Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen4 Provides A Different Way to Control Input

New voice actors are generally surprised when I recommend leaving their audio interface outside of the booth. It feels wrong not to be able to adjust gain and control levels. I’ve always made my case with three points.

First, if you set conservative levels, you should be fine for most recording situations, as you can always make things louder later.

Second, putting the interface outside also locates the computer away from the microphone. Since interfaces behave better with short USB cables, and microphones work fine with long XLR cables, anything that makes noise should be placed well away from the mic.

Third, when we’re twisting knobs and messing with hardware, it can often overshadow the creative focus we might need when voicing a script or narrating a project.

A new interface shakes things up

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen4 has kind of messed with that a bit. This newest version of the venerable Scarlett series came out late in 2023, and made some major changes to the unit. It increased the amount of available gain (to support the influx of podcasters who often use dynamic microphones), boosted the headphone output, relocated the XLR jacks on the back of the unit, added another sonic option to the “Air” circuit, and included two very interesting options to control input to your recording software.

The first option is an “Auto-Gain” set feature. This allows you to push a button, perform into the mic for 6-8 seconds, and have the interface select a conservative Gain setting to capture that performance. If you were going to be a highly caffeinated woodland creature with a load of dynamics, then you simply have to speak with that level of energy while the interface listened. It would set a level to manage the peaks in the -18 dB range. That leaves plenty of headroom for your input – preventing the dreaded distortion if levels are set too high.

The second control is a “Safe” setting. When this is turned on it monitors the level coming in through the microphone. Should there be a sudden increase in volume – which sometimes can happen in the heat of a session – the Safe setting engages, reducing the overall input gain in real-time to prevent any additional clipping. It’s not technically a Limiter as it actually resets the input gain setting. The result is that we lose fewer takes due to sudden changes in performance level.

However, the first time playing with the Auto-Gain I realized I had a problem. Since the layout of my studio has all the hardware outside the booth I would have to tap the “Auto” button, then step into the booth and close the door. That meant that sometimes the mic heard a loudly slammed booth door, and other times it only had a few seconds of vocal input when I stumbled or fumbled on my way in.

Focusrite Control 2 Software to the rescue!

It finally dawned on me that the Focusrite Control 2 software might have a solution. Since I have a second monitor mirrored into my booth, and the ability to control my computer through a second keyboard and a trackpad, the Auto-Gain could be accessed without stepping away from my mic. Even though the 2i2 sits out at my desk, all the controls appear through a compact user interface. A quick tap engages the tool and confirms when the proper levels are set.

The Control 2 software means input Gain levels can be easily set while the interface stays out with the computer. With the clever tools inside the Scarlet 2i2 Gen4 you also have a way to quickly reset the levels without even needing to leave the booth, as well as the added insurance of the “Safe” mode should things get louder than expected.

As for separating the creative from the analytical, having the second monitor positioned out of my immediate field of view lets me continue to focus on acting when behind the mic. Overall, it adds just enough tech to control what needs to be handled without being overwhelming.

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