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Saffire mixcontrol scarlett solo3/23/2023 ![]() ![]() On the plus side, there are no breakout cables necessary, like there are with the Focusrite Forte or Apogee Duet for iPad and Mac, or even some larger interfaces like the Avid Mbox Pro. To the right are a pair of 1/4-inch monitor outputs and two sets of stereo line inputs (labeled 5, 6, 7, and 8), for a total of eight outputs. The back panel contains SPDIF in and out ports (which function as stereo digital inputs and outputs), a hardware power switch, a DC power input for the included wall wart-style power supply, 5-pin MIDI input and output jacks, a USB port, and an optical input for transferring in up to eight ADAT channels, for a total of 18 inputs. Finally, there are two independent headphone jacks, each with its own silver volume knob-always a welcome thing to see, since many musicians and engineers tend to work together in pairs, and it makes it easy to monitor recordings while someone else is performing nearby without worrying about leakage from monitor speakers. To the right of the preamps, there's an oversize silver volume knob, a Mute button, a MIDI activity LED, and a USB power LED. Individual phantom power controls would have been better, but I suppose getting two is better than just one, which many interfaces force you to contend with. Also, there are two 48V phantom power buttons, one for each pair of mic preamps. ![]() This is helpful and looks cool in practice, but there's no actual input or output metering for that, you'll have to step up to the Scarlett 18i20 1U rack-mount model. Halo indicators around each gain knob light up green when you have useful input signal, and red when you need to turn the gain down. (Side note: The Scarlett 18i8 is actually Focusrite's first interface containing four mic pres, which is surprising considering how many models the company has churned out over the years, and how common four-mic-pre interfaces are on the market.) The front panel contains four mic preamps (labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4), each with its own input gain knob, direct instrument LED, and pad LED. Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test (Opens in a new window).Īs per its namesake, the Scarlett 18i8 features 18 inputs and eight outputs, but as is often the case with audio interfaces, the actual amount of usable I/O is somewhat less unless you also invest in an outboard digital recorder. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. The front and rear panels are made of matte black plastic with rubberized input gain knobs, silver plastic volume control knobs, and translucent white plastic hardware switches. The metal unibody chassis has a brushed finish in metallic red and is an ideal candidate for portable use, since it's not likely to fall apart very easily on the road. The Scarlett 18i8 measures 2.6 by 8.9 by 7.1 inches (HWD) and weighs 3.6 pounds. Regardless of the digital audio workstation (DAW) you prefer, on the PC, Mac, or even iPad (with Camera Connection Kit), the Scarlett 18i8's flexible I/O, clean sound quality, and stable audio drivers make it easy to recommend. Fortunately, its sound quality is also up to snuff, thanks to its warm microphone preamps and 24-bit/96kHz D/A converters. The Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 ($449.99 list), one of the company's latest USB-powered interfaces, certainly tries to stand out visually with its metallic red enclosure and crisp style. Phantom power configurable in sets of two for the mic preamps, but not individually.Īudio interfaces are a dime a dozen for the home studio owner, and rarely deliver features that stand out from the pack.How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages. ![]()
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