments you have connected to the 8i6 through any of the outputs including the two headphone ports. Focusrite Control essentially allows you to use the 8i6 as a mixer. I have two complete tutorial videos on how to configure Focusrite Control. They are lengthy, but I have included timestamps and you would be looking for zero latency monitoring. This is a link to the first video: ruclips.net/video/bwwNlOaGZbw/видео.html Hope this helps out and let me know if you have any further questions.
@@askdrtk Thank you for the speedy reply i will give these a look for sure, thank you millions hopefully i can get it all running perfectly xD
Hello, how would you connect the Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 with the Soundcraft Signature 22MTK (mixer), the BOSS RC-505mkii LoopStation, The Roland VT-4 Voice Transformer, the Axiom49 MIDI Controller Keyboard, an electric guitar, and a microphone? And the softwares: Logic Pro X, Mainstage, Komplete 13. And can I use my guitar tube amp as an output or do I need to buy speakers?
The short answer is , I wouldn't... Since you have the MTK, about the only reason for adding another interface would be the additional IO if you wanted to take the RD-505 and VT-4 off the Aux's/ stereo channels and route them as plugins through Logic Pro. The number of analogue ins and outs on the 8i6, not to mention the latency from the 8i6 is not what you are looking for. If you want to move all your effects off of the board and route them in Logic, a good choice would be to add up something with alot of IO, but without extra mic pres. Quantum 48x48, or a Motu 16A are a couple of good choices that will give you low latency round trip for your effects as they both have very low latency (less of an issue for guitar, but bothers most vocalists). Keep the amp for those times you want to mic it up instead of using an amp sim, and add a good set of monitors. If you are recording several musicians live, the extra IO on the Quantum or 16A will give you plenty of space for separate monitor mixes for each person.
@@askdrtk Thanks!! :) So i would plug the mic into the VT-4 into the Boss RC and then into the audio interface and then into the mixer, and both the audio interface & mixer as well as the MIDI keyboard into the computer? And the guitar into the Boss RC after going through the guitar pedals?
@@askdrtk where would the I plug in the speakers?
The two most common configurations for your gear would be option 1: mixer only (no additional audio interface as your 22MTK has a built in audio interface) and option 2: connect the analogue outs from the mixer to the inputs on a separate audio interface. Option 1 allows you to record up to 22 separate tracks in Logic which is great if you want to record a whole band, but the 22MTK has a sample rate limitation of 48kHz (not an issue in most cases). Option 2 is limited to recording two mixed channels sent from the 22MTK to the separate audio interface, however a new interface will likely support higher sample rates (often unnecessary) and could have higher quality analogue to digital converters and lower latency (nice for overdubbing or recording/monitoring through plugins in Logic). Either way, the most common connection configuration is as you have said, however if you are going to use a separation audio interface exclusively for recording and playback from your computer (option 2) there would be no need to connect the 22MTK via USB. For option1, connect your monitors (powered speakers) to the 22MTK, set your computer to playback on channels 21/22, and enable the USB return option on channels 21/22. For option 2, connect your monitors to the separate audio interface monitor out connections, set your computer to playback on the default monitor channels for the interface, and then configure the two inputs you have connected to 22MTK to so that they are also sent to the monitor outputs (every brand works differently, but usually this is done in software such as Focusrite control). As option 2 is limited to two tracks, an interface such as the Scarlett 8i6 will work in this application. I previously recommended an interface with more IO only for future expandability (recording many sources at once such as a band, or using a lot of outboard hardware effects). Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk I am so thankful for your response. Wow! :D
Just subscribed. I learnt a lot from your video, thanks. How would you compare this interface with the Zoom H6 functioning as an interface?
Thanks and I'm glad your enjoyed my review.
Both the 8i6 and H6 have similar gain on the mic preamps however the H6 preamps have more self noise vs the 8i6, so the useable gain is slightly less. As interfaces, both provide 24-bit (H6 in multitrack mode only - driver required for windows and only 16-bit available on iPad), but the 8i6 samples at up to 192 whereas the H6 maxes out at 96. This is not an issue in many cases where 48 is commonly used. All this adds up to the 8i6 offering potential for greater dynamic range and cleaner recordings. It is also worth noting that the 8i6 offers greater flexibility in input/output allowing for more sources as well as the ability to use hardware inserts for processing + additional monitoring options. Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk Hey man, I'm so glad I checked with you. Very helpful and appreciated!
@@askdrtk is this a quality interface for music vocals recoding? What's the price? Is this better than previous focusrite interface?
The 3rd gen Scarletts including the 8i6 are a big step up from previous generations. Quality and performance are all far above what was available a few years ago. Of course you can spend more and get preamps with wider dynamic range (not really as issue on vocals imo) and superior converters, but you need to spend alot more to notice a difference - the recording space and microphone will have more impact vs a more expensive interface. You can make great sounding vocal recordings on an 8i6. The 8i6 is currently priced around $300 usd. Match is up with a good large diaphragm condenser mic (NT1 or WA-47jr are great values) and record in a treated space and for around $550 usd you are making recordings that are very usable for production. Hope this helps out!
@@askdrtk what do you think about diy vocal booths and how does these diy vocal booths affect bass trap low frequencies in home studios and high frequencies in home studios?
Parabéns pelo vídeo e pela excelente explicação ! Graças a você comprei minha 8i6 hoje ! Abraços Brasil
Glad to help! Enjoy your new 8i6!
Hi I’m thinking to get a scarlet, the 2 series, or should I get the 8 series.
I want it to work with a MPC, also it has to be class compliant.
Is all of the scarlet machines class compliant. If so I would get the 8 series.
Please can you help.
Thanks for the question. All Scarlett interfaces are class compliant - can be connected to a Mac without installing additional drivers. I have both the 4i4 and 8i6 and although both are very good, I would recommend the 8i6 as it has its own power supply which can help out if you ever run into rfi or emi issues with your setup. Also, the additional IO vs a 2i2/2i4 is nice to have for for your MPC and other future devices that may become part of your workflow. Hope this helps out and thanks for watching!
Great and informative video! I just recently picked up ableton to record my guitar and bass, and i've so far used the multimix8 usb fx from Alesis, but i feel like an entire mixer is a big bite for me to chew when i'm relatively new in the game (about half a years experience). Also, it was overwhelmingly cheap. I'm getting a very unclear signal with this particular piece of equipment, almost like a loud white noise that won't go away when i record, despite the fact that i've turned and tweaked each and every knob in the entire channel i'm using. This option seems like it could give me a much more clear signal, without all the fuzz of a mixer, no?
Thanks! Unfortunately the multimix 8 has a reputation for electrical interference. I haven’t tried it myself, but some have suggested it is the power adapter it comes with that is introducing the noise. That said, I haven’t heard of anyone solving the issue with a new power supply…so I’m a bit skeptical.
The 8i6 has very quiet preamps / circuits in general and I find I can record jazz guitar without any noise becoming an issue. I have power conditioners and triplite isobars for all my pc and audio gear to ensure noise free recordings, but even without those, I would expect the 8i6 to provide a far better recording experience for you vs the Alesis (Scarlett’s are known for very good clean recordings in the price range). As a general best practice, I also recommend routing your usb cable s far away from power bricks as possible. Balanced audio cables are generally not an issue, but I would also try to keep your guitar cables away from power bricks as well. Hope this helps out.
@@askdrtk Thank you for the reply, i saw results immidiately after i reorganized my cables. Is it possible to hook up a condenser microphone that require phantom power, and a Dynamic microphone which doesn't require phantom power, without damaging my equipment and/or the audio? I've heard that phantom power shouldn't be used on a dynamic microphone, so i was wondering if i would use them simultaniously on this 8i6 with phantom power on ?
Glad the cable reorg helped out! Modern Dynamic microphones are not generally affected by phantom power (several decades ago this used to be an issue). I haven't seen any dynamics made in the past 10-15 years have an issue. I often connect both condenser and dynamic mics to my 8i6 with phantom power on. I also saw your question about monitors outs. Although you can change the monitor audio routing (see my Focusrite Control tutorial video), by default, outputs 1 and 2 (1=Left and 2=Right) is the standard configuration for connecting monitors to the 8i6. Thanks again for the questions!
Thanks for the help again, everything has worked out perfectly! This'll be my final question (sorry in advance haha) - do I need to use the instrument mode on the 8i6 when using a shure microphone in front of my guitar amp, or is this not required? And thanks again for your help, much appreciated! Happy New year from Denmark
Glad to hear and no worries on the questions, I'm pleased to help out! The instrument mode is only for when you want to connect a guitar directly to the 8i6 (for direct recording, amp sims, etc.) Your microphone will work the same with the interface whether you use it to mic an amp, acoustic instrument, or for vocals, no need to make changes (other than adjusting the gain or phantom power for condensers) for any source you intend to mic. All the best in the New Year!
Can the ''focusrite control'' software (with 18i8 hardware) do this same job as the ''voiceMeeter banana'' software?
Focusrite control will allow you to create custom mixes and you can use the loopback function to return one of the mixes to your computer for use in OBS, DAW, or other application. So multiple headphone mixes and a "recording / listening" vs "streaming" mix back to the computer are possible, however you will not be able to individually mix separate applications (games, VLC, etc.) If you are using OBS Studio, you can overcome this issue by using the plugin for application audio control that I went through in this video ruclips.net/video/Q8ySOGRIeRU/видео.html I hope this helps out and if you provide some additional details on the functions you are looking to replicate from voiceMeeter I may be able to assist further. Thanks for the question!
Does Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface drive 250 ohms headphones?
Yes it will, but I wouldn't recommend impedance any higher than 250 ohm. I have tested it with DT770 and DT990 250ohm models. If you like your headphones very loud, you may want to use an amp, but for general listening / mixing the audio gets loud enough and remains clear for me.
Okay! 👍🏼
Great option and should me Clarett 2-pre ever take a dump, would strongly consider. The one thing that drives me up the wll with this and many other interfaces is the "one 48v for all mic inputs" switch. I am a podcast and that drives me up the wall. I can't imagine what musicians think of this?
THe extra IO on the 8i6 is a nice fit for a two person podcast. I agree on the phantom power, I use a Clarett+ 8 Pre and Scarlett 18i20 in the studio and they are split 1-4 and 5-8 for phantom power on each unit. It doesn't take much to get a lot of mics going when we are recording a drum kit and we even use 3 mics on a guitar cabinet from time to time. Most new dynamic mics aren't harmed by phantom power, but we sure do have to watch out not to plug and unplug live cables...
This or ssl 2 ??
Both are solid choices. The ssl 2 has excellent preamps in a bus-powered interface. I find the IO to be a bit lacking in terms of future expansion and I prefer to create my own audio processing chain rather than use built-in "one setting only" effects (applies to "4K" on the ssl 2 and "air" on the Focusrite). Portability is an advantage of the ssl 2, but the self-powered 8i6 has an advantage in IO for expansion and provides the opportunity to better control emi-rfi noise imo. The ssl 2 has a slight advantage in mic preamp gain at 62dB vs 56dB for the 8i6, but I have also been told by a regular ssl 2 user (studio) that the ssl 2 lacks fine gain adjustment in the low range when using microphones with a very hot output - have not tested this myself. Hope this helps out and thanks for watching!
why music in the background?
Thanks for the question. I normally would not include music in the background of an audio gear video, but unfortunately my neighbor has been doing some noisy renovations to the exterior of their house. I inserted the music to help smooth out the jarring sound of air nailers and hammers right outside my window as I don't use noise reduction processing during my audio gear videos. I did not use background music during the audio test portions of this video so viewers could only hear the mics and interface (it took 11 attempts to shoot the audio tests and I finally gave up and recorded them at night). Thanks again for the question and for watching.
@@askdrtk Thank you for the explanation. I don't have to deal with human sounds so much here, instead it is roosters crowing and coyotes howling. Anyway I find voice over music hard on my ears.
Otherwise great video looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Helal adamım 🤜🏽🤛🏽
Thanks - much appreciated!
Is it iOS compatible?
Great question - Yes, the 8i6 is class compliant and will be recognized in IOS (it isn't officially supported, but it works fine in my testing). To configure output routing (zero latency monitoring as well as custom output mixes) you will need to connect the 8i6 to a Mac or PC and use Focusrite Control after which you can connect it to your IOS device. Once the interface is setup to your preferences (can be a one-time setup), you are ready to record, mix, and playback with GarageBand, etc...
@@askdrtk thanks!
I decided to purchase the SSL2+ audio interface along with a headphone amp. 😀
Nice choice, the SSL2+ is a well built interface! To use it with an iPad you will need to connect it through a powered usb hub as it is usb powered and the iPad does not provide enough power over usb. I'm curious, which headphone amp did you go with?
@@askdrtk I went with “Mackie HM Series, 4-Way Headphone Amplifier Mixer Accessory 1-ch x 4 Headphones (HM-4).”
I have one and i highly regret it. It doesn't worth the price at all there is so bad things about it. But at least you have zero latency and a good sound.. very low.. but good
Nice video!.
I just have two problems with the methodology used in preamp self noise test.
1.- Self noise test is meaningless if not in reference to a signal (Signal to noise ratio is the real deal) and SNR performance is variable with gain (because of phisycal stuff).
2.- FFT resolution too low.
Thanks.
Thanks for the comment.
I have always used the 150 ohm resister (on xlr plug while increasing gain from 0-100%) method to measure preamp noise. It would probably be helpful if I showed an inset view of the gain control while the spectrum graph is on screen for cross reference. Greater FFT res would also be good.
I have been thinking about how I could show self noise and a "real world" live signal (spoken word or acoustic guitar instead of the resister) on a spectrum graph, but I am not sure how I would deal with (and accurately measure) the microphone and room noise to accurately calculate preamp noise- too many variables given the equipment I have to provide meaningful feedback.
Thanks for watching and I appreciate your thorough approach when watching my review!
@@askdrtk I would insist on measuring SNR. Maybe here FFT is not so important as we are not so interested on frequency of noise, we are interested on amplitude of noise.
(Frequency is more important when discussing "sound color of noise").
The procedure as following.
Put microphone on a standard sound source for certain delta of time, at a certain distance then record some silence.
Repeat while increasing gain from 0 to 100 on discrete steps.
Normalize all recording to certain db.
Compare the signal to noise ratio.
(RMS of sound source / RMS of noise)
Because you would be measuring differences with almost same conditions, you could have certain relative useful scale that you could compare with other preamps.
And then you could conclude if SNR improves over increases of gain.
And you could conclude relative to other preamps if noise preamp is better or worse (because better or worse SNR).
Thanks again for the recommendations. I believe I will conduct these measurements on a number of preamps/interfaces using my sine wave generator and a dynamic mic in my isolation box for comparative analysis. As you have said, measuring differences under almost similar conditions would provide useful comparisons. The information would likely benefit viewers assessing SNR performance of preamps and interfaces as a component of a purchase decision.
Sir, thanks for your reply. Will help me a lot.