Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Generation) Review
2x2 USB Audio Interface
- Singers, Guitarists, Solo Podcasters
- USB Type-C Connectivity
- 1 Mic Preamp & 1 Instrument/Line Input
- 1 Headphone Out, Stereo Monitor Out
- 24-Bit / 192 kHz Converters
- Bus Powered / Mac, Windows, iPad Pro
- Phantom Power, Direct Monitor
- Mic Air Mode, Multicolor Gain Halos
- Compact, Rugged Housing
- DAWs, VIs, Loops & Samples
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 705,736 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Generation). This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Generation). For example, 92% of 362,453 users who have commented on the Easy to use of the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Generation) have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 296 Reviews
Average SNR, poor compatibility, and overall unimpressive
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Alexandru on B&H Photo Video
It's very prone to creating ground loops. The USB ground is connected to the monitor outputs, and both XLR and TRS grounds. In my setup, I had speakers that took inputs from both the computer and the Scarlett. Needless to say, it didn't work very well. I couldn't use this in a simple enough way to avoid ground loops. For people using this on a laptop on battery power, that's not an issue, but it is quite troublesome when using this on an actual workstation. I was surprised at how much noisier this is than my internal sound card. Sure, I am comparing this to a Xonar D2x, but the Scarlett should have better SNR because it's not inside the computer. Try recording a guitar and passing it through heavy distortion... it's noisier than a squeaky train toilet. The Xonar D2x fares much better -- 20dB better to be more specific. It's very picky about which USB ports it will work on. It worked on my workstation, and UPS USB-A ports. It didn't work from a power-pack, or the USB-C ports on my laptop. It's one of the most incompatible USB devices I've ever owned. I wasn't able to record smoothly at 192KHz. It just doesn't like it. I'm certain there's some machine where it works beautifully at 192KHz, but on the three or so machines I tried this, I had to dial it down to 96KHz. One good thing is that the High-Z input sounds impressive. The High-Z input captures a lot more detail and subtleties in an electric guitar. It sounds better than the same guitar on my Soundcraft mixer's line in. Focusrite did something "rite" with the pre-amp. Turning phantom power on or off crates audible pops. Ramping up phantom voltage to stay out of the audible range is trivial, yet they didn't implement it in the Scarlett. The Scarlett has the potential to sound good, but at the same time leaves a lot to be desired. It's worse than my existing D2x internal sound card in every possible way. I feel that instead of being spent on better circuitry and noise isolation, my money instead goes to the code inside the box, and licenses to some software I'm never going to use. ... More
MIGHTY MOUSE!
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Rockvoxxx on B&H Photo Video
Short and sweet as this little pre is as simple as it gets. I have been using the Mbox 2 mini for years, until buying a new mac which presented a problem: The Mbox does not work on the new OS, and they stopped updating the drivers/software in around 2010, 2011? (Told you Ive been using it for years). So I already have a Presonus mic pre for processing, all I really ever used the Mbox for was conversion of the signal from analog to digital, the most logical step was to grab the scarlett Solo. While it has a guitar input which is clearly marked with a guitar Icon on it I cant speak to its use for that because I use it exclusively with my Neumann mic and the Presonus. when researching my Presonus mic pre I had originally looked at Focusrite as I had always heard their products to be very solid. Anyway this little box can be used as a mic pre but I would def recommend it to be used in conjunction with a bigger, and more elaborate one. If all you need is signal conversion, you really cannot go wrong particularly for the price. It comes with a download code for the Focusrite version of their pro tools like software, and while I know it to be good, I have no use for it. All in all this is a great product for the price, no doubt about it. It is simplicity personified limited number of inputs but for a little more they have a larger model. I use it for voice work in my home studio and for that I honestly cannot ask for anything more. ... More
Does exactly what I wanted it to do
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Josh on Guitar Center
Using this to play guitar through a MacBook Pro. Works flawlessly so far.
Machine works as it should...
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
Reviewed by Dan T. on Reverb
The interface does what it should, but figuring it out was a challenge. Granted, I bought an open box (and saved $20). Actually, it turns out I bought it without a box and without the instructions. So I had to figure it out for myself, which was tough because I'm a player, not an engineer. Once I registered it, I got a series of emails, one of which said "how to get the most ..." Well, the linked video ran down all the cool features of the Scarlet... without a SINGLE mention of the Scarlet Solo, which I bought. It was about 90% useless to me. Furthermore, the video's text was in white against brightly colored graphics, so it was extremely difficult to read, as if the pictures were all that mattered--and didn't ever show MY device! Not being an engineer, I had a stupid question (a few actually), so when I contacted customer support, I had to wait a half hour for a response to my online chat request. When I asked my question ("Why don't I hear anything when the device shows that I am playing?"), I got a lot of useless suggestions, including uninstalling and re-installing. That didn't help. I posted the same question in an email request for support. FOUR DAYS later, I got the answer, which my daughter and I figured out logically. (You can only hear it through headphones or with monitor speakers hooked up.) I still don't really understand the "air" and "inst" selections, but I know the basics how to use the Scarlet Solo, and it works just fine. Bottom line: it's a good machine at a good price point, but if you are not very tech savvy, get a friend or bandmate to help you with setup. ... More
BUYER BEWARE
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by JON on Guitar Center
BUYER BEWARE So i purchased this product so i could use my kali lp 6 monitors with my pc and use amp sims. and it works great expect for one HUGE flaw. The headphone and monitor outputs are both active ALL the time. there is no control or toggle for this, so if you only want audio to come out of your headphones youd have to unplug your monitors. the 2i2 is only 50 dollars more and has 2 knobs one for headphones and one for monitor output i highly suggest spending the extra 50 and getting the 2i2 over the solo. I will be returning mine and spending the extra 50 for sure. ... More
Ads
Excellent value - best selling budget interface for a reason
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Earl Michael on B&H Photo Video
I have just gotten into recording music and didn't want to invest too much into the equipment. I have been familiar with the Focusrite brand for a long time, and knew that a lot of my musician friends use their interfaces for their own professional recordings. I checked a lot of reviews and validated those assumptions. I bought this and have loved using it. Just having it plugged in constantly is a huge source of inspiration. I can fire up my DAW and start playing immediately knowing that I am getting a very clean and crisp instrument signal with negligible latency. I only use this with a guitar and a violin so I don't have firsthand experience with using a mic. I also do not have studio monitors so I just monitor with a pair of Audio Technica m50x'. I could not be more pleased with the performance of this interface. My only gripes with it are the lack of a direct / USB blend knob and a usable signal meter. For the former, there is a button that switches from the direct signal to the USB one, but having the ability to blend the two would help if you need to play along to a backing track. For the latter, I get that the glowing ring is cool looking, but it's not actionably useful if you're trying to monitor your gain levels. By the time you see the red ring, you're already clipping making it difficult to adjust in real-time. Otherwise this is a GREAT interface and incredible value for money. I can't recommend this enough for beginners in home recording or even for pros who don't need more than two inputs. ... More
Small bus powered nice sounding
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by David on Guitar Center
It's small and bus powered, I got it to just get me by for now since my 1st Gen 8i6 died but I gata say the sound quality beats my 1st Gen by miles
Very satisfactory for a novice producer
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Jonathan on B&H Photo Video
I bought this because I need guitar and mic inputs. I have been using it daily since I received it three days ago and I have not encountered any problems so far. Aesthetics: The metal shell is attractive and it is not very reflective so it does not create any glare from my computer monitor even in the dark. I only wish it came in multiple colors. The face is well designed and everything is labeled clearly. The buttons and knobs all look nice. Hardware Quality: I have to say that I could probably drop this on my kitchen floor and the unit would be fine. The only breakable parts are the input gain knobs because they protrude about 1/3 inch from the face. Speaking of knobs, the monitor volume knob is very smooth and satisfying. The input gain knobs are stiffer to turn, but this is not a problem as it makes them much more precise. Sound Quality: I haven't experienced anything other than clear sound from all of the inputs and outputs. Portability: This is a big thing for me because I don't like to have a bunch of cords to unplug every time I want to move my equipment. The single USB-C makes it possible to simply unplug the entire device from my laptop and take my laptop with no hassle or I can just unplug it from my laptop and plug it into a different device. Overall this is a very good product, especially for the price. I haven't found any compromises or issues yet. ... More
The simplest one but I like it
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Kaz on Guitar Center
This interface soved a lot of problems for me expectedly and unexpectedly. What I expected was: I can connect my condenser microphone to my PC via this devise. I can stream my Zoom/Skype conversation from my android phone to my PC via this devise. This set-up allowed me to make podcast interviews. Unexpectedly... I can now listen to whatever is happening on my PC via. the devise though direct monitor. Before this my computer had a mind of its own and I lose sound often and had to experiment with the sound setting. Now connected to this, the sound always comes out without a problem. Also unexpectedly, this device allows me to do two projects without moving things. The device sends sounds to my PC though a cable, which allows me to record a video using the webcam. The device also send sound to my iPad to record a podcast using a customized app for podcasting. I can do both without moving the cable around. When I record a podcast interview, I want to make sure my voice and the guest's voice are balanced. This can be easily achieved with Scarlet Solo. This replaced my ICICLE connector (Blue ICICLE XLR to USB Converter/Mic Preamp), which was a lot simpler way to connect a condenser mic to a PC. However, I feel like I liked the sound quality of ICICLE SLIGHTLY better than Scarlet Solo. Both are good, though, and this probably is just my personal preference. ... More
Great mobile interface
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
My love of playing music quickly evolved into recording and mixing my own tracks. I decided to take a stab at metal vocal recording. It quickly came to my attention that these sessions were disturbing those living around me. I decided to create a mobile setup so that I could record vocals inside of my car. Admittedly, my car is not a substitute for a vocal booth. Armed with my laptop, the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, and a Shure SM58s, and a pair of AKG headphones, I have been able to pursue my hobby without disturbing others. I have used several audio interfaces in my home setup over the past several years, including Line6 Toneport DI, PropellerHead Balance, and Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Among these, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 was my favorite because of the solid enclosure, the separate headphone volume knob, and no-nonsense controls. It seemed that the Solo would be an excellent, low-cost device to add to my arsenal. Notably, however, the Solo does not have a separate headphone volume knob. As for the rear outputs, I found it a little odd that they were RCA and not XLR or 1/4, though the 1/4 headphone out at the front of the device is perfect for my needs. ... More
Wonderful!
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
Reviewed by Robert W. on Reverb
I playing fingerstyle acoustic and have used a handheld recorder for years but decided to make the switch to using an audio interface recently. I researched different models and read lots of reviews and then found the Scarlett Solo would fit my needs. After having mine for about a month now, I can say that I wish I had gotten one of these years ago. It's easy to set up, and I love the fact that I hear my playing without any latency when I record and that I can easily add other tracks if I want to record myself playing a solo or switching to my other guitars for recording. If you want to record your music with the goal of sharing it or just to edit it and tweak it, I'd highly recommend getting the Scarlett Solo. It's affordable, easy to use, and does an excellent job at what it's designed for. ... More
An Amazing Product
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by 8-Bit on Guitar Center
It allows me to record whenever I want and it has a clean and beautiful signal. Abelton Live 10 works amazing with the Scarlett
It is not a bad product however...
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by SageFlowerChild on Guitar Center
I purchased this for the specific use of improving the sound quality of zoom meetings. It did help HOWEVER the preamp is incredibly underpowered. This means that I have to turn the gain up to within a breath of maximum to even get close to the level needed to be heard effectively. Apparently this is a common complaint with this item. The second issue which is probably more of my being picky, is that there appears no way to switch between the headphones and the monitor outputs. The result is they are BOTH active all the time. Apparently this too is a common complaint with this item. Does that mean this item is not worth considering? No, it should definitely be considered and I would recommend it with conditions. Will I keep this item? No, I will return it for either the next step up in this product line or look at the MOTU or Presonus. ... More
Great interface at the price point!
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by onceluvgreen on Guitar Center
Amazing interface, drivers were easy to install and everything was working well! Did feel dumb trying to see why my microphone was not picking up... turns out I just needed to turn the gain pretty high up ! Anyway everything seems to work well and I am glad this was my first audio interface experience!
Perfect for my needs!
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Mark on B&H Photo Video
I've owned a couple of Scarletts before I bought this one. The other two were bigger models and I had them at various times when I thought I would get crazy and record myself as a musician. Well, I didn't feel like hearing me so I sold them. But now I have a podcast and wanted to find a way to plug an XLR mic into my computer. This is exactly what I was looking for. Easy to set up, easy to understand controls, and it works just as I expected. Focusrite makes excellent interfaces and this is definitely one of them. And should I ever decide to record my music...this one still fits my needs. Excellent purchase for me. ... More
Exceptional value (3rdGen)
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Dadeo on Guitar Center
Used for "singing" vocal and guitar recordings. To my surprise, it does not need booster amp to drive a Shure SM7B MIC. Plenty of horsepowers which was in doubt when I bought the set up a few months back. Reviews said it would need Cloud lifter/booster amp to drive MIC. The mic level setting on Scarlett is just above 50% so there's plenty of room to boost signal from SM7B. It could be that Scarlett drivers have been updated to take advantage of digital gain(?). Clarity is unreal especially coming out of my Yamaha Monitors. And for the TRS balanced instrument input, I barely have to turn-up the level to have clean loun and crisp acoustic (electric) guitar. It's just amazing for the price. ... More
Easy and affordable upgrade to my streaming rig!
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Scott on B&H Photo Video
I bought this to improve my live stream rig. I had an older USB audio interface, and it was time to upgrade. The Scarlet Solo from Focusrite 3rd generation had just come out, and I am so pleased that I bought it. My latency and buffering really improved, and the audio quality is excellent. At first these were out of stock (perhaps due to demand or Covid19 supply chain issues), but now they are back in stock. This is a great sounding, easy to use and affordable USB audio interface. It has improved my sound for live streaming, zoom calls, and online band rehearsals via JamKazam. Two thumbs up for Focusrite! Three other bandmates bought the Scarlett Solo after hearing mine. Excellent product line. ... More
Good value but relatively weak pre-amp
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Patrick on B&H Photo Video
I purchased this audio interface to record my voice with a dynamic microphone (the Sennheiser e835). The interface itself is well built and sounds great for the price, but its preamp gain was not quite strong enough for the microphone I was using. I had to crank the gain all the way up and speak very close to the mic. If you don't plan to use it with a dynamic mic (or perhaps with a hotter dynamic mic) I'm sure it's great. I ended up going with the Zoom H5 instead, which has 6 more dB of gain on the mic input, which is enough to work well with the Sennheiser mic (of course, it costs 2.5x as much as the Solo). ... More
Very Professional
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2x2 USB Audio Interface (3rd Generation)
Reviewed by Heather on B&H Photo Video
This is perfect for beginner podcasters. Unless you're going to have two people doing a podcast together in the same room (unlikely these days), you don't need anything fancier than this when you're just starting out. It sounds completely professional and you won't need features that are any more advanced. The knobs aren't loose or anything, so it seems like it'll last you a long time, and you won't necessarily need a fancier audio interface later on. It really depends on what you're going to do with your podcast. For instance, if it's a podcast about tech, then you're going to want the most sophisticated-sounding audio possible. If it's about hot wings, then you don't necessarily need a more upscale audio interface. ... More
The perfect starter for recording
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface (Gen 3)
Reviewed by Sean on Guitar Center
This is a great interface it's very simple and perfect in so many ways. For quick voice recordings that sound amazing I would use this device 10/10 times
