A lot of people first attempting to put together a home recording area tend to think about their microphones compared to their audio interface.
It’s clear why this is the case, after all, you speak, sing, or play instruments into a mic, not the device the mic is linked to.
Professional recording studios tend to have sound engineers who will manage audio interfaces for you.
However, if you’re just starting, or aren’t near a professional level yet, you’ll have to start by learning how to use your microphone and interface.
Entry-level, budget interfaces like the Scarlett Solo from Focusrite, can help you with this.
We’ll be looking over the audio interface in this review, going over its technical specifications, sound quality, and pros and cons, so that you can decide if it’s the best audio interface for you.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo: Technical Characteristics
The Scarlett Solo is a USB audio interface that is very compact and lightweight. It weighs around a pound and has similar measurements to bigger smartphones, except that it’s a lot denser.
The portable nature of the unit makes it great to use on the move, but this mobile recording nature may limit the unit when you’re using it in a fixed home studio.
A good thing is that the Focusrite brand ensured that the Solo’s output and gain dials are large in size. This helps to avoid any troubles when making slight edits to audio.
Front Of The Interface
The XLR input located on the furthest left half of the unit lets you link up your chosen microphone. You’ll be able to change its volume using the gain dial adjacent to it (also see, ‘XLR Interfaces‘).
There are two controls underneath the left dial. The first controls 48V phantom power, an important feature for anyone using condenser microphones.
The second manages the interface’s air feature setting, an effect exclusive to Focusrite that’s integrated into the unit.
There is a Hi-Z input in the center of the unit with a different gain dial. Beneath this is a control that manages the ‘INST’ setting, which is like the ‘Air’ mode.
This area is designed for use with instrument input for music production, so you don’t need to be concerned with it if you’re only recording voiceovers.
On the rightmost side of the interface is where you can plug in your headphones and go over your audio.
You can change the volume with the largest dial, which makes it easier to hear yourself as you dictate lines into your microphone.
This is ideal to use alongside the ‘Direct Monitor’ switch on the right, as this removes any delay from the playback.
The interface is very small, so people with larger hands may be worried about whether the smaller gain controls are harder to control.
This isn’t the case here, as Focusrite has designed the front knobs to protrude out, allowing you to make tiny alterations as you work.
Back Of The Interface
The back panel has an anti-theft opening on the top left which is compatible with a Kensington lock.
This isn’t much of a concern if you’re using the unit for your home studio, but remember not to plug any USB cable in this opening.
Beneath the opening is a USB-C port that lets you link the Scarlett Solo to your laptop or computer.
The Solo will draw its power from this port, as well as the 48V phantom power needed for condenser microphones.
This means that it is only compatible with appliances that can use USB to deliver enough power.
There are two output grooves on the right to which you can connect your studio speakers. This is ideal if you’re using instruments or using the unit in a complete recording studio.
However, if you’re only using headphones to examine your vocal delivery, these slots aren’t necessary.
Now we can get into how the Scarlett Solo works.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo: Tasks
You can carry out a lot of tasks using this compact interface. Here are some examples of the unit’s functions:
Preamp
Focusrite has built the Scarlett Solo 3rd gen with their Scarlett preamps.
Anyone that has used past generations of Focusrite’s Scarlett line will notice a distinct upgrade in the capability to flawlessly amplify your microphone.
Despite this, the Solo isn’t quite the cleanest preamp available, or the cleanest option from Focusrite, for that matter.
Nevertheless, the preamps are good enough to make sure your audio recordings are of high quality.
Monitoring
Another significant feature that the Scarlett Solo has is that it can oversee voice as you’re recording vocals. You will need an adapter or studio headphones connected to use this feature.
The interface also lets you hear yourself back without delay, simply by pressing the Direct Monitor switch.
This is a good feature for any voice actors that struggle to hear their transmission during takes, particularly any dyslexic voice actors that find it difficult to read lines.
This is a very useful ability that can help you create professional-level work.
Compatibility
Many audio interfaces can take in power from various sources, like a wall outlet, USB devices, and so on.
This ability lets recording artists and voice actors be versatile with their home recording studio, as it allows them to record on a smartphone or tablet instead of only a laptop or PC.
While this compatibility feature is useful, is it present on Focusrite’s Scarlett Solo? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no!
The Scarlett Solo has a single powered USB hub so it can send power and data when linked up to a laptop or PC.
However, the single output means that it isn’t going to be compatible with other appliances.
This means that you won’t be able to plug the unit directly into a wall unit to obtain power, as you won’t be able to create voice recordings.
Furthermore, you can’t connect the interface to gadgets that cannot take in the necessary power through their data port, such as iPhones and several Android smartphones.
Despite this, the Scarlett Solo is compatible with a few newer mobile gadgets, like the iPad Air 4 and iPad Pro.
These appliances also work with Focusrite’s Control app, allowing you to add effects to your recordings later.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo: Audio Quality
Now we can look into the audio interface’s sound quality.
You’ll notice that the Solo sounds relatively clean straight out of the box. This is because of the unit’s preamp. You won’t hear much distortion or hiss, even if you increase it up to higher levels.
This is a huge plus when you compare the model to other interfaces around the same price.
If you connect the interface to a condenser microphone, the audio still sounds clean, but experienced ears will notice that the sound is slightly flat (also see, ‘Best Condenser Mic‘) .
Focusrite claims that the Scarlett Solo’s analog to digital-conversion rate is 24-bit/192 kHz. In terms of recording quality, you’ll lose a little of the accurate audio reproduction from the direct monitor.
However, this isn’t a huge issue when you take into consideration that this is a beginner-level, affordable audio interface.
The audio quality is still high enough to deliver clean sound for professional tasks.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo: Advantages And Disadvantages
Let’s cover the overall advantages and disadvantages of the Focusrite Scarlett Solo.
Design Issues
The Scarlett Solo’s compact size may make you believe that it is a decent portable appliance. It is easy to move between different locations, but it’s best not to use it in this manner.
The main drawback here is that you cannot use a wall outlet to power the unit, which means that it isn’t compatible with the majority of tablets and smartphones.
It is compatible with newer iPads, but unless you own one of these expensive devices, you won’t be able to record on the move.
The Solo also has a smaller front panel which may make it harder to make little changes on the go.
The interface does have larger monitor output switches and gain dials that suit larger hands, but the audio effect buttons are smaller and may be harder to use.
Beneficial Software
The audio interface comes with bundled software that makes it simple to record and edit audio. Focusrite Control is especially useful as it lets you make real-time changes.
If you register your interface with Focusrite, you’ll be able to use professional sound engineering software, like Pro Tools or Ableton Live Lite.
This is very useful if you want to get more experience with post-processing tools.
Great Value And Reliable
If you’re a beginner or don’t have access to a professional recording studio, chances are you won’t be able to afford the greatest setup just yet.
The Scarlett Solo lets you create amazing quality audio at such an affordable price.
If you do purchase a new one from an authorized vendor, Focusrite also offers a three-year warranty, which shows how much the brand believes in its product.
The Bottom Line
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd gen combines amazing audio quality with great value.
It does have some drawbacks, like its limited mobile device compatibility, but we think that its clean preamps, phantom power compatibility, and additional features outweigh the negatives.
You may want to look at other audio interfaces that cost a little more if you have enough to put toward your home studio.
However, if you’re looking for a less expensive appliance to start recording as soon as possible, the Scarlett Solo is an excellent option.
