TEST: Focusrite Scarlett 6i6

 With the Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, the renowned manufacturer from the UK is bringing another representative from the very successful Scarlett series onto the market. In addition to the flagship 18i20 and the tiny 2i2, this product is a representative of the mid-range segment. It can be assumed that the 6i6 will replace the additionally available 8i6 in the medium term.

In recent years, what was once referred to as the “Japanese trend” of constantly reducing the size of electronic and mechanical components has clearly become more and more the focus of Western manufacturers. Many productions today take place largely on home office computers including small near-field monitors, although the work processes are no longer reduced to editing within this workaround.

Vocal overdubs, bass tracks or even one or two guide guitars for the rig plugin need to be properly archived on HD or SSD and require a preamp that sounds as good as possible along with a decent converter. The Scarlett series once again follows the motto “USB, nothing else” and puts the advocates of Firewire interfaces in their place. Today we avoid the fundamental discussion of Firewire versus USB and rather acknowledge that USB is present on every computer, while Firewire has also been buried in the current Apple generation and will have to join the seemingly endless queue of extinct interfaces in the foreseeable future .

Great Britain's big name has also recognized that the market for high-end products a la Red Series is in a difficult position in today's media and exploitation landscape and must develop accordingly. Like many other manufacturers, Focusrite also relies on the principle of “developed at home, manufactured in China”, which means that the price is lower than if the goods were manufactured on site, despite the transport halfway around the world.

The Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 available for testing is in the highly competitive home recording range up to 300 euros and is preparing to take as much of the legendary manufacturer's name as possible into the budget class.


construction

All products in the Scarlett range have a uniform appearance. This is primarily manifested in the housing made of reddish brushed aluminum, which gives the device a high-quality finish. 4 strong rubber feet ensure a firm stand, even on smooth surfaces. In addition, with dimensions of 210 mm x 50 mm x 180 mm (W x H x D), it is so flat that it fits next to the base below the screen of a standard monitor. The low weight of just 1.18 kilograms does the rest. Mobile recordings also seem possible due to the good workmanship and moderate dimensions, provided an appropriate power supply is secured.

In order to ensure a stable signal flow within the product and not to put too much strain on the computer bus, the Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 is delivered with its own power supply. A 12 volt, 1250 mA power supply is included with the product. In order not to have to rely on external recording software, Focusrite also includes good basic equipment with its product in the form of the Ableton Live Lite software, the Scarlett MixControl, the Scarlett Plug-In Suite, the Novation Bass Station and 1 GB of material from Loopmasters. Unfortunately, if you're looking for the DVDs from earlier days in the packaging, you won't be able to find them anymore. The product comes with an activation code for the corresponding download. In times of VDSL a question of 5 minutes, woe betide anyone who owns a repatriate farm with a 2000 line.

The Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 is presented as a 6-way input and 6-way output interface. From a purely mathematical point of view, this is true, but only under the premise that the SPDIF inputs and outputs on the back are also calculated on a RCA basis with 2 channels each. On the analog conversion level, the device presents 2 microphone preamplifiers on the front, both designed as multi-sockets, as well as 2 line inputs and 4 line outputs on the back, all designed for 6.35 millimeter jacks. The simple and innovative level display of the microphone preamps is very nice. An LED ring around the gain controls shows the colors green to red in which frame the signal level is. A 10 dB PAD circuit can also be initiated on the software side.

The product also has the following control options:

- a sum monitor controller

- 2 individual headphone outputs plus volume controls

- 48V pantom power switch

- MIDI in and MIDI out on the back

- two indicator lights for USB / MIDI correspondence

- two PAD and instrument indicator lights each

- a Kensington anti-theft opening


The two independent headphone amplifiers are particularly suitable for simple recording situations in which the recording manager and artist are in the same room. This means everyone can create their own, independent mix.

When it comes to system requirements, Focusrite no longer bothers with the usual RAM specifications, especially since anyone who wants to produce music with any degree of ambition will equip their computer with 4 GB of RAM or more anyway. Only when it comes to the operating system, there is the following guide: Mac - OS X 10.7 or higher, PC Windows 7 (all versions), Windows 8 (all versions, except RT). Goodbye Snow Leopard.


Practice

Visually, the Scarlett puts you right at the forefront. Detached from everything that is to come, the reddish shimmering aluminum gives a very elegant impression; the product designers have done a great job here. Even if it seems at first glance, thanks to its rubber feet, the Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 exceeds the dimensions of a height unit by a few millimeters and therefore requires placement on the work table. During stationary operation, this inevitably means a lot of cable clutter on the work surface, unless you assign the device a fixed place and allow the corresponding cable strands to disappear by drilling a few holes in the worktop.

As expected, the sound of the interface is routine and beyond any doubt in this price segment. Almost 30 years of British schooling in terms of hardware and signal flow also benefit the budget products. This is also the case with the Scarlett 6i6, whose catch-up amplifiers have a correspondingly fine resolution. In addition, the preamps manage to raise even low-power signals to the required working level without significantly increasing the background noise.

The product sounds powerful and enables a clear, acoustic structure without falling victim to an exaggerated enhancer effect. The signal is free of discoloration, dynamic and ensures a perfect acoustic representation of the material being processed. You still have to get used to the missing LED chains in the first few hours of operation, but this changeover process takes place almost silently in the background. The green signal ring starts working at -24 dB and turns red at 0 dB.


Conclusion

With the Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, the British manufacturer is consolidating its good reputation in the budget interface sector. It is not for nothing that the Scarlett series is considered one of the best sellers in the British parent company. The combination of good-sounding preamplifiers, easy handling, visually appealing packaging and, due to Chinese production, a comparatively low selling price is an attractive package with which project studios and budget productions can benefit from the experience of one of the really big British names.

Anyone who primarily creates productions using the overdub process, or generally needs a good interface for mixdown, should take a look at the Scarlett product line in general.

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Additional Informations:

Focusrite is a British audio engineering company that has been at the forefront of innovation in audio recording for over 40 years. The company is best known for its high-quality audio interfaces, which are used by musicians and recording professionals around the world. However, Focusrite has a rich history that dates back to the early days of electronic music.

**The Early Years**

In 1985, Rupert Neve, a renowned audio engineer, founded Focusrite with the goal of creating affordable, high-quality audio equipment. Neve was a pioneer in the development of solid-state audio consoles, and his designs were highly sought after by recording studios around the world. However, Neve's equipment was also very expensive, which made it out of reach for many musicians and producers.

Focusrite's first product was the ISA110 preamplifier, which was based on Neve's classic designs. The ISA110 was an instant success, and it quickly became a staple in recording studios around the world. The company followed up the ISA110 with a number of other successful products, including the Focusrite Voicemaster compressor and the EQP-1A equalizer.

**The Digital Revolution**

In the early 1990s, Focusrite was one of the first companies to develop digital audio interfaces. The company's first digital interface, the DigiCard, was released in 1993. The DigiCard was a groundbreaking product that allowed musicians and producers to record and edit audio on their computers.

Focusrite continued to innovate in the digital audio space throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The company released a number of popular digital interfaces, including the Saffire, Scarlett, and Clarett series. Focusrite's interfaces were known for their high quality, low latency, and affordable prices.

**Focusrite Today**

Today, Focusrite is one of the leading manufacturers of audio interfaces in the world. The company's products are used by musicians and recording professionals of all levels, from hobbyists to Grammy Award-winning producers. Focusrite is also a major player in the education and training market, and the company's products are used in schools, colleges, and universities around the world.

In addition to audio interfaces, Focusrite also manufactures a wide range of other audio products, including microphones, headphones, and digital signal processors. The company is committed to innovation, and it continues to develop new products that meet the needs of musicians and recording professionals.

**Focusrite's Impact on the Music Industry**

Focusrite has had a profound impact on the music industry. The company's products have made it possible for musicians and producers to create high-quality recordings at home, which has democratized the recording process. Focusrite's interfaces have also played a major role in the rise of digital music production.

In addition to its products, Focusrite has also made a significant contribution to the music industry through its educational and training programs. The company's programs have helped to train countless musicians and producers, and they have played a vital role in the development of the next generation of audio professionals.

**Focusrite's Legacy**

Focusrite is a company with a rich history and a bright future. The company is committed to innovation, and it is constantly developing new products that meet the needs of musicians and recording professionals. Focusrite is a true pioneer in the audio industry, and its products have had a profound impact on the way music is recorded and produced.

**Here are some of Focusrite's most notable milestones:**

* 1985: Focusrite is founded by Rupert Neve.
* 1986: Focusrite releases the ISA110 preamplifier.
* 1993: Focusrite releases the DigiCard, the world's first digital audio interface.
* 1998: Focusrite releases the Saffire, its first FireWire audio interface.
* 2008: Focusrite releases the Scarlett, its most popular audio interface series to date.
* 2016: Focusrite releases the Clarett, its flagship audio interface series.
* 2021: Focusrite celebrates its 35th anniversary.

Focusrite is a truly remarkable company that has made a significant impact on the music industry. The company's products are used by millions of musicians and recording professionals around the world, and its commitment to innovation is unparalleled. Focusrite is a company that is sure to continue to be at the forefront of audio recording for many years to come.