Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 4 Audio Interface Overview:

Scarlett 18i20 is the ultimate studio hub for demanding project studios. Fully equipped with 18 inputs and 20 outputs, including eight of our most detailed ultra-low-noise mic preamps, line, Hi-Z, and MIDI connections for your drums, vocals, guitars, keys, and synths. Focusrite Control 2 provides flexible routing and mixing options, allowing you to customise 18i20’s independent outputs to suit the needs of any recording session. Expand and sync your setup with ADAT, S/PDIF, and Word Clock connections.

Air mode, with Presence and Harmonic Drive, brings the sound of big studio consoles to your recordings, while Auto Gain and Clip Safe ensure you never worry about levels. Low-latency monitoring, A/B speaker switching, and a built-in talkback mic are perfect for serious project studios. The Hitmaker Expansion software bundle has all the tools you need to record, produce, and release your tracks. And the Focusrite Control 2 desktop and mobile apps enable you to remotely control your Scarlett anywhere in the studio.

Eight of our most detailed, ultra-low-noise preamps.
Connect your studio to 18i20s 4th-Generation remote-controlled preamps Scarletts most transparent and detailed ever. 69dB of gain range provides all of the headroom you’ll need to get the best result from the most intense multi-track recordings. Control preamp levels from anywhere in the studio using the Focusrite Control 2 apps, giving you the freedom to adjust settings remotely.

Auto Gain and Clip Safe.
Let 18i20 handle your levels. Auto Gain will set all eight microphone preamp levels instantly and Clip Safe keeps them in the sweet spot, automatically tweaking the gain if youre in danger of clipping. You’ll never lose a take again.

All the I/O you need

Play your instruments.
Connect a guitar directly to 18i20s Hi-Z inputs for an amp-like feel, plug synths and grooveboxes into the eight line inputs, or route your favourite outboard gear through the ten line outputs.

Control MIDI devices.
Use 18i20 as a MIDI interface to receive and send data to your favourite external MIDI-controllable equipment.

Expand your setup.
Increase your channel count with up to 10 additional inputs and outputs by using the S/PDIF and ADAT connections. Dual ADAT supports eight channels of audio at 96kHz. The Word Clock output ensures your external gear stays perfectly synced.

Mix your way, with independent outputs.
Take full control of your routing and mixing preferences using the Focusrite Control 2 apps, anywhere in the studio.

Dial in the perfect headphone mix for the artist, or route the signal directly to outboard gear to put the finishing touches on your mix.

Get that big console sound with two re-engineered Air modes.
Presence mode boosts your signals high-end, bringing the sound to the front of the mix. Create intimate vocal recordings, capture every detail of acoustic guitars, and hear your drum overheads shimmer.

Presence and Harmonic Drive mode boosts mid-range harmonics in your sound, making its unique character shine through the mix. Try it on guitars, vocals, or anything else that needs a little more punch.

Huge 122dB dynamic range for incredible recordings.
Scarlett delivers incredible audio quality, with converters direct from our flagship RedNet interfaces as found in high-end studios around the world.

Powerful sound, powerful control.
Two custom-designed headphone amps deliver clear, powerful sound for high-impedance headphones, offering the best playback ever from a Scarlett.

A built-in talkback mic ensures seamless communication to the artists, while alt monitor switching lets you A/B your mixes between two speaker pairs.

Easy Start
Need help getting set up? Just tell our Easy Start tool what you want to do and well guide you through all the software and setup you need, with recording tips and other helpful content along the way.

Specifications:

• Number of Microphone Preamps:8
• Phantom Power: Yes (Independent)
• Instrument Input s: 2
• Line Inputs: 8
• Air Mode: Yes
• Auto Gain: Yes
• Clip Safe: Yes
• Line Outputs: 10
• Headphone Outputs: 2
• ADAT Inputs: 2 (up to 8 channels at 96kHz)
• ADAT Outputs: 2 (up to 8 channels at 96kHz)
• SPDIF Inputs: 1
• SPDIF Outputs: 1
• SPDIF Outputs: 1
• MIDI Inputs: 1
• MIDI Outputs: 1
• Talkback: Yes
• Loopback: Yes
• Connectivity: USB Type-C
• Protocol: USB 2.0
• Form Factor: Desktop / Rack Mountable (1U)
• Simultaneous I/O: 20 x 24 (including Loopback)
• A/D Resolution: 24-bit/192 kHz
• Bus Powered: No

Instrument inputs

• Frequency Response:20-20kHz 0.05dB
• Dynamic Range: 113dB (A-Weighted)
• THD+N: -80dB @ 8dB gain
• Maximum Input Level: 12dBu
• Gain Range: 62dB
• Impedance: 1M

Line outputs (Balanced)

• Frequency Response:20-20kHz 0.02dB
• Dynamic Range: 122dB (A-Weighted)
• THD+N: -112dB
• Maximum Output Level: 16dBu
• Impedance: 200

Headphone outputs

• Frequency Response:20-20kHz 0.1dB @ 33 / 300
• Dynamic Range
  • 112dB @ 33
  • 116dB @ 300
• THD+N
  • -100dB @ 33 (Minimum)
  • -110dB @ 300 (Minimum)
• Maximum Output Level
  • 5dBu into 33
  • 11dBu into 300
• Maximum Output Power
  • 57mW into 33
  • 27mW into 300
• Impedance: 11

Analogue to Digital Converter

• THD+N:-110dB
• Dynamic Range: 120dB

Digital to Analogue Converter

• THD+N:-115dB
• Dynamic Range: 130dB (A-Weighted)

Power

• External:30W

Dimensions

• Height:46.55mm
• Width: 259.73mm
• Depth: 442mm
• Weight: 3.304kg

Supported sample rates

• 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz

Microphone inputs

• Frequency Response:20-20kHz 0.06dB
• Dynamic Range: 116dB (A-Weighted)
• THD+N: -100dB @ 8dB gain
• Noise EIN: -127dBu (A-Weighted)
• Maximum Input Level: 16dBu
• Gain Range: 69dB
• Impedance: 3k

Variable Line inputs

• Frequency Response:20-20kHz 0.05dB
• Dynamic Range: 115.5dB (A-Weighted)
• THD+N: -100dB @ 8dB gain
• Maximum Input Level: 22dBu
• Gain Range: 69dB
• Impedance: 24k

What’s in the box

• Scarlett 18i20 audio interface
• 1.5m USB-C to USB-C cable
• USB-C to USB-A adaptor
• IEC power cable