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Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen

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$97.00 to $299.99 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (74)

1 Critic Review

8 Reviews

Find out who is using Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen

3 community setups

6 wishlisted

164 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 3 stores. Prices updated July 3, 2026.

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4.0 (16)

$219.99

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4.6 (1270)

$299.99 Used

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5.0 (34)

$97.00 8 available Used

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Average Price: $206

Standard/Professional

$150

$501+

Price Tier

In the Audio Interfaces category, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Elevate your home recording and live performance setup with the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen. This compact powerhouse strikes a perfect balance between professional-grade audio quality and the versatility needed by today's musicians and producers. With its natural-sounding preamps and ultra-low latency, the 2i4 brings your music to life, whether you're laying down tracks in the studio or electrifying the crowd with your live set. It's the ideal companion for artists who demand flawless audio without breaking the bank.

Key Features:

Two combination inputs with Focusrite's pristine preamps, offering crystal clear recording for vocals and instruments.
Ultra-low latency performance, perfect for real-time recording and monitoring.
MIDI I/O capability, enabling seamless integration with outboard synths and other MIDI gear.
Includes 1/4-inch balanced jacks and four RCA outputs, accommodating both studio monitoring setups and home speaker systems.
Compatible with a wide range of recording software, offering flexibility in your creative process.

Product specs

Brand	Focusrite
Model	Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen USB Audio Interface
Finish	Red / Black
Year	2016 - 2018
Made In	United Kingdom
Categories	Audio Interfaces
Bit Depth	24-bit
Bus-Powered	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS
Computer Connectivity	USB
Electronics	Analog, Digital, Solid State
Format	Desktop Standalone
Number of Analog Inputs	2
Number of Analog Outputs	4
Number of Channels	6
Number of Digital Inputs	0
Number of Digital Outputs	0
Number of Headphone Outputs	1
Number of MIDI Inputs	1
Number of MIDI Outputs	1
Number of Mic Preamps	2
Sample Rate	192 khz
Simultaneous I/O	2 x 4

FAQs

What are the main connectivity options for the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen?: The Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen offers USB connectivity for computers, two analog inputs, four analog outputs, and MIDI in/out ports, making it versatile for various recording setups.
Is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen compatible with macOS and Windows?: Yes, the Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen is compatible with both macOS and Windows operating systems, providing flexibility for different users.
Does the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen require an external power supply?: No, the Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen is bus-powered via USB, eliminating the need for an external power supply.
What is the maximum audio resolution supported by the Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen?: The Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen supports up to 24-bit/192kHz audio resolution, ensuring high-quality recordings.
Does the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen come with any recording software?: Yes, it includes Pro Tools | First, Ableton Live Lite, and a suite of additional software and samples to get you started with recording.

Videos

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Learning with Mark Warren

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 Gen 2 Review

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Focusrite The New Second Generation Scarlett 2i4

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Reviews

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PROS

Compact size suitable for smaller studios
Solid build quality with bright red metal casing
Clean sound with decent preamps
Separate controls for monitor and headphone volumes
Easy plug-and-play setup with MacBooks
Includes useful MIDI I/O for studio setups
Comes with Ableton Lite and Pro-Tools DAWs
Offers free plugins when purchased new
Easy adjustments for recording and playback settings
Suitable for entry-level with room to grow

CONS

Lacks ADAT for additional inputs
Some may outgrow its features over time
MIDI inputs redundant for USB MIDI keyboard users

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen.

Features and functionality

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The 2i4 2nd Gen reportedly includes a feature that reduces clipping with high distortion, though specifics are unclear.
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The 2i4 offers features that were introduced to other interfaces years later, making it a standout in its time.
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The Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen allows simultaneous use of balanced TRS and unbalanced RCA outputs, ideal for connecting home monitors and external sound systems concurrently.
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Comparisons

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Some users prefer the 2i4 over newer Scarlett models for its functions and solid build, which are often found in more expensive and newer interfaces.
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Mods and upgrades

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Adding a Camden EC1 preamp can significantly improve the noise floor and showcase microphone potential.
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User experience

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Long-term users report the 2i4 2nd Gen has remained reliable since at least 2017.
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Audio stability varies significantly between similar devices; some users report no issues, while others face persistent conflicts with Bluetooth and USB ports.
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Software and compatibility

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Users seeking to control output routing without Focusrite Control software recommend using VB-Audio Voicemeeter Banana for managing DAW output separately.
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Some users experience audio conflicts with Realtek drivers, especially on different computer brands, affecting stability and causing playback issues.
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Connecting via Wi-Fi can cause crackling; using an Ethernet cable resolves this for some users, indicating potential wireless interference.
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Use cases and applications

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DJs appreciate the Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen for splitting two channels of Traktor into a DJ mixer, while also attempting to use a third channel for additional software like Analog Lab.
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Setup and maintenance

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Restarting the Realtek Audio service in Windows can resolve latency and looping issues after waking a PC from sleep mode.
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Critic Reviews

Focusrite: Scarlett 2i4 USB interface (2nd generation) | Tape Op Magazine | Longform candid interviews with music producers and audio engineers covering mixing, mastering, recording and music production.

tapeop.com

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen impresses with its simplicity and clean sound, making it a fantastic choice for solo musicians. With two Scarlett mic preamps and updated converters, it offers remarkable audio quality and ease of use, thanks to intuitive controls and low latency performance. The flexibility of direct monitoring and a suite of software tools enhance its appeal. While it may not rival a high-end $7,000 setup, it offers incredible value for its price. Ideal for recording enthusiasts who appreciate straightforward operation without sacrificing sound quality.

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Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 8 Reviews and 74 Ratings

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thcraymer

910

over 3 years ago

Great interface, easy to use and has everything a home-recording artist would need!

This is my second interface (my first being a Roland VS-20), and a vast improvement! I actually received it as a gift, so was never planning to buy it, but am so glad to have one, it's vastly improved both the quality and quantity of my recordings, as I'll explain.

First thing that struck me is the bright red metal casing, and how compact it is. It has two jack inputs (making it easy to record eg. vocals and guitar at the same time for a demo, or record in stereo), as well as two MIDI inputs (I've never needed to use these though, as my MIDI keyboard works with a USB, but could be useful). It's very easy to adjust the settings on the interface (eg. recording and playback volumes, switching on/off Phantom power supply, etc.).

The DAWs included are Ableton Lite and Pro-Tools (I personally prefer Ableton, as I will explain). I found that my output musically became better quality, due to the good recording quality of the interface itself, as well as the numerous plugins/vsts available (ranging from the most simple ones such as compression or EQ, to more complex stuff like MIDI instruments and stereo delays, etc.). The quantity also vastly increased due to the fact that this interface and DAW have also made mixing and mastering so much easier.

All in all, I'd highly recommend it for any musician who records at home, rather than paying every time to record at a studio!

Preferred Settings + Usage:

The Focusrite Scarlett includes two DAWs, Ableton Lite and Pro-Tools. I personally prefer Ableton by far, even though it has its limitations (for example only 8 tracks per project, I get around this by making around 2-3 projects per song, as it's too expensive to upgrade to the full version for now). The reason is that I find it much more user friendly, as well as being faster and having less issues with bugs. Pro-Tools often tends to either lag or crash, and probably requires a very fast computer to run it, while Ableton works flawlessly on my laptop.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Art rock Progressive rock

divuar_lacroix

299

about 7 years ago

A nice step forward since 1st gen

I grabbed it instead on 1st Gen 2i2, because I realised I need a separate cue output for my DJ sets and electronic live performances (I currently use Ableton Live + Push 2 as the main tool). I like how better it is built compared to the 1st gen. The knobs are metal and they have fixed the main input gain thing (which caused guitarists to lower the volume on the guitar itself). I would also add that the output here is much louder and the whole thing seems to be built much better. It is heavy and solid. I really recommend it if you need an upgrade and like lower verions, such as 2i2 or solo.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Composer

Genres:

Electronic Folk, World, & Country Techno

krakob

288

about 8 years ago

Superb interface!

Very feature complete, easy to use, with good pre-amps and DAC. It'd been nice if it had ADAT for more inputs, but I can't complain -- it's has everything you need on an entry level and is well worth its price.

alexanderbabikov

272

about 7 years ago

Budget

Nice USB audio interface. Specially for the price of ~150€. Nice quality, great sound, I've been using it for a long time and it still works perfectly. The reason why I have picked the 2i4 was the MIDI input.