Focusrite Scarlett Solo User Guide

User Guide

OVERVIEW

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this Second Generation Scarlett Solo, one of the families of Focusrite professional audio interfaces incorporating high-quality Focusrite analog pre-amplifiers. You now have a simple and compact solution for routing high-quality audio to and from your computer. In developing the Second Generation series of Scarlett interfaces, we have enhanced both the performance and feature set including support for sample rates up to 192 kHz, improved mic preamp performance with low noise and plenty of gain, and upgraded instrument inputs with additional headroom for recording the loudest guitar parts without clipping. They are class-compliant on Mac, which means they are plug-and-play, so no need to install a driver if you are a Mac user. You will also be able to download some exciting new software plug-ins once you’ve registered the product.
This User Guide provides a detailed explanation of the hardware to help you achieve a thorough understanding of the product’s operational features. We recommend that both users who are new to computer-based recording, as well as more experienced users, take the time to read through the user guide so that you are fully aware of all the possibilities that the Scarlett Solo and accompanying software have to offer. If the main User Guide sections do not provide the information you need, be sure to consult support.focusrite.com, which contains a comprehensive collection of common technical support queries.

Features

The Scarlett Solo hardware interface provides the means for connecting a microphone and an instrument or line-level audio signals to a computer running Mac OS or Windows. The signals at the physical inputs can be routed to your audio recording software / digital audio workstation (referred to throughout this user guide as the “DAW”) at up to 24-bit, 192 kHz resolution; similarly, the DAW’s monitor or recorded output will appear at the unit’s physical outputs.
This lets you record “real-world” instruments into Ableton Live Lite, GarageBand® (or whichever other DAW you may use) along with – or instead of – any “native” sounds already available within your computer. The physical outputs can be connected to an amplifier and speakers, powered monitors, headphones or any other audio equipment with analog inputs that you wish to use. Although all inputs and outputs on the Scarlett Solo are routed directly to and from your DAW for recording and playback, you can configure the routing within your DAW in order to meet your need

Box Contents

Along with your Scarlett Solo, you should have:

• Bundle code* for accessing the following online resources:
  – Focusrite Red 2 & 3 Plug-in Suite
  – ProTools | First
  – Ableton Live Lite
  – Loopmasters sample library

• USB cable

• Getting Started Guide and Important Safety Information*

• information printed on the inside of the gift box

System Requirements

Mac OS & Windows

For information on System Requirements for the Scarlett and the optional bundled software, please visit s. A Direct Monitoring feature lets you hear what you are playing without the effects of computer latency.

http://support.focusrite.com

GETTING STARTED

IMPORTANT: WINDOWS USERS – PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU RUN THE INSTALLER BEFORE CONNECTING THE SCARLETT SOLO TO YOUR COMPUTER.
GET STARTED WITH SCARLETT SOLO THE SECOND GENERATION SCARLETT SOLO IS CLASS COMPLIANT FOR MACS, THEREFORE DRIVER INSTALLATION IS NOT NECESSARY.

Software Installation

All software required by the Scarlett Solo – and several powerful and useful extras – is available for download from the Focusrite website www.focusrite.com/register. You will find a “Bundle Code” printed on the inside of the gift box your Scarlett Solo comes in, and the Serial number can be found on the underside of the unit. You will need to enter these when you access the downloads area of the website; this procedure ensures that you will have the most up-to-date software versions.

DOWNLOADING THE INCLUDED SOFTWARE
To download the included software, you will need to register your Scarlett Solo at www.focusrite.com/register You will need the product serial number which can be found on the underside of the Solo hardware.
Once you have entered the serial number, you will be asked to enter your BUNDLE CODE, found below:

XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX

Focusrite is a trademark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited registered in the UK and other countries.
Scarlett Solo is a trademark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited registered in the UK and other countries.
2016© Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved.

1.  Using your usual browser, go to www.focusrite.com/register/.
2.  Follow the on-screen instructions, entering the Serial number and then the Bundle Code (XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX) into the form where prompted. Your Bundle Code is printed on the inside of the gift box.
3. You will then be able to access the “My Products” page, where the software products to which your registration entitles you are available for download, complete with activation codes where applicable.
4. Download and install the Scarlett Solo drivers (Windows only). Follow all on-screen instructions.
   • When the installation is complete, restart your computer.
   • After restart, connect the Scarlett Solo to your computer with the USB cable supplied.
   This information is accurate as of May 2016, however, we are constantly striving to improve the customer experience and as a result, this process is subject to change. If anything appears to have changed please refer to www.focusrite.com/get-started for the latest info.

Mac OS only:
Your OS should automatically switch the computer’s default audio inputs & outputs to the Scarlett Solo. To verify this, go to System Preferences > Sound, and ensure that the input and output are set to Scarlett Solo. For more detailed setup options on a Mac, open Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup.
Windows only:
Your OS should automatically switch the computer’s default audio inputs & outputs to the Scarlett Solo. To verify this go to: Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Manage Audio Devices and ensure that ‘Default Playback’ and ‘Recording’ are set to ‘Scarlett Solo’

Powering your Scarlett Solo
The Scarlett Solo is an active device and needs a DC power source to operate. This will be supplied by the Mac or PC to which it is connected, via a single USB connection. Note that an external power supply is not required.
You should experience no problems in powering the Scarlett Solo from the USB ports on any compatible Mac or PC. However, please be aware that USB ports on some laptops may not be able to deliver the same current to externally connected devices when they are running off their internal batteries, compared to their current capability when running from AC mains. We, therefore, recommend strongly that if you are using Scarlett Solo with a laptop, please power the laptop from the mains with its supplied AC adaptor.

Connecting your Scarlett Solo

IMPORTANT – WINDOWS USERS: Before you connect the Scarlett Solo to your computer, please complete the software installation according to the instructions on page 5. This will ensure that the hardware uses the correct drivers, and will prevent unexpected behavior.

Your Scarlett Solo has a single USB 2.0 port (on the rear panel). Once the software installation (if necessary) is complete, simply connect Scarlett Solo to your computer using the USB cable provided.
Note that Scarlett Solo is a USB 2.0 device, and thus the USB connection requires a USB 2.0+ compliant port on your computer. It will not operate correctly with USB 1.0/1.1 ports.

Audio Setup in your DAW
The Scarlett Solo is compatible with any Windows-based DAW that supports ASIO or WDM or any Mac-based DAW that uses Core Audio. After installing the USB drivers (Windows only) and connecting the hardware, you can start using your Scarlett Solo with the DAW of your choice. To allow you to get started if you do not already have a DAW application installed on your computer, both Pro Tools | First and Ableton Live Lite are included in the software package available once you’ve registered your Scarlett Solo online. To install either DAW, download and save the desired installer file from your registered Focusrite “My Products” as described on page 5, and then run it, following all on-screen instructions.
Operating instructions for Pro Tools | First and Ableton Live Lite are beyond the scope of this User Guide, but both applications include a full set of Help files.
Please note – your DAW may not automatically select the Scarlett Solo as its default I/O device. In this case, you must manually select ‘Scarlett Solo’ as the driver on your DAW’s **Audio Setup* page. Please refer to your DAW’s documentation (or Help files) if you are unsure where to select the ASIO or Core Audio driver. The example below shows the correct configuration in the Ableton Live Lite Preferences** panel (Windows version shown).

*Typical name. The terminology may differ slightly between DAWs.

Once the Scarlett Solo is set as the preferred Audio Device* in your DAW, its inputs and outputs will appear in your DAW’s Audio I/O preferences. Depending on your DAW, you may need to enable certain inputs or outputs before use. The two examples below show two Inputs and two outputs enabled in the Ableton Lite Audio Preferences.

*Typical name. Terminology may differ slightly between DAWs.

Examples of use
The Scarlett Solo is an ideal audio interface for many DAW applications running on a laptop or other computer, PC or Mac.
A typical set of connections is illustrated below.
Connecting a microphone/instrument

This setup illustrates a typical configuration for recording using DAW software on your Mac or PC. In this case, you might record vocals through Input 1 and guitar through Input 2 into your recording application, while monitoring the playback via headphones.
Scarlett Solo’s inputs are on the front panel: Input 1 uses a standard 3-pin XLR socket, and is configured to work with microphones of most types; you will probably have a mating XLR male connector on the end of your mic cable. Input 2 uses a ¼” (6.35 mm) jack socket (2-pole when in instrument mode and 3-pole when used as a line input), and is intended to accept signals from an electric or electro-acoustic guitar or bass.

If you are using a “studio” condenser (capacitor) microphone designed on operating on 48 V phantom power, press the 48V button. Other types of microphones (including the common dynamic type) do not require phantom power and may suffer damage if phantom power is applied.
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 recording device (your Mac or PC) and the associated software.
Latency can be a problem for a performer who wishes to record while monitoring their input signals.
The Scarlett Solo is fitted with a “Direct Monitoring” option, which overcomes this problem. Setting the front panel DIRECT MONITOR switch to ON will route your input signals directly to the Scarlett Solo’s headphone and main monitor outputs. This enables you to hear yourself with zero latency – i.e., in “real time” – along with the computer playback. The input signals to your computer are not affected in any way by this setting.
When Direct Monitoring is set to ON, ensure that your recording 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.
Headphone monitoring
Connect a pair of stereo headphones to the front panel headphone socket to hear both what you are recording – your current input signal(s), plus any tracks you’ve already recorded in your computer.
Note: Set the front panel DIRECT MONITOR switch to ON when recording. The pre- recorded tracks will be heard in stereo, and the current input signals in mono – central in the stereo image. If you are using both the mic and instrument inputs, the two inputs will be summed in mono.

Connecting Scarlett Solo to loudspeakers
The phono (RCA) outputs on the rear panel can be used to connect monitoring speakers.
Self-powered monitors (i.e., typical computer speakers) incorporate internal amplifiers with volume control and maybe connected directly. Larger, passive loudspeakers will require a separate stereo amplifier; in this case, the rear panel outputs should be connected to the amplifier’s inputs.

Connecting active speakers

Connecting passive speakers

The line output connectors are standard phono (RCA) sockets. Typical consumer (hi-fi) amplifiers and small powered monitors will have inputs on phono (RCA) sockets or a single 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.
NOTE: You run the risk of creating an audio feedback loop if loudspeakers are active at the same time as a microphone! We recommend that you always turn off (or turn down) monitoring loudspeakers while recording, and use headphones when overdubbing.

IMPORTANT – Line Outputs 1 – 2 do not have an anti-thump, please make sure you power on your amplifier or monitor speakers last to avoid thumps, pops or clicks when you power on your computer and interface.

HARDWARE FEATURES

Front Panel

The front panel includes the input connectors for mic and line/instrument signals, and the input gain and monitoring controls.

1. Input 1 – electronically balanced input via 3-pin XLR socket for microphones.
2. GAIN 1 – adjust the gain for the microphone signal at Input 1. The gain control has a LED ‘ring’ to confirm signal level: green indicates an input level of at least -24 dBFS (i.e., ‘signal present’), the ring then turns red when the signal level reaches 0 dBFS, indicating digital clipping.
3. 48V – phantom power switch for mic input – enables 48 V phantom power at the XLR socket.
4.  Input 2 – for connecting instruments (unbalanced) or line-level (balanced) sources; ¼” TRS jack socket.
5. GAIN 2 – adjusts the gain for the line/instrument signal at Input 2. The gain control has a bicolor LED ring as [2].
6.   INST/LINE – Instrument/Line level switch for Input 2 – switches gain to suit instrument or line-level signals.
7. MONITOR – main monitor output level control – sets the output level at the rear panel outputs and the front panel headphone output.
8. USB LED – illuminates when the unit receives USB bus power and is confirmed by the computer as connected and operating correctly.
9. DIRECT MONITOR – selects monitoring of input signals (mixed with the DAW output) to be directly from inputs (ON) or via the DAW (OFF).
10.   – ¼” TRS output jack – connect your stereo headphones here.

Back Panel

11. K (Kensington security lock) – secure your Scarlett Solo to a suitable structure if desired.
    Please see www.kensington.com/kensington/us/us/s/1704/kensington-security- slot.aspx for further information on how to use this feature.

12. USB 2.0 port – Type B connector; connect to your laptop or computer with the USB cable supplied.

13. LINE OUTPUTS: LEFT and RIGHT – 2 x phono (RCA) sockets; +9 dBu max. output level.

IMPORTANT – Line Outputs 1 and 2 do not have anti-thump, please make sure you power on your amplifier or monitor speakers last to avoid thumps, pops or clicks when you power on your computer and interface.

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Microphone Input
Dynamic Range| 106 dB IA-weighted)
Frequency Response| 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.1 dB
THD+N| <0.002% [minimum gain, -1 dBFS input with 22 Hz/22 kHz bandpass tilted
Noise EIN| -128 dB (A-Weighted)
Maximum Input Level| +4 dBu
Gain Range| 50 dB
Line Input
Dynamic Range| 106 dB 1A-weighted
Frequency Response| 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.1 dB
THD+N| <0.002% [minimum gain, -1dBFS input with 22 Hz/22 kHz bandpass tilted
Maximum Input Level| +22 dBu
Gain Range| 50 dB
Instrument Input
Dynamic Range| 106 dB 1A-weighted1
Frequency Response| 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.1 dB
THD+N| <0.02% [minimum gain, -1 dBFS input with 22 Hz/22 kHz bandpass tilted
Maximum Input Level| +13 dBu
Gain Range| 50 dB
Line Outputs
Dynamic Range| 106 dB 1A-weighted1
Maximum Output Level (0 dBFS)| +10 dBu
THD+N| <0.002% [minimum gain. -1 dBFS input 1 kHz, with 22 Hz/22 kHz bandpass filter)
Headphone Output
Dynamic Range| 107 dB (A-weighted)
Maximum Output Level| > +10 dBu
THD+N| <0.002% (minimum gain, -1 dBFS input, 1 kHz, with 22 Hz/22 kHz bandpass filter)
Analogue Input 1

Connector| Balanced, via female 3-pin XLR on the front panel
Phantom power| 48 V phantom power switch
Analogue Input 2
Connector| 1/4- 16.35 mm jack socket on front panel INST mode: unbalanced, 2-pole ITS] LINE mode: balanced ITRSI
Analog Outputs
Main outputs| Unbalanced, via 2 x phono [RCA) sockets on the rear panel
Stereo headphone output| 1/4″ TRS jack on the front panel
Output level control
headphone)| On front panel
Direct Monitoring| Front panel switch; allows zero-latency monitoring of inputs
Other I/O
USB| 1 x USB 2.0 Type B connector
Front Panel Indicators
USB power| Green LED
Gain Halos| Colour-coded LED rings
Weight and Dimensions
WxHxD| 144 mm x 44 mm x 119 mm 5.67 in x 1.73 in x 4.68 in
Weight| 0.43 kg 0.95 lb

TROUBLESHOOTING

For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Help Centre where you will find articles covering numerous troubleshooting examples:
support.focusrite.com

COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES

Focusrite is a registered trademark and Scarlett Solo is a trademark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited.
All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
2016 © Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved.

References

• Focusrite | Audio Interfaces and Pro Audio Equipment
• Get Started | Get Started
• Please log in | Customer Portal
• Please log in | Customer Portal
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