Focusrite Scarlett 18i20

[Les Cargill[_4_]]

My long-serving Fostex VF16 finally bit it.

I am now looking at a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. Seems like a very nice
unit - effectively a "remote" digital mixer built
into a D/A-A/D. Has Lightpipe ( I still want to use an ADA8000 or
equivalent to get to 16 tracks at once).


Anybody have any observations on it?

--
Les Cargill

[Mike Rivers[_2_]]

On 9/8/2013 1:58 AM, Les Cargill wrote:

> I am now looking at a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. Seems like a very nice
> unit - effectively a "remote" digital mixer built
> into a D/A-A/D. Has Lightpipe ( I still want to use an ADA8000 or
> equivalent to get to 16 tracks at once).

They were going to send me one to review, but I guess they forgot. It's
a blown-up version of a couple of smaller Scarletts. There's a review of
the 18i6 on my web site. I see they now have another one in that series
that's a smaller box with four mic inputs. That's what I've been looking
for, but after reviewing the Forte, I wish they'd built the 4-input unit
around the Forte design instead of the Scarlett.


--
For a good time, call http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com

[Les Cargill[_4_]]

Mike Rivers wrote:
> On 9/8/2013 1:58 AM, Les Cargill wrote:
>
>> I am now looking at a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. Seems like a very nice
>> unit - effectively a "remote" digital mixer built
>> into a D/A-A/D. Has Lightpipe ( I still want to use an ADA8000 or
>> equivalent to get to 16 tracks at once).
>
> They were going to send me one to review, but I guess they forgot. It's
> a blown-up version of a couple of smaller Scarletts. There's a review of
> the 18i6 on my web site. I see they now have another one in that series
> that's a smaller box with four mic inputs. That's what I've been looking
> for, but after reviewing the Forte, I wish they'd built the 4-input unit
> around the Forte design instead of the Scarlett.
>
>

Thanks much, Mike. A very excellent and comprehensive review.

I expect the Saffire design is more affordable. Did you have a specific
issue with the Saffire, or is it just that the control software for the
Forte is better put together?


I am actually surprised that the 18i6 would pass audio with the "flea
powered" netbook. Seems that the 18i20 would make this even tougher.

--
Les Cargill

[Mike Rivers[_2_]]

On 9/8/2013 1:02 PM, Les Cargill wrote:

> I expect the Saffire design is more affordable. Did you have a specific
> issue with the Saffire, or is it just that the control software for the
> Forte is better put together?

No real quibbles with the Saffire except that's their Firewire-connected
series. While I have Firewire interfaces in my desktop computers and one
very outdated laptop, unless I wait for Thunderbolt ports to become
standard in a PC, I won't have a portable computer that can run a Saffire.

The Scarletts are USB, as is the Forte. The Scarletts are fine, but the
mic inputs on the Forte are enough better than on the Scarlett for me to
notice and appreciate. But for only two mics, I have portable recorders
and don't need a computer.

> I am actually surprised that the 18i6 would pass audio with the "flea
> powered" netbook. Seems that the 18i20 would make this even tougher.

It doesn't take a lot of horsepower to capture audio, it's the mixing
and processing that eats up the CPU resources.


--
For a good time, call http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com

[Les Cargill[_4_]]

Mike Rivers wrote:
> On 9/8/2013 1:02 PM, Les Cargill wrote:
>
>> I expect the Saffire design is more affordable. Did you have a specific
>> issue with the Saffire, or is it just that the control software for the
>> Forte is better put together?
>
> No real quibbles with the Saffire except that's their Firewire-connected
> series. While I have Firewire interfaces in my desktop computers and one
> very outdated laptop, unless I wait for Thunderbolt ports to become
> standard in a PC, I won't have a portable computer that can run a Saffire.
>
> The Scarletts are USB, as is the Forte. The Scarletts are fine, but the
> mic inputs on the Forte are enough better than on the Scarlett for me to
> notice and appreciate. But for only two mics, I have portable recorders
> and don't need a computer.
>
>> I am actually surprised that the 18i6 would pass audio with the "flea
>> powered" netbook. Seems that the 18i20 would make this even tougher.
>
> It doesn't take a lot of horsepower to capture audio, it's the mixing
> and processing that eats up the CPU resources.
>
>

So I pulled the trigger.

Turns out the netbook will capture 16 at a time*, and the unit sounds
fine. The D/A on it sound a lot different at 24 bit and at 16 bit.
The pres/A/D seem pretty good. They're audibly better than a Behringer
ADA8000 or the VF16.

Once surprise - I did not expect to get a full 24 bits out of the
ADA8000 over Lightpipe.

*really, I was only tracking 12 channels for a session, but tests @ 16
tracks were good.

Still adjusting to the unit, but it works fine and sounds good.

--
Les Cargill

[Mike Rivers[_2_]]

On 9/13/2013 8:45 AM, Les Cargill wrote:

> Still adjusting to the unit, but it works fine and sounds good.

Glad to hear that all the surprises have been good ones, so far.



--
For a good time, call http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com