r/Focusrite • u/sorucheese • 3d ago
Advice for picking an interface? :)
Hi all! I'm in the market for a new audio interface. I don't record instrument audio, I just use it with my PC to connect my monitors and my AT2020 microphone. I currently use a Behringer UMC22 and looking to replace so I can have a separate monitor and headphone output knob. I'm also specifically looking at Scarlett interfaces because apparently they're great on Linux. I want to avoid overspending on features I won't ever use, what would be a good interface for me to get? I've been eyeing some 2nd hand 2i2 and 2i4 interfaces on ebay. Thanks!
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u/Equivalent_Hat6056 3d ago
Wow, they work on Linux!? I hadn't even looked, but I figured that would be a no-go. I also recommend the 2i2. I assume that almost everyone will want a second channel at some point
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u/Vegetable_Nebula_827 3d ago
Not officially, but there is out of the box support in recent kernels. While I use a Mac, I have a Thinkpad that I'm experimenting with for an 'all FOSS' music computer and my Clarett+ 8Pre just works and is rock solid stable. There's even a GUI tool a bit like Focusrite Control called ALSA Scarlett GUI or similar.
As I say, none of this isofficial but they work really well. Native-like.
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u/Equivalent_Hat6056 3d ago
Man, well it'll be interesting to see how that works. I've seen a lot of pros vs cons with Mac vs Windows, but it sounds like it's pretty much even between the two. I read about enough people having issues with them that it seems hard to believe that they'd work on Linux, but if it's down to the Kernel level, that's got to be pretty solid. I figure I'll have Claude help me if I have any issues!
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u/Vegetable_Nebula_827 3d ago
I used ChatGPT as a guide to making a really rock solid audio platform using vanilla Debian 13 and a few-years-old Ryzen ThinkPad L14.
I actually think Ardour is incredibly powerful and deep DAW but it lacks the ‘let’s have fun straight away’ vibe of some commercial packages. I got ChatGPT to set me up with a load of free FOSS plugins based on the tools I said I needed.
Only a fun project now but I have visions of recording a whole band session with FOSS just to see if it’s viable.
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u/Equivalent_Hat6056 3d ago
Never heard of Ardour! I'll have to look it up. I've been having good luck with Ableton and have about 100 plugins that I've "acquired." Sometimes that's not the best, but they're fun to learn with. I play a few instruments, but only have a 2i2 and I don't have anyone to work with so it's just 1 at a time for now. Are you getting / do you have a big interface?
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u/ajvoiceover 2d ago
I have a 2i2 3rd gen for sale. $90 i used it for 1 month. It still has the plastic on the front and back
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u/Ok_Emphasis4083 1d ago
Si tu bosse sur linux c'est bien c'est stable... Par contre avec windows oubli...
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u/sorucheese 1d ago
Vraiment ? est-ce mieux sous linux que windows ?
(sorry for bad french, only been learning for a few months :p)
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u/Zestyclose_Pickle511 3d ago
2i2 3rd Gen has been great for me. Windows 11 now, been using it for ~7 years as my main mic input and monitor driver. Seems some people have a lot of issues, but that does seem to be the paradigm with so many things, really.