This was an excellent selection for my first audio interface. You have options within the different systems you use. I like that it gives you everything to start with. Depending on what you want to do you may want a larger interface for more inputs. But if you’re just starting out or looking for something cost effective then I would definitely recommend this product.

I’ll just start with a quick confession: I’m still using the 1st-generation Scarlett 2i2 that I bought in 2016 (8 years ago now), and the only reason I’m even thinking about an upgrade is that I’ve recently gotten back in touch with an old bandmate and we might need more inputs to record together! It really is THAT reliable. If and when I do buy a new one, it will still be a Scarlett - just a bigger one with more analog inputs. I can’t say enough great things about the Scarlett interface. If they let us give an item 10 out of 5 stars, this one has earned it and then some. I’ve been recording guitars, bass, and vocals on it every night THIS WEEK, let alone all the time for the last 8 years, and my tracks sound even better than the day I bought it (due to me knowing ... MoreI’ll just start with a quick confession: I’m still using the 1st-generation Scarlett 2i2 that I bought in 2016 (8 years ago now), and the only reason I’m even thinking about an upgrade is that I’ve recently gotten back in touch with an old bandmate and we might need more inputs to record together! It really is THAT reliable. If and when I do buy a new one, it will still be a Scarlett - just a bigger one with more analog inputs. I can’t say enough great things about the Scarlett interface. If they let us give an item 10 out of 5 stars, this one has earned it and then some. I’ve been recording guitars, bass, and vocals on it every night THIS WEEK, let alone all the time for the last 8 years, and my tracks sound even better than the day I bought it (due to me knowing how to use it now 😜). The newest models do have slightly better specs (192kHz sample rate compared to the 1st-gen’s 96kHz), and some of the features have been updated for even easier usability. I’ve read that the preamps are supposed to be even cleaner with higher headroom now, and I’ll admit that the “Air” feature has me curious too, but those alone aren’t going to have me tossing out the original that STILL works great! I’ll probably just assign this one to mobile duty when I get that far. All of this is really just boiling down to one main point: the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is THE one to beat for any artist who doesn’t need to record a full band’s worth of mic and line inputs all at once, and if you do need more, the Scarlett series still has you covered. Just check your favorite search engine for a list of professional tracks recorded on a Scarlett that those artists are making good money on, and you’ll be shocked that the likes of you and I can afford the same gear. You can probably get similar quality from another brand, but not for anywhere near this price.

The Focusrite audio interface is one of the best interfaces I have used on the market. It lets me hear my audio and good quality helps with my mixes and overall is a good product. You can also plug in your audio amplifiers to it and your monitors. this is one of my favorite products I have bought for my system.

Great Audio Interface

First of all, the Focusrite 2i2 is a fantastic interface. The included software really gives you a boost towards making recordings that don't sound cheap, because we've all heard those indie bands that record with their phones and the only thing you hear is the reverb pedal.Pros = Very easy to set up with Macs. It was plug and play for me.Cons = It doesn't come with an amp plug-in, and it's very hard to get a good tone only using the pre-amps in the interface. In my case, I accidentally sent myself a redemption code twice for the softube plugin suite and now it won't let me redeem my software package. I'm rather peeved by this, because that was a good amount of software to get for free. Softube hasn't gotten back to me, either, about how to get this ... MoreFirst of all, the Focusrite 2i2 is a fantastic interface. The included software really gives you a boost towards making recordings that don't sound cheap, because we've all heard those indie bands that record with their phones and the only thing you hear is the reverb pedal.Pros = Very easy to set up with Macs. It was plug and play for me.Cons = It doesn't come with an amp plug-in, and it's very hard to get a good tone only using the pre-amps in the interface. In my case, I accidentally sent myself a redemption code twice for the softube plugin suite and now it won't let me redeem my software package. I'm rather peeved by this, because that was a good amount of software to get for free. Softube hasn't gotten back to me, either, about how to get this downloaded.Summary = Buy this used if you already have a good collection of music software. The 2i2 is killer, but I spent a lot of money on it for the sake of getting the software with it and now I'm a little annoyed I'm having any problems at all downloading the plugins.

Great Interface. Easy to set up!

I did a LOT of research into affordable yet, high-quality interfaces for mac. There is a ton of information out there and (unless you are a sound engineer) it can be confusing for folks who are new to the audio recording or podcast game. I couldn't be happier with the Scarlett 2i2 Gen 2 interface. The sound is clear, it was easy as 1-2-3 to set up and it works as described. The build quality is solid. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this interface to anyone. I would suggest that anyone using a dynamic microphone invest in an inline pre-amp. This interface worked well with my AKG D5 but, I virtually had to eat the mic with the gain almost maxed out. For speech recording. That would get old quick so, after much searching, I decided to purchase the Triton Fethead ... MoreI did a LOT of research into affordable yet, high-quality interfaces for mac. There is a ton of information out there and (unless you are a sound engineer) it can be confusing for folks who are new to the audio recording or podcast game. I couldn't be happier with the Scarlett 2i2 Gen 2 interface. The sound is clear, it was easy as 1-2-3 to set up and it works as described. The build quality is solid. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this interface to anyone. I would suggest that anyone using a dynamic microphone invest in an inline pre-amp. This interface worked well with my AKG D5 but, I virtually had to eat the mic with the gain almost maxed out. For speech recording. That would get old quick so, after much searching, I decided to purchase the Triton Fethead in-line preamp. There are several brands that will work. Do the research, then decide what works best for you.

Great quality DAW for the money

I have two of these 2i4 units which I use as PC interfaces to playback music into hi-end audio systems. The sound quality whether balanced or unbalanced is superb with great separation and immense detail. Now to the USB interface issue, which is not unique to the first generation unit, as my first unit was a second generation unit with exactly the same broken USB fault. Replacing them takes time and patience, but it can be done with the simplest of tools. I would recommend a sharp pair of snips, temperature controlled soldiering iron, de-soldiering sucker, de-soldiering wick and a small flat screwdriver to use as a lever. You must clear as much soldier as you can around the joints, snipping the rear links and careful prizing of the connector with the iron on the ... MoreI have two of these 2i4 units which I use as PC interfaces to playback music into hi-end audio systems. The sound quality whether balanced or unbalanced is superb with great separation and immense detail. Now to the USB interface issue, which is not unique to the first generation unit, as my first unit was a second generation unit with exactly the same broken USB fault. Replacing them takes time and patience, but it can be done with the simplest of tools. I would recommend a sharp pair of snips, temperature controlled soldiering iron, de-soldiering sucker, de-soldiering wick and a small flat screwdriver to use as a lever. You must clear as much soldier as you can around the joints, snipping the rear links and careful prizing of the connector with the iron on the lugs you can get the beasty off quite nicely. Then carefully clear the debris out of the holes and you are ready to fit the new one. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to take the unit apart, to get to the main PCB. Good luck.

Incredible Interface for the Budget-Wise Producer

I needed to upgrade my interface to something that used balanced ins/outs, as my old M-Audio Delta Audiophile PCI card only had RCA ins/outs. After seeing this interface in a couple of friends' studios and getting their recommendation, I decided to give this a try, seeing as it was right in my budget for the functionality I was looking for.Installation was simple, and I am having no issues on my Windows 7 PC.As for the aesthetics, I love the metal casing. The unit looks and feels solid. I appreciate the size, considering what I'm using it for. I COULD easily pack it up in a backpack/gig bag and take it wherever, if I wanted, but it also fits perfectly on my desk where it is accessible but doesn't take up a bunch of room. The input LED halos are awesome, in that ... MoreI needed to upgrade my interface to something that used balanced ins/outs, as my old M-Audio Delta Audiophile PCI card only had RCA ins/outs. After seeing this interface in a couple of friends' studios and getting their recommendation, I decided to give this a try, seeing as it was right in my budget for the functionality I was looking for.Installation was simple, and I am having no issues on my Windows 7 PC.As for the aesthetics, I love the metal casing. The unit looks and feels solid. I appreciate the size, considering what I'm using it for. I COULD easily pack it up in a backpack/gig bag and take it wherever, if I wanted, but it also fits perfectly on my desk where it is accessible but doesn't take up a bunch of room. The input LED halos are awesome, in that when I feed my mixer from my DJ setup in to it, I can prevent the signal from distortion with little guesswork on the levels.As for the interface, it has (and does) what it says it does. 2 in, 2 out, 1 USB. Would like to have seen USB 3.0, but it seems to be working just fine as 2.0 on my 3.0 ports. If you only have one set of monitors, then one set of outputs will be what you need. If you need multiple outs for multiple sets of reference monitors, then you'll either need some sort of switch or a different unit. I am only using the inputs to plug in my DJ gear, so this is working perfectly for that, since I have mic inputs on my mixer, in the rare occasion I need to record vocals.As for sound quality, I noticed a BIG difference going from my old internal PCI card to this interface. Some of that could be the switch from unbalanced to balanced connections, some of it could just be the quality difference between the two units, but I have no complaints about the sound from this thing going to a set of KRK 8" monitors & 10" sub.The bonus plugins are a nice touch, though I have admittedly not really dug in to them to try them out, since I have the same types of plugins from other companies that I know and prefer. But, even if they perform their functions to a basic standard, they were free, so it's hard to complain about that.There's definitely better audio interfaces out there, if you're willing to spend the money, but this thing is meeting every expectation I've had for it so far, for this price range. If you need a lot of inputs and outs then you may want to go with one of the other Scarlett pieces that have more connections to stay budget conscious, or maybe something a little more professional grade if you're trying to run a pro-grade studio, but this thing easily gets the job done for a novice/experienced/home musician/DJ that doesn't need a whole lot of inputs and only has one set of monitors.

Potentially Great Product, But Only Disappointment...

I purchased a Scarlett 2i2 new from Musician's Friend a few years ago. Immediately after receiving the interface, I plugged it into my Mac and recorded several tracks in GarageBand. The interface was simple to set up and worked seamlessly... for about an hour.When it quit working, I assumed that I had set up something incorrectly, and decided it was a sign that I needed to put it down to take care of other responsibilities at the time. Without ever getting back to troubleshooting, I eventually put everything back into the original packaging and stored it in a closet with my other gear and put recording on the backburner.I have since pulled the Scarlett 2i2 back out of the box to begin recording again only to find out that the interface is still inoperative. It ... MoreI purchased a Scarlett 2i2 new from Musician's Friend a few years ago. Immediately after receiving the interface, I plugged it into my Mac and recorded several tracks in GarageBand. The interface was simple to set up and worked seamlessly... for about an hour.When it quit working, I assumed that I had set up something incorrectly, and decided it was a sign that I needed to put it down to take care of other responsibilities at the time. Without ever getting back to troubleshooting, I eventually put everything back into the original packaging and stored it in a closet with my other gear and put recording on the backburner.I have since pulled the Scarlett 2i2 back out of the box to begin recording again only to find out that the interface is still inoperative. It still will not recognize any instrument or microphone plugged into either input on the face of the box. The gain LED's do not light up, but will give an intermittent orange flash that is probably an error code of sorts.I have gone through all technical support articles on Focusrite's website. I have been in contact with Focusrite via email and over the phone. I have watched countless YouTube videos of other users with the same or similar issues. I have dug through forums to explore other potential solutions. All to no avail. The last bit of advice I got was from Focusrite telling me the interface had an internal hardware issue and that it would need to be replaced...Ultimately, the issue is that this product didn't last more than an hour in a home studio. Before purchasing this product, run a few Google searches to see just how many people have encountered input issues with the Scarlett. You'll be surprised.With added longevity, it would be worth every bit of 5-stars. The sound quality was great for home use, and the unit was simple to use. However, although the price is very appealing, I would highly recommend spending the money for a more reliable USB interface...

Very nice mike pre-amps for clear sound

I have several 2-input interfaces I've used over the years, including a Fast Track Pro and the gen 1 Scarlett 2i2. I set up a test using my Rode NT2A mike (and a couple others) to compare those boxes with my new 2i2 Gen 2.There is definitely a difference in clarity between this box and the two older ones. Even when a friend assisted to the tests would be "blind", I could consistently identify the Gen 2. I was NOT able to distinguish between the Fast Track Pro and the 2i2 Gen 1; they both produced slightly muddier recordings. It was enough of a difference that I immediately switched everything over to the 2i2 Gen 2.THEN I noticed that the CPU use in Ableton Live had gone up significantly when I played back some complicated sessions, and even caused a particularly ... MoreI have several 2-input interfaces I've used over the years, including a Fast Track Pro and the gen 1 Scarlett 2i2. I set up a test using my Rode NT2A mike (and a couple others) to compare those boxes with my new 2i2 Gen 2.There is definitely a difference in clarity between this box and the two older ones. Even when a friend assisted to the tests would be "blind", I could consistently identify the Gen 2. I was NOT able to distinguish between the Fast Track Pro and the 2i2 Gen 1; they both produced slightly muddier recordings. It was enough of a difference that I immediately switched everything over to the 2i2 Gen 2.THEN I noticed that the CPU use in Ableton Live had gone up significantly when I played back some complicated sessions, and even caused a particularly complex one to stutter - which had never happened with the Fast Track Pro. I tested to see if it was because I had the 2i2 Gen 2 set at a higher bitrate (96K) but even on 44100 the CPU usage for the 2i2 Gen 2 is higher. I'm not sure if this is due to the Fast Track having a more efficient driver - but it worries me a little and cost this interface a star.Most of the work I do is not very complex, so this should be fine for most recordings. I'll keep the Fast Track Pro around, though, in case I need it for more complex work.

Very satisfied with digitizing LPs

When my previous audio interface (Griffin iMic) broke I sought a replacement that I could trust to have quality electronics, 24-bit stereo audio, low latency, and musicality. I went for an interface designed for musicians because they need reliability and ruggedness as well as audio quality. I chose the Scarlett 2i2 over a similar Behrenger product because I like the layout of the controls and the connections.Here is what I found:• It feels solid — I don’t think the internals will easily get shaken up.• The dials, switches, and connection sockets feel sturdy and have no play (they aren’t loose).• Connections were easy. Getting it all to work together with the laptop and stereo took a little fiddling but worked well when I got familiar with all the components.• ... MoreWhen my previous audio interface (Griffin iMic) broke I sought a replacement that I could trust to have quality electronics, 24-bit stereo audio, low latency, and musicality. I went for an interface designed for musicians because they need reliability and ruggedness as well as audio quality. I chose the Scarlett 2i2 over a similar Behrenger product because I like the layout of the controls and the connections.Here is what I found:• It feels solid — I don’t think the internals will easily get shaken up.• The dials, switches, and connection sockets feel sturdy and have no play (they aren’t loose).• Connections were easy. Getting it all to work together with the laptop and stereo took a little fiddling but worked well when I got familiar with all the components.• Getting the software is a pain. It took multiple account creations to get the Pro Tools installed and it still won’t let me actually run it.• Sound is excellent. It is clearly better than the iMic. Signals when recording or playing are strong and clean. Using the highest quality capture and file format gave a pleasing musical tone.• I played back a sample I made from an ELO LP and thought, “That’s a lot of sound.” Channel separation was fantastic, dynamic and frequency range were also very good. The “sound stage” was tall and wide and full of detail.Other notes:• To record from LP, I plugged the turntable directly into the Scarlett 2i2, set the #1 and #2 inputs to Line level, turned both dials to max.• Results were good with Final Vinyl but better with Audacity. I got best results using OGG; keep sample rate at 24-bit or better (I think the Scarlett maxes at 24).• All analog connections to the stereo required 1/4”-RCA patch cords. I got a 5 foot cord and 1 meter cord but it’s not enough. I recommend a 6-8 foot patch cord or USB cord (A-B connectors).• It powers up if you connect the USB cable to a power block but it won’t send any signal unless it’s plugged into a computer.