Scarlett 18i6 User Guide FA0521-01 1
Important Safety Instructions 1. Read these instructions 2. Keep these instructions 3. Heed all warnings 4. Follow all instructions 5. Do not use Scarlett 18i6 near water 6. Clean only Scarlett 18i6 with dry cloth 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions 8. Do not install Scarlett 18i6 near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat 9.
Important Safety Precautions CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
Contents Important Safety Instructions.........................................................................................................2 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................5 Basics ..............................................................................................................................................5 Box contents . .....................................................
Introduction Thank you for purchasing Scarlett 18i6, one in a family of Focusrite professional multi-channel USB 2.0 interfaces featuring high quality Focusrite pre-amps. You now have a complete solution for routing high quality audio in and out of your computer. This guide provides a detailed explanation of both the hardware and accompanying control software “Scarlett MixControl” to help you achieve a thorough understanding of the product’s operational features.
Getting started Before connecting Scarlett 18i6 to your computer, the software must be installed. This will ensure that the correct drivers are used, thus preventing any unexpected behaviour. Note on USB hubs Scarlett 18i6 is a USB 2.0 device and must be connected to a compatible USB 2.0 port. If using a USB hub, it is essential that all other devices connected to the hub are also USB 2.0 compatible. If any USB 1.0 / 1.
Hardware Back panel The Back Panel provides the majority of input and output connections on Scarlett 18i6 2 7 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] 6 5 4 1 3 6 x TRS jack sockets line inputs 3 to 8 * 2 x TRS jack sockets for monitor outputs 1 and 2 * 1 x Optical input socket for ADAT inputs 1-8 1 x USB 2.0 socket 2 x DIN5 MIDI input and output sockets 1 x 2.
Front panel The Front Panel includes the input connectors for mic, line and instrument signals, as well as the input gain controls and monitoring controls.
Operating System requirements Macintosh Mac OS X 10.6.5 Snow Leopard Windows Windows 7 (All versions), Windows Vista (32bit version only), or Windows XP SP3 (32bit version only) For more detailed and up to date system requirements please go to http://www.focusrite.com/scarlett_18i6 Installation (Windows and Mac) The latest installation software should be on the disk included with your Scarlett 18i6.
Scarlett 18i6 architecture Scarlett 18i6 offers more than just simple input and output routing to and from a computer. Scarlett MixControl software also allows the re-routing of audio signals to any output, and the creation of custom mixes to be sent to recording artists, outboard processing equipment or mixing console. The following diagrams give an overview of the Scarlett 18i6 audio paths at all sample rates. The hardware inputs are routed directly to the DAW inputs.
Scarlett MixControl The Scarlett MixControl software allows flexible mixing and routing of all audio signals to the physical audio outputs as well as control of output monitor levels. All sample rate selection, digital syncing and driver latency settings (Windows only) are available from Scarlett MixControl. To open Scarlett MixControl. Windows Start > Programs > Focusrite > Scarlett MixControl. Mac Open Finder > Applications > Scarlett MixControl.
Pre amp section When connecting a microphone to Scarlett 18i6, connect an XLR cable to the combo inputs on the front panel. When connecting either line level signal or instrument signal to the combo inputs, select either ‘Line’ or ‘Inst’ from the pre amp section. Mixer section The Scarlett MixControl software includes a total of six mixes, each with a maximum of 18 channels in the mix.
Input channel Here is a picture of two mixer input channels. Below is a description of every component of a mixer channel. Audio source select When there is no input to a mixer channel, it will display “Off”. Clicking on the “Off” region brings up a list of all available inputs that can be fed to the channel. All analogue (labelled ‘Anlg’), digital inputs (S/PDIF and ADAT), and DAW outputs are available.
Pan slider A Pan slider is used to position the audio signal anywhere between the left and right speakers. Moving the horizontal slider from left to right will move the audio signal from left to right within the stereo field, i.e., the signal is faded between two audio outputs such as monitor L and R. When used with a stereo track, the slider affects the audio signal such that when fully left, only the left channel is heard.
Stereo Pressing this button combines two mono channels into one stereo channel. Track name As a default, each track is given a corresponding number as a name. Double click to rename the track to something more useful such as ‘Vocal Mic’. Mix output channel The output channel of the mix is where all the input channels are routed to and mixed together. The output channel provides control of the overall level of the entire mix.
Routing section The routing section allows the setting up of audio sources which are to be routed directly to physical outputs. The routing section displays every physical output on the Scarlett 18i6. An audio stream can be routed to an output using the dropdown menu to the left of the output. Clicking on the box to the left of the output label will bring up a list of all available audio output sources.
Routing presets Routing presets are provided as a starting point for the creation of routing and mixer set-ups. Clear This turns off all output routing. This can be used to reset the routing for the complete restart of a configuration, meaning that there is no requirement to manually reset the routing. DAW Tracking ‘DAW Tracking’ is used for the initial recording process. It will automatically output DAW 1 and 2 to be sent to all line outputs, the main monitors (1+2) and headphones.
Monitor section The output levels of the monitor outputs and headphone outputs are configured in the Monitor Section. Scarlett 18i6 can be set up so that the audio sent to the line outputs are controlled by the software volume dial; independent of the software volume dial; or muted. Monitor control enable buttons The monitor control enable buttons indicate which outputs are controlled by the monitor section on the GUI directly below the four buttons.
Monitor section controls The following controls in the Monitor Section will affect those channels that have been selected for monitor control (indicated with a blue button, see above). Monitor level control knob The output level of all assigned outputs is set using this knob. The output level can be adjusted using the mouse and will affect all assigned outputs (as indicated with a blue button). The dB display below shows the current level to which the monitor knob is set.
Device status section The Device status section shows information about the sample rate, synchronisation and driver status of Scarlett 18i6. The desired sample rate can be set as well as external synchronisation options for using Scarlett 18i6 with external digital devices. Sample rate display The sample rate display shows the current sample rate at which the Scarlett 18i6 is running. To change the sample rate, click on the red sample rate value and select 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.
Settings menu (Windows only) The settings menu is a drop down menu containing driver latency settings. Macintosh OSX users will change driver latency from within their chosen DAW or music software application. PC users set the latency settings here. ASIO buffer size The ASIO buffer size sets the driver latency for your DAW or music software application. A small buffer size will in result in lower latency at the expense of increased CPU usage.
Technical specifications Microphone inputs 1-2 • • • • • Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2dB Gain range: +13dB to +60dB THD+N: 0.001% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter) Noise EIN: 124dB analogue to digital (measured at 60dB of gain with 150 Ohm termination (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter) Input impedance: 2k Ohm Line inputs (inputs 1-2) • • • • • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.2dB Gain Range: -10dB to +36dB THD+N: 0.
Front and rear connectivity Analogue channel inputs (inputs 1-8) • • • • Two Mic XLR combo (channels 1-2) on front panel Two Line ¼” TRS (channels 3-8) on rear panel Automatic switching between mic / line (channels 1-2) Switching between line / instrument inputs (channels 1-2) via Scarlett Mix Control application Digital channel inputs (inputs 9-18) 44.1 - 96kHz • • Stereo S/PDIF input on RCA Eight optical ADAT channels (4 channels at 88.
