Focusrite Scarlett 2i2/4i4

P

Paolo86

New member
Hello Everybody

Question about the 2i2 or 4i4 from focusrite.
Can I listen to the signal from the line in as well as from the USB interface over the speakers and over the headphones?
I now have a Behringer Q502USB and there I cannot listen to the Line in through the headphones, only through the speakers.
 
Yes, you can listen to both at the same time. During recording I normally turn the fader for the track that is record armed all the way down since this controls the output level and prevents having to listen to the direct sound and the delayed sound from the DAW channel that is armed
 
ok thanx! what kind of cables would you recommend?
The output of my nordstage 3 are unbalanced. The input of the 4i4, just like the output, and the input of the speakers are balanced.
My idea is unbalanced cable between the piano and the 4i4 and a balanced one between the 4i4 and the speakers (rokit 4)
 
Paolo86 said:
ok thanx! what kind of cables would you recommend?
The output of my nordstage 3 are unbalanced. The input of the 4i4, just like the output, and the input of the speakers are balanced.
My idea is unbalanced cable between the piano and the 4i4 and a balanced one between the 4i4 and the speakers (rokit 4)
Click to expand...
Yes, that is correct. TS (tip screen) 1/4 jack plug cables from Nord to interface and TRS 1/4" cables to the monitors.
I note that the Nord has a 3 pin IEC power connector. What is the power plug on the monitors (but I shall look soon)
I ask because there is a possibility of a ground (aka 'hum' or 'earth') loop but we can tackle that issue if it arises.

Are you interested in the MIDI capability of the keyboard? If so you have two option. USB keys to PC or DIN to DIN cables keys in and out of the 4i4. I doubt there is any performance difference. There might be an operational advantage in having both MIDI and audio handled by the interface?

Dave.
 
the speakers have the same power plug as the nordstage 3
I have a slight hum in my speakers and actually assume that this is due to the simple behringer q502usb. That's why I want to buy a scarlet 4i4.
 
Gtoboy said:
Yes, you can listen to both at the same time. During recording I normally turn the fader for the track that is record armed all the way down since this controls the output level and prevents having to listen to the direct sound and the delayed sound from the DAW channel that is armed
Click to expand...
In most DAWs, you can turn off input monitoring, either on the individual track or globally. To do it globally in Reaper, you go to Options -> Preferences -> Track/Send Defaults -> Record config.

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The new one will probably hum the same - You probably have a ground issue. disconnect the speakers, plug in headphones. Any hum? If there is, it cul;d be coming from the keyboard to the interface section, but if it goes with speakers disconnected then you make up a specially wired cable to the balanced in of the speakers and the problem will go away.
 
When I plug the headphones into my Nord Stage there is no hum. If I disconnect the cables from the line out, the hum over the speakers is also gone. Could it be the cables I have in the nordstage?
 
Paolo86 said:
the speakers have the same power plug as the nordstage 3
I have a slight hum in my speakers and actually assume that this is due to the simple behringer q502usb. That's why I want to buy a scarlet 4i4.
Click to expand...
You are confusing this old brain Paolo! You don't have the 4i4 as yet? If that is the case I therefore suggest you get a slightly more expensive interface, one with two extra line inputs. I would suggest the Native Instruments KA6 or even better (in some ways) the MOTU M4 but there is a Focusrite model that will suit, I just don't have the model # to hand atmo. I have an old 8i6 which would be ideal but I think that model has been dropped? These interfaces would allow the keyboard to go in via two fixed gain inputs on the back (could come via the wee mixer*) but leave the front, mic/line/instru inputs free for other uses.

Of course, you COULD go totally bat crap crazy and get an interface with 16 inputs or more if you wanted! Maybe not but it is always good to take a mo' to think about what you might want to do in the future? Got any mates who might want to jam and sing?

The hum is almost certainly due to a hum loop and mains powered, earthed monitors, perhaps THE most common cause of hum. Two basic solutions:
1) Disconnect the screen from the jack plugs one end of each cable.
2) Buy a transformer isolation box such as the Art Cleanbox 2. (plus two more short cables)

I know I am suggesting you spend more money but this is often how it goes when you first get into music recording, Indeed! Some people never stop spending, looking for that elusive device that will give then that 'magic' mojo. Avoid that bug if you can. The gear you have mentioned is capable of truly great results.


*Behringer have been given plenty of stick for many things but I can assure you their mixers don't hum!


Dave.
 
Heads up regarding the Focusrite's line inputs! I've got the 8i6, and only discovered after getting it and hooking my keyboard's line outputs to it that the volume level is too low to use - yes, it can record, but very hard to monitor against other tracks. I ended up putting a small Behr mixer in between the keyboard and 8i6 to boost the volume up to a usable range.
 
mjbphotos said:
Heads up regarding the Focusrite's line inputs! I've got the 8i6, and only discovered after getting it and hooking my keyboard's line outputs to it that the volume level is too low to use - yes, it can record, but very hard to monitor against other tracks. I ended up putting a small Behr mixer in between the keyboard and 8i6 to boost the volume up to a usable range.
Click to expand...
Mike, have you investigated the Mix Control for your 8i6? I am pretty sure there is either a gain boost for the 3/4 inputs or perhaps a pad that has been engaged?
I have a Mk1 8i6 that I don't use now but when I did I tried to get to grips with that software but it was a struggle.

I then got the KA6. Exactly the same I/O, not as flexible but VASTLY simpler to use!
 
ecc83 said:
Mike, have you investigated the Mix Control for your 8i6? I am pretty sure there is either a gain boost for the 3/4 inputs or perhaps a pad that has been engaged?
I have a Mk1 8i6 that I don't use now but when I did I tried to get to grips with that software but it was a struggle.

I then got the KA6. Exactly the same I/O, not as flexible but VASTLY simpler to use!
Click to expand...
Volume sliders are maxed out, there is no pad on the line inputs. Wondering if it is due to the impedance - the 8i6 line ins are 44 kOhm, but I see the front inputs when put into line mode are 60kOhm, and in instrument mode 1.5 MOhm. One other thing, I just noticed the line ins are balanced TRS, my keyboard outputs are not balanced, so I used standard TS cables (and that's what I am using from the mixer, which also has unbalanced outputs).
 
mjbphotos said:
Volume sliders are maxed out, there is no pad on the line inputs. Wondering if it is due to the impedance - the 8i6 line ins are 44 kOhm, but I see the front inputs when put into line mode are 60kOhm, and in instrument mode 1.5 MOhm. One other thing, I just noticed the line ins are balanced TRS, my keyboard outputs are not balanced, so I used standard TS cables (and that's what I am using from the mixer, which also has unbalanced outputs).
Click to expand...
Won't be an impedance issue Mike the in Z would have to be 1k or lower to make a difference. Keyboard outs are rarely balanced and if they were would almost certainly run at +4dBu (1.2V) whereas most kbds seem to be down at -10dBV 3i6mV?

If you did want to ditch the mixer you could get a pair of line sending transformers from OEP? A one to three step up would give you about another 10dB of signal plus it would be balanced (noice lil' projjy in a pretty tin!) I assume the run from the keys to the AI or mixer is not far?

Dave.
 
ecc83 said:
If you did want to ditch the mixer you could get a pair of line sending transformers from OEP? A one to three step up would give you about another 10dB of signal plus it would be balanced (noice lil' projjy in a pretty tin!) I assume the run from the keys to the AI or mixer is not far?

Dave.
Click to expand...
Yes, that was the alternative, but the mixer works just fine and has the advantage that when I want to record MIDI (only) from the keyboard, I can leave the mixer off and no audio going through to confuse me!
 
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