User Guide FA 0899-01 www.focusrite.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water. 6. Clean only with dry cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
GB The apparatus shall be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection. FIN Laite on liitettävä suojamaadoituskoskettimilla va rustettuumpistorasiaan. NOR Apparatet må tikoples jordet stikkontakt. SWE Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
ENVIRONMENTAL DECLARATION Compliance Information Statement: Declaration of Compliance procedure Product Identification: Responsible party: Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 American Music and Sound Address: 4325 Executive Drive Suite 300 Southaven MS 38672 Telephone: 800-431-2609 This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OVERVIEW Introduction Thank you for purchasing this Scarlett 18i8, one of the family of Focusrite professional computer audio interfaces incorporating high quality Focusrite analogue pre-amplifiers. You now have a compact yet highly versatile solution for routing high quality audio to and from your computer. You can also use the Scarlett 18i8 as a “stand-alone” interface to any other type of recording device, once you have configured it using Scarlett MixControl software.
Box Contents Along with your Scarlett 18i8 you should have: • AC mains adaptor (DC PSU) • USB cable • Getting Started Guide • Software Activation card, with codes for accessing the following on-line resources: – Scarlett MixControl (18i8 edition) – includes Mac/Windows USB drivers – Scarlett Plug-in Suite for Mac and Windows – Ableton Live Lite – LoopMasters sample library – Novation Bass Station System requirements Mac OS Apple Macintosh with a high-speed USB 2.
GETTING STARTED IMPORTANT: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU INSTALL SCARLETT MIXCONTROL BEFORE CONNECTING THE INTERFACE TO YOUR COMPUTER. Software Installation All software required by the Scarlett 18i8 - and several powerful and useful extras - are available for download from the Focusrite website (www.focusrite.com/register). The Software Activation card provided with your Scarlett 18i8 contains validation codes which you will need to enter at the above web address.
HARDWARE FEATURES Front Panel 10 4 8 7 11 5 6 3 1 3 2 9 The Front Panel includes input connectors for Mic, Line and Instrument signals, the input gain and monitoring controls, and sockets for headphones. 1. Inputs 1 and 2 – XLR 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.
. MUTE – push this button to mute Outputs 1 and 2. The button illuminates when MUTE is active. 11. HP 01 and HP 02 – connect one or two pairs of stereo headphones at the two ¼” (6.25 mm) TRS jack sockets below the controls. The headphone outputs always carry the signals that are currently routed to analogue outputs 3/4 and 5/6 (as stereo pairs) in Scarlett MixControl.
Connecting your Scarlett 18i8 IMPORTANT: Before you connect your Scarlett 18i8 to your computer, please complete the software installation according to the instructions on page 8. This will ensure that the hardware uses the correct drivers, and will prevent unexpected behaviour. Power Your Scarlett 18i8 should be powered from an external 12 V DC, 1 A mains adaptor. A suitable adaptor is supplied with the unit. IMPORTANT: We very strongly recommend that you only use the supplied mains adaptor.
Audio Setup in your DAW The Scarlett 18i8 is compatible with any Windows-based DAW that supports ASIO or WDM* or any Mac-based DAW that uses Core Audio. After installing Scarlett MixControl and connecting the hardware, you can start using your Scarlett 18i8 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, Ableton Live Lite is included; this will be available to you once you’ve downloaded and activated your software on-line.
Example of Usage The Scarlett 18i8 is an excellent choice for several different recording and monitoring applications. Some typical configurations are shown below. Connecting microphones and instruments Guitar Bass Guitar Microphones Musician’s individual foldback mixes DI Box 25SL MkII DI Box Stereo Keys DI Box 25SL MkII DI Box Stereo Keys This setup illustrates a configuration for recording a group of musicians with DAW software on Mac or PC.
The front panel input sockets are Combo XLR type, which accept either an XLR male connector (you will probably have one on the end of your microphone cable) or a ¼” (6.35 mm) jack plug. Note the Scarlett 18i8 has no “Mic/line” switch – the Focusrite preamplifier stage is automatically configured for a microphone when you plug an XLR into the input, and for a line or instrument when you connect a jack plug.
Using Direct 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. Latency can be a problem for a performer who wishes to record while monitoring their input signals.
Connecting Scarlett 18i8 to loudspeakers The ¼” MONITOR OUTPUT jacks on the rear panel will normally be used to drive monitoring speakers. Self-powered monitors (e.g., typical computer speakers) incorporate internal amplifiers, 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. POWERED MONITORS AMPLIFIER All the line output connectors are 3-pole (TRS) ¼” (6.
Inputs 1 & 2 on front panel Octopre 8ch Mic Amp Optical ADAT connection (TOSLINK) Computer running DAW and Scarlett Mix Control Up to 16 Mic/Line Sources Using the ADAT connection In addition to the eight analogue inputs, the Scarlett 18i8 has an optical 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.
Using the Scarlett 18i8 as a stand-alone mixer NOTE: This additional Scarlett 18i8 feature is available as a downloadable software update from www.focusrite.com/downloads The Scarlett 18i8 has the ability to store a mix configuration defined in Scarlett MixControl 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.
Scarlett MixControl Scarlett MixControl software allows flexible mixing and routing of all audio signals to the Scarlett 18i8’s physical audio outputs, as well as control of output monitor levels. All sample rate selection, digital syncing and buffer size settings (Windows only) are available from Scarlett MixControl. Note: Scarlett MixControl is a generic product, and may be used with other hardware interfaces in the Focusrite Scarlett range.
Mixer Scarlett MixControl lets you create up to 8 mono or 4 stereo mixes, each of which may have up to 18 input channels. A combination of mono and stereo mixes, up to the maximum of 8 mono-equivalent, is also permissible. Each mix may be formed from any of the Scarlett 18i8’s inputs and/or up to 8 DAW tracks, and each mix may be sent to any number of outputs. All mixer controls are independent for each mix. The Mixer Section is used to create mixes for monitoring and foldback purposes.
Input Channel Two mixer input channels are shown below. The controls available on the input channels are as follows: Audio Source Select This is the button at the top of the channel strip; when no source is selected to the channel, it will display Off. Clicking the button offers two lists: Inputs and DAW; selecting Inputs opens a list of all the available Scarlett 18i8 inputs, and selecting DAW opens a list of all the available DAW outputs. Any input not available is greyed-out.
Input Channels Pan Control Fader Meter Stereo PFL Mute Solo Channel Names Pan Control If the mix has been defined as a stereo one (see page 24), the Pan control (in the form of a slider) positions the channel signal in the stereo image, i.e., the signal is faded between two audio outputs such as monitor L and R. In the case of a stereo channel, setting the Pan control fully left mutes the right channel, and viceversa.
Clip light The meter is colour coded; if the red portion at the top illuminates, the signal level is too high and digital clipping may occur. This can sound very unpleasant and should be avoided at all times! You will need to reduce the signal level either at source in the case of DAW tracks, external digital inputs or analogue inputs 5 to 8, or by adjusting the GAIN controls on the Scarlett 18i8 in the case of analogue inputs 1 to 4.
Output Channel All the input channels are mixed together and routed to the output channel of the mixer. The output channel lets you control the overall level of the entire mix. (Remember there is a separate output channel for each.) An output channel is mono by default; stereo operation may be selected by clicking its Stereo button. When the output channel is stereo, you will note that the tab for the mix doubles in size.
Routing Section The Routing Section is where you determine how the various audio sources available in both the Scarlett 18i8 and Scarlett MixControl are to be routed to the Scarlett 18i8’s physical outputs. Each of the Scarlett 18i8’s physical outputs is listed, and the audio signal to be sent to that output may be selected from the drop-down menu which appears when the button to the left of that output is clicked.
Routing Presets As Scarlett MixControl permits such great flexibility in routing possibilities, Routing Presets are provided to help you with making your routing and mixer set-ups. Using Presets enables you to set up your routing quickly for recording (monitoring your inputs); mixing (sending signals out to outboard processors or external mixer). Clicking the Routing Preset… button opens a list from which a further selection may be made; each of the options is described below.
Monitor Section The signal levels at the monitor outputs and line outputs are adjusted in Scarlett MixControl’s Monitor Section. You can configure the software so that the on-screen MONITOR control will set the overall monitoring volume via the desired analogue outputs. Alternatively, the MONITOR control can be disabled for specific outputs; e.g.
When the button is blue, the level of the line output is controlled by the GUI monitor section. When the button is red, - the line output is muted. W hen the button is grey, the level at the line output is fixed at full volume and is not controlled by the GUI monitor section. WARNING: The ‘grey’ state should be selected when a line output is to be used to drive external processors. Note that in this state, the signal routed to that output will be at full level.
Monitor level control knob et the output level of all selected outputs with this control, using the mouse. The S numeric display below shows the current monitor output level. Dim Attenuates the monitor output level by 18 dB. Mute Mutes all monitor outputs. Left Mute switch Mutes all odd-numbered outputs. Right Mute switch Mutes all even-numbered outputs. Mono switch S ums (combines) the odd- and even-numbered output signals in pairs. The summed signals are then sent to both outputs of each pair.
Device Status section The Device Status section displays information about the sample rate, synchronisation and driver status of the Scarlett 18i8. The sample rate and sync source can also be set here. Sample Rate display This displays the sample rate currently in use by the Scarlett 18i8. To change the sample rate, click on the red displayed value and select 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz from the list.
Settings Menu The Settings... button is only available on the Windows version of Scarlett MixControl. It allows you set the size of the ASIO buffer. This option lets you set the buffer size of your ASIO driver. A small buffer size will in result in lower latency, but at the expense of increased CPU usage. A high buffer size will result in higher latency, but lower CPU usage.
File Menu The File menus differ slightly between Mac and Windows versions of Scarlett MixControl. • • • • • Open - opens a File Open dialogue box, allowing selection of any previously saved Scarlett MixControl mix data. Save - opens a File Save dialogue box, allowing selection of a location to which your Scarlett MixControl mix data can be saved. Subsequent Saves overwrite the original file. Save As - opens a File Save As dialogue box.
Scarlett 18i8 Performance Specifications Configuration Inputs 18: analogue (8), S/PDIF (2) , ADAT (8) Outputs 8: analogue (6), S/PDIF (2) Mixer Fully assignable 18-in/8-out Digital Performance A-D Dynamic Range 103 dB CCIR-RMS (all inputs) D-A Dynamic Range 104 dB CCIR-RMS (line outputs) Supported sample rates 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz & 96 kHz Clock jitter <250 ps Microphone Inputs Frequency Response ±0.5 dB @ 20 Hz, ±0.1 dB @ 20 kHz; min.
Physical and Electrical Characteristics Analogue Inputs 1 & 2 Connectors XLR Combo: Mic/Line/Inst, on front panel Mic/Line switching Automatic Line/Instrument switching Via software from Scarlett MixControl Phantom power Shared +48 V phantom power switch for inputs 1 and 2 Analogue Inputs 3 & 4 Connectors XLR Combo: Mic/Line, on front panel Mic/Line switching Automatic Phantom power Shared +48 V phantom power switch for inputs 3 and 4 Analogue Inputs 5 & 8 Connectors 4 x balanced ¼” TRS jacks
Troubleshooting For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Answerbase at www.focusrite.com/answerbase where you will find articles covering numerous troubleshooting examples. COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES Focusrite is a registered trade mark and Scarlett 18i8 is a trade mark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All other trade marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. 2013 © Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved.
