Guitar Gear Forum

I am looking at the 2i2 and 2i4. Obviously, there is a difference and the price isn't crazy between the 2. I just want to get my guitar signal in to my computer and start messing with sims like BIAS. I'm straight n00b with this. Got tips?

Go for the 2i4 since it has the built-in input pad. The 2i2 clips really easily (even with pickups that aren't high output) in the instrument input mode. Unless you already have a DI box, then you could use that with the 2i2 and save a little bit of money.

If I had only waited like 10 more minutes...Cancelling my 2i2 order lol.

As a 2i2 owner, I would definitely go a bit bigger. I would've like a couple more ins and outs on it.

I'd go for the Presonus iTwo, since it works really well with a DI'd guitar.

None. Get a Steinberg.

I came close on the 2i4 but I lost on an ebay auction by $2! So, instead of $106, the next buy it now would have been $140ish. I didn't like that number so I bought thr 2i2 and a behringer DI box for a grand total of $90. Gonna buy BIAS and start to have some fucking fun

I finally decided to get the Scarlett 18i8 since my m audio ultra bit the dust a while back. Can't wait for it to arrive as its been too long without recording interface. Having the 4 channels with mic pre's like my m audio did was something i wanted to keep as its useful to have even though most of the time i'd use 2 channels or just 1. This one actually has 2 more line ins then the m audio which is a nice bonus if i ever wanted to record more channels. Hopefully, it works well with my PC set up. I will be certain to post review and some clips once i get it and set up up.

Years ago i had a presonus firebox (firewire interface and 2 mic pre inputs) which was decent but at 1st had major driver issues that took lot of troubleshooting with uninstalling and reinstalling etc but eventually got it working good. I had windows vista at he time so that could have been part of the trouble setting up (now i have win 7).

Got the 18i8 , installed and all went well. Only played around a little so far(set it up about an hour ago). Using it for my main soundcard now. Few initial observations.

In comparison to the m audio, i like the big main monitor level knob on this which also is much smoother. THe mute button right next to it can be handy. The peak indicators on the 4 mic pre amps is nice feature. The two separate phantom power switches is rather then having phantom power applied to all i guess is a good thing but never had problem with the former. One thing i miss is the individual channel mute buttons but you can mute then via software so i guess just had gotten used to having the switches on the interface. This unit is more compact width wise which is actually a nice bonus on my desk. It also feels like a more solid unit compared to the m audio but time will tell if how it will stand up.

The sound quality from playback of audio definitely is improved over using my computer built in soundcard for which i had been using 1/8 stereo to rca jacks to my krk rp5's. With this unit like my m audio i'm using cable thats a 1/4" balanced from interface to xlr balanced to each speaker. The sound quality improvement is definitely noticeable. It's been too long since my m audio has been dead to correctly remember to compare sound quality from that but i'm sure this is comparable or better.

I only tried quick recording test with condenser mic and acoustic guitar to verify its working with audacity and it is. I will record some stuff later this week and post some samples and later on post better review once i have had more time actually using it for recording.

Well here clip recorded with new interface. Basically just played along to backing track of walk this way by aerosmith (run dmc version) that had no guitars twice to get two guitar tracks and then just mixed them including panning the right panned guitar center for lead parts added little stereo delay, hi pass filter, etc. Audacity is program i recorded with. Its funny at the song seemed to end soon then expected as i was expecting the outro section to go on much longer.

I also recorded pandoras box (aerosmith) too so could upload clip of that too.

https://hearthis.at/yw3cbrj7/walkthiswayrundmcjamclips/

In summary, I like this recording interface a lot and glad i got it. Not sure why i waited so long to get it but took a while to decide which one to get. This focusrite scarlett is definitely on par with the M audio i had previously. Let me know if there are any questions the interface.

Here are some clips from the recording of Pandoras box by aerosmith. Recorded in similar way, two play through of the whole song and then mixing, panning, added some panned delay at parts and hi pass filters... On this one the only backing is Tom Hamilton's bass track from the original studio version on Get Your Wings album.

My playing is a bit sloppy on this especially near the end time wise but i was too lazy to rerecord any of it (2 full go throughs to get the 2 guitar tracks was enough and it was right on to the mixing)

https://hearthis.at/yw3cbrj7/pandorasboxjamclips/

Markdude wrote:Go for the 2i4 since it has the built-in input pad. The 2i2 clips really easily (even with pickups that aren't high output) in the instrument input mode. Unless you already have a DI box, then you could use that with the 2i2 and save a little bit of money.

^^^
Amen to this! If I was a pecker head, Id lie & say theres a workaround, & buy my 2i2! But nope. Its fine for mics, but not for direct.