Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen)

Focusrite | audio interface | $199.99

Two-channel USB-C audio interface with studio-grade preamps for recording, streaming, and vocals.

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen)

Key Specifications

  • Connection Type: usb-c, xlr, trs
  • Sample Rate: 192kHz
  • Bit Depth: 24-bit
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • XLR Inputs: 2

What These Specs Mean

Sample Rate: 192kHz

Higher sample rates capture more audio detail — important for professional recording and mixing.

Bit Depth: 24-bit

Higher bit depth means wider dynamic range and less quantization noise in quiet passages.

Phantom Power: Yes

Phantom power (48V) is required to use condenser microphones.

XLR Inputs: 2

More XLR inputs let you record multiple microphones simultaneously.

What You Need To Run This

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) has 2 XLR inputs. Recording through them also takes an XLR microphone and one XLR cable for every input you fill.

XLR microphone — the 6 cheapest of 16 in our catalog

Sontronics Podcast Pro Sontronics | $119 Elgato Wave:DX Dynamic Microphone Elgato | $129.99 Audio-Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Audio-Technica | $149 Audio-Technica AT4040 Cardioid Condenser Audio-Technica | $149 Lewitt LCT 440 PURE Condenser Microphone Lewitt | $149 Lewitt Ray Dynamic Streaming Microphone Lewitt | $149

XLR cable — 4 options in our catalog, cheapest first

Amazon Basics XLR Male to Female Cable Amazon Basics | $9.99 Elgato Wave Link XLR to USB-C Cable Elgato | $19.99 Hosa MCL-205 XLR to XLR Cable Hosa | $24.99 Rode SC7 10ft XLR Cable Rode | $24.99

Realistic Total Cost

The cheapest working combination in our catalog, using the least expensive item that satisfies each requirement above. Swap any line for a pricier option and the total moves with it.

This product Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) $199.99
Cheapest: XLR microphone Sontronics Podcast Pro $119
Cheapest: XLR cable Amazon Basics XLR Male to Female Cable $9.99
Total to get running $328.98

Price Position In This Category

At $199.99, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) is the 24th cheapest of the 28 audio interfaces we list, which puts it in the upper third of the category by price. In the rest of the category the cheapest is Y.D.F AR001 USB Audio Interface at $49.99 and the most expensive is Roland BRIDGE CAST X at $499; the median audio interface price is $199. That is $299.01 below the most expensive option and $150 above the cheapest in this category.

Compare Against

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) vs Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen Focusrite | $199.99 Audio-Technica AT-UMX3 Desktop Mixer vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) Audio-Technica | $199 EVO 4x4 USB-C Audio Interface vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) Evo | $199 M-Audio M-Track 2x2M-C vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) M-Audio | $199 Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) Mackie | $199 MOTU M2 2x2 USB-C Audio Interface vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) MOTU | $199 PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) PreSonus | $199 PreSonus Revelator io24 vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) PreSonus | $199 Solid State Logic UF8 Audio Interface vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) Solid State Logic | $199 SSL 2+ USB Audio Interface vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) SSL | $199

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