11
If you are using a capacitor (condenser) microphone, press the 48V button to supply phantom power
to the mic. Don’t turn this on if you’re using any other type of mic.
Each channel of the Scarlett 2i4 has a PAD button on the front panel; pressing this reduces the input
sensitivity by 10 dB. You may find this useful if you are feeding the input from a line level source when
the output is particularly “hot”.
Using Direct Monitoring
You will frequently hear the term “latency” used in connection with digital audio systems. In the case
of the simple DAW recording application described above, latency will be the time it takes for your
input signals to pass through your computer and audio software, and back out again via your audio
interface. Latency can be a problem for a performer who wishes to record while monitoring their
input signals.
The Scarlett 2i4 is fitted with a “Direct Monitoring” option, which overcomes this problem.
Setting the front panel DIRECT MONITOR control to INPUT will route your input signals directly to
the Scarlett 2i4’s headphone and main monitor outputs. This enables you to hear yourself with zero
latency – i.e., in “real time”. Users can vary the amount of computer playback heard by using the
DIRECT MONITOR control. The input signals to your computer are not affected in any way by this
setting.
DIRECT MONITOR is a “mix” control – it lets you set your own preferred blend of input signals and
DAW playback. As you rotate the control clockwise, the level of DAW playback increases and the level
of your input signal decreases. At the 12 o’clock position, a 50/50 mix of the two is obtained.
Note that if the DIRECT MONITOR control is set anywhere other than fully clockwise or fully anti-
clockwise, ensure that your DAW software is not set to route its input (what you are currently
recording) to its output. If it is, you will hear yourself “twice”, with one signal audibly delayed as an
echo.
The Direct Monitoring facility can also be switched for mono operation, which is useful if you are
only recording one instrument or voice. With the STEREO/MONO switch set to STEREO, Input 1 is
routed to the left input channel and Input 2 to the right, and this will be the correct setting if you are
recording a stereo source. In MONO mode, both inputs are routed equally to both channels, and will
appear in the centre of the stereo image.
Connecting Scarlett 2i4 to loudspeakers
If connecting 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 to the two decks of a DJ Mixer make sure to turn the Monitor Knob
all the way up to send a full line signal to 1 and 2, Deck A. Output channels 1 and 2 are provided both
in variable-level, electronically balanced form on ¼” (6.35 mm) 3-pole (TRS) jacks and as unbalanced
signals on phono (RCA) sockets. Outputs 3 and 4 are provided in fixed-level unbalanced form only,
also on phono (RCA) sockets.
If Outputs 1 and 2 are used, Outputs 3 and 4 are free to be used for another purpose, such as
connecting to an additional recording device or an additional pair of monitors. However, please note
that the balanced versions of channels 1 and 2 – i.e., the signals at the two ¼” (6.35 mm) jack sockets
and the unbalanced versions of channels 1 and 2 – are affected in level by the the large front panel
MONITOR volume control. The signals at outputs 3 – 4 phono (RCA) sockets are at (full) fixed level,
and thus if you use these for monitoring, you will have to control the volume either at source (within
the DAW itself), or by adjusting the volume on an external amplifier.
Self-powered monitors (i.e., typical computer speakers) incorporate internal amplifiers with a
volume control, and may be connected directly. Larger, passive loudspeakers will require a separate
