Those are the most important considerations in any audio interface, and it’s truly amazing what you get for your money in both cases here. In terms of sound and latency, the SSL 2 and 2i2 3rd Gen are superb performers, with exceptional dynamic range, plenty of volume when you need it, and unnoticeable latency at small buffer sizes. SSL 2 vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen: verdict The 2i2 3rd Gen supports direct monitoring, of course, but balancing it with the signal from the DAW can only be done in Focusrite Control. Back in Focusrite’s court, the 2i2 3rd Gen’s front-mounted input and headphone sockets are a definite plus, making it easier to get to those frequently-accessed holes than you can their rear-located SSL 2 equivalents.ĭirect monitoring is better catered to by the SSL 2, which facilitates blending of the line/instrument input with the USB input from your DAW via the Monitor Mix knob. As mentioned above, the SSL 2 is markedly bigger than the 2i2 3rd Gen, which has a bit more of a ‘sling-it-in-your-laptop-bag’ feel but we do prefer the SSL 2’s angled console-style control arrangement for desktop usage. When it comes to comparing the workflow and ergonomics of our two home studio contenders, there’s not much in it – both are perfectly straightforward in their connectivity, gain adjustment and output levelling. SSL 2 vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen: usability Both are equally effective in use, and if you need more details with the 2i2 3rd Gen, Focusrite Control provides good on-screen metering.įinally, both interfaces bundle in a decent wodge of plugins and cut-down DAWs, arguably the most ‘valuable’ being Vocalstrip 2 and Drumstrip with the SSL 2, and Focusrite’s Red Plug-in Suite and Softube’s Time and Tone Bundle with the 2i2 3rd Gen. The SSL 2’s traditional five-stage ladder-style meters give a more literal impression of signal levels than the ’Gain Halo’ collars of the 2i2 3rd Gen’s gain knobs, which represent increasingly hot signal levels through green/orange/red LED colouring. The 2i2 3rd Gen pulls off the same sort of trick with its ‘Air’ circuit, which successfully emulates the luxurious high-frequency sheen of Focusrite’s fabulous ISA preamp.īeyond fundamental specs and historical pedigrees, the Air and Legacy 4K circuits are undoubtedly the headline features of the two interfaces, but another point of differentiation is the metering.
Pressing the SSL 2’s Legacy 4K button switches in an “analogue enhancement circuit inspired by the character of” the SSL 4000 Series console – specifically, a high-frequency EQ boost and harmonic distortion that works particularly well on guitars, drums and vocals.
With Focusrite’s bigger multi-channel interfaces, said app handles routing and mixing of inputs and outputs, but here it offers no real benefits beyond enabling those high sample rates and monitor mixing.Ĭentral to the appeal of both boxes is their ability to introduce the super classy preamp and console circuitry colouration with which the two manufacturers made their respective marks on the recording industry.
The SSL 2’s sample rate and buffer size are governed by the host DAW, but to use the 2i2 3rd Gen at sample rates above 48kHz, the Focusrite Control software has to be installed.
(Image credit: Solid State Logic/Focusrite)ĭriver-wise, both units are class-compliant under macOS and require installation of an ASIO/WDM driver in Windows.