Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen Review: Still the Best Budget Interface?

TL;DR

The Scarlett 4th Gen is a significant upgrade: lower latency, better preamps, auto-gain, and improved build quality. The 2i2 (£140) remains our top recommendation for beginners. The Solo (£100) is fine for solo producers. The competition has improved, but Focusrite stays on top.

What's New in the 4th Generation

Focusrite's 4th generation Scarlett range brings several meaningful upgrades over the already-excellent 3rd Gen. The preamps have been redesigned with lower noise and higher gain range, the converters deliver improved dynamic range, and the latency has been significantly reduced.

The headline feature is Auto Gain — a one-button calibration that sets optimal recording levels by asking you to play or sing for a few seconds. For beginners who struggle with gain staging (and it is a common struggle), this is genuinely useful. It doesn't replace understanding proper gain staging, but it prevents the worst outcomes: clipping or recording too quietly.

Build quality has improved too: the aluminium enclosure feels more premium, the gain knobs have better resistance, and the LED metering around the gain knobs provides clearer visual feedback on signal level. It's the kind of refinement that makes daily use more pleasant.

Sound Quality: Preamps and Converters

The 4th Gen preamps are noticeably quieter than the 3rd Gen. We measured lower noise floor across the gain range, which matters most when recording quiet sources (acoustic instruments, distant miking) at high gain settings. The improvement is subtle but audible in critical listening.

The frequency response is ruler-flat, which is exactly what you want from a transparent recording interface. These preamps aren't meant to add character — they're meant to capture your sound accurately. If you want coloured preamps for warmth or grit, you'd need to look at higher-end interfaces like the Audient iD4 or Universal Audio Volt.

Latency (the delay between your audio input and hearing it through the interface) has been reduced to the point where direct monitoring is rarely necessary for overdubbing. This is a meaningful workflow improvement — being able to monitor through your DAW with plugins while recording reduces complexity.

The Range: Solo vs 2i2 vs 4i4

The Scarlett Solo (£100) has one mic input and one instrument input. It's sufficient for solo producers who record one source at a time. The limitation is exactly that: one source at a time. If you ever need to record two sources simultaneously (stereo miking, two vocalists, mic plus DI), you'll outgrow it.

The Scarlett 2i2 (£140) has two combo inputs that accept both mic and instrument connections. This is the sweet spot for most independent artists: enough inputs for stereo recording or simultaneous vocal+guitar, without paying for capacity you don't need. Our recommended starting point.

The Scarlett 4i4 (£200) adds more outputs (useful for sending to outboard effects or multiple monitor sets) and an additional pair of inputs. If you're recording bands, running outboard gear, or need advanced routing, this is the entry point to semi-professional interfacing.

The Competition Has Improved

The Universal Audio Volt 276 (£140) offers built-in vintage preamp emulation and a 1176-style compressor on the input. For artists who want to commit character to their recordings at the input stage, the Volt offers something the Scarlett doesn't: tone shaping before the DAW.

The Audient iD4 (£100) has preamps that many engineers consider the best at this price — slightly warmer and more characterful than the Scarlett's transparency. If you prioritise recording tone over feature set, the iD4 is worth auditioning.

The SSL 2+ (£200) brings the SSL name and genuinely excellent converters to the budget market. The 'Legacy 4K' button adds a subtle high-frequency enhancement that mimics the SSL console sound. It's the most 'musical' sounding interface at this price.

All three competitors are excellent, and the gap between them and the Scarlett has narrowed. The Scarlett wins on overall package — features, reliability, driver support, and ecosystem — rather than any single specification.

Should You Upgrade from a 3rd Gen Scarlett?

If you have a 3rd Gen Scarlett that works fine, the upgrade is nice-to-have rather than essential. The improvements in preamp quality, latency, and auto-gain are meaningful but not transformative. Your money is better spent on room treatment, better monitors, or a new microphone.

If you're buying your first interface, the 4th Gen is the obvious choice. At the same price as the previous generation, you're getting a better product. The 2i2 at £140 remains our default recommendation for independent artists starting their recording journey.

The 4th Gen Scarlett isn't revolutionary — it's refined. Focusrite has taken an already excellent product and made it better in every measurable way. It doesn't reinvent the budget interface category, but it confirms the Scarlett's position at the top of it.