Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 USB-C Audio/MIDI Interface (3rd Generation) - Manual (Page 16)

16
Examples of Usage
The Scarlett 18i8 is an excellent choice for several different recording and monitoring applications.
Some typical configurations are shown below.
Connecting microphones and instruments
Direct Monitoring
set up in
Focusrite Control
This setup illustrates a configuration for recording a group of musicians with DAW software on Mac or
PC. In this case, Inputs 1 and 2 are used for two guitars, while Inputs 3 and 4 are used for vocals. Two
stereo keyboards are connected to Inputs 5 to 8 at the rear. During recording, playback of the DAW
can be monitored on the loudspeakers (if they are in a separate room – otherwise use headphones!),
and Focusrite Control can be configured to provide each vocalist with their own dedicated headphone
mix. This can consist of any mix of themselves, the other singer, the guitars and keyboards, plus any
other DAW tracks that may have already been recorded.
The front panel input sockets are XLR Combo type, which accept either an XLR male connector (you
will probably have one on the end of your microphone cable) or a ¼” (6.35 mm) jack plug. Note the
Scarlett 18i8 has no “Mic/line” switch – the Focusrite preamplifier stage is automatically configured
for a microphone when you plug an XLR into the input, and for a line or instrument when you connect
a jack plug. Select INST in Focusrite Control (on the Device Settings page) if you are connecting
a musical instrument (like a guitar) via an ordinary 2-pole guitar jack. INST should be off if you are
connecting a line level source such as the balanced output of an external audio mixer via a 3-pole
(TRS) jack. Note the Combo connector accepts both types of jack plug.
If you are using capacitor (condenser) microphones, press the 48V button to supply phantom power to
the mics. (In the example, this would be the 48V button for Inputs 3 and 4.) Most modern microphones
of other types, e.g., dynamic or ribbon, will not be damaged by the inadvertent application of phantom