Focusrite’s Scarlett 2i4 ($249.99 MSRP/$199.99 street; available October 2012) is the latest in the company’s series of USB 2 bus-powered interfaces (including when using phantom power) designed for Mac and PC. Scarlett 2i4 is packaged in an elegant, rugged unibody aluminium chassis and features a pair of Focusrite’s award-winning mic pre’s with mic, line and high-impedance instrument inputs.
Scarlett 2i4 has converters with up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution and delivers a dynamic range in excess of 105 dB on record and playback. It also has dual TRS/XLR front panel inputs, and LED ring/halo indicators around the input knobs for setting optimum input levels.
Scarlett 2i4 shares several features with the existing 2i2 model, with the addition of two more outputs and enhanced zero-latency monitoring, making it possible for an engineer to create separate monitor and artist mixes, or a DJ to cue up mixes while sending the main mix to a house mixer. With high recording quality and phantom-power capability, Scarlett 2i4 is designed for recording instrument-and-vocal or stereo pairs. Inputs include a switched 10dB pad.
Monitoring controls feature a single large knob for monitor level plus a blend control mixing the input signal with the DAW output, with the ability to monitor either pair of outputs. The input monitor can be switched to mono. The interface also includes MIDI In and Out.
Watch Focusrite’s YouTube video “Scarlett 2i4 audio interface promo.”
Find more information at us.focusrite.com/scarlett-2i4.