Focusrite has announced the launch and worldwide availability of the 2nd generation of Scarlett, the world's best-selling family of USB audio interfaces.
Although the number of inputs and outputs on each model will remain the same, the 2nd-generation Scarletts are packed with new features and improvements, notably enhanced USB performance, with latency figures as low as 2.47 ms.*
Made up of six interfaces and two studio packs, the Scarlett range offers configurations ranging from the two inputs, two outputs and single preamp of the Scarlett Solo to the 18 inputs / 20 outputs of the rackmount Scarlett 18i20. Design improvements, such as the new metal gain controls and the elegant new red metal chassis, are easy to spot at first glance. But beyond the purely cosmetic changes, the new Scarletts feature numerous internal improvements.
The new Scarlett mic preamp design offers a more even gain structure, and the instrument input has been completely redesigned, offering more headroom and the ability to handle the signal from the wildest guitar pickups. The new Scarletts feature analog protection circuitry on both inputs and outputs, which protects them from possible power surges. In addition, the second-generation Scarlett interfaces can operate at sample rates of up to 192 kHz.
Following the announcement of the Focusrite - Avid® partnership, the 2nd-generation Scarlett interfaces will ship with Avid Pro Tools® | First. Under the name Focusrite Creative Pack, all Scarlett interfaces now include a powerful software bundle made up of a free license for Pro Tools (the market-leading music production software), plus a dozen additional plugins, including the exceptional guitar amp emulations of Eleven® Lite and the classic delays and echoes of Echo.
Going forward, Focusrite and Avid will continue to work closely together to ensure that all the new Scarlett interfaces are compatible with every new version of Pro Tools and to guarantee an unbeatable user experience. With the inclusion of the Focusrite Creative Pack and Pro Tools | First, the new Scarletts become the perfect companions for Pro Tools. The new Scarletts' software bundle also includes Ableton Live Lite, Softube's Time and Tone Bundle and the Focusrite Red Plug-In Suite, as well as 2 GB of samples and sounds from Loopmasters.
The USB bus-powered 2nd-generation Scarlett interfaces will be available immediately, while the new Scarlett 6i6, 18i8 and 18i20 will hit the market later, during the same month of June. Scarlett interfaces are PC and Mac compatible and integrate seamlessly with all the most popular DAW environments.
*Round-trip latency loop (2.74 ms) measured at 96 kHz under Mac OS 10.11, with a Mac Pro / Logic Pro X and a buffer size of 32 samples.
Main features of the range
- New Scarlett preamps, with a more linear gain structure for more precise level setting.
- High-quality conversion up to 24-bit / 192 kHz and real dynamic range of up to 109 dB.
- Ultra-low latency: you can now play and record with real-time effects without the need for DSP.
- Redesigned instrument inputs, capable of handling very high signal levels.
- Focusrite Creative Pack, with Pro Tools | First and 12 additional plugins.
- Enhanced software bundle, with Ableton Live Lite and Softube Time and Tone Bundle
- Mac and PC compatible, and compatible with the market's leading DAWs.
