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Setting up your DAW (Recording Software) with your Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen

Updated

The Scarlett is compatible with any ASIO-supported DAW on Windows and any Core Audio-supported DAW on macOS. It is also compatible with non-ASIO applications but your channel count may be limited.

To help you get started, we've put together steps to set up your interface and start recording in the most common DAWs. If you need any more information, please see the user guide for your DAW.

If you don't already have a DAW installed on your computer to help get you started, the Scarlett comes with Ableton Live Lite and a version of Pro Tools. You can access these in Easy Start , or from your Focusrite account.

Tip

What is a DAW?

DAW stands for 'Digital Audio Workstation' and is the term given to any software you use to record arrange or make music.

Ableton Logo Ableton Live

To get set up in Ableton Live, follow these steps:

Windows

For video instructions, click the play button.

  1. Open Ableton Live on your computer.

  2. Click Options > Preferences....

    Ableton Options menu showing the preferences option.

  3. Go to the Audio tab on the left-hand side of the Preferences window.

  4. Set the Driver Type to ASIO, and Audio Device to Focusrite USB ASIO.

    The Ableton Preferences window with Focusrite USB ASIO selected as the Audio Device.

  5. Click Input Config.

    The next step is to make all the inputs on your device appear as input options in Ableton.

  6. Click to highlight each set of Mono and Stereo Inputs to make sure they appear as selectable in Live.

    A screenshot of Ableton Live's Input Config page with the channels turned on.

  7. Click OK.

  8. Do the same for the Output Config, if you are using multiple outputs from your Scarlett 18i20.

    A screenshot of Ableton Live's Output Config page with the channels turned on.

  9. Close the Preferences Window.

Mac

For video instructions, click the play button.

  1. Open Ableton Live on your computer.

  2. Click Live in the top menu bar.

    Mac Ableton Settings menu.

  3. Click Settings.

  4. Go to the Audio tab on the left-hand side of the Preferences window.

  5. Set the Audio Input Device and Audio Output Device to Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen.

    A screenshot of Ableton Live's preferences page with the Scarlett set as the Audio Input and Audio Output Device.

  6. Click Input Config.

    The next step is to make all the inputs on your device appear as input options in Ableton.

  7. Click to highlight each set of Mono and Stereo Inputs to make sure they appear as selectable in Live. You will see up to 26 channels.

    A screenshot of Ableton Live's Input Config page with the channels turned on.

  8. Click OK.

  9. Do the same for the Output Config, if you are using multiple outputs from your Scarlett 18i20.

    A screenshot of Ableton Live's Output Config page with the channels turned on.

  10. Close the Preferences Window.

Getting sound into Ableton

For video instructions, click the play button.

  1. Click to highlight an Audio Track in Live's main window. Live had two views (Session and Arrangement), so depending on which view you are in, please see the following screenshots.

    Ableton session view with track three highlighted.
    Ableton arrange view with track three highlighted.

  2. Set the Audio From to Ext. In and the input drop-down to the interface input you are using, e.g. 1.

    A screenshot of Ableton Live's External In dropdown with 16 channels visible.

  3. Set the Monitor to Auto.

    This allows you to hear sound coming in from your Scarlett's input.

    Ableton session view with the Monitor: Auto button on (yellow).

  4. Click the record arm button beneath the track. It lights red when record arm is on.

    Send a signal to the input on your Scarlett and you should see the meter in Ableton move.

    An Ableton track in session view showing the Record arm button enabled.

  5. When you're ready to record, click the record ⏺ button in Ableton's transport bar.

    The Ableton record button at the top of the window.

Cubase icon Cubase

Windows

Setting Scarlett as Cubase's audio device:

For video instructions, click the play button.

Recording to a track in Cubase:

For video instructions, click the play button.

  1. Open Cubase on your computer.

  2. In the top menu bar, click Studio > Studio Setup…

    A screenshot of Cubase's Studio menu with Studio Setup… selected.

  3. Click Audio System on the left-hand side.

  4. Set the ASIO Driver to Focusrite USB ASIO.

    A screenshot of Cubase's Studio Setup window with Focusrite USB ASIO selected as the ASIO Driver.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Right-click in the MixConsole.

  7. Click Add Audio Track.

    A screenshot of Cubase's Add Audio Track.

  8. Configure the track type as Audio and set the Audio Input to the channel you're using on your interface.

    A screenshot of Cubase's Add Track dialogue window.

  9. Click Add Track.

  10. Click the Record Enable and Monitor buttons A screenshot of Cubase's record arm and input enable buttons (off). (off) on the Cubase channel to enable the track for recording and so you can hear it using input monitoring A screenshot of Cubase's record arm and input enable buttons (both on). (on).

  11. Click Transport Record A screenshot of Cubase's Transport bar. in Cubase's transport to start recording.

Mac

Setting Scarlett as Cubase's audio device:

For video instructions, click the play button.

Recording to a track in Cubase:

For video instructions, click the play button.

  1. Open Cubase on your computer.

  2. In the top menu bar, click Studio > Studio Setup…

    A screenshot of Cubase's Studio menu with Studio Setup… highlighted.

  3. Go to the Audio System page.

  4. Change the ASIO Driver to 18i20 4th Gen.

    A screenshot of Cubase's Studio setup window with the Scarlett selected as the ASIO driver

  5. Click Switch.

    A screenshot of Cubase's switch ASIO driver pop-up.

  6. Click OK.

  7. Right-click in the MixConsole.

  8. Click Add Track.

    A screenshot of Cubase's Add Track pop-up.

  9. Configure the track type as Audio and set the Audio Input to the channel you're using on your interface.

    A screenshot of Cubase's Add Track dialogue window.

  10. Click Add Track.

  11. Click the Record Enable and Monitor buttons A screenshot of Cubase's record arm and input enable buttons (off). (off) on the Cubase channel to enable the track for recording and so you can hear it using input monitoring A screenshot of Cubase's record arm and input enable buttons (both on). (on).

  12. Click Transport Record A screenshot of Cubase's Transport bar. in Cubase's transport to start recording.

    A screenshot of Cubase's window with record arm and input enable on.

Logic Pro icon Logic and GarageBand icon GarageBand

To get set up in Logic Pro and GarageBand, follow these steps:

Video instructions:

  1. Setting Scarlett as your audio device:

    GarageBand:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

    Logic Pro:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

  2. Recording a track:

    GarageBand:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

    Logic Pro:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Open Logic Pro or GarageBand on your computer (you may be prompted to Choose a project, you can choose an Empty Project or use a template).

  2. Select Audio in the Choose a track type window.

  3. Set the Audio Input to Input 1.

    If you don't see any inputs, make sure the Device: is set to your 18i20 4th Gen.

    1. Click the arrow to the right of the Device section.

    2. In the preferences window, set the Output Device and Input Device to 18i20 4th Gen.

      A screenshot of Logic Pro's Audio Settings window with the Scarlett selected as the Input/output device.

      Logic Pro X
      A screenshot of GarageBand's Audio Settings window with the Scarlett selected as the Input/output device.

      GarageBand

    3. Click Apply (Logic Pro only).

    4. Close the Preferences or Settings window.

  4. Logic Pro: Tick Input Monitoring and Record Enable.

    GarageBand: Tick I want to hear my instrument as I play and record.

    This allows you to hear sound coming in from your Scarlett's input.

  5. Click Create.

    Logic Pro Choose a track type dialogue window.

    Logic Pro
    GarageBand Choose a track type dialogue window.

    GarageBand

  6. When you're ready to record, click the record button at the top of Logic/GarageBand.

    Logic/GarageBand record button.

Pro Tools icon Pro Tools

To get set up in Pro Tools, follow these steps:

Video instructions for Windows and macOS

  1. Setting Scarlett as Pro Tool's audio device:

    Windows:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

    macOS:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

  2. Recording to a track in Pro Tools:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

Step-by-step instructions for Windows and macOS

  1. Open Pro Tools on your computer.

  2. Click Setup > Playback Engine in the top menu bar.

    A screenshot of Pro Tool's Mac Setup > Playback Engine… menu item.

  3. Select Focusrite USB ASIO (Windows) or Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen in the Playback Engine dropdown.

    A screenshot of Pro Tool's Windows Playback Engine window with Focusrite USB ASIO selected.

    Windows
    A screenshot of Pro Tool's Mac Playback Engine window with Scarlett selected.

    Mac

  4. Click Track > New in the top menu bar.

    A screenshot of Pro Tool's Track > New menu item.

  5. Set the number of tracks you need and set the type to Audio Track.

    A screenshot of Pro Tool's create new track pop-up.

  6. Click Create

  7. Click the record arm A screenshot of Pro Tool's record arm button, on. and input enable A screenshot of Pro Tool's input monitoring button, on. buttons on the track.

    This allows you to hear sound coming in from your Scarlett's input.

  8. Click the main Record Enable button A screenshot of Pro Tool's record enable button, off. at the top of the Pro Tools window, it turns red when enabled A screenshot of Pro Tool's record enable button, on..

  9. Click the Play button A screenshot of Pro Tool's play button. to begin recording.

Reaper icon Reaper

To get set up in Reaper, follow these steps:

Windows

Setting 18i20 4th Gen as Reaper's audio device:

For video instructions, click the play button.

Recording to a track in Reaper:

For video instructions, click the play button.

  1. Open Reaper on your computer.

  2. If you see a pop-up window, asking you to select your audio device driver, click Yes

    Reaper initial pop-up to select an audio device.

    If you don't see the pop-up, go to Options (top menu) > Preferences > Device

    Reaper Options menu and preference page.

  3. In the Audio device settings.

    Reaper's Device window.

    1. Select ASIO in the Audio system: dropdown.

    2. Select Focusrite USB ASIO in the ASIO Driver: dropdown.

    3. Set the first and last input and output range to match the number of inputs and outputs you want to use.

  4. Click OK.

  5. Click Track (top menu) > Insert New Track.

    Inserting a new track in Reaper using the Track menu.

  6. Click the red record-armed button.

    The Reaper record arm button lit red (on).

  7. Click the Input 1 box to select your input on your 18i20 4th Gen.

    Selecting an input in Reaper using the In dropdown menu.

  8. When you're ready to record, click the record button in the bottom section of Reaper.

Mac

Setting 18i20 4th Gen as Reaper's audio device:

For video instructions, click the play button.

Recording to a track in Reaper:

For video instructions, click the play button.

  1. Open Reaper on your computer.

  2. If you see a pop-up window, asking you to select your audio device driver, click Yes

    Reaper initial pop-up to select an audio device.

    If you don't see the pop-up, go to Options (top menu) > Settings > Device

    Reaper Settings menu and preference page.

  3. Choose 18i20 4th Gen in the Audio Device drop-down menu.

    A screenshot of Reaper's audio preferences with Scarlett selected.

  4. Click OK.

  5. Click Track (top menu) > Insert New Track.

    Inserting a new track in Reaper using the Track menu.

  6. Click the red record-armed button.

    The Reaper record arm button lit red (on).

  7. Click the Input 1 box to select your input on your 18i20 4th Gen.

    Selecting an input in Reaper using the In dropdown menu.

  8. When you're ready to record, click the record button in the bottom section of Reaper.

FL Studio Icon FL Studio

To get set up in FL Studio, follow these steps:

Video instructions for Windows and macOS

  1. Setting Scarlett as FL Studio's audio device:

    Windows:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

    macOS:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

  2. Recording to a track in FL Studio:

    For video instructions, click the play button.

Step-by-step instructions for Windows and macOS

  1. Open FL Studio on your computer.

  2. Go to Options > Audio Settings.

  3. Set the Device to Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (or Focusrite USB ASIO on Windows) in the Input / output section.

    A screenshot of Fl Studio's Audio Settings window with the Scarlett selected as the Input/output device.

  4. Close the Settings window.

  5. In the Mixer, click on the insert you want to record in to.

  6. Set the external input drop-down from (none) to the interface input you are using, e.g. Input 1 for input mono, or Input 1 - Input 2 for both inputs 1 and 2 in stereo.

    A screenshot of FL Studio's input selection with input 1 selected.

  7. Click the main record button in the transport section.

    A screenshot of FL Studio's transport.

    • Choose an option in the What would you like to record? window.

      If you're not sure which option to choose, please see FL Studio's help files.

  8. When you're ready to record, press the play button in the transport section.

    A screenshot of FL Studio's transport with the record button on.

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