Getting started with your Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen

On connecting your Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen to your Mac, a Scarlett icon will appear on the desktop:

Double-click on the icon to open the Finder window shown below:

Double-click on the “Click Here to Get Started.url” icon. This will redirect you to the Focusrite website, where we recommend you register your device:

Click on “Let’s get you started”, and you’ll see a form which will be partly prefilled for you automatically. When you submit the form, you’ll see options to go straight to the downloads to get the software for your Scarlett, or to follow a step-by-step setup guide based on how you want to use your Scarlett.

Once you have installed the Focusrite Control software to set up and configure your interface, the Scarlett will be switched out of Easy Start mode so it no longer appears as a Mass Storage Device when connected to your computer.

Your OS should switch the computer’s default audio inputs and outputs to the Scarlett. To verify this, go to System Preferences > Sound, and ensure the input and output are set to Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen.

For detailed setup options on a Mac, open Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup.

On connecting your Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen to your PC, a Scarlett icon appears on the desktop:

(the drive letter may be something different, depending on other devices connected to your computer.)

Double-click the pop-up message to open the dialogue box shown below:

Double-click “Open folder to view files”: this opens an Explorer window:

Double-click “Click Here to Get Started”. This redirects you to the Focusrite website, where we recommend you register your device:

Click on “Let’s get you started”, and you’ll see a partly-prefilled form. When you submit the form, you’ll see options to go straight to the downloads to get the software for your Scarlett, or to follow a step-by-step setup guide based on how you want to use your Scarlett.

Once you've installed the Focusrite Control software to set up and configure your interface, the Scarlett will be switched out of Easy Start mode so it no longer appears as a Mass Storage Device when connected to your computer.

Your OS should switch the computer’s default audio inputs and outputs to be the Scarlett. To verify this, right-click on the Sound icon on the taskbar and select Sound Settings, and set the Scarlett as the Input and Output Device.

Note that a second file - “More Info & FAQs” - is also available during the initial set-up process. This file contains some additional information about the Focusrite Easy Start tool, which you may find helpful if you have any issues with the procedure.

Once registered, you will have immediate access to the following resources:

You can find the licence codes and links for the optional bundled software in your Focusrite account. To find out what bundled software is included with Scarlett 3rd generation, please visit our website:

focusrite.com/scarlett

If you decide to register your Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen at a later date, you can do so at:

id.focusritegroup.com/register

You need to enter the Serial Number manually: you can find this number on the base of the interface itself, and on the barcode label on the side of the box.

We recommend you download and install our Focusrite Control application, as this disables Easy Start mode and unlocks the full potential of the interface. Initially, in Easy Start mode, the interface only works at sample rates up to 48kHz and the MIDI I/O is disabled. Once Focusrite Control is installed on your computer, you can work at sample rates up to 192 kHz.

If you decide not to download and install Focusrite Control immediately, it can be downloaded at any time from:

downloads.focusrite.com

To force your Scarlett out of Easy Start mode without first registering it, connect it to your computer and press and hold the 48V button for five seconds. This will ensure your Scarlett has full functionality. Please bear in mind that should you wish to register your Scarlett after taking this action, you will need to so manually, as explained above.

Two additional inputs, inputs 5/6 are listed in the Input Config page of your DAW’s I/O Preferences. These are virtual “loopback” inputs within software, not additional physical inputs. You can use Loopback to record DAW tracks from sources within your computer, e.g., from a web browser. Focusrite Control incudes a Loopback 1-2 mix tab, where you can choose which inputs to record.

Full details of how to use the loopback inputs can be found in the Focusrite Control User Guide.

This setup shows a typical setup for recording with DAW software on your computer. You might record guitar through Input 1 and vocals through Input 2 into your DAW, while monitoring the playback from the DAW via headphones or speakers. Meanwhile, Inputs 3 and 4 (on the rear panel) are connected to a line level source, this examples shows a Novation Peak connected to inputs 3 and 4.

The front panel inputs are “Combo” type, which accept an XLR male connector or a ¼” (6.35 mm) jack plug. The full microphone preamplifier gain range is only available to a mic connected via the XLR contacts. If it is a “condenser” (or “capacitor”) microphone, you will need to turn on the 48 volt phantom power for it to work by pressing the 48V button. Most modern microphones of other types, e.g., dynamic or ribbon, will not be damaged by phantom power, but note some older mics may be; if you have any doubt, please check the specification of your mic to ensure it is safe to use.

The Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen has no “Mic/line” switches – the Focusrite preamplifier stages are automatically configured for a microphone when you plug an XLR into an input, and for a line or instrument when you connect a jack plug. Select INST from Focusrite Control (‘INST’ illuminates red) if you are connecting a musical instrument, e.g., a guitar in the example, via a TS guitar jack. Deselect INST if you are connecting a line level source such as a keyboard, synthesiser or the balanced output of an external audio mixer via a TRS jack. The Combo connectors accept both TRS and TS types of jack plug for line level sources.

Input channels 1 and 2 of the Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen each have a PAD function: when selected from Focusrite Control (PAD illuminates green when active), the signal level fed to your DAW is reduced by 10 dB. You will find this useful if you need to feed the input from a source whose output level is particularly “hot”, when you might notice clipping or the gain halo turning red, even at minimum gain.

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.

While not an issue for most simple recording situations, under some circumstances, latency can be a problem for a performer who wishes to record while monitoring their input signals. This might be the case if you need to increase the size of your DAW’s recording buffer, which could be necessary when you record overdubs on a particularly large project using many DAW tracks, software instruments and FX plugins.

Common symptoms of a buffer setting too low could be glitching audio (clicks and pops), or a particularly high CPU load within your DAW (most DAWs have CPU readouts). If you experience this on a Mac, you can raise the buffer size from the DAW itself. On Windows, you most likely need to change this from the ASIO Control Panel, which can usually be accessed from your DAW Setup Preferences*.

The Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen, with Focusrite Control, allows zero latency monitoring, which overcomes this problem. You can route your input signals directly to the Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen’s headphone and line outputs. This enables the musicians to hear themselves with ultra-low latency – i.e., effectively in “real time” – along with the computer playback. The input signals to the computer are not affected in any way by this setting. However, note that any effects being added to the live instruments by software plug-ins will not be heard in the headphones, although the FX will still be present on the recording.

When monitoring your inputs through Focusrite Control, ensure your DAW software is not set to route any inputs (what you are currently recording) to any outputs. If it is, the musicians will hear themselves “twice”, with one signal audibly delayed as an echo.

* Typical name. Terminology may differ between DAWs.

Any of the Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen’s outputs may be used to connect monitoring speakers. All outputs are electronically balanced, and available on the rear panel on ¼” (6.35 mm) 3-pole (TRS) jacks.

If LINE OUTPUTS 1 and 2 are used for primary monitoring, LINE 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, only LINE OUTPUTS 1 and 2 are affected in level by the large front panel MONITOR volume control.

The signals at LINE OUTPUTS 3 and 4 are at (full) fixed level, and thus if you use these for monitoring, you will have to control the volume either from Focusrite Control, or by adjusting the volume at an external amplifier.

Active monitors (e.g., typical computer speakers) incorporate internal amplifiers with a volume control, and may be connected directly. Larger, passive loudspeakers will require a separate stereo amplifier; the outputs should be connected to the amplifier’s inputs.

Connecting active speakers:

Connecting active and passive speakers, a small pair of active monitors connected to Outputs 3 and 4 could act as “nearfield” monitors; their volume would either be adjusted locally on the speakers or via Focusrite Control. The volume of the passive main monitors would be adjusted by the front panel MONITOR control.

Typical consumer (hi-fi) amplifiers and small powered monitors will have unbalanced inputs, either on phono (RCA) sockets, or via a 3.5 mm 3-pole jack plug intended for direct connection to a computer. In either case, use a suitable connecting cable with phono plugs (RCA jacks) at one end.

Professional power amplifiers will generally have balanced inputs; we recommend using balanced cables to connect these to the ¼” jack outputs of the Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen.

The Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen allows the easy integration of external outboard processors or effects. A good example is the inclusion of an outboard stereo compressor to a recording setup similar to that outlined above.

Connect Line Outputs 3 and 4 to the compressor’s inputs, and the compressor’s outputs to Line Inputs 3 and 4, as shown below. You can then route the channels from your DAW to outputs 3/4. In Focusrite Control, route Software Playback 3/4 to line outputs 3/4 and the signal will be sent to the compressor. We have omitted the front panel connections in this example for clarity.

You can use Focusrite Control or your DAW software to adjust the levels to and from the external processor if necessary or for creative effect.

The Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen makes an excellent interface between a laptop running DJ software and the channels of a DJ mixer. In this setup, Outputs 1 and 2 can be connected to Line Inputs 1 and 2 of an external DJ mixer, and Outputs 3 and 4 to Line Inputs 3 and 4. Connecting in this way means all mixer facilities, such as EQs and cross-fading, are easily accessible. However, you must set the front panel Monitor Level control to maximum, otherwise Outputs 1 and 2 will be at a lower level than Outputs 3 and 4.

Note that although the outputs of the Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen are balanced, they can be connected to an unbalanced input using a cable fitted with a ¼” TS jack. Most DJ mixers will have unbalanced inputs using phono (RCA) sockets, so suitable phono-to-TS jack cables will be needed to make the connection.