In the ever-evolving world of music production, having the right audio interface is crucial for capturing high-quality sound. Whether you’re a seasoned producer or just setting up your home studio, the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen, now available at Guitar Center, stands out as a powerful and versatile option. This interface is designed to be the centerpiece of your recording setup, offering a wealth of inputs and outputs, pristine sound quality, and the reliability that Focusrite is known for.
For musicians and producers looking to expand their recording capabilities, the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen provides an impressive 18 inputs and 20 outputs. This extensive I/O count makes it ideal for recording drums, full bands, or complex setups with multiple synthesizers and outboard gear. If you’re searching for a professional-grade interface that can grow with your needs, the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen is a top contender, and you can find it at your trusted retailer, Guitar Center.
Why Choose the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen for Your Studio?
The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen isn’t just about quantity; it’s about quality and intelligent design. It builds upon the legacy of the Scarlett range, known for its transparent preamps and user-friendly operation, while adding features that cater to more demanding recording scenarios. Here’s why this interface deserves a central spot in your home or project studio:
- Extensive Inputs and Outputs: With 18 inputs and 20 outputs, the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen offers exceptional flexibility. Eight Scarlett mic preamps, combined with line inputs, ADAT expandability, and multiple headphone outputs, make it ready for a wide range of recording tasks.
- Pristine Scarlett Preamps with Air Mode: The interface features Focusrite’s renowned Scarlett mic preamps, now in their 3rd generation, offering clear and transparent sound capture. The included “Air” mode adds a high-end sheen, emulating the characteristics of classic transformer-based preamps, perfect for vocals and acoustic instruments.
- High-Quality Converters: Equipped with 24-bit/192kHz converters, the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen ensures your recordings capture every nuance and detail of your performance with exceptional clarity and dynamic range.
- Expandability via ADAT: Need even more inputs? The ADAT optical input allows you to add up to eight additional mic preamps, like the Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre, significantly expanding your recording capabilities as your studio grows.
- Low-Latency Performance: Focusrite has optimized the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen for low-latency performance, essential for monitoring through software effects and plugins in real-time, ensuring a smooth recording experience.
- Comprehensive Software Bundle: To get you started right away, the interface comes with a valuable software bundle including Ableton Live Lite and Pro Tools First Focusrite Creative Pack, as well as a suite of plugins to shape your sound.
Image: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen 4 Audio Interface showcasing the brand’s design aesthetic.
Key Features in Detail: Unleashing the Power of the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen
Let’s dive deeper into the features that make the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen a standout audio interface for your studio:
Inputs and Outputs: Connectivity for Complex Setups
The core strength of the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen lies in its extensive connectivity. It boasts:
- 8 Scarlett Mic Preamps: Eight XLR/1/4″ combo inputs with Scarlett mic preamps provide ample inputs for microphones, line-level instruments, and more. These preamps deliver 56dB of gain range, suitable for various microphones, including dynamic and condenser mics.
- Air Mode: Switchable Air mode on each preamp adds high-frequency lift, enhancing clarity and presence, especially beneficial for vocals and acoustic guitars, providing a touch of classic studio console sound.
- Line Inputs: In addition to the combo inputs, dedicated line inputs on the rear panel allow for connecting line-level sources such as synthesizers, drum machines, and outboard preamps.
- Instrument Inputs: Two front-panel instrument inputs with high headroom are optimized for guitars, basses, and other instruments with high impedance outputs, ensuring clean and direct recording.
- Headphone Outputs: Two independent headphone outputs with dedicated volume controls on the front panel enable simultaneous monitoring for multiple performers or engineer and artist.
- Monitor Outputs: Balanced TRS monitor outputs provide clean and accurate signal routing to studio monitors, essential for critical listening and mixing decisions.
- ADAT Input: An optical ADAT input allows for digital expansion, adding up to eight additional input channels, perfect for expanding your mic pre count with units like the Scarlett OctoPre.
- S/PDIF I/O: Stereo S/PDIF digital input and output provide connectivity for digital devices like CD players or external converters.
- MIDI I/O: Standard MIDI input and output connectors allow integration with MIDI keyboards, controllers, and other MIDI-enabled hardware.
Scarlett Preamps and Air Mode: Capturing Sound with Clarity and Character
The Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen features Focusrite’s improved Scarlett preamps. These preamps are designed to be transparent and low-noise, providing a clean foundation for your recordings. This transparency allows you to capture the true character of your microphones and instruments without adding unwanted coloration.
Engaging the “Air” mode on the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen is like adding a touch of vintage studio magic. This feature, inspired by Focusrite’s legendary ISA console preamps, subtly boosts the high-mid frequencies, adding airiness and detail to vocals and acoustic instruments. It’s a fantastic tool for adding a polished, professional sheen to your recordings right at the input stage.
Image: Universal Audio SOLO/610 Microphone Preamplifier, representing the concept of preamp coloration.
High-Resolution Converters and Low Latency: Professional Sound and Performance
The quality of analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters is paramount in an audio interface. The Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen utilizes high-performance converters operating at up to 24-bit/192kHz. This high resolution ensures that every detail of your audio is captured with precision and clarity, and that playback is equally transparent and accurate for critical monitoring during mixing.
Latency, the delay between input and output, can be a major obstacle in recording. Focusrite has focused on delivering ultra-low latency performance with the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen. This low latency allows you to monitor your recordings through software plugins and effects in real-time without noticeable delay, creating a more natural and responsive recording experience.
Who is the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen Designed For?
The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen is an excellent choice for a variety of users:
- Home Studio Owners Expanding Their Setup: If you’re upgrading from a smaller interface and need more inputs and outputs to accommodate drums, bands, or more complex setups, the 18i20 is a perfect step up.
- Bands and Musicians Recording Together: The generous input count makes it ideal for recording bands live, capturing multiple instruments and vocals simultaneously.
- Drummers and Percussionists: With eight mic preamps and ADAT expandability, it’s well-equipped for recording multi-mic drum kits.
- Producers Working with Synthesizers and Outboard Gear: The line inputs and outputs, along with digital I/O, provide ample connectivity for integrating synthesizers, drum machines, and outboard effects processors.
- Project Studios: For small commercial studios or educational institutions, the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen offers professional features and performance at a competitive price point.
Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen vs. Competitors: Standing Out in its Class
While there are many audio interfaces in the market, the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen holds its own against competitors due to its balance of features, performance, and price. Compared to interfaces in a similar I/O range, the Scarlett often provides a more accessible entry point without compromising on essential features like preamp quality and converter resolution.
Interfaces like the PreSonus Studio 1824c or MOTU 8pre ES are in the same ballpark, but the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen benefits from Focusrite’s established reputation for user-friendly interfaces and reliable performance. The inclusion of “Air” mode and the robust software bundle further enhance its value proposition.
Get Your Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen at Guitar Center Today
Ready to take your studio to the next level? The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen is readily available at Guitar Center. Guitar Center is a leading retailer for music equipment, known for its wide selection, knowledgeable staff, and competitive prices. Purchasing your Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen from Guitar Center ensures you’re getting a genuine product from a trusted source.
Check out the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen online at GuitarCenter.com or visit your nearest Guitar Center store to experience it firsthand. Upgrade your studio today and unlock new possibilities for your music production with this exceptional audio interface.
Conclusion: The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen – A Studio Powerhouse
The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen is a comprehensive and high-performing audio interface that provides everything you need to create professional-quality recordings in your home or project studio. With its extensive inputs and outputs, pristine Scarlett preamps with Air mode, high-resolution converters, and expandability, it’s a versatile centerpiece for any serious recording setup.
For musicians, producers, and engineers seeking a reliable, feature-rich, and great-sounding audio interface, the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen, available at Guitar Center, is an outstanding choice. Invest in the Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen and elevate your recordings to new heights.
