Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Review - Sound Just Like A Pro 

I have a Gen 3 18i20 and I run a ton of outboard gear. I strongly disagree with your opinion.

So what else do you suggest for a similar budget instead?

I have been using the 18i20 since the 1st. Loved all if them.

"Cheap" and "sounds good" are pretty vague descriptors. I suspect the issue is this: Since the 1970s, companies have been trying to reduce noise and coloration in preamps, to capture transients as accurately as possible. They've been pretty successful. Today's preamps sound very natural, neutral and true. The trouble: what people actually like is some of the dirt and inaccuracy that used to be in older consoles and pre-amps. Thus probably why you like the art, which has the coloration and saturation of the 12ax7 tube.

Thank you, man. That confirmed my... ears. I spent nights A/B the Scarlett 18i8 with a UA Volt 4/476 and I felt the Volts sounded better but I was not sure since I don't really trust my... ears since Focusrite seem very popular. I agree: it's all about the sound.

Thx for ur opinion. So better buy "RME Fireface 802 Fs"?

Completely unfair, I've been using it for 12 months. It's a solid performer in its price range.

Thanks for this review. I have 3 Focusrites in my rack 18i20, and 2 octopres, but I use the Apollo 16 and twin through my analog mixer in my studio

Another RU-vidr ran a sine wave through a variety of interfaces, then played them back sequentially, all at identical volume. There was an obvious jump in noise when playing back the recording made with the third generation Scarlett. In his test the Clarett sounded much better. When I bought an SM7B some years back I got an Apogee Duet for its mic pre-amp's 75 dB of clean gain, and now I'm inclined to go with pro level equipment when I get my next 8 pre-amp interface. For decades I've been teaching String Orchestra and Guitar all week at an excellent school district. I've never regretted that my mass of recordings have been free of equipment issues and have been limited only by my input, not by my interface's input.

Please do a video using this audio interface to record in ableton. Also show how your digital input and output is set up for the monitors.

I've been on the scarlett team for 10+ years. I originally got the 2i4, then 2nd gen 18i20, 2i2, solo, 3rd gen 18i20, and now octopre dynamic. the 3rd gen 18i20 and octopre are simply for a/d converters and output routing. I run my midas siena 400 for the preamps and eq and i have to admit... im in love right now. I will say there is a noticeable difference running different preamps.. but ive been content with what scarlett produces for years now.. I think its about what you do with them to how they sound.

Do the output converters on the Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre USB Audio Interface fail in output quality? My ears tell me of some degradation in quality with the 18i20. However, I tweaked some excellent mixes on this unit, and I have since upgraded from this unit, this the 18i20 is a very stable and good unit, I add!

Weird that you'd have reviewed a long discontinued model at the time of your video instead of the gen 3, which was the current version at the time. That's like reviewing a tube TV and comparing it to a 4k flat screen.

nice review. What If I am using it just to track the signal coming from SSL preamps? Will sound good?

I just bought the 18i20 and i was wondering if the Focusrite Control has an equalizer to boost the Bass, mid and treble for my desktop audio apps like youtube and spotify.

This convinced me to get one

I've got the 1st gen, it was a replacement for my EMU1212m. Bought it open box and saved a ton. I've been using it for years with no issues. I'm using an RME card inside the box. I've not followed the generations after the 1st. Sad that this has issues.

That’s crazy cause I paired mine with a dbx286 and it sounds great

Thank you. I was trying to decide if i should use Scarlett 18i20, Audient iD44, or Apogee Duet 2. I'm leaning towards iD44.

Maybe a dumb question, but does anyone know of an interface that caters to line inputs? Im mosty recording synths that either have panning effects, multiple tracks with panning or drumkits panned per sound. I don't think the pre amps amps are important? I don't need pro level I'm cool with CD quality. Latency is important. Thanks!

The problem may be garbage in garbage out :)

Will point out adding gain on your inputs via ext preamp does decent. Im shocked to hear this take honestly as Focusrite has done decent for many for years

I think Focusrite enjoy good sales, one: because of their pedigree in the outboard segment, including mixers and preamps. And by all accounts their interface preamps are very flat, which is either exactly what you want, (you use something else for flavour and want a clean signal for it), or the opposite. And two: Because history has shown that their drivers are both stable and reasonably performant. Combine that with competitive pricing, and you see some pretty sound success. Now, when it comes to AD/DA converters… Thing is none of these brands build their own converters. They all pick from the same OEM shelves. Which is why for most people it doesn’t matter too much what interface you pick. They all sound at the very least decent, and very very similar… Pick a price bracket, that’s about it. Almost: Different brands try to differentiate with auxiliary features and software. So, within your chosen price bracket, pick what appeals to you in terms of features and software. Stop worrying about specs, they’re all more or less the same in practise, within each respective price bracket. Personally I think there’s a lot of placebo going around. Today’s budget converters smack the living daylights out of yesterday’s top of the line converters - hardware heard on countless smash hits with luxurious production. Yes, if you charge 500 dollars an hour for your services, you want to make sure you use the best of the best throughout your signal path. But the weakest link in today’s recorded music is very rarely the interface. I would even go so far to say it never is. EDIT: I bought my first audio interface in 1995, and I honestly don’t recall how many I’ve owned over the years. What I would add to the above screed is to perhaps try to avoid lesser known brands. Not because their products necessarily are any worse, but because you want to make sure they stick around for the ride. The companies that built my first few interfaces are no longer with us. And it very much sucks when a company bails on you before end of life of the product.

Can this setup be used for podcasts? I currently have the Rodecaster, but I need more microphones. However, I only have a few inputs available on the Rodecaster

Yo thanks for your opinion man ! Glad I came across this video 🙏🏽

when i compare my mac's headphone jack output straight into a mixer vs the Scarlett master output straight into a mixer I can hear a drop in sound quality. It looks like the outputs also introduce a fair amount of noise, which I compared by turning up the volume with silence. On the inputs side there's a bit of latency which makes it hard to use cleanly. the process to get the software, etc, is pretty cumbersome but that's really a minor thing compared to the audio quality, noise, and latency I'm seeing with this unit. I'm leaning towards UAD twin

Can’t really comment on the Focusrite quality because it’s all I’ve ever used. If Neve is considered the best of the best and Focusrite was developed by the same person, I’m questioning your point of reference. I’m upgrading to the Revive modification on a second 18i20 as a comparison.

Can you provide any A/B tests to prove the quality issues? Saying that "you won't sound pro" if you use Scarlett is not really true. I've seen magical moments when pro-audio fanatics claiming did not hear much difference between low price tier devices over some very expensive gear. Or even chosen the cheaper as better sounding.

I agree, I run a bunch of synths out of a zed436 into an 18i20 and I can't for the life of me like the sound of the Scarlett. It muddies up the sound and never seems to have any headroom. It loses the nice coloring of the zed mixer and makes it sound way more flat.

RESPECT! ✊🏾

As I'm using my new scarlett lol...I guess it'll do for now, but eventually I'll upgrade.

I wonder if this is just an instance of you not liking the ultra clean preamps considering you just transitioned from a tube unit that added weight and color.

I bought a 2nd gen 18i20 from a pawn shop for $50 and never looked back but I'm limited by budget so I don't really have any other point of reference lol

Sorry dude, you need try different microphone 🎤.

I've been been making great recordings with the devise and I'm not impressed by your misgivings.

I will admit I used to love the Scarlett as I grew as an engineer I’ve come to find the preamps quite dull. Not exactly fair because I’m comparing it with Neve preamps I use now but still great in its price range

2i2 works perfect no issues at all for 6 years. 18i20 will works also i think

I came here looking for a way to use the focusrite with my sound id reference but jeez lol

thank you,. I bought the 18i20 and I don't like the monitor sound, and I don't like the noise when all the volume is off. I am regretted too. I will return it and get another one.

Did you keep it? If so why?

So what about the 3rd gen?

Your why I don’t like it section consists of stories of the 2i2, which is far less quality than the 18i20. Don’t understand the point of that

U got problem in ur hearing balance.. Go to ear doctor.. First learn about dynamic range, frequency response.. Its not gear.. Its all ear... Ok

Something about this story feels made up. You said it sounds "cheap" and your wife also used the same description "cheap" .. hmmmm

Click bait

if anyone thinks that an audio interface is going to greatly effect the quality of their music...then I'm sorry, bad news for you. it won't. the technology in even the cheapest of contemporary interfaces is far superior to what was available even in the late 1990s. much of the music released back then is still sounds better than what is released now. a high end interface is the last place you should put your money when building a studio. good monitors and good quality instruments will get you wayyyyyy further than an interface.

First negative review of the 18i20 I’ve seen. Turn off the Air feature and see if you like that better.

first i thought you talk about the new 18i20 3rd gen so thats why i changed the dislike into a like because i never had a 2nd gen 18i20

Awesome opinion💩

Just buy a neve for$1200 besides a$100 2i2 hahahahahah

Focusrite is overhyped. I knew it as i was reading all these positive reviews at these Webshops for music Equipment. These are all guys which does not have any clue from good quality sound. Simply read the technical specs of these Interfaces.. then you know what you have to know. What i want ADAT or 8 In/Outputs, if the used chips inside are crap? This makes no sense. Focusrite simply makes money by good marketing, but not from Musicians which want quality sound.

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