User Guide FFFA001448-01 www.focusrite.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OVERVIEW Introduction Thank you for purchasing this Second Generation Scarlett 18i20, one of the family of Focusrite professional audio interfaces incorporating high quality Focusrite analogue pre-amplifiers. In conjunction with the unit’s accompanying software application, Focusrite Control, you now have a compact yet highly versatile solution for routing high quality audio to and from your computer.
All inputs on the Scarlett 18i20 are routed directly to your DAW software for recording, but Focusrite Control also allows you to route these signals internally within the device to the outputs so that you can monitor the audio signals with ultra-low latency - before they arrive at your DAW, should you need to do so. The Scarlett 18i20 also has connectors for sending and receiving MIDI data, and for transmitting word clock to ensure synchronisation with other items of digital audio equipment.
GETTING STARTED IMPORTANT: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU INSTALL FOCUSRITE CONTROL BEFORE CONNECTING THE INTERFACE TO YOUR COMPUTER. NOTE THAT THE SECOND GENERATION SCARLETT 18i20 DOES NOT REQUIRE SEPARATE USB DRIVERS TO BE INSTALLED FOR EITHER MAC OR WINDOWS. FOCUSRITE CONTROL INCLUDES THE NECESSARY DRIVERS. Software Installation All software required by the Scarlett 18i20 - and several powerful and useful extras - are available for download from the Focusrite website (www.focusrite.com/register).
HARDWARE FEATURES Front Panel 1 14 2 3 4 5 6 4 5 7 8 10 9 12 11 13 14 The front panel includes all the input gain and monitoring controls as well as two of the input connectors for Mic, Line and Instrument signals. 6 1. Inputs 1 and 2 – Combo type input sockets - connect microphones, instruments (e.g., guitar), or line level signals via XLR or ¼” (6.35 mm) jacks as appropriate. Either ¼” TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) jack plugs can be used for instruments or line level signals. 2.
10. MONITOR – main monitor output level control: this will normally control the level at the main monitor outputs on the rear panel, but can be configured in Focusrite Control to adjust the level at any of the unit’s ten analogue outputs. 11. DIM and MUTE – two switches controlling the 18i20’s monitor outputs; DIM reduces the output levels by 18 dB, while MUTE turns the outputs off.
Rear Panel 23 18 22 21 20 17 16 15 19 15. MIC/LINE INPUTS 3 to 8 – Combo type input sockets - connect further microphones or line level signals via XLR or ¼” (6.35 mm) jacks as appropriate. Either ¼” TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) jack plugs can be used for line level signals. 16. LINE OUTPUTS 3 and 10 – eight balanced analogue line outputs on ¼” (6.35 mm) jack sockets; use TRS jacks for a balanced connection or TS jacks for unbalanced.
Connecting your Scarlett 18i20 IMPORTANT: Before you connect your Scarlett 18i20 to your computer, please complete the software installation according to the instructions at page 5. This will ensure that the hardware uses the correct drivers, and will prevent unexpected behaviour. Power The Scarlett 18i20 should be connected to AC mains with the supplied AC power cable. Plug the IEC connector into the rear panel IEC receptacle.
Audio Setup in your DAW The Scarlett 18i20 is compatible with any Windows-based DAW that supports ASIO or WDM or any Mac-based DAW that uses Core Audio. After installing Focusrite Control and connecting the hardware, you can start using your Scarlett 18i20 with the DAW of your choice. To allow you to get started if you do not already have a DAW application installed on your computer, both .
Once the Scarlett 18i20 is set as the preferred Audio Device* in your DAW, all 18 inputs and 20 outputs will appear in your DAW’s Audio I/O preferences (note however that Ableton Live Lite is limited to a maximum of four simultaneous mono input channels and four simultaneous mono output channels). Depending on your DAW, you may need to enable certain inputs or outputs before use. The two examples below show four inputs and four outputs enabled in Ableton Live Lite Audio Preferences. *Typical name.
Example of Usage The Scarlett 18i20 is an excellent choice for several different recording and monitoring applications. Some typical configurations are shown below. Recording a band Microphone Guitar Engineer’s Headphones (Front Panel) (Rear Panel) Stereo Keys Musicians’ Individual foldback mixes This setup illustrates a typical configuration for recording a group of musicians with DAW software on Mac or PC.
Low Latency Monitoring You will frequently hear the term “latency” used in connection with digital audio systems. In the case of the simple DAW recording application described above, latency will be the time it takes for your input signals to pass through your computer and audio software, and back out again via your audio interface.
Connecting Scarlett 18i20 to loudspeakers The 1/4” jack MONITOR outputs on the rear panel (Line Outputs 1 and 2) will normally be used to drive monitoring speakers. Self-powered monitors incorporate internal amplifiers with a volume control, and may be connected directly. Passive loudspeakers will require a separate stereo amplifier; in this case, the rear panel outputs should be connected to the amplifier’s inputs. Active Speakers Passive Speakers All the line output connectors are 3-pole (TRS) ¼” (6.
Professional active monitors and professional power amplifiers will generally have balanced inputs. When mixing, you can connect several pairs of additional speakers (mid-field, near-field, etc.) to pairs of outputs and use Focusrite Control to route your mix to the different outputs as desired, to check your mix on the different types of speaker.
Using the ADAT connection In addition to the eight analogue inputs, the Scarlett 18i20 has an OPTICAL IN ADAT input port which can provide an additional eight audio inputs at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate or four at 88.2/96 kHz. Note that the optical input is disabled when sample rates of 176.4/192 kHz are in use.
Using the Scarlett 18i20 as a stand-alone mixer The Scarlett 18i20 has the ability to store a mix configuration defined in Focusrite Control within the hardware. This feature lets you configure it – for example, as an on-stage keyboard mixer – using your computer, and then upload the configuration to the device itself. Then you can use the . Scarlett 18i20 as a simple local mixer as part of your keyboard rig to control the overall mix of multiple keyboards.
FOCUSRITE CONTROL Focusrite Control software allows flexible mixing and routing of all audio signals to the physical audio outputs, as well as control of output monitor levels. Sample rate selection and digital sync options are also available from Focusrite Control. NOTE: Focusrite Control is a generic product, and may be used with other Focusrite hardware interfaces.
The following table provides the channel routings when preset option “Direct Routing” is selected in Focusrite Control; see the screen image on page 18. Note that as the channel count available via the ADAT optical ports is reduced at higher sample rates, the default routings change slightly at the higher rates. At 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sample rates: CH NO.
At 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz sample rates: At 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz sample rates: CH NO. INPUTS OUTPUTS CH NO.
SPECIFICATIONS Performance Specifications Configuration Inputs 18: analogue (8), ADAT (8), S/PDIF (2) Outputs 20: analogue (10), ADAT (8), S/PDIF (2) Mixer Fully assignable 18-in/10-out software mixer . (Focusrite Control) Digital Performance Supported sample rates 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz Clock jitter <250 ps Microphone Inputs Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB Dynamic Rnge 109 dB (‘A’-weighted) THD+N < 0.
Instrument Inputs Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB Dynamic Range 109 dB (‘A’-weighted) THD+N < 0.003% Maximum Input Level +12 dBu Gain Range 50 dB Line Outputs 1 to 10 Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +/-0.5 dB Dynamic Range 108 dB (‘A’-weighted) THD+N < 0.001% Maximum Output Level (0 dBFS) +16 dBu, balanced Headphone Outputs Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +/-0.5 dB Dynamic Range 108 dB (‘A’-weighted) THD+N < 0.
Physical and Electrical Characteristics Analogue Inputs 1 & 2 Connectors XLR Combo type: Mic/Line/Inst, on front panel Mic/Line switching Automatic Line/Instrument switching 2 x front panel switches Phantom power Shared +48 V phantom power switch for inputs 1 to 4 Analogue Inputs 3 to 8 Connectors XLR Combo: Mic/Line, on rear panel Mic/Line switching Automatic Phantom power Shared +48 V phantom power switch for inputs 1 to 4 .
TROUBLESHOOTING For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Answerbase at https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new where you will find articles covering numerous troubleshooting examples. COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES Focusrite is a registered trade mark and Scarlett 18i20 is a trade mark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All other trade marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. 2016 © Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved.
