Got a Focusrite 2i2 but it sounds terrible

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bussy233

Member
Running wind0ws 8 64bit on a decent cpu and ram but that's probably irrelevant.

Downloaded the latest 2i2 driver. Plugged JP-8000 synthesizer into 2i2 and it sounds terrible, canned, muted sound. Plugged headphones straight into JP-8000 and it sounds a million times clearer. I tried all the configurations with the 2i2, trying it with line in or instrument adjusting gains etc. Canned faded sound.

The only guitar I have is a noisy strat, so I can't really judge that.


I notice 2i2's output sounds a tad bit better than the standard stock sound card on my motherboard when I'm just listening to youtube or something from the computer, but it might just be that it's slightly louder than the PC's soundcard that makes me think it sounds 'better/crisper'.
I read people describe 2i2 as a quiet interface but imagined it would still be much louder than my motherboard but it's still basically like plugging headphones into my cell phone.

Any ideas or is this actually how it's supposed to sound volume-wise and with the jp-8000 sounding canned? I already checked all levels in control panel > sound.

I'm considering returning but really don't want to spend much more for something louder and cleaner because I imagine that shouldn't be to hard to achieve for $150 in 2014.
 
For the volume I think that it is normal, maybe you expected too much.

And for the piano, that isn't normal. Try switching usb port. Also connect piano on line not on instrument because It will get distorted immediately and adjust gain so you get green light. I don't know what could exactly be the problem, but I have 2i2 too and I have to switch the port to work properly and also I always connect instrument on line beacuse on instrument it will get distorted.
 
I have the 8i6 and never have had sound problems. Have you messed around with the mixer for it? If im not mistaken all Scarlett models should come with software in the box you have to download. I had to do a little tweaking to mine and it sounds pretty good, but it was the master volume in the mixer that was making it sound off. Quick question though does yours have an off switch, because i have to unplug mine every time im not using it and its quite annoying.

M.C.Gray
 
I don't think it's supposed to sound like this, it's probably just some stupid thing I need to tweak but don't feel like taking 3 days to figure out. I think I'm returning it for a steinberg. I got this as used but it seemed brand new open box or something so I don't think it was broken.

I didn't install anything from the 2i2 CD because my 0ptical drive isn't working ever since installing stupid wind0ws8 there's a problem it sometimes stops 0ptical drives from working I read other having same problem. But I downloaded the latest driver from focusrite and the 2i2 quick start pamphlet calls the included CD just a driver CD so I don't think I'm missing anything and doubt they'd make it so the unit's useless without the original CD.

I have always been using the line in instead of the instrument setting on the 2i2. I didn't previously try the headphone output instead of the mono from the JP8K synth into the 2i2 but that didn't solve anything. I'm using $50 sennheiser headphones, not monitors.


I just tried everything I could think of and was having the same problems already described plus: can sometimes hear noise when moving the mouse, when play a patch that has delay/echo, the first note is almost unhearable but then I hear the delay sounds and it sounds terrible all around, still canned and distorted sound. Tried all different volume settings like %75 on the JP8K and %100 on the 2i2 and everything in between. If I turn something like the treble on the JP8K max, it completely craps out the 2i2 but sounds fine plugging headphones straight into JP8K.

Some have suggested to PAN the inputs on the focusrites mixer, but I see no mixer if you mean something in windows, all I seem to be able to do is change the 2i2 main volume, there's no like program for it. I tried different USB ports.
 
I'm almost certain "mix controll" isn't for the 2i2. I googled for it and it takes me to the DL page but it says it for bigger units than the 2i2, I choose 2i2 as device and the DL isn't under it's DL section.

I tried to change the sample rate but only 16 bit variations are available for the 2i2 it says (CD/DVD/studio quality) and none are "supported by this device" except the default variation when I apply them. I just checked that sample rate page with the 2i2 disconnected and it allows me to change my onboard soundcard to 24bit though.

There's an option in 2i2's sound properties in control panel to 'listen to this device - you can plug things like an MP3 player into this device", when I enable that, it's much louder but still much noisier including the 'mouse moving sound' and sounds mostly in one headphone.

I can barely hear the difference when I scroll through JP8K synth's onboard effects.

I DL'd the manual from focusrite and it says not to plug the 2i2 into the usb until DL'in g the drivers which I probably didn't do before first connecting it, so I uninstalled the 2i2 drivers and did the correct order but no fix. All else it installed was something for me to change the buffer to 10ms to 0 or somethingg which made no difference.
 
Maybe it is because of drivers and windows 8. I read a lot about that Scarlett 2i2 drivers are awful and don't work well, but for me on windows 7 it works ok, but maybe they didn't made good drivers for win8. If you have friend or someone who has win7 try there and see if you will still have problems.
 
someone asked about ASIO. I didn't DL it. Should I get the latest 07 june 2013 beta version from here? asio4all d()t c()m

the latest non-beta release 2.1 12 june 2010 doesn't say it uses windows 8, i have 8.1.
 
Did you try both inputs? You said you got it used one of the inputs could be damaged. If you get the same results from both inputs, it's more than likely a minor issue that can be fixed with the right driver, asio settings, ect.

Also, you're running the JP-8000 thru "line" not "inst", right? Sorry if that was already discussed, i just skimmed.
 
bussy233 said:
someone asked about ASIO. I didn't DL it. Should I get the latest 07 june 2013 beta version from here? asio4all d()t c()m

the latest non-beta release 2.1 12 june 2010 doesn't say it uses windows 8, i have 8.1.
Click to expand...

NO!: asio4all is for those of use who use motherboard integrated soundcards not external soundcards with their own drivers
 
yeah i tried both inputs.
The JP8K doesn't sound terrible really, sorry for the thread title saying that, I'm actually getting some cool sounds from the 2i2, but it sounds so canned and different than just plugging headphones into the JP-8000.

I think I'm just going to return this and get either another one or a $40 roland duo capture or a steinberg ur22.
maybe it really is defective. I got it off ebay from a sort of big music store who has a lot of these saying they're used but mine was open box looked untouched. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and pay the $5 return shipping and someone else will buy it.
 
I recently got a 2i2 as well but I use my keyboard strictly as a midi controller so I plug it USB to the computer and then the software instrument I'm using goes through th 2i2. I have also used it for vocals. I have a Blue microphone. I plugged it straight in via mic cable and mine sounds awesome. It probably sounds quiet because when you're working in your DAW nothing has been normalized or mastered so it's not pushing the limit volume wise. If you have studio monitors it should be plenty loud.
 
I just returned it. I even tried DL ASIO4ALL, some said it would needed, others said it wasn't. ASIO didn't even pop up in the toolbar or anywhere. I wasn't using any DAW at all either though, but it's 24 bit always and can't be changed. Can only change the 2i2 buffer basically.
Might be a windows 8.1 driver issue others have reported. I'll try my luck with a steinberg ur22 or roland duo capture.
 
It comes with it's own set of drivers. I bought mine from sweet water and when it was delivered they sent me a link to the drivers in my email so that very well may have been the issue I wish you better luck with the new investment though.
 
I have windows 8 64 bit and the scarlett 2i2 and i have no problems at all. i plugged it in and it worked fine for me. Maybe it's a failure in the interface itself?
I had problems with it when i installed the windows 8.1 version.


windows 8.1 has a major driver issue. i just reinstalled windows 8.

I hope your new investment gonna work out
 
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wanted to update this to not give an incorrect review because I was using the wrong cable with the scarlette 2i2 which might have been the cause of the noise. Was using non TRS or TS cables, not sure what type but they were wrong.
 
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