Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface product image

Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface

(5/5)
Review by Joshua Morris on
View on Amazon

Review

Scarlett Solo has lived on my desk for two years and it remains my grab-and-go interface. The 3rd gen Air preamp gives dynamic mics a pleasing lift without extra EQ, and the 24-bit/192 kHz converters stay clean even when I push guitars straight into the instrument input. Direct monitoring with the blend knob keeps latency nonexistent for voice-over sessions, and Focusrite's drivers have been rock-solid on macOS, Windows, and my iPad Pro. The anodized shell still looks new despite being tossed in backpacks, and setup is literally plug, register, and track. You only get one mic and one instrument channel and there’s no MIDI, but for solo creators the reliability and sound quality punch well above the price.

✓ Pros

  • ✓Air-enabled mic preamp and 24-bit/192 kHz conversion sound great out of the box
  • ✓Direct monitoring blend knob keeps latency at zero for live tracking
  • ✓USB-C bus power and compact metal chassis make it travel friendly
  • ✓Stable drivers and Control software work across macOS, Windows, and iPadOS

✗ Cons

  • ✗Single mic and instrument inputs mean no simultaneous stereo recording
  • ✗No built-in MIDI ports—requires a separate interface

Specifications

Inputs1 XLR mic with Air + 1 1/4-inch instrument input
OutputsBalanced 1/4-inch monitor outs, 1/4-inch headphone out
Conversion24-bit/192 kHz USB-C interface
MonitoringDirect monitor switch with blend control
Date First AvailableJune 27, 2019

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