Cheap vs Expensive Audio Interfaces | Focusrite Scarlett vs Universal Audio Apollo

I use a 1st gen Scarlett 2i2 as an A to D converter, taking line-level audio from a DJ mixer. I use RCA to XLR cables and didn't realise that the Scarlett would then take this in at Mic level until I read the manual. But, it still works superbly. At minimum gain, I still get about 10dB headroom before clipping, and the 2k rather than 10k input impedance doesn't cause any problems either. It seems you just cannot go wrong with a 2i2.

This is very clear and understandable for an older guy like me. I’m setting up a home podcasting studio using a scarlet 4i4..very useful information. Thank you 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Looking forward to grabbing an Apollo soon. Where it comes to budget interfaces, I’m glad you mentioned MOTU M-Series here. Unbeatable for the money, and the build quality/metering put comparable Scarletts to shame.

yeah im able to monitor with effects scarlett 2i2 over usb, i think the main reason im considering upgrading is for higher audio quality - im still new, but i just wanna research and make sure im not limited by equipment

If you need to record more than 1 or 2 instruments it's probably better to get a mixer.

So, I bought a Scarlett 2i2 2nd gen audio interface because I was looking for a way to hook up my powered monitors to my computer so I could listen to the audio from production music websites (APM Music, and Universal Production Music for example) and these are NOT music streaming websites and the best quality audio I'm going to get (using the full screen option on my computer) is low grade mp3, but beggars can't be choosers. Do you think changing my audio interface would make ANY difference...at all.

Thanks for the video, that was very helpful!

Great video

Thanks!

I just want to power my 250 ohm headphones, is there something else than audio interface that i could use?

I had a Behringer interface which worked fine on windows 7, had to get a new computer which is windows 11, now it no longer works.

Actually i have the gen3 focusrite (4i4) and i can play with no delay and the effects from my computer after a quick setup, i mean i don't really feel the delay if there is one.
Scarlett gen3 (and i guess 4 as well) is one of the best option, no delay, very accessible, easy setup step by step whenn you plug the scarlett for the first time (or type "driver scarlett" on google). Unless you have specific needs it will do the job.

I started with a very cheap china imported audio interface that had some delay, don't buy this if you need to play guitar with effects but it was worth to try if a 45€ (VAT & delivery included :O ) audio interface would do the job, it's still ok with direct monitoring.

The fact that 90% of this video got completely blown out of the water with the new focus rite gen 4 js actually insane. What a time to be alive

I got around live monitoring with effects and Zero latency monitoring with Studio one 5. Studio One has an amazing zero latency monitoring mode with zero clips and pops and with effects. The only thing this does is disable some other effects on other channels only while recording the main vocal chain with effects or main piano chain with effects. This is the main reason I use the DAW, it changed everything for me when composing and recording.

I have no strong feelings one way or the other

I've got a Gen 2 Scarlett 18i8 interface along with a few of my other previous "starter" interfaces. Recently, I've been using a much older iMac I had laying around (2009) w/ one of the prior interfaces as a daisy chained DIY DSP unit that I then run stereo into my Scarlett 18i8 and much newer iMac.

Needles to say?
It "Woiks"!

Another well thought out and executed video.

That’s not true more expensive interfaces are more expensive for a reason, you dealing with better preamps better conversion ad/da converters, better clocking, lower latency, better drivers etc. don’t that people are just throwing a price on an interface for no reason. The other thing as an engineer that has work in many studio on many different interfaces from avid Hd systems to presonus audio box I can tell you that more expensive interfaces sound better than cheaper ones the quality of the audio is clear, noise floor is lower recording cleaner and the vocal stand up better when using effects infant I use less effect to get the sound I like. And that is why the big record are not made on scarlet 2i2 yes use what you have until you are able to get what you need but never tell yourself that cheaper is just as good as expensive quality is always above quantity. In a professional setting we have no time to waste and the next time you go into a world class recording studio with engineers that are reputable and have worked on majour record like the CLA and Andrew sheps and Tony Maserati and Dave pensado take a look at there audio interfaces and I am sure it won’t be a scarlet 2i2 or an Maudio delta and there is a reason for that

THE BANE OF MY RECORDING LIFE LATENCY! AHHHH .

Stay within your budget, and learn to write better songs. Countless of Million-dollar studios have closed because they don't have good music for the labels. You are welcome and have a nice day.

When I built my microphone/monitor headphone setup, I had issues with the sound quality of the DACs for the headphone output! I use a beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 ohm.
Yes, I was on a budget. I tried behringer first, it was crap.
So I did a small comparison, I bought two more audio interfaces to compare their headphone DACs:
Focusrite Solo 3rd Gen
Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD
Steinberg UR12

The Steinberg it was. I'm still using it at this point.

Imagine the last word being cut off 😂 turns the meaning of the whole video :p

Another aspect (quite obvious to me, but since it hasn't been reported I'll share it) is that you usually want to record a single instrument, in particular guitars, bass, etc.., with two microphones (stereo recording). This levels up the sound dramatically if you know where to place the microphones, and it's impossible to reproduce the effect without a two channel interface!

Yet another excellent vid. Thanks!

This is a such a Very good informantion for New commer .... Thnku.... From india...

Thanks for the explanation. Would I be able to use the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for a chain of voice effects in a live presentation (low latency)? For DAW I use Reaper.

I think you misunderstood the datasheet when comparing the two pre-amps of the interfaches. Scarlet mention just a range, without a starting point, however the range on the other has a starting and endpoint, the resulting effective gain range difference would be 1dB…
The noise floor is almost identical, so the have about the same effective gain overall.
The more important factor is the input impendance that is half cut off, as some devices have a lower / higher internal impedance, leading to different signal levels when connected to thos interfaces. 3Kohms va 5.4Kohms can already have quite some difference, especially with microphones (higher input resistance is generally better, unless specificially matched to the device / cable)

Yea I always dream about one day owning an Apollo with some beautiful NS10’s and a pair of ATC’s 😭

I would love to buy the Apollo, but I've read alot about how it doesn't work well with PC and Windows.

How about focusrite 414 3rd gen???

I always appreciate it when pro musicians make video like this one,thanks a lot!

what about just using sp404 II for everything. yay.

Ive a' b 'd these interfaces. and i can confirm that the uad sounds way brighter and clearer focusrites are dark

good vid.......... my experiance is with apogge quartet...OMG, what a finicky piece of dookie..... i paid for a re-furbished unit..to save 300$...... and it failed after 1 year requiring 275$ repair...... i am here today because i just bought the scarlett 1820 3rd gen ....... UA, Apogge , RME Babyface...... u can keep them, i'll save my money and sound just as good..... focusrite scarlette is becoming legendary solution for the people... appoggee is so anal...... anyone need a used quartet cheap?

I have both of these interfaces.

Very helpful, practical, and honest review. Thank you.

Latency subject.... Issue about music recording.... Usually you don't track/record with signal processing/effects (outside of electric guitar). So generally, as a recording artist, dsp when tracking will get real old real fast. And what has "legs" will be some minimal reverb using interface send return (no latency) and direct monitoring. Also mixing direct monitoring with some reverb from DAW works....

I’m about to upgrade my Gen 1 2i2 to the 3rd gen 4i4. My Gen 1 has lasted over 10 years and still going.

me w a 20 dollar interface off amazon 💀

Audient iD14 with Cloud lifter or Apollo Twin without cloud lifter? (Asking suggestion for my SM7B)

Great video buddy. Well done!

Hi I have a PreSonus Studio 68c, and plugging in my headphones directly into the line outputs (using a quarter inch adapter) seems to work perfectly? I can hear the audio at a pretty loud level.

with a pc from 2021/22 you can easily get the scarlet to 5 ms over all latency. i think latency wont be anymore a big topic in about 10 ten years. i think noone can hear undera difference 5 ms ..

Moral of the story is: use a balanced connection if you can!! ? Especially if you have long cables potentially passing by near by electronic devices.

Apollo Solo is much cheaper with much of the same features as the Twin.

Bravo on this video. Incredibly informative and thorough. I learned so much from you. Keep making great content like this. You also have a great speaking voice

One more note: I've been using a Scarlett 2i4 2nd gen on an old PC config for a few years, it's great soundcard, but it has a big issue; while using at 44.1KHz standard it's OK, but when the sampling rate is changing it becomes horrible... cannot switch the rate automatically sometimes, you have to change manually at the settings menu, and it's deaf muted until you've set the right sampling rate (f.e. workin in a DAW 48 kHz, and you wanna check another song in another software it'll be quiet.) . And if you forgot to tweak down the volume, it sends a horrible crackle to the speakers when you're changing the parameter. Or when you load another session with different sampling rate. Terrible. None of my previous soundcards did these crazy things (Blaster, E-MU, Edirol ). Is it factory defaults of this interface or my model is scrap/faulty?

Interface is just one part of an audio chain, where you have to spend much much more money for a good instrument/mic for the nice result than chosing a more pricier interface - it cannot makes wonder getting crap input signal.

How to measure latency ?

Thank you!