Focusrite Scarlett has been around for a long time and is considered as one of the best budget audio interfaces. Focusrite Audio Interface comes in different shapes and sizes. For home recording purposes, the Focusrite Scarlett Solo is a popular choice among guitarists, musicians and podcasters. So is Focusrite Good for guitar?
Focusrite Scarlett delivers high quality guitar recordings with minimal latency and loss of guitar signals, that too at a very reasonable price, hence making it a perfect choice for hobby and professional guitarists for home and studio recordings. It is easy to setup and is supported by almost all VST plugins and DAWs making it a great choice for Guitar recordings.
Since Virtual Amp and Effects modeling software have become popular, there’s a high rise in demand for audio interfaces as musicians, especially guitarists can now ditch large amps and pedals completely and have their entire pedal board on their computers. I myself completely switched to using my computer with Amplitube 5 as my guitar amp and multi effects processor as it’s more convenient and affordable to buy VST plugins and virtual amps rather than buying the real thing. And with the help of my Focusrite Scarlett Solo, I can easily hook up my guitar to my computer.
So let’s further discuss if Focusrite is a good audio interface to use with a guitar and I’ll also try to answer the common questions you might have.
Why Do I Need Focusrite Solo?
Focusrite Solo is an audio interface and just like any other audio interface, it allows you to connect your guitar to your computer so that you can record your guitar and also use VST plugins and Virtual amps for your guitar instead of using actual pedals and amps.
Although there are other cheaper audio interfaces also available, but Focusrite Scarlett delivers the best quality results in the price it is being offered. This is because it uses advanced technology that delivers the audio signals from your guitar to your computer without any noise or latency. Focusrite Solo also used USB Type C, currently the latest USB Type available that delivers your signals at a much faster pace than the older USB types.
Is focusrite 3rd Gen worth it?
The third Generation of Focusrite came out pretty recently so if you already have the previous versions of Focusrite Scarlett or any other USB Audio Interface, is it worth getting the newer 3rd Generation Focusrite Scarlett Solo? I think it is. This is because the newer version uses USB Type C that is currently the latest USB that delivers electric signals at a much higher speed than the previous types of USBs. This allows for minimal latency in the transfer of your guitar signals from your pickup to the computer ensuring almost an instantaneous response, which is very necessary to ensure that you’re recording in time with other instruments.
Secondly, Focusrite 3rd Gen is compatible with a huge library of DAWs and plugins and seamlessly connects with the different VSTs to allow you to shape your guitar tones and add the effects that you want. So, with Focusrite 3rd Generation, you’ll have the ability to try out newer plugins and DAWs with no compatibility issues.
Is Focusrite Scarlett solo 3rd Gen good for guitar?
Just as good as Focusrite is for Singers and Podcasters, it’s exactly as good for Guitar as well. If you play with a band or record solo on a backing track or metronome, being in time is of utmost importance. This is where Focusrite Solo helps you in many ways. Because of it fast processing speed and exceptional sound quality, Focusrite Solo 3rd Gen is a guitar choice for guitarists as well as musicians, podcasters and producers.
Does Focusrite improve sound?
Because Focusrite Solo has a very high processing quality and speed, it delivers your guitar signals with the least amount of interference and noise. At the same time, as it is compatible with so many DAWs and VSTs, you can further enhance the sound in pro-production phase of your recording. Hence with the help of Focusrite Solo, you can improve the sound and make it more professional.
What is better than Focusrite Scarlett Solo?
While Focusrite Scarlett Solo offers great value for money, but if you’re looking for some alternatives, you can try out the following budget Audio interfaces as well that are as good, if not better, than Focusrite Scarlett Solo:
Native Instruments Komplete Audio 2 : Native Instruments is another renowned name in the music industry. Their software, Guitar Rig 5 was the first PC Guitar plugin that I used. As user friendly and professional as Guitar Rig was, their Audio Interface Komplete Audio 2 is just as great and works perfectly with Guitar RIg 5 as well as other VSTs.
Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD: Behringer is famous for producing decent quality audio interfaces at almost half the price, but their quality is not really as good as that of Focusrite. So I would only recommend their audio interface if you’re really on a tight budget or just want to try out an interface to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Izotope Spire Studio: Although I won’t really recommend this one for guitarists, but if you’re always on the go and do not really have a proper space to sit down and play your guitar, then perhaps Izotope Spire Studio might come in handy due to its small size and portability.
Which Focusrite Scarlett Interface Should You Buy?
Focusrite Scarlett comes in various sizes, ranging from a simple Solo, having 1 mic and 1 guitar input, to 8i8 that has upto 8 inputs and as many outputs. So, depending on your own requirements, you can opt for the most suitable Focusrite Scarlett Interface.
For a home studio, especially if you play your guitar alone without any band mate, the solo is more than sufficient for you. It’ll also not cost you more than $100 so it’s easy on the pocket too.