Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface, for the Guitarist,
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Summary:\nThe 2i2 3rd Gen is a solid advancement to the product line. Generation III helps this brand to remain at the forefront of audio interfaces. I had sold a previous interface and found myself in a pinch where I needed to get something recorded and produced within 48 hours. I found myself with a 2i2 3rd Gen and it was perfect.\n\nGood things you should know:\nContrary to other reviews, you DO NOT need any external drivers. It truly does remain plug-and-play, as they say. External drivers are solely optional, as your specific setup might warrant them. Here was my scenario; plug in USB to laptop, open DAW, set input to 2i2, record. Latency - what latency? That's a thing of the past.\n\nBad things you should know (that do not reduce the rating whatsoever):\nThe bundled software (ProTools First, Ableton Live Lite) is a train wreck and will require much more than the 20 minutes they estimate to set yourself up. It requires creating multiple accounts on platforms for downloads and digital licensing (if you're not already set up). The included software largely remains a means to make the product more marketable. Your BEST options remain to buy a monthly subscription to ProTools ($$), buy Reaper ($), or use Audacity (for free)."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I play guitar in my spare time and don't know the first thing about getting set up with a DAW or the logistics of recording my music or even getting it to play through my headphones. Other approaches I've seen have been extremely confusing, intimidating, and finicky to someone like me who knows nothing about the correct gear for this stuff.\nNot only does this seem to be working perfectly, but the series of tutorials Focusrite has created made it extremely simple for me to get set up, plugged in, and jamming in no time.\n\nI can't speak to this product as a professional musician, but if you're a dummy like me you've certainly come to the right place!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "The Focusrite Scarlett Solo is, quite simply, the ideal USB interface for recording the human voice or a single instrument. You could purchase a 2i2, but if you only need one input, why pay more? The solo is easy to use, has an excellent latency free headphone jack, and lets you get high quality audio from professional-grade microphones, either condenser or dynamic, into your computer. The build quality is excellent. You will need a preamp such a Cloudlifter with dynamic mics due to their lower output, but that's a function of the mic, not the interface. I use the Rode NT condenser mic or either the Rode Procaster or Electrovoice RE320 dynamic for recording voiceovers. The results are vasttly superior to any USB mic I've tried. Highly recommended if you're serious about audio."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I'm still in the process of learning the guitar. Mainly classical but bass and jazz as well. Wanted to have the ability to record the instruments especially with another. I'm am new to all things musical and really didn't find google that helpful until I came upon this unit and from there, several videos gave me a better sense of how.\n\nThis is the ideal unit for me. You take it out of the box, connect it to your computer via the supplied USB-C cable and it directs you step-by-step from that point on. If there is a decision to make, they include the option to watch a video to explain the choices. I chose the most complicated path and within 2 hours recorded my first track. A lot of that depended on download speed and that I watched every video option presented.\n\nI look forward to using this a lot.\n\nTheir support videos are fantastic."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-2 review-rating', 'review_body': "We use these for a community radio station, and has used the 1st and 2nd gen 2i2s for years without problems. They fail after 2-3 years of 24x7 use, but that seems reasonable.\n\nHowever, the 3rd gen switches to a USB C connector with lightning, which requires a separate driver. In order to deliver this driver, the interface shows as a USB drive with the installation media. This causes the system not to boot if the device is plugged in. Focusrite also tries to get you to register the device and drivers with their web sites before the USB connection can be made.\n\nThe new driver is also dropping connection after extended periods. Look for gen 1 or 2 of this device if you aren't using it for short periods, and unplugging it after you are done."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I had the first generation 8i6 Scarlett and just bought the 3rd generation solo. It’s totally a different sound volume and quality. Best interface I have had.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I have been a Focusrite Solo user and this is a fantastic upgrade. The air button is a nice touch to sweeten the sound. Well built and I’m already getting great recordings with it. Easy and intuitive to use, works great with Garageband.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': " I received this audio interface for Christmas and I've been very happy with it. The build quality is top notch and it's packed with features. I was using the 2i2 (2nd Gen) and decided to upgrade to this because of it's MIDI capabilities. I thought using the Focusrite Control software would annoy me compared to the physical switches, but it's actually very intuitive and I now prefer it over the physical switches. It's also nice that the interface automatically recognizes whether a line or instrument is plugged in, so I don't miss the physical switches at all. The gain is cleaner than my 2i2 was and the 4i4 does a decent job of pushing the Shure SM7B microphone. Highly recommend!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I cant speak for other's but as a beginner I think this system is great. The sound is awesome and the equipment seems well built. Definetely go to Focusrite's website to register your equipment and follow the getting started guide. It helps ALOT! They also have videos on some of the software and I'm sure there are more on youtube. I'm slowly learning my way around Abelton Live Lite 10 and like it so far. I'm not sure why I cant get Pro Tools to work, it keeps telling me I can only have one project at a time, but I haven't started any projects with it.\n\nJust a heads up, if you buy this product and buy a mic stand with a male end, you can remove the chrome insert on the mic clip so it will fit your mic stand. (See pics)"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I saw that this interface was high on a lot of top 10 lists for audio interfaces so thought I would give it a chance, and it was the worst audio-related mistake I\'ve ever made. When it works, it works fine. However it\'s the most unreliable piece of garbage I\'ve ever owned.\n\nFirst of all, it needs its own service running in Windows. I\'ve been recording for over 10 years and owned 5+ audio interfaces and not a single other product has ever needed that. The biggest problem with this garbage is its constant cutouts. I think just about anyone with studio monitors is also using them as their general PC speakers, and that\'s how my PC is set up. I can\'t get through 10 minutes without this trash giving up and having to unplug and replug it to get it working again.\n\nI contacted their tech support with this problem and the support they offered was laughable. First off, god help you if you don\'t have an available USB 2.0 port. Yes, you read that right. In 2020 this product does not work with USB 3.0. So good look finding a motherboard that even has USB 2.0 ports. I found 2 in the early months of 2020. That\'s right, only 2 motherboards that had even a single USB 2.0 port.\n\nLong story short, just go with any other interface that has the number of inputs/outputs that you need. They\'re all pretty much the same, and this one somehow failed it\'s most basic purpose in "works most of the time". Stay away.'}]