Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 question

[vandilization]

So I feel it's about time to finally retire my 002, it's served me well all these years but I think the power supply is going on it.

My question is, I'm looking into the Scarlett 18i20 but going from Firewire to USB concerns me. Does Pro Tools recognize an interface if I were to use the optical input on my 2010 Mac Pro, or does it have to be connected to USB? If so, has it given any of you who have used it any problems if recording several tracks at once?

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by vandilization

So I feel it's about time to finally retire my 002, it's served me well all these years but I think the power supply is going on it.

My question is, I'm looking into the Scarlett 18i20 but going from Firewire to USB concerns me. Does Pro Tools recognize an interface if I were to use the optical input on my 2010 Mac Pro, or does it have to be connected to USB? If so, has it given any of you who have used it any problems if recording several tracks at once?

The TOSLINK optical input on your Mac Pro is two channel S/PDIF. That is all it can do. To use the 18i20 you connect it via USB, after installing the appropriate drivers. "record several tracks at once"... that's what a DAW is supposed to do, and most problems doing that are *not* the interface, they are computer under-spec or properly misconfigured/not optimized issues. We can't guess how well set up your computer is, but if it's working today OK it should with this other interface.

It may be a pity that you don't have a Thunderbolt equipped Mac, the latency in Thunderbolt interfaces can be really impressive, that's only an issue of course if tracking latency when monitoring through the DAW matters for you. MOTU do make units that have USB and Thunderbolt 2. I have no experience with them.

[vandilization]

Thanks for the info. I wish I had Thunderbolt, but I have a 2010 Mac Pro (the 2.66gHz 12 core version) with 32 GB of RAM and an SSD. Considering the 002 was only FireWire 400, I didn't think there would be a huge issue, but I know FireWire is more robust than USB so that was just a concern of mine. In retrospect, they probably wouldn't make an interface with 8 inputs if USB couldn't theoretically handle all of them at once, lol.

[JoelG]

I have the first gen 18i20, and I'm pretty happy with it. The Windows drivers can be finicky though. I'm not sure how much difference there is with the new versions.

Joel

[VRW]

There is no guarantee of course like with any interface but basically the Generation 2 models seem to offer even better "behavior" in regards to latency.

A friend of mine bought and ran the smaller 2i2 Gen2 box a month ago with an i5 2012 MBP/16GB Ram and PT12.8.2 with many tracks on 64 samples
without any issues.

That was definitely not possible with the Gen1 version of the 2i2 and I could not do that with my 002/003R back in the days either.

I think Focusrite officially say that the Gen2 models offer even lower latency although it´s still "only" USB 2. May have improved the drivers. Whatever.

Fact is that the 18i20 is widely used by small to mid-sized studios around the world. And often used to record drums and other multiple sources at once.

Yet again. There's no guarantee it will work perfectly for your particular applications but chances are good that you can do the same like with your 002
still with a much better audio quality as for the converters and mic pres.
https://global.focusrite.com/usb-aud...scarlett-18i20

Another fact is that there is no other audio interface on the market offering that bunch of options and such high audio quality for such a low price. Means
for comparable products from other manufacturers you will have to pay a lot more than 500 bucks.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlet18i20G2

Anyway.

The best of success to you.

[vandilization]

Originally Posted by VRW

There is no guarantee of course like with any interface but basically the Generation 2 models seem to offer even better "behavior" in regards to latency.

A friend of mine bought and ran the smaller 2i2 Gen2 box a month ago with an i5 2012 MBP/16GB Ram and PT12.8.2 with many tracks on 64 samples
without any issues.

That was definitely not possible with the Gen1 version of the 2i2 and I could not do that with my 002/003R back in the days either.

I think Focusrite officially say that the Gen2 models offer even lower latency although it´s still "only" USB 2. May have improved the drivers. Whatever.

Fact is that the 18i20 is widely used by small to mid-sized studios around the world. And often used to record drums and other multiple sources at once.

Yet again. There's no guarantee it will work perfectly for your particular applications but chances are good that you can do the same like with your 002
still with a much better audio quality as for the converters and mic pres.
https://global.focusrite.com/usb-aud...scarlett-18i20

Another fact is that there is no other audio interface on the market offering that bunch of options and such high audio quality for such a low price. Means
for comparable products from other manufacturers you will have to pay a lot more than 500 bucks.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlet18i20G2

Anyway.

The best of success to you.

That’s exactly what I needed to know. Thank you!