Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 User Guide

User Guide

FFFA001411-01

www.focusrite.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW..................................................................... 3

Introduction .................................................................3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Box Contents ................................................................4

System requirements .........................................................4

Mac OS X ......................................................................4

Windows ......................................................................4

GETTING STARTED .............................................................5

Software Installation ..........................................................5

HARDWARE FEATURES.......................................................... 6

Front Panel..................................................................6

Rear Panel ..................................................................8

Connecting your Scarlett 18i8 ..................................................9

Power ........................................................................9

USB ..........................................................................9

Mac OS X only ..................................................................9

Windows only ..................................................................9

Audio Setup in your DAW .....................................................10

Example of Usage ...........................................................12

Connecting microphones and instruments .........................................12

Low Latency Monitoring ........................................................13

Connecting Scarlett 18i8 to loudspeakers ..........................................15

Using the ADAT connection ......................................................16

Using the Scarlett 18i8 as a stand-alone mixer......................................17

FOCUSRITE CONTROL ..........................................................18

SPECIFICATIONS .............................................................. 20

Performance Speciﬁcations ...................................................20

Physical and Electrical Characteristics ..........................................22

TROUBLESHOOTING ...........................................................23

OVERVIEW

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this Second Generation Scarlett 18i8, 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. 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 Focusrite Control.

Focusrite Control, and several other exciting and useful software applications, can be downloaded free of charge once you have registered your product. Note that a separate Focusrite Control User Guide is also available; we strongly recommend that you download this as well.

In developing the Second Generation series of Scarlett interfaces, we have enhanced both the performance and feature set including support for sample rates up to 192 kHz, improved mic preamp performance with low noise and plenty of gain, and upgraded instrument inputs with additional headroom for recording the loudest guitar parts without clipping.

Your Second Generation Scarlett interface is compatible with the new Focusrite Control software application: this lets you control various hardware features, set up monitor mixes and conﬁgure routings. There is a Focusrite Control installer for both Mac and Windows platforms, and no driver is required for Macs. The Windows version of the installer contains the driver, so in either case, you only need to install Focusrite Control to get up and running.

This User Guide provides a detailed explanation of the hardware to help you achieve a thorough understanding of the product’s operational features. We recommend that you take the time to read through the user guide, whether you’re new to computer-based recording or a more experienced user, so that you are fully aware of all the possibilities that the Scarlett 18i8 and accompanying software have to offer. If the main User Guide sections do not provide the information you need, be sure to consult https://support.focusrite.com/, which contains a comprehensive collection of answers to common technical support queries.

Features

The Scarlett 18i8 audio interface provides the means for connecting microphones, musical instruments, line level audio signals and digital audio signals in both ADAT and S/PDIF formats to a computer running compatible versions of Mac OS X or Windows via one of the computer’s USB ports. The signals at the physical inputs can be routed to your audio recording software / digital audio workstation (referred to throughout this user guide as the “DAW”) at up to 24-bit, 192 kHz resolution; similarly, the DAW’s monitor or recorded output signals can be conﬁgured to appear at the unit’s physical outputs.

The outputs can be connected to ampliﬁers and speakers, powered monitors, headphones, an audio mixer or any other analogue or digital audio equipment that you wish to use. Although all inputs and outputs on the Scarlett 18i8 are routed directly to and from your DAW for recording and playback, you can conﬁgure the routing within your DAW in order to meet your precise needs.

The accompanying software application, Focusrite Control, provides further routing and monitoring options, as well as the ability to control global hardware settings such as sample rate and synchronisation.

All inputs on the Scarlett 18i8 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 18i8 also has connectors for sending and receiving MIDI data; this lets you use it as a MIDI “hub” between your computer’s USB port and other items of MIDI equipment in your system.

Box Contents

Along with your Scarlett 18i8 you should ﬁnd:

• Bundle code* for accessing the following on-line resources:

- Focusrite Control (also available from www.focusrite.com/downloads)

- Focusrite Red 2 & 3 Plug-in Suite

- Softube Time and Tone bundle

- ProTools | First

- Ableton Live Lite

- LoopMasters sample library

- Novation Bass station

- Multi-language User Guides for both Scarlett 18i8 and Focusrite Control

• USB cable

• Getting Started Guide and Important Safety Information*

* information printed on the inside of the gift box

System requirements

Mac OS X

Apple Macintosh with a USB 2.0 or 3.0-compliant USB port and an Internet connection* OS: Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) or OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)**

Windows

Windows compatible computer with a USB 2.0 or 3.0-compliant USB port and an Internet connection* OS: Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit), 8.1 and 10**

* Internet connection required for downloading on-line resources.

** System requirements are subject to change. Please check the following link for compatibility details: www.focusrite.com/downloads/os

GETTING STARTED

For an in depth video tutorial, plea se go to focusrite. com/get-started

IMPORTANT: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU INSTALL FOCUSRITE CONTROL BEFORE

CONNECTING THE INTERFACE TO YOUR COMPUTER.

NOTE THAT THE SECOND GENERATION SCARLETT 18i8 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 18i8 - and several powerful and useful extras - are available for download from the Focusrite website (www.focusrite.com/register). You will ﬁnd a “Bundle Code” printed on the inside of the box your Scarlett 18i8 comes in, and the Serial number can be found on the underside of the unit. You will need to enter these when you access the downloads area of the website; this procedure ensures that you will have the most up-to-date software versions.

DOWNLOADING THE INCLUDE D SOFTWARE

To download the included soft ware, you will need to register your Sca rlett 18i8 at focusrite.com /register

You will need the product serial number, found on th e bottom of your 18i8 hardware.

Once you have entered the seri al number, you will be asked to enter your BUND LE CODE, found below:

PRODUCT BUNDLE CODE XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX

Pour obtenir des instructions en Français sur la façon de commencer, veuillez-vous rendre sur focusrite.com/downloads

Für eine Kurzanleitung zum s chnellen Start in deutscher Sp rache besuche bitte focusrite.c om/downloads

Para la guía de inicio en E spañol, diríjase a focu srite.com/download s

所有使用说明中文版,请上网站: focusrite.c om/downloads

日本語での説明書はこちら： focusrite.com/download s

시작 방법에 관한 한국어 가이드는 focusrite.com /downloads 에서 찾으실 수 있습니다

1. Using your usual browser, go to www.focusrite.com/register/.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions, entering the Serial number and then the Bundle Code (XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX) into the form where prompted. Your Bundle Code is printed on the inside of the gift box.

3. You will then be able to access the “My Products” page, where Focusrite Control and the other software products to which your registration entitles you are available for download, complete with activation codes where applicable.

4. Download and install the Focusrite Control version (Mac or Windows) appropriate for your computer. Follow all on-screen instructions.

5. When the installation is complete, restart your computer.

6. After restart, connect the Scarlett 18i8 to your computer with the USB cable supplied.

This information is accurate as of May 2016, however we are constantly striving to improve the customer experience and as a result this process is subject to change. If anything appears to have changed please refer to www.focusrite.com/get-started for the latest info.

HARDWARE FEATURES

Front Panel

2 11

10 78

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. Inputs 3 and 4 – XLR Combo type input sockets – as [1], but accept mic or line level signals only. Direct connection of instruments should be via Inputs 1 and/or 2.

3. 48V – two switches enabling 48 V phantom power at the XLR contacts (mic inputs) of the Combo connectors, in pairs (1 & 2; 3 & 4). The switch illuminates when phantom power is selected.

4. GAIN 1 and GAIN 4 – adjust the input gain for the signals at Inputs 1 to 4 respectively. The gain controls have concentric bi-colour LED ‘rings’ to conﬁrm signal level: green indicates an input level of at least -24 dBFS (i.e., ‘signal present’), the ring then turns red when signal level reaches 0 dBFS.

5. INST – the input conﬁguration for the jack contacts at Inputs 1 and 2 can be selected via software from Focusrite Control. The green LEDs illuminate when INST is selected. With INST selected, the gain range and input impedance are altered (relative to LINE), and the input is made unbalanced. This optimises it for the direct connection of instruments (usually via a 2-pole (TS) jack plug). When INST is off, the inputs are suitable for the connection of line level signals. Line level signals may be connected either in balanced form via a 3-pole (TRS) jack or unbalanced, via a 2-pole (TS) jack.

6. PAD – a 10 dB pad may be inserted in each of the four analogue input signal paths; these are controlled via software from Focusrite Control. The pad increases the headroom of the input stage, and should be used to reduce mic or line level signals which are ‘too hot’ (i.e., when the gain halo is turning red while at minimum gain). It is not intended for use with the Instrument inputs. The red LEDs illuminate when PAD is selected.

8. MIDI LED – a green LED illuminates when MIDI data is received at the MIDI IN port.

9. MONITOR – main monitor output level control – this is an analogue control and adjusts the

10. MUTE – push this button to mute Outputs 1 and 2. The button illuminates when MUTE is

11. – connect one or two pairs of stereo headphones at the two ¼” (6.25 mm) TRS jack sockets

USB LED – a green LED which illuminates when the unit is recognised by the computer

to which it is connected.

level at Outputs 1 and 2 on the rear panel.

active.

below the headphone volume controls 1 and 2. The headphone outputs always carry the signals that are currently routed to analogue outputs 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 respectively (as stereo pairs) in Focusrite Control.

Rear Panel

13 1920

13141516

12. LINE INPUTS 5 to 8 – the inputs are balanced, on ¼” (6.35 mm) jack sockets. Connect further line level sources here, using either ¼” TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) jack plugs.

13. MONITOR OUTPUTS 1 and 2 – two balanced analogue line outputs on ¼” (6.35 mm) jack sockets; use TRS jacks for a balanced connection or TS jacks for unbalanced. These will generally be used for driving the main L and R speakers of your monitoring system; however, the signals at the outputs may be deﬁned in Focusrite Control.

14. OPTICAL INPUT – TOSLINK connector able to carry eight channels of digital audio in ADAT format at 44.1/48 kHz sample rate or four channels at 88.2/96 kHz. These are simply additional inputs (11 to 18) to the Scarlett 18i8. Note that the optical input is disabled when sample rates of 176.4/192 kHz are in use.

15.

USB 2.0 port – Type B connector; connect the Scarlett 18i8 to your computer with the

cable supplied.

16. MIDI IN and MIDI OUT – standard 5-pin DIN sockets for connection of external MIDI equipment. The Scarlett 18i8 acts as a “Break-out (and Break-in) Box”, allowing MIDI data to/from your computer to be distributed to additional MIDI devices.

17. SPDIF IN and OUT – two phono (RCA) sockets carrying two-channel digital audio signals in and out of the Scarlett 18i8 in S/PDIF format. These are essentially Inputs 9 and 10 and Outputs 7 and 8 to/from the unit. Like all the other inputs and outputs, signals at these connectors may be routed in Focusrite Control.

18. External DC power input – power the Scarlett 18i8 via the separate AC adaptor (PSU) supplied with the unit. Note that the Scarlett 18i8 cannot be powered via its USB port from the host computer.

19. Power On/Off switch.

20. K (Kensington security lock) – secure your Scarlett 18i8 to a suitable structure if desired. Please see www.kensington.com/kensington/us/us/s/1704/kensington-security-slot.aspx for further information on how to use this feature.

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