“Everything the modern musician needs to record great sounding guitars”: Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen audio interfaces review

We deep dive with the 2i2 and 4i4 4th Gen models to find out if Focusrite’s latest audio interfaces are a good fit for guitarists

Two Scarlett Focusrite 4th Gen audio interfaces stacked on top of one another
(Image: © Future/Matt McCracken)

Guitar World Verdict

These two powerful audio interfaces are the perfect choice for guitarists wanting to capture real amp tones or use plugins at home. Packed with functionality, easy usability, and a pair of fantastic quality mic preamps, their excellent value for money makes them the cream of the crop when it comes to modern guitar audio interfaces.

Pros

  • +

    Incredible preamp performance

  • +

    Loads of useful extra functionality

  • +

    Easy to install and set up

  • +

    Great looks and rugged build quality

Cons

  • -

    [2i2] We’d prefer combi inputs

  • -

    [4i4] Only two mic preamps

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

With the launch of the Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen range, the British-based pro-audio company continues its path of innovation in home recording by adding better specs, enhanced functionality, and a sleek new look to their ever-present audio interfaces. The market for home recording has grown exponentially in the last decade, so does the Scarlett range continue to hold its torch the highest in a crowded market against competitors like Universal Audio, SSL, PreSonus, Audient, Native Instruments, and Arturia? 

The ubiquitous red of the Focusrite Scarlett has become the signature of home recording since its launch way back in 2011. Back then the home audio interface hadn’t properly taken off, and many were plagued by driver/compatibility issues, poor latency, or the lack of processing power from computers most people could afford at the time.

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Matt McCracken
Junior Deals Writer

Matt is a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World. He regularly tests and reviews music gear with a focus on guitars, amps, pedals, modelers, and pretty much anything else guitar-related. Matt worked in music retail for 5 years at Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars and has written for various music sites including MusicRadar, Guitar Player, Guitar.com, Ultimate Guitar, and Thomann’s t.blog. A regularly gigging guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing live and writing and recording in bands, he's performed everything from jazz to djent, gigging all over the country in more dingy venues than you can shake a drop-tuned guitar at.