Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen

The Scarlett Solo, now in its third edition, is the most compact and portable model within Focusrite’s acclaimed Scarlett series of USB audio interfaces for Mac and PC. It features an XLR mic input, a balanced line input for synthesisers and other line-level audio sources, and a pair of balanced outputs for monitoring. The Scarlett’s high-quality mic preamp provides 48 V phantom power and is also equipped with a brand-new Air Mode switch. Electric guitars and basses can be connected directly to the line input and the impedance adjusted to Hi-Z accordingly. The Scarlett Solo also looks great and is very attractively priced.

The newly designed “gain halos” (the red and green LED rings around the gain controls on the front panel) are intended to make it easier to adjust gain settings, so that budding producers can start recording immediately after buying the interface. To make things simpler still, Focusrite has included a “Quick Start Tool” and put together an impressive and comprehensive package of free software, some in the box and some available for download, which includes Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools First, Focusrite Red Plugin Suite, Focusrite Plugin Collective, Softube Time and Tone Bundle, a three-month subscription to Splice Sounds, and a software tool of four XLN Audio Addictive Keys of your choice.

The third generation of Scarlett interfaces comprises the Solo, 2i2, 4i4, 8i6, 18i8, and 18i20 as well as two bundles, the Solo Studio and 2i2 Studio, each of which includes a microphone and headphones. The abbreviations 2i2, 4i4, etc. specify the number of inputs and outputs. In other words, “2i2” stands for two (i)nputs and two outputs, and 4i4 accordingly stands for four (i)nputs and four outputs. The “Solo” bends the rules in this respect, since it actually features two inputs and two outputs – the name instead suggests that it is intended for solo artists or singer/songwriters.