I agree. Although I enoy the format and production of Sanjay. He's not the most technically informative. Seems like he want to promote every piece of gear to get flown free stuff.
You don't buy interfaces in this price range for their preamp sound. Period. The interfaces at this price range don't color the sound like a Manley or UAD pre does, they either boost or cut certain frequencies that can be cut or boosted later using EQ. In other words, if you know the exact frequency curve of the preamp on the interface, you could make all of these interfaces sound exactly the same by applying the contrasting eq curve to get a flat signal. In comparison, no amount of EQ will remove the tone that a Manley or UAD adds to the signal. I am tired of these kinds of reviews, and interface reviews on youtube in general because they try to A/B the preamps, talk mostly about the color of the preamps when a quick cursory glance basically gives you all of the feature comparison you need......all nonsense. There are only Five things you look at when buying project studio / home studio caliber interface - How man I/Os to suit your purpose - Build quality (form factor) - What is the reputation of Support from the company (Do they discontinue devices quickly like Presonus, or do they have units that seem to break after a specific amount of time like MOTU) - Price (Which is relative to all of the above) I see people asking about and stating their preference for the preamps on a Focusrite vs. Motu vs. Presonus vs yada yada yada. Yes, they sound different because they record different frequency ranges. That's it. Then I see all of the questions about latency. All of the units in this price range will handle ADDA in relatively the exact same manner. At this level of recording latency is going to be more dependent on the computer you are recording on and buynig a brand new interface isn't going to magically change what your computer is capable of. You wanna know the reason the Apollos and RME's are so damn expensive? It's this. Yes, the preamps are world-class but the primary purpose of an audio interface at it's core is ADDA and these companies spend a ton of time and money to ensure that the fidelity of the ADDA is the best it can possibly be. When you see modded interfaces, 80 - 90% of that increase in fidelity is due to the ADDA components that were replaced and upgraded. The pres are secondary. This will probably be the most unpopular thing I will say, but the only reason FR interfaces are so popular is because they satisfy their price point perfectly and they sell so many that people must assume they are the standard for home studios. Because of that, they have a massive support group and system that you are buying into when you purchase one of their products.....But let's be honest here, any two channel interface with the same number of I/Os with the same bus (USB, Firewire, TB) are going to perform pretty much identically on the same computers. Sure, there are driver issues to concern yourself with, but that's just simple product research and 90% of those forums online are full of problems that were self-inflicted in the first place.
While I understand your point, that confuses me a little bit more. I'm someone who played guitar and bass years ago. I'm restarting both and I want to record myself, my covers and so on and since I'm moving to an apartment I won't be able to play through my amp but will be forced to use an audio interface(which I'd need to record anyway) to practice. Given that I'd like to have two inputs cause I have some musicians friends who could record along with me sometimes, which of the two(Komplete Audio 2 and Focusrite 2i2 2nd gen) would you suggest and WHY? You said at this price point they're mostly the same but also say Focusrite is simply the de facto standard at this price point but not necessarily better...so again, which of the two would you choose if you were in my shoes? Keep in mind I'll be learning recording, mixing and stuff on this interface and also use it to practice with my headphones and that DAWs thing to apply distortion, so I'm kind of a starter(not on the instrument but on the recording part).
@@agoniavr If you don't have a DAW already, they both come with Ableton 10 Live Lite licenses, and both support 2 channels in. The hardware is going to be functionally equal. If you're just playing instruments and don't need 48v phantom on 2 channels, the Komplete Audio 1 and Scarlett Solo will both do what you need, 2 inputs, with one having mic 48v. The main difference for you would be what they come with, and price. I have both a Maschine Mk3, which comes with all the software the Komplete Audio does and more, and I also have a Focusrite 6i6, having previously had the Solo. So that's the frame of reference/experience I have. The Scarlett Solo comes with a very nice bundle of plug-ins, both the Time & Tone bundle form Softube, which have some very nice sounds, as well as the Red 2 EQ and Red 3 Compressor, which are powerful, easy to use plug-ins. It comes with the Scarlett EQ and Compressor as well but I don't like them as much as the Red. They also offer rotating deals, about every few months, where you get either a new instrument, a new plug-in, or a few months access to a library/service etc. Beyond that, they also come with 2 VST instruments. One is from Addictive Keys, where you can choose from a studio grand, a classic upright, or a very nice electric piano. The other is Novation Bass Station, a fairly robust bass synth with a lot of customization. The last thing it comes with is a nice set of loops and samples, from drums to synth stabs to vocal bits. These are just stand-alone audio files that can be used with any DAW. The Komplete Audio 1 comes with Maschine Essentials, a stripped down version of the Maschine DAW that comes with the Maschine MIDI controller. It's a very handy looping groovebox that can be used as a full DAW if you're only really dealing with loops, MIDI, and samples. If you're recording live guitar, it's not the best. However Maschine Essentials comes with a nice library of loops/samples/oneshots you can use in production. Maschine Essentials can also be launched as a plug-in within a DAW, like Ableton 10 Live Lite, to get your midi out to that DAW alongside the audio you've recorded from your guitars. It also comes with Komplete Start, which is a base level collection of several synths and effects plug-ins usable anywhere, not just in Maschine Essentials. Part of that bundle is Guitar Rig, an amp plugin that allows you to customize your sound with whatever amp/pedal effects you're missing out on moving to digital. It also includes 3 standalone plug-ins, Replika, a delay, Phasis, a phaser, and Solid Bus Comp, a compressor. They are very powerful. The last thing it includes is a 2 month membership to Sounds.com, which gives you 150 sounds a month, or 300 sounds, you can download and then keep forever. Overall, I'd say if you just like recording guitar covers, and want the path of least resistance, grab the Scarlett, it's slightly cheaper and doesn't lock you into the Native Instruments workspace down the line. If you want to get into making beats along with your guitar, the Komplete Audio allows you a slightly more intuitive environment to start that, at the downside of having to get NI hardware if you truly want the full ecosystem. It's kind of like PC vs. Mac. PC (Scarlett) you get a little price reduction, but gotta do just a tad extra research to put pieces together sometimes. Mac (Native Instruments), it "Just Works (tm)" but you'll spend a little more and some parts of what you have only work with each other.
@@Psyent thanks for the insightful answer! I'll be mostly recording guitar tracks/covers, no beat making for me now. I mean I like beatmaking but it's not something I want to learn now and I guess I'll be able to do that with a MIDI controller and the Scarlett too if I wanted too right? Regarding software/plugins I'm using Reaper and I rarely choose music equipment for bundled software just becase it gets old fast. With these new infos is the Scarlet still better? Also, why does the Native Instrument "lock me into their echosystem"? Might be a stupid question but this thing being "just" an audio interface I guess I could pair it with whatever or am I missing something?
Can you please give me advice too if you don't mind?Actually I'm having trouble looking for interfaces that are compatible with pc/windows 10. I've looked at all the reviews and forums for interfaces in my price range and a lot of people say the drivers don't work with pc/ windows 10. Although I have noticed some companies (FR for their solo) have updated their windows drivers in jan 2019, but there are not a lot of 2019 customer reviews for all of the interfaces yet. I really don't want to buy something that will not work with my computer because interfaces are expensive. How else can I research to find out compatibility or what should I do? Thank you in advance.
Jungshookie 우리 꾹이 just get the scarlet it’s 90% of the time plug and play in windows and if the drivers doesn’t work just download the Asio drivers and it should work just fine. Plus there are slot of forums that can help you trouble shoot.
@@SanjayC awesome. well I'm kinda stuck on where to upgrade to from the 2i2. Can you do a video on where one goes when they upgrade from a basic setup, pretty please
@@SanjayC I've been approached by several people who want to record guitars and vocals at the same time. Not a Trainwreck because I've got two inputs however one of the people who've approached me are a duo. One of them is on guitar and the other one is on keyboard. That's where I'm stumped. I figure I'd need more inputs and maybe a midi in and out for the keyboard. What would you recommend
I'm thinking about getting the new NI Komplete 6 when it drops. I have a Focusrite Saffire 6 thats been putting in work since 2011 and still rockin. Came here to check out your take on the quality. I heard a slight tonal difference but they were pretty close. I think I'm mostly sold on all the software that comes with it. Plus the 2nd headphone out.
Preamps and sound quality in audio interfaces today are generally so very good, clean and neutral ish. It almost doesn't matter. Go for the features, build quality, driver stability and latency (if that's important for you). I have an Audient id14. It's extremely good and comes with an ADAT input, so I can easily add 8 more inputs.
@@piemmetubo motu m2 new king but I got the 2i2 cause I only paid 135 Euros. And Midi Keyboards work via usb nowadays so I ain't missing anything I guess
@@kxmise6620 You can definitely hear it even on cheap krk rokit 6 tbh. NI sounds like it's a little filtered on the highs with a certain degree of resonance at around 5-7khz (I hear it on consonants). It appears not linear at all
I think they both sound pretty similar. When I decided what one to pick, I went with the Komplete Audio 1 because I wanted the ableton live that came with it, so it's worth considering what software packages it comes with when picking. :P
The Focusrite had an up-front sound. I felt that the Komplete sounds like it had a mid-range scoop and was bassier. It drove the headphones more than the Komplete as well.
I wouldn't worry about an interface's other specifications other than the noise floor. The noise floor makes or breaks interfaces and microphones. Odd that it wasn't talked about in this video. ._.;
Yeah...the NI sounds warmer. I got a Focusrite 18i20 for over 2 years now with no issues. Right now I just need a low power, quick, easy, 1 channel interface to quickly record podcast so I'll go for the NI Komplete Audio. My voice got an annoying mid/mid-high tone, so with my Sure SM7B and the NI I think will be a good match for me. Thank you.
Great review & demo dude! I was pleasantly surprised by the NI interfaces and totally agree with your assessment of who should buy these. I still think the lower price of the focusrite makes it the better deal, but the NI interfaces are definitely cool if you’re looking to get into their software.
is it important that the komplete audio 2 is quarter inch Jack output? its going to affect the sound for a reason? Can someone explain me that please? I love your channel!
The idea that light and plastic is inherently less durable than heavy and metal is a bit of a myth. I suspect that people most would find the Komplete Audio more durable than the Scarlett for their use case, as in my (admittedly limited) experience, the three most likely mechanical failures for desktop audio interfaces are broken knobs, broken connectors, and spilled drinks, and in all three cases, all-plastic beats metal-and-plastic. More weight means more force is applied to knobs/connectors on impacts, and mixing plastic and metal means it's more difficult to seal against liquid infiltration. While its possible that Focusrite's engineering and manufacturing is so superior to NI's that the Scarlett is just plain more durable, the price difference and my (admittedly limited) experience suggest the opposite. Having said that, the Scarlett's knob-free top and metal chassis is much more likely to survive being stepped on, dropped on, or run over, so YMMV.
Focusrite is more up front, cleaner and neutral. The 2i2 is still my favorite for 2 channels. I’m not sure how it’s stacks up against the Midas (Designed) preamps in the Behringer but i think it would be fair comparison using the SM7. The Presonus AudioBox 1st Generation and StudioLive was by far my worst experience in preamps.
hey, did you know the xlr also turns into a quater jack input as well... in the middle the same xlr input. try it.. alot of people did not notice it besides the seperate instrunment input
Thanks, it was usefull, i love rock, heavy metal. Pop... And all kind of music well done. Please. Could you compare TVE Komplete 2 and the Mackie Onyx 2.2? Wich one is better talking about quality-price?
and thinner/compressed I've no familiarity with that mic he used, might easily be that the NI unit shows what kind of sound that mic contributes to better than the Scarlett to some extent. I'd give the KA the benefit of the doubt as Scarlett comparisons I've searched for on the web consistently mention greater recording fidelity with almost anything over a Scarlett, so the usual Roland, Tascam, NI, etc., interfaces are upgrades if the feature sets are alright for a particular situation. Then the super stable, low-latency NI drivers, too - or at least as far as the Komplete Audio 6 gen1, I wouldn't know about the newer generation.
@@SanjayC Perhaps! Who knows ;P Which brings me the question, how do Komplete 1/2 perform in terms of their ASIO drivers? As good as Scarlett's 2nd gen interfaces?
@@SanjayC Ah, right. Cheers for the review and comparison! I wanted to know if the Komplete Audio's mic pre-amps were good, which seems to be the case.
Don't really understand why they are including Maschine software with an audio interface. You'll still need a keyboard or Maschine controller to use it to full potential. Maybe they should bundle the Audio 1/2 interfaces with the M32 keyboard (at a slight discount) that would be dope
I am doing a diploma of electronic music production here in Sydney Australia and my teachers have all recommended the focusrite packages, there are very in expensive packages that come with the unit plus headphones and a microphone which are suitable enough for my needs as a student.
I rap and do poetry. I’ve been doing that live for a while now in Chicago. I dont have a residency but there’s always a show. I just got the AKAI Force. I’m looking to add beats to my shows. Launching and manipulating them live. I’m going to get the audio interface for collaboration purposes. The focusrite is in my home studio. I dont always want to bring ppl to my home. Lol
Since the Audio 6 is old now I’ll give you my experience. It’s good but it’s not great. The focusrite latency is better but not by miles, just better. Now the sound tho, for an experienced ear you’ll be able to tell how much better the focusrite sounds. The audio 6 has a very digital sound, and the focusrite is a good mix between analog and digital. I had both at the same time and sold the komplete, It was worth the deal I got for it on offer up tho!
Subscribed! Was thinking og getting the Komplete Audio 1 for my mum's teleconferences and interviews, as a mic input for a condenser mic. Would you recommend this as a solution?
Fantastic Vid, I have a first gen Scarlett 8i6 that I got cheap about 7 (ish) years ago and it's constantly getting moved between the studio and stage and it's still going strong, even cosmetically it's looking good. I watched this vid as I feel it's about time I seperated my studio and live audio interfaces and this has cleared a few things up, thanks.
you probably need a usb isolator for that. those machine sounds you're hearing are coming from either your gpu or your cpu "talking" to other parts of your computer
I have focusrite 2i4 and i am facing latency problem while recording vocals or any instrument. When i record through 1st input, i hear late vocals on my left side & when I record through 2nd input, i hear latency on the right side of my headphone. I;ve changed the buffer size also but still problem is the same. Sometimes, I turn on the live monitoring in my DAW. so it overtake a little bit of the latency but its still there. could you please help me out.
I use the direct monitoring from headphones on the Focusrite interface. That way, I can hear the direct signal from my mic (without going through the DAW).
Awesome! I have a focusrute 6i6 and I'm really liking it except for the need to plug it on to a wall outlet lol to be the native instruments one sounded almost like it was dampened almost like it wasn't picking up as much
@@SanjayC I would say yes, I haven't used it for too long just since this past summer. I'm mostly using it currently to help process plug ins. I did use it yesterday to record handbells and I really like it!
@@SanjayC That was a special thing for an ensemble so that we could listen back to hear any troublesome parts. I normally record just plain piano or I work on making electronic music with Ableton nothing too interesting yet I'm still learning a lot!
I cannot speak on this komplete audio. But I did have the komplete audio 6. Bought it used off a friend because he kept having issues. He replaced it with a scarlett and had no issues. I bought it off him and had the same issues. Found help on reddit because these issues where very very common and wide spread. It was the most picky audio interface i have ever used. It actually just broke on me a few days ago. Not bad life span honestly. About 4 years I think. I mean it's not great but 4 years is fair. I got the presonus audiobox usb96. This legit had no issues and sounds amazing. Never buying a NI audio interface again. Scarlett or Presonus for me.
I’ve had nothing but problems with my focusrite 2i2. Both Mac and pc I’ve had crackling after about 30 mins. I had a solo mk2 and a 2i2 mk2 and both had the same problem. Looking for a replacement now.
Sanjay - Namaste and greetings from the motherland. Thank you for all your insights. Going ahead with Native Instruments Audio 1 (only for the greed of getting a Maschine Essentials license 😉 and its compact and I don't need to buy unbalanced cables that focusrite needs) Hope I am making the right choice? 🤞🏽
@@SanjayC Thank you Sanjay! You have been a true source of inspiration and a guiding light in this social clutter, esp for inspiring musicians like me. More power to you and God bless 🙏🏽 ❤️ ✨ 🇮🇳
Seriously helpful review - been deliberating between these two with two mates suggesting the opposite to the other. Know what i'm going to go for. Thanks!
I liked the Focusrite more I felt a more natural sound as if we would be talking in person. I will say I do like the meters on the Komplete like you mentioned but I don't feel the Focusrite lacking in that so I would pick the Focusrite over that but the Komplete look pretty nice too c:
I got the NI Komplete Control MK2 and as far as my research goes, it doesn’t have direct monitoring to line outputs, which means that in order to listen to the inputs directly (for example when playing an instrument) you have to use the headphone port or make the loop through the USB interface, for example using a DAW which supports software based direct monitoring (adding a bit of delay, which is annoying when playing live). Focusrite has a switch/button for exactly that (on the Gen 3 you can even switch between mono and stereo), therefore doesn’t need a computer for direct monitoring and has close to zero latency. IMO that’s about the biggest difference between those two interfaces, and I would have bought the Focusrite if I knew that prior to my purchase. Correct me if I’m wrong :)
Komplete audio sounds a lot more compact and bass while the Focusrite Scarlett sounds open and high on treble. It hears like the Komplete audio is warmer while Focusrite is more realistic.
The shure mic has a darker characteristics, thus a better match with the Focusrite Scarlett. Komplete will pair better with less dark characteristics mic.
I bought a used UA Apollo Twin Duo for 350€ on eBay. Best Interface ever. Lots of Professional musicians use it, such as Timbaland, Charlie Puth, Drake, etc. Focusrite Interface are great, but the Software (unison) on the Universal Audio Interfaces is Revolutional.
It's very important to note that you used the mk 1 Focusrite. In my experience, the mk 2's have greatly improved preamps with more gain. As far as the sound goes between the two, I agree with your analysis, but I would like to add that the NI sounds a bit more compressed, while the focusrite sounds a bit more natural and smoother overall. To me that sounds like a signal which can be used more easily in a mix. It is possible that a decent condenser mic would expose even more differences as well.
I got to komplete audio 2 vs Scarlett 2i2 as options. Do u still have the same opinion that for desktop and not moving around the audio 2 is the best option? Is the direct monitor switch a cons on Scarlett against the knob mix on komplete? Ir the 3rd gen ia the gem on Thais price range and that switch os not any issue?
@@SanjayC I was looking at the Komplete audio 6 and the focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but I might just end up with the audio 2 now :) other than that, a microphone processor from DBX
I know I got sucked in and bought the komplete audio 1 instead of the 2 now I have those bs RCA outputs I did buy fancier output cables to my monitors whether they made a difference I dunno I did however get the hang of recording with it even unbalanced but still never get the komplete audio 1 when the 2 is only like 40 bucks more damn I felt dumb
Im interested in buying the Komplete audio 2 but now I’m not sure because you mention that you have to put the volume all the way up. I want to buy the 770 pro 250 Ohm too. Would it be better to buy the 2i2 because the output volume of the 250 Ohm headphones ?
I have the Scarlett 2i2 it's really clean I don't have issues bumping into other knobs when I set it that's it the only knob I mess with is the headphone volume .
hi Sanjay, there is no "direct monitoring" button on Komplete Audio like in Scarlett but NI stated in the product page that there is direct monitoring function. May I know how that works?
One of my favourites channels nowadays, please keep rocking, mainly talking about native instruments products! cheers!
Thanks Rodrigo! I’ve got more coming. What NI stuff do you use?
@@SanjayC MK3 Mikro and planning to buy m32 (I am gonna do when they released the product) and Komplete 12!
Pretty superficial review... What about the latency? What about the sampling frequencies? Their noise floor? Are you just comparing the colors?
@@malibustacy3606 what's wrong with this guy?
@@malibustacy3606 do you usually reply to random comments on youtube with 1967 Spiderman unrelated sarcasm?
@@malibustacy3606 i like that. keep it up
I agree. Although I enoy the format and production of Sanjay. He's not the most technically informative. Seems like he want to promote every piece of gear to get flown free stuff.
I was just about to say the same! This must be the perfect guide to How NOT to compare 2 audio interfaces :P
You don't buy interfaces in this price range for their preamp sound. Period. The interfaces at this price range don't color the sound like a Manley or UAD pre does, they either boost or cut certain frequencies that can be cut or boosted later using EQ. In other words, if you know the exact frequency curve of the preamp on the interface, you could make all of these interfaces sound exactly the same by applying the contrasting eq curve to get a flat signal. In comparison, no amount of EQ will remove the tone that a Manley or UAD adds to the signal.
I am tired of these kinds of reviews, and interface reviews on youtube in general because they try to A/B the preamps, talk mostly about the color of the preamps when a quick cursory glance basically gives you all of the feature comparison you need......all nonsense.
There are only Five things you look at when buying project studio / home studio caliber interface
- How man I/Os to suit your purpose
- Build quality (form factor)
- What is the reputation of Support from the company (Do they discontinue devices quickly like Presonus, or do they have units that seem to break after a specific amount of time like MOTU)
- Price (Which is relative to all of the above)
I see people asking about and stating their preference for the preamps on a Focusrite vs. Motu vs. Presonus vs yada yada yada. Yes, they sound different because they record different frequency ranges. That's it. Then I see all of the questions about latency. All of the units in this price range will handle ADDA in relatively the exact same manner. At this level of recording latency is going to be more dependent on the computer you are recording on and buynig a brand new interface isn't going to magically change what your computer is capable of. You wanna know the reason the Apollos and RME's are so damn expensive? It's this. Yes, the preamps are world-class but the primary purpose of an audio interface at it's core is ADDA and these companies spend a ton of time and money to ensure that the fidelity of the ADDA is the best it can possibly be. When you see modded interfaces, 80 - 90% of that increase in fidelity is due to the ADDA components that were replaced and upgraded. The pres are secondary.
This will probably be the most unpopular thing I will say, but the only reason FR interfaces are so popular is because they satisfy their price point perfectly and they sell so many that people must assume they are the standard for home studios. Because of that, they have a massive support group and system that you are buying into when you purchase one of their products.....But let's be honest here, any two channel interface with the same number of I/Os with the same bus (USB, Firewire, TB) are going to perform pretty much identically on the same computers. Sure, there are driver issues to concern yourself with, but that's just simple product research and 90% of those forums online are full of problems that were self-inflicted in the first place.
While I understand your point, that confuses me a little bit more.
I'm someone who played guitar and bass years ago. I'm restarting both and I want to record myself, my covers and so on and since I'm moving to an apartment I won't be able to play through my amp but will be forced to use an audio interface(which I'd need to record anyway) to practice.
Given that I'd like to have two inputs cause I have some musicians friends who could record along with me sometimes, which of the two(Komplete Audio 2 and Focusrite 2i2 2nd gen) would you suggest and WHY?
You said at this price point they're mostly the same but also say Focusrite is simply the de facto standard at this price point but not necessarily better...so again, which of the two would you choose if you were in my shoes?
Keep in mind I'll be learning recording, mixing and stuff on this interface and also use it to practice with my headphones and that DAWs thing to apply distortion, so I'm kind of a starter(not on the instrument but on the recording part).
@@agoniavr If you don't have a DAW already, they both come with Ableton 10 Live Lite licenses, and both support 2 channels in. The hardware is going to be functionally equal. If you're just playing instruments and don't need 48v phantom on 2 channels, the Komplete Audio 1 and Scarlett Solo will both do what you need, 2 inputs, with one having mic 48v. The main difference for you would be what they come with, and price.
I have both a Maschine Mk3, which comes with all the software the Komplete Audio does and more, and I also have a Focusrite 6i6, having previously had the Solo. So that's the frame of reference/experience I have.
The Scarlett Solo comes with a very nice bundle of plug-ins, both the Time & Tone bundle form Softube, which have some very nice sounds, as well as the Red 2 EQ and Red 3 Compressor, which are powerful, easy to use plug-ins. It comes with the Scarlett EQ and Compressor as well but I don't like them as much as the Red. They also offer rotating deals, about every few months, where you get either a new instrument, a new plug-in, or a few months access to a library/service etc. Beyond that, they also come with 2 VST instruments. One is from Addictive Keys, where you can choose from a studio grand, a classic upright, or a very nice electric piano. The other is Novation Bass Station, a fairly robust bass synth with a lot of customization. The last thing it comes with is a nice set of loops and samples, from drums to synth stabs to vocal bits. These are just stand-alone audio files that can be used with any DAW.
The Komplete Audio 1 comes with Maschine Essentials, a stripped down version of the Maschine DAW that comes with the Maschine MIDI controller. It's a very handy looping groovebox that can be used as a full DAW if you're only really dealing with loops, MIDI, and samples. If you're recording live guitar, it's not the best. However Maschine Essentials comes with a nice library of loops/samples/oneshots you can use in production. Maschine Essentials can also be launched as a plug-in within a DAW, like Ableton 10 Live Lite, to get your midi out to that DAW alongside the audio you've recorded from your guitars. It also comes with Komplete Start, which is a base level collection of several synths and effects plug-ins usable anywhere, not just in Maschine Essentials. Part of that bundle is Guitar Rig, an amp plugin that allows you to customize your sound with whatever amp/pedal effects you're missing out on moving to digital. It also includes 3 standalone plug-ins, Replika, a delay, Phasis, a phaser, and Solid Bus Comp, a compressor. They are very powerful. The last thing it includes is a 2 month membership to Sounds.com, which gives you 150 sounds a month, or 300 sounds, you can download and then keep forever.
Overall, I'd say if you just like recording guitar covers, and want the path of least resistance, grab the Scarlett, it's slightly cheaper and doesn't lock you into the Native Instruments workspace down the line. If you want to get into making beats along with your guitar, the Komplete Audio allows you a slightly more intuitive environment to start that, at the downside of having to get NI hardware if you truly want the full ecosystem. It's kind of like PC vs. Mac. PC (Scarlett) you get a little price reduction, but gotta do just a tad extra research to put pieces together sometimes. Mac (Native Instruments), it "Just Works (tm)" but you'll spend a little more and some parts of what you have only work with each other.
@@Psyent thanks for the insightful answer! I'll be mostly recording guitar tracks/covers, no beat making for me now.
I mean I like beatmaking but it's not something I want to learn now and I guess I'll be able to do that with a MIDI controller and the Scarlett too if I wanted too right?
Regarding software/plugins I'm using Reaper and I rarely choose music equipment for bundled software just becase it gets old fast.
With these new infos is the Scarlet still better? Also, why does the Native Instrument "lock me into their echosystem"?
Might be a stupid question but this thing being "just" an audio interface I guess I could pair it with whatever or am I missing something?
Can you please give me advice too if you don't mind?Actually I'm having trouble looking for interfaces that are compatible with pc/windows 10. I've looked at all the reviews and forums for interfaces in my price range and a lot of people say the drivers don't work with pc/ windows 10. Although I have noticed some companies (FR for their solo) have updated their windows drivers in jan 2019, but there are not a lot of 2019 customer reviews for all of the interfaces yet. I really don't want to buy something that will not work with my computer because interfaces are expensive. How else can I research to find out compatibility or what should I do? Thank you in advance.
Jungshookie 우리 꾹이 just get the scarlet it’s 90% of the time plug and play in windows and if the drivers doesn’t work just download the Asio drivers and it should work just fine. Plus there are slot of forums that can help you trouble shoot.
I swear by my focusrite 2i2. 3 years old and still solid.
I know what you mean! I had mine for years. Only recently switched to Apollo 8.
@@SanjayC awesome. well I'm kinda stuck on where to upgrade to from the 2i2. Can you do a video on where one goes when they upgrade from a basic setup, pretty please
What features do you need?
Bro it's the best piece of equipment I own
@@SanjayC I've been approached by several people who want to record guitars and vocals at the same time. Not a Trainwreck because I've got two inputs however one of the people who've approached me are a duo. One of them is on guitar and the other one is on keyboard. That's where I'm stumped. I figure I'd need more inputs and maybe a midi in and out for the keyboard. What would you recommend
Blind Test
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I'm thinking about getting the new NI Komplete 6 when it drops. I have a Focusrite Saffire 6 thats been putting in work since 2011 and still rockin. Came here to check out your take on the quality. I heard a slight tonal difference but they were pretty close. I think I'm mostly sold on all the software that comes with it. Plus the 2nd headphone out.
NI Komplete Audio 2: 3:50
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4: 4:45
Preamps and sound quality in audio interfaces today are generally so very good, clean and neutral ish. It almost doesn't matter.
Go for the features, build quality, driver stability and latency (if that's important for you).
I have an Audient id14. It's extremely good and comes with an ADAT input, so I can easily add 8 more inputs.
I agree. Komplete Audio and Focusrite Scarlett are fair, but in terms of quality/performaces the Audient Id14 is on a higher level.
@@piemmetubo motu m2 new king but I got the 2i2 cause I only paid 135 Euros.
And Midi Keyboards work via usb nowadays so I ain't missing anything I guess
@@piemmetubo lol but the audion is 5 times rhe price
@@pabelcontreras3461 More like 1.5 times the price.
I didn't hear a GODDAMN difference...
On my $7 headphones.
Exactly!
Mite be the Headphone volume is much louder
Heard it in a second on my 9000 dollar monitors xD
@@kxmise6620 You can definitely hear it even on cheap krk rokit 6 tbh. NI sounds like it's a little filtered on the highs with a certain degree of resonance at around 5-7khz (I hear it on consonants). It appears not linear at all
the scarlet had far less line noise and sounded better
the Focusrite seemed to be more crisp, and have more detail, whereas the Komplete Audio had a more muffled sound, with less detail.
He is doing a great job, honestly I feel engineering plays a major role than equipments. Thanks Sanjay
I have owned the Focusrite for many years now still very very solid!
Yup...trusty device!
I think they both sound pretty similar. When I decided what one to pick, I went with the Komplete Audio 1 because I wanted the ableton live that came with it, so it's worth considering what software packages it comes with when picking. :P
audio 1 is also almost 25 euro cheaper.
how it is?
The Focusrite had an up-front sound. I felt that the Komplete sounds like it had a mid-range scoop and was bassier. It drove the headphones more than the Komplete as well.
I wouldn't worry about an interface's other specifications other than the noise floor.
The noise floor makes or breaks interfaces and microphones. Odd that it wasn't talked about in this video. ._.;
My focusrite scarlet solo gen 3 is arriving tomorrow 😍😍
Woohoo! Time to celebrate!
@@SanjayC it arrived, its amazing
@ 5:00 i ear the same difference as you ! Thank you for the test and comparaison !
Thanks!
4:44 Scarlett
3:50 Komplete áudio
Saint
I liked the Focusrite sound better
That's cool...its a solid audio interface
Yeah... It was better
Yeah...the NI sounds warmer. I got a Focusrite 18i20 for over 2 years now with no issues. Right now I just need a low power, quick, easy, 1 channel interface to quickly record podcast so I'll go for the NI Komplete Audio. My voice got an annoying mid/mid-high tone, so with my Sure SM7B and the NI I think will be a good match for me. Thank you.
Yeah, the NI is great for a quick and light solution!
the native instruments komplete audio sounds noticeably warmer and i like it better
Gracias por los subtitulos en español!
Me encanta este canal!
De nada!
Great review & demo dude! I was pleasantly surprised by the NI interfaces and totally agree with your assessment of who should buy these. I still think the lower price of the focusrite makes it the better deal, but the NI interfaces are definitely cool if you’re looking to get into their software.
Thanks for the comment. Gotta love that NI software!
they're the same price lol.
@@IAMLXGENDOh shoot, I swear I saw the NI gear listed for $125. Thanks for pointing this out.
@@PatrickBreenMusic And now the NI one is cheaper even.
Focusrite is night and day better sounding... Both me and the lady heard it instantly.
Which one records guitar better in your opinion?
Any update on this matter? How do they compare for guitar recording?
is it important that the komplete audio 2 is quarter inch Jack output? its going to affect the sound for a reason? Can someone explain me that please?
I love your channel!
The idea that light and plastic is inherently less durable than heavy and metal is a bit of a myth. I suspect that people most would find the Komplete Audio more durable than the Scarlett for their use case, as in my (admittedly limited) experience, the three most likely mechanical failures for desktop audio interfaces are broken knobs, broken connectors, and spilled drinks, and in all three cases, all-plastic beats metal-and-plastic. More weight means more force is applied to knobs/connectors on impacts, and mixing plastic and metal means it's more difficult to seal against liquid infiltration. While its possible that Focusrite's engineering and manufacturing is so superior to NI's that the Scarlett is just plain more durable, the price difference and my (admittedly limited) experience suggest the opposite.
Having said that, the Scarlett's knob-free top and metal chassis is much more likely to survive being stepped on, dropped on, or run over, so YMMV.
wauw , Thanks! this video helps allot ;)
I personally would go for complete audio 1 or 2..they are really powerfull and great in design
They are...are you goin to use a mic or guitar with it?
@@SanjayC I will use it for mic..and sometimes for guitar
I love my new mic - Shure SM7B. It’s not the cheapest but sounds great
@@SanjayC that's great...but I already own one mic...
Wow! That was one of the best comparing audio reviews I found on the internet. Just subscribed to watch some more! Congrats!
Awesome, thank you!
Focusrite is more up front, cleaner and neutral. The 2i2 is still my favorite for 2 channels. I’m not sure how it’s stacks up against the Midas (Designed) preamps in the Behringer but i think it would be fair comparison using the SM7. The Presonus AudioBox 1st Generation and StudioLive was by far my worst experience in preamps.
IDK about cleaner, it looks like a 80s product with black and red.. while Komplete looks clean and modern all black with digital screen.
hey, did you know the xlr also turns into a quater jack input as well... in the middle the same xlr input. try it.. alot of people did not notice it besides the seperate instrunment input
I think scarlett 2i4 is more clear than komplete audio 1 & 2
Thanks, it was usefull, i love rock, heavy metal. Pop... And all kind of music well done.
Please.
Could you compare TVE Komplete 2 and the Mackie Onyx 2.2? Wich one is better talking about quality-price?
The focusrite sounded much more balanced. Much better.
There was absolutely no difference between the two.
The first sounded a bit boxy and scratchy on the higher frequencies. The focusrite sounded a lot smoother and warmer.
Are du dump?
and thinner/compressed
I've no familiarity with that mic he used, might easily be that the NI unit shows what kind of sound that mic contributes to better than the Scarlett to some extent.
I'd give the KA the benefit of the doubt as Scarlett comparisons I've searched for on the web consistently mention greater recording fidelity with almost anything over a Scarlett, so the usual Roland, Tascam, NI, etc., interfaces are upgrades if the feature sets are alright for a particular situation. Then the super stable, low-latency NI drivers, too - or at least as far as the Komplete Audio 6 gen1, I wouldn't know about the newer generation.
I have steinberg ur242. I got it 4 years ago from guitar center. I never faced any issues. Very solid.
Nice...thanks for sharing your experience
For Mac or PC?
Monark is a great synth. I think it's a good inclusion with the Komplete Audio interface.
Yes it is! Dare I say, as good as the hardware!?
@@SanjayC Perhaps! Who knows ;P
Which brings me the question, how do Komplete 1/2 perform in terms of their ASIO drivers? As good as Scarlett's 2nd gen interfaces?
I’m using a Mac so not sure about Windows.
@@SanjayC Ah, right. Cheers for the review and comparison! I wanted to know if the Komplete Audio's mic pre-amps were good, which seems to be the case.
You're awesome dude! Love you content & style. Bravo sir!
Don't really understand why they are including Maschine software with an audio interface. You'll still need a keyboard or Maschine controller to use it to full potential. Maybe they should bundle the Audio 1/2 interfaces with the M32 keyboard (at a slight discount) that would be dope
Another great review. Thank you so much for your to-the-point videos and kindness.
Love the video and look of your new studio is really pretty SanjayC!
Thanks, my wife is a great interior decorator. I've got some skills too...probably runs in my family ;-)
I am doing a diploma of electronic music production here in Sydney Australia and my teachers have all recommended the focusrite packages, there are very in expensive packages that come with the unit plus headphones and a microphone which are suitable enough for my needs as a student.
It’s a good kit for beginners. In my opinion, you will outgrow the included headphones and microphone before you outgrow the interface.
I was planning to get the NI one for travel. Focusrite is too heavy wanted to leave it on my desk.
Nice...do you play live anywhere?
I rap and do poetry. I’ve been doing that live for a while now in Chicago. I dont have a residency but there’s always a show. I just got the AKAI Force. I’m looking to add beats to my shows. Launching and manipulating them live. I’m going to get the audio interface for collaboration purposes. The focusrite is in my home studio. I dont always want to bring ppl to my home. Lol
Thank you. I was looking for something like this. Well done. Great editing.
I'd love to see the focusrite 2i2 vs the komplete audio 6. Great video man.
Since the Audio 6 is old now I’ll give you my experience. It’s good but it’s not great. The focusrite latency is better but not by miles, just better. Now the sound tho, for an experienced ear you’ll be able to tell how much better the focusrite sounds. The audio 6 has a very digital sound, and the focusrite is a good mix between analog and digital. I had both at the same time and sold the komplete, It was worth the deal I got for it on offer up tho!
@@Zoloxer Ok, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for the reply. Much love.
Great review. Thank you so much. The Audio 2 it is then
Subscribed!
Was thinking og getting the Komplete Audio 1 for my mum's teleconferences and interviews, as a mic input for a condenser mic. Would you recommend this as a solution?
Fantastic Vid, I have a first gen Scarlett 8i6 that I got cheap about 7 (ish) years ago and it's constantly getting moved between the studio and stage and it's still going strong, even cosmetically it's looking good.
I watched this vid as I feel it's about time I seperated my studio and live audio interfaces and this has cleared a few things up, thanks.
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
Focusrite sounds better. I listened through studio headphones & my Yamaha hs7's
Yeah! Focusrite sound better on my Yamaha HS5's + PreSonus Temblor T8 woofer & PreSonus Audiobox USB interface.
That Drawmer Plugin is really great for mastering ,
Does the Komplete Audio come with Maschine sounds or just the software( I am confused)
you probably need a usb isolator for that. those machine sounds you're hearing are coming from either your gpu or your cpu "talking" to other parts of your computer
Great review!
it looks like they designed their hardware like a VST graphic interface
I have focusrite 2i4 and i am facing latency problem while recording vocals or any instrument. When i record through 1st input, i hear late vocals on my left side & when I record through 2nd input, i hear latency on the right side of my headphone. I;ve changed the buffer size also but still problem is the same. Sometimes, I turn on the live monitoring in my DAW. so it overtake a little bit of the latency but its still there. could you please help me out.
I use the direct monitoring from headphones on the Focusrite interface. That way, I can hear the direct signal from my mic (without going through the DAW).
@@SanjayC Thank you and best wishes for your Upcoming Music Video
Focusrite Scarlett Midi in and out just that
I'm a beginner in production and I'm kind of lost. What would you do with midi in and out within the interface? As everything nowadays is midi USB.
I have the focusrite 6i6 for years. It takes a beating and sounds really good
Awesome! I have a focusrute 6i6 and I'm really liking it except for the need to plug it on to a wall outlet lol to be the native instruments one sounded almost like it was dampened almost like it wasn't picking up as much
Does the 6i6 sound similar to the 2i4?
@@SanjayC I would say yes, I haven't used it for too long just since this past summer. I'm mostly using it currently to help process plug ins. I did use it yesterday to record handbells and I really like it!
Handbells! Wow...what kind of music do you make?
@@SanjayC That was a special thing for an ensemble so that we could listen back to hear any troublesome parts. I normally record just plain piano or I work on making electronic music with Ableton nothing too interesting yet I'm still learning a lot!
I cannot speak on this komplete audio. But I did have the komplete audio 6. Bought it used off a friend because he kept having issues. He replaced it with a scarlett and had no issues. I bought it off him and had the same issues. Found help on reddit because these issues where very very common and wide spread. It was the most picky audio interface i have ever used. It actually just broke on me a few days ago. Not bad life span honestly. About 4 years I think. I mean it's not great but 4 years is fair. I got the presonus audiobox usb96. This legit had no issues and sounds amazing. Never buying a NI audio interface again. Scarlett or Presonus for me.
I feel like the focusrite is noisegated it clicked a lot after 4:16 . Maybe I'm just imagining things
I’ve had nothing but problems with my focusrite 2i2. Both Mac and pc I’ve had crackling after about 30 mins. I had a solo mk2 and a 2i2 mk2 and both had the same problem. Looking for a replacement now.
@@maksqwe1 go for the 2i2 Mk3
Sanjay - Namaste and greetings from the motherland. Thank you for all your insights. Going ahead with Native Instruments Audio 1 (only for the greed of getting a Maschine Essentials license 😉 and its compact and I don't need to buy unbalanced cables that focusrite needs) Hope I am making the right choice? 🤞🏽
Namaste, Itchy Paws! I think you'll like it a lot!
@@SanjayC Thank you Sanjay! You have been a true source of inspiration and a guiding light in this social clutter, esp for inspiring musicians like me. More power to you and God bless 🙏🏽 ❤️ ✨ 🇮🇳
Okay....what‘s about :
Latency ? Roundtrip Latency ? Frequencies and on and on and on.....??????
Andreas Himmes they all have that. It depends on the time of day.
That was super unbiased, thanks for your professionalism
I appreciate that!
Love your channel ❤️
Thanks, Paul!
Seriously helpful review - been deliberating between these two with two mates suggesting the opposite to the other. Know what i'm going to go for. Thanks!
I liked the Focusrite more I felt a more natural sound as if we would be talking in person. I will say I do like the meters on the Komplete like you mentioned but I don't feel the Focusrite lacking in that so I would pick the Focusrite over that but the Komplete look pretty nice too c:
Sounds good, buddy!
I got the NI Komplete Control MK2 and as far as my research goes, it doesn’t have direct monitoring to line outputs, which means that in order to listen to the inputs directly (for example when playing an instrument) you have to use the headphone port or make the loop through the USB interface, for example using a DAW which supports software based direct monitoring (adding a bit of delay, which is annoying when playing live). Focusrite has a switch/button for exactly that (on the Gen 3 you can even switch between mono and stereo), therefore doesn’t need a computer for direct monitoring and has close to zero latency. IMO that’s about the biggest difference between those two interfaces, and I would have bought the Focusrite if I knew that prior to my purchase. Correct me if I’m wrong :)
native instrument: "it looks cool, now give us your money!"
Can it run the 250ohm headphones by BD?
You’ve got some guys saying he talks too much about the specs and some guys who says he talks too little about them 😂 cant satisfy everyone
Samurai champloo profile pic :D
Great content thank you so much for the confirmation on the Komplete audio
Focusrite all the way!
I still can't decide between the two. I didn't receive enough techinal information so that I can make informed decision but I love this channel.
You can't go wrong with either of these. No much difference when you consider the technical details.
wow. that komplete actually looks sexy and compact
I love how small it is? You gonna get it?
@@SanjayC yeah. I would probably buy that later. but for now my steinberg works just fine. cheers mate
👍🏼
@@Rendydany which Steinberg you have? I have those as well
@@deegeebarxx3391 I have those old ci2+. because I made a song entirely midi, I don't need much input and it served me well. which one you have tho?
I love my focusrite 8i6 3rd gen - and the software you get with it is amazing, the red 2 and red 3 are insane
Komplete audio sounds a lot more compact and bass while the Focusrite Scarlett sounds open and high on treble. It hears like the Komplete audio is warmer while Focusrite is more realistic.
The shure mic has a darker characteristics, thus a better match with the Focusrite Scarlett. Komplete will pair better with less dark characteristics mic.
@@xllms how do you know that man?, im asking because i wanna buy somme of these 2 tommorow. And which is better for usb dyn.mic? if you know.
Thanks for the great video in 4K!
4K makes everything better...and real!
I actually have the Focusrite 2i4, but I may switch it out with the new Native interface
Did u switch?
Please let me know too if you switched too
I bought a used UA Apollo Twin Duo for 350€ on eBay. Best Interface ever. Lots of Professional musicians use it, such as Timbaland, Charlie Puth, Drake, etc. Focusrite Interface are great, but the Software (unison) on the Universal Audio Interfaces is Revolutional.
It's very important to note that you used the mk 1 Focusrite. In my experience, the mk 2's have greatly improved preamps with more gain.
As far as the sound goes between the two, I agree with your analysis, but I would like to add that the NI sounds a bit more compressed, while the focusrite sounds a bit more natural and smoother overall. To me that sounds like a signal which can be used more easily in a mix. It is possible that a decent condenser mic would expose even more differences as well.
True about condenser mic. Thanks!
Your work is amazing, like mkbhd
Thank you so much 😀 Beautiful compliment!
audio 6 is better competition on this, you might change your mind.
awesome videos sir!!!!! thank you
Thanks 🙏🏼
I got to komplete audio 2 vs Scarlett 2i2 as options.
Do u still have the same opinion that for desktop and not moving around the audio 2 is the best option? Is the direct monitor switch a cons on Scarlett against the knob mix on komplete? Ir the 3rd gen ia the gem on Thais price range and that switch os not any issue?
You are my favourite youtuber for studio
Thank you Max Koren!
I don't think this can compete with focusrite
Focusrite is lit🔥😂
My Focusrite has served me well for sure!
And he isn't even comparing it to the focusrite 2nd gen
check out audio 6 and up. those chip are better sound.
Why you lit it on fire?
I've been looking for a new audio interface. thanks for this video!
Anytime! Is this going to be your first one?
@@SanjayC nope. I have an old Steinberg CL1, but it's started to act up. so I'm going to get something new :)
Aw yeah! Love researching and buying new gear! What else is one your shopping list? 🤓
@@SanjayC I was looking at the Komplete audio 6 and the focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but I might just end up with the audio 2 now :)
other than that, a microphone processor from DBX
Bro the focusrite is better
I had both. Focusrite is crap. Believe me
Which one is better in terms of combating latency?
i HATE the Focusrite drivers (bluescreens). I want to buy the Audio Interface from Native Instruments and hope the drivers are better.
Thanks Sanjay C for the best information ! You are great 👍
:-)
Native wins hands down, listening to this on headphones..
Boi you got a sub from me. You da best
I appreciate that! Thank you!
They bogus af for those RCA outputs Throw the whole company away
I know I got sucked in and bought the komplete audio 1 instead of the 2 now I have those bs RCA outputs I did buy fancier output cables to my monitors whether they made a difference I dunno I did however get the hang of recording with it even unbalanced but still never get the komplete audio 1 when the 2 is only like 40 bucks more damn I felt dumb
3:19 , 3:56
Great comparison! Waiting for you to do a give away! Thank you.
THat's a great idea!
Im interested in buying the Komplete audio 2 but now I’m not sure because you mention that you have to put the volume all the way up. I want to buy the 770 pro 250 Ohm too. Would it be better to buy the 2i2 because the output volume of the 250 Ohm headphones ?
This makes me mad that I have a USB mic 😭
🤣🤣 Sell the USB and buy an xrl 😜
I have the Scarlett 2i2 it's really clean I don't have issues bumping into other knobs when I set it that's it the only knob I mess with is the headphone volume .
I'm constantly reaching for the volume knob because of my neighbors! :-( Do you mostly use your headphones when making music?
@@SanjayC yeah bro where I live I can't do monitors straight headphones for me
Komplete audio sounds foggy.. Also looks too way too light, I dont want it to move arround everytime I accidentally pull a cable.
hi Sanjay, there is no "direct monitoring" button on Komplete Audio like in Scarlett but NI stated in the product page that there is direct monitoring function. May I know how that works?