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Using your Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen with Focusrite Control

Updated

Focusrite Control software allows flexible mixing and routing of all audio signals to the physical audio outputs, as well as control of output monitor levels. Sample rate selection and digital sync options are also available from Focusrite Control.

Note

Focusrite Control is a application for many Focusrite interfaces. When you connect an interface to your computer and open Focusrite Control, the model of interface is automatically detected, and the software configured to suit the inputs and outputs, and other facilities, available on the hardware.

To open Focusrite Control:

Installing Focusrite Control on your computer places the Focusrite Control icon on the dock or desktop. Click the icon to launch Focusrite Control.

Focusrite Control icon

Assuming your Scarlett interface is connected to your computer with the USB cable, Focusrite Control appears as shown below (Mac version shown).

S3G 8i6 Focusrite Control Default View

Please refer to the Focusrite Control user guide for further details. This is available from:

focusrite.com/downloads

Channel Listing tables

The 18i20’s inputs and outputs will appear in Focusrite Control with different channel numbers depending on the sample rate being used. The channel numbers will also vary when the optical ADAT ports are in use, depending on which Digital I/O Mode is selected (see Digital I/O Modes below).

Digital I/O Modes

The Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen supports three Digital I/O modes: these are selected from the Device Settings pane of Focusrite Control. The modes determine how the audio inputs and outputs are mapped to the optical (ADAT) ports and the S/PDIF input and output coaxial (RCA) sockets.

Mode 1: Coaxial (RCA) S/PDIF

This is the factory default mode, and your Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen will adopt these assignments “out-of-the- box”. Use this mode if you need a coaxial S/PDIF audio input, or if you wish to use a coaxial S/PDIF signal as a clock source.

Digital port

Sample rate (kHz)

44.1/48

88.2/96

176.4/192

Inputs

S/PDIF IN

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

OPTICAL IN 1

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 1-4

x

OPTICAL IN 2

x

x

x

Outputs

S/PDIF OUT

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

OPTICAL OUT 1

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 1-4

x

OPTICAL OUT 2

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 1-4

x

Mode 2: Optical S/PDIF

Select this mode when you are working at 44.1/48 or 88.2/96 kHz sample rate, and you need to send or receive an S/PDIF signal via an optical port. Also use this mode if you want to use a clock source sent as an optical S/PDIF signal.

Digital port

Sample rate (kHz)

44.1/48

88.2/96

176.4/192

Inputs

S/PDIF IN

x

x

x

OPTICAL IN 1

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 1-4

x

OPTICAL IN 2

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

x

Outputs

S/PDIF OUT

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

OPTICAL OUT 1

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 1-4

x

OPTICAL OUT 2

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

x

Mode 3: Dual ADAT

Select this mode when you need more than four ADAT input and/or output channels when working at

88.2/96 kHz sample rate.

Digital port

Sample rate (kHz)

44.1/48

88.2/96

176.4/192

Inputs

S/PDIF IN

x

x

x

OPTICAL IN 1

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 1-4

x

OPTICAL IN 2

x

ADAT 5-8

x

Outputs

S/PDIF OUT

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

S/PDIF

OPTICAL OUT 1

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 1-4

x

OPTICAL OUT 2

ADAT 1-8

ADAT 5-8

x

The tables below list how the 18i20’s inputs and outputs appear in Focusrite Control for each of the three Optical I/O modes, at each of the three sample rate pairs. Note that the first digit in the entries relating to the ADAT channels refers to the port in use: so “ADAT 1.1” to “ADAT 1.4” are ADAT Chs 1 to 4 at the right-hand port of each pair, while “ADAT 2.1” to “ADAT 2.4” are ADAT Chs 5 to 8 at the left-hand port of each pair.

At 44 .1 kHz and 48 kHz sample rates:

At 88 .2 kHz and 96 kHz sample rates:

INPUTS

DIGITAL I/O MODE

COAXIAL S/ PDIF

OPTICAL S/ PDIF

DUAL ADAT

Input 1

Input 1

Input 1

Input 1

Input 2

Input 2

Input 2

Input 2

Input 3

Input 3

Input 3

Input 3

Input 4

Input 4

Input 4

Input 4

Input 5

Input 5

Input 5

Input 5

Input 6

Input 6

Input 6

Input 6

Input 7

Input 7

Input 7

Input 7

Input 8

Input 8

Input 8

Input 8

Loopback 1

Loopback 1

Loopback 1

Loopback 1

Loopback 2

Loopback 2

Loopback 2

Loopback 2

Digital In 1

S/PDIF 1

(via coax socket)

S/PDIF 1

(via optical port)

ADAT 1.1

Digital In 2

S/PDIF 2

(via coax socket)

S/PDIF 2

(via optical port)

ADAT 1.2

Digital In 3

ADAT 1. 1

ADAT 1. 1

ADAT 1.3

Digital In 4

ADAT 1. 2

ADAT 1. 2

ADAT 1.4

Digital In 5

ADAT 1. 3

ADAT 1. 3

ADAT 2.1

Digital In 6

ADAT 1. 4

ADAT 1. 4

ADAT 2.2

Digital In 7

x

x

ADAT 2.3

Digital In 8

x

x

ADAT 2.4

OUTPUTS

DIGITAL I/O MODE

COAXIAL S/PDIF

OPTICAL S/PDIF

DUAL ADAT

DUAL ADAT OUTPUT PRESET*

Output 1

Output 1

Output 1

Output 1

Output 1

Output 2

Output 2

Output 2

Output 2

Output 2

Output 3

Output 3

Output 3

Output 3

Output 3

Output 4

Output 4

Output 4

Output 4

Output 4

Output 5

Output 5

Output 5

Output 5

Output 5

Output 6

Output 6

Output 6

Output 6

Output 6

Output 7

Output 7

Output 7

Output 7

Output 7

Output 8

Output 8

Output 8

Output 8

Output 8

Output 9

Output 9

Output 9

Output 9

Output 9

Output 10

Output 10

Output 10

Output 10

Output 10

Output 11

S/PDIF 1

(via coax socket)

S/PDIF 1

(via coax socket and optical port)

S/PDIF 1

(via coax socket)

ADAT 1. 1

Output 12

S/PDIF 2

(via coax socket)

S/PDIF

2 (via coaxial socket and optical port)

S/PDIF 2

(via coax socket)

ADAT 1. 2

Output 13

ADAT 1. 1

ADAT 1. 1

ADAT 1. 1

ADAT 1. 3

Output 14

ADAT 1. 2

ADAT 1. 2

ADAT 1. 2

ADAT 1. 4

Output 15

ADAT 1. 3

ADAT 1. 3

ADAT 1. 3

ADAT 2.1

Output 16

ADAT 1. 4

ADAT 1. 4

ADAT 1. 4

ADAT 2.2

Output 17

x

x

ADAT 2.1

ADAT 2.3

Output 18

x

x

ADAT 2.2

ADAT 2.4

Output 19

x

x

x

x

Output 20

x

x

x

x

*To obtain eight ADAT output channels, please select Focusrite Control’s DUAL ADAT OUTPUT preset.

At 176 .4 kHz and 192 kHz sample rates:

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