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If you need to get your digital sound (music) out of your computer (and who doesn't) there are traditionally 2 ways to do it. You can use your computer's on-board sound card or mother board chip for simply playing through the computers' speakers or headphones, or, you can go the whole hog and purchase an external USB Digital Audio Converter (DAC) and enjoy a raft of advantages over your computers limited capabilities. On the other hand, if you are a musician and/or vocalist and wish to record your guitar, keyboard or vocals into a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), an external USB sound card is the ONLY way to do it. Your on-board soundcard is simply not capable of recording or playing back at anything like an acceptable quality and does not have the right connections anyway. Such a device is the Focusrite 2i4 DAC. The 2i4 is part of a large range of affordable DACs from Focusrite and the model number designation tells you more about what the unit is capable of, in this case it is 2 for 2 analogue switchable microphone/instrument input pre-amps and 4 for the 4 analogue outputs to connect speakers or outboard gear. The 2i4 also has the added bonus of MIDI in/out connections making this a very versatile device for the home studio or professional on the move. As it is bus powered (from the USB) no mains electric power supply is necessary to run it. There are many competing DACs on the market and choice can be bewildering. I have tried many of them and at the price point, in my opinion, the Focusrite devices simply sound better. It is a very subjective issue but thousands of professionals can't be wrong. When you combine this with a sturdy aluminium build quality and minimal plastic, you can begin to realise why the Focusrite range of DAC's are the market leaders. I have absolutely no connection to Focusrite, I'm just a very satisfied consumer of their products for the past 10 years and am happy to relate my experiences in the hope that it will help others. As a matter of interest I have experienced zero technical failures with the 3 Focusrite DACs I have owned. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Does what it is supposed to do. Had to replace my earlier Mark 1 model due to complete failure of USB input socket, I tried to repair it but failed. The latest model has an improved socket which gives more support to the plug, but I have had to buy two Focisrite units in order to get a reliable one, so hasn't been value for money.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I went for the 2i4 instead of the 2i2 for the extra 2 output ports. Now glad I did. Have upgraded from one input to two... Recording two instruments onto individual tracks in my DAW & outputting to pair of Rokit 6s plus Adam Sub7 subwoofer... v high quality sound to the monitors and virtually No Latency. Quality headphone output and can adjust monitor / headphone output independently. Again, No (detectable) Latency on HP monitor. Perfect for mike to HP monitoring. Very easy setup... must download ASIO driver, but after that, plug and play Didn't realise it before but Scarlett is made by Novation (from whom I expect high quality). Excellent value for money. I'm not bothered about the Ableton, but so you know... it's the free version anyway, so nothing special there.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Very easy to use. Just plug it in ,it should be detected by windows/system/sound and by your DAW.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
it works
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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