Focusrite USB Audio Interfaces | What Do You Buy?

Recording instruments, vocals, and spoken word with professional quality requires professional-grade gear. The audio interface of the most critical pieces of gear in any studio environment. Focusrite is one of the most reputable manufacturers of studio gear, primarily known for its audio interfaces.

The company’s Scarlett series took the music world by storm. Widely praised for their versatility, sound quality, and overall decent value, Scarlett audio interfaces have helped many musicians and producers create songs with industry-standard sound quality in the comfort of their homes. Nowadays, the Scarlett Solo remains one of the best budget-friendly interfaces for home studios.

Scarlett models are not the only USB audio interfaces that Focusrite makes. Their most recent model, the Vocaster, is more focused on offering a straightforward solution for recording podcasts. Moreover, the Clarett+ is Focusrite’s studio-focused USB audio interface.

Each of Focusrite’s USB interface lineups comes with different products and bundles for different purposes and budgets. Knowing which one to opt for is critical. In this post, I’ll give you a thorough review of Focusrite’s USB audio interfaces and guide you in finding out which one is for you.

Focusrite Vocaster

The Vocaster is Focusrite’s entry-level audio interface lineup, primarily intended for podcasting. Focusrite offers two audio interfaces in this series: the Vocaster One and the Vocaster Two. The main difference between the two is the number of inputs and outputs. The Vocaster One allows for one mic input and one headphone out for monitoring, whereas the Vocaster Two doubles those ports. Both interfaces feature phantom power (48V) for using condenser microphones.

Moreover, you can connect the Vocaster to your camera gear directly in order to record videos without having to sync up audio and video in post-production.

Both models follow a modern and friendly design language. Focusrite has put built-in features like auto gain, mute button, and onboard voice presets in the Vocaster to make it easier for newbies to achieve the sound quality they’re after.

Focusrite sells both models in studio bundles as well. The Vocaster One Studio comes with the Focusrite DM1 dynamic microphone, HP60v closed-back headphones, and an XLR cable to connect your microphone to the interface. On the other hand, the Vocaster Two Studio features the company’s DM14v dynamic microphone that sports a built-in windshield and an internal shock mount.

The Vocaster One comes at $100 on Amazon, and the Vocaster Two Studio is priced at $300.

Focusrite Scarlett

Focusrite's best-selling USB audio interface lineup, the Scarlett, brings functionality and quality in an affordable package. The fourth generation of the Scarlett audio interfaces offers a more modern redesign, as well as some hardware upgrades. All 4th-gen Scarlett models feature two “Air Modes” that mimic the coloring of Focusrite’s vintage analog gear. The Air Presence boosts your high-ends for brighter vocals, and the Air Drive mode puts emphasis on your mid-rage for a bunchier track for both instruments and vocals.

The converters and preamps in the Scarlett 4th-gen deliver studio-level audio quality and are among the best in this league. Moreover, the 120dB dynamic range, coupled with the built-in Clip Safe feature, allows you to capture quieter parts with precision without having to worry about losing audio quality and clipping in the louder parts.

Focusrite offers three audio interfaces under the Scarlett category. The Scarlett Solo is the entry-level with a line-in, a mic-in, and two outputs, the Scarlett 2i2 doubles those inputs, and the Scarlett 4i4 offers two mic-ins, up to four line inputs, and two outputs. The preamps on the 4th-gen 2i2 and 4i4 are Scarlett’s clearest and most detailed ever.

Similar to the Vocaster, Scarlett interfaces come in studio bundles. Both Solo and 2i2 studio bundles feature a CM25 MkIII studio condenser microphone, a pair of SH-450 headphones, and an XLR cable.

Focusrite still sells the previous-gen Scarlett interfaces with more affordable price tags. Although the fourth generation of the Scarlett, especially the 2i2 and the 4i4, give you better audio quality and are more future-proof, third-gen Scarletts offer a lot of bang for the buck.

If you’re on a tight budget, I recommend opting for the third-gen Scarlett Solo for $99. For a studio bundle that offers the essentials for songwriters, the 4th-gen Scarlett 2i2 Studio is an excellent choice. Finally, the 4th-gen Scarlett 4i4 brings a lot of value and functionality for music makers that need more than two inputs.

Focusrite Clarett+

Last but not least, the Clarett+ is Focusrite’s most professional USB audio interface lineup. The main difference that sets the Clarett+ series apart from the Scarlett is the quality of preamps and converters that Focusrite uses in them. Focusrite claims the Clarett+ brings the “pure analog” sound to your music.

The Clarett+ 2Pre comes with two Clarett preamps that have been engineered to bring authentic large-format studio sound to any recording space. Moreover, the high-impedance JFET instrument inputs preserve your guitar’s characteristics by emulating the sound you get from plugging your instrument into an amp. The Clarett+ 2Pre looks similar to the Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, with two inputs at the front that work both as mic and line inputs. The Clarett+ 4Pre follows a similar design as a desktop audio interface, but doubles the number of preamps and inputs.

The top-of-the-line product in this lineup is the Clarett+ 8Pre that, as the name suggests, features eight inputs each with its dedicated preamp. The Clarett+ 8Pre is the only USB audio interface that comes as a studio-intended rack among Focusrite products. It is primarily meant for professional studio environments.

Final Thoughts: Which Focusrite Audio Interface Is For You?

Considering both third-gen and 4th-gen Scarletts, plus the studio bundles that come with mics and headphones, you have over 15 options you can choose from. Opting for the right model heavily depends on your needs and budget.

If you’re focused on making music and want to invest in an audio interface that lasts you for years before you need to upgrade, the fourth-gen Scarlett 2i2 is a solid option. The option to have two mic inputs at the same time allows you to record acoustic guitars or mic up your guitar amp while singing at the same time.

For musicians and podcasters on a budget looking for an all-in-one solution, the third-gen Scarlett Solo Studio can bring a lot of value for a relatively affordable price tag. The Vocaster One Studio is also a worthy bundle that makes podcasting and syncing the microphone with your camera gear much easier.

Lastly, the Clarett+ is a decent option for those who want to pursue music more professionally. If you’re setting up a studio, the Clarett+ 8Pre can be a decent studio rack audio interface that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.