Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 User Guide

User Guide

Version 1.0

www.focusrite.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick Start Tool ..............................................................5

Mac users only .................................................................5

Windows only ..................................................................7

All users ......................................................................9

Manual Registration.............................................................9

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

Loopback Inputs...............................................................11

Examples of Usage ..........................................................12

Connecting a microphone or instrument...........................................12

Using Direct Monitoring.........................................................13

Connecting Scarlett 4i4 to loudspeakers ...........................................13

Creating an effects loop.........................................................15

Connecting Scarlett 4i4 to a DJ mixer .............................................16

HARDWARE FEATURES.........................................................17

Front Panel.................................................................17

Back Panel .................................................................18

CHANNEL LISTINGS ...........................................................19

Performance Speciﬁcations ...................................................19

Physical and Electrical Characteristics ..........................................21

TROUBLESHOOTING ...........................................................22

OVERVIEW

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this Third Generation Scarlett 4i4, one of the family of Focusrite professional computer audio interfaces incorporating high quality Focusrite analogue preamps. You now have a simple and compact solution for routing high quality audio to and from your computer and you will also be able to download some exciting new software plug-ins once you’ve registered the product.

In developing the Third Generation series of Scarlett interfaces, we have made further improvements to both performance and features. Audio speciﬁcations have been upgraded throughout the unit to give you greater dynamic range and even lower noise and distortion; additionally, the mic preamp now accepts higher input levels. An important enhancement is the inclusion of Focusrite’s AIR function. Individually selectable on Inputs 1 and 2, AIR subtly modiﬁes the preamp’s frequency response to model the sonic characteristics of our classic transformer-based ISA microphone preamps. When recording with good quality microphones, you will notice an enhanced clarity and deﬁnition in the important mid to high frequency range, just where it is most needed for vocals and many acoustic instruments. Third Generation Scarlett interfaces are class compliant on macOS: this means they are plug-and-play, so no need to install a driver if you are a Mac user.

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 both users who are new to computer-based recording, as well as more experienced users, take the time to read through the User Guide so that you are fully aware of all the possibilities that the Scarlett 4i4 and accompanying software has 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 4i4 hardware interface provides the means for connecting microphones, musical instruments or line level audio signals to a computer running Mac OS or Windows. 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 will appear at the unit’s physical outputs.

Audio sources – mics, instruments, etc. - connected to the physical inputs can be recorded in the DAW and then routed from your DAW to the physical outputs. The 4i4 is equipped with four audio output channels, which can be connected to an ampliﬁer and speakers, powered monitors, headphones, DJ or other type of analogue mixer, or any other analogue audio equipment that you wish to use. Although all inputs and outputs on the Scarlett 4i4 are routed directly to and from your DAW for recording and playback, you can conﬁgure the routing within the 4i4’s accompanying Focusrite Control application in order to meet your needs. The 4i4 also acts as a convenient MIDI interface between your computer and other MIDI equipment.

For DJs, the four analogue outputs make it possible to have a stereo master output and a headphone cue channel when mixing internally on a laptop; alternatively you have two separate stereo outputs at your disposal for connection to an analogue DJ mixer.

Box Contents

Along with your Scarlett 4i4 you should ﬁnd:

• USB cable, Type ‘A’ to Type ‘C’

• Getting Started Information (printed on inside of box lid)

• Important Safety Information

System requirements

The easiest way to check that your computer’s operating system (OS) is compatible with the Scarlett 4i4 is to use our online OS Checker at https://customer.focusrite.com/downloads/os. As new OS versions become available over time, you can continue to check for futher compatibility information by searching our Help Centre at https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb.

GETTING STARTED

With the Third Generation, Scarlett interfaces introduce a new, faster way of getting up and running, using the Scarlett Quick Start tool. All you need to do is connect your Scarlett 4i4 to your computer. Once connected, you will see that the device is recognised by your PC or Mac and the Quick Start tool will guide you through the process from there.

IMPORTANT: The Scarlett 4i4 has a single USB 2.0 Type C port (on the rear panel): connect

it to your computer using the USB cable provided. Note that Scarlett 4i4 is a USB 2.0 device,

and thus the USB connection requires a USB 2.0+ compliant port on your computer.

The Scarlett 4i4 gets its power from your computer via the USB connection: there is no need

for a separate power supply. However, we do recommend that when using it with a laptop,

the laptop should be powered using its AC adaptor, as otherwise the battery will run down

faster than when powering the laptop alone.

Your computer will initially treat your Scarlett as a Mass Storage Device (MSD), and during its ﬁ rst connection, the Scarlett will be in “MSD Mode”

Quick Start Tool

We have tried to make registering your Scarlett 4i4 as simple as possible. The procedure will probably be self explanatory, but we have described each step below, so you can see how they should appear on either a PC or a Mac.

Mac users only:

On connecting your Scarlett 4i4 to your Mac, a Scarlett icon will appear on the desktop:

Double-click on the icon to open the Finder window shown below:

Double-click on the “Click Here to Get Started.url” icon. This will redirect you to the Focusrite website, where we recommend that you register your device:

Click on “Let’s get you started”, and you’ll be presented with a form which will be partly preﬁ lled for you automatically. On submitting the form, options will be presented to either go straight to the downloads area to get the software for your Scarlett, or to follow a step by step setup guide based on your choices. Once you have installed the Focusrite Control software to setup and conﬁ gure your interface, the Scarlett will be switched out of MSD mode so that it no longer appears as a Mass Storage Device when connected to your computer.

Your OS should automatically switch the computer’s default audio inputs and outputs to the Scarlett 4i4. To verify this, go to System Preferences > Sound, and ensure that the input and output are set to Scarlett 4i4. For more detailed setup options on a Mac, open Applications > Utilities >

Audio MIDI Setup.

Windows only:

On connecting your Scarlett 4i4 to your PC, a Scarlett icon will appear on the desktop:

(Note that the drive letter may be something other than E:, depending on what other devices you have connected to your PC).

Double-click on the pop-up message to open the dialogue box shown below:

Double-click on “Open folder to view ﬁ les”: this will open an Explorer window:

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