With the 2i2 your inputs also have a dedicated line level switching button so you can easily set it for recording directly into the interface or via a microphone.īoth the Solo and the 2i2 are super low-latency interfaces however, the 2i2 is seen to have fractional less latency than the Solo.
They both have a direct monitoring button, but the 2i2 has the option of listening in mono or stereo as you may be using both inputs simultaneously.Įach line on these interfaces has a dedicated gain control with a really cool perimeter light that turns green if the levels are good and red if you’re clipping. Next comes a slight difference in design. They also both have the lovely large monitor dial, and the button to trigger the phantom power supply. The only difference being the 2i2 has an extra button to cater for its extra preamp. This makes the 2i2 way more versatile and opens up a lot of doors to neat recording options.īoth interfaces have an ‘air’ button on their front panel that initiates the boosted high-end function in their preamps. Both the 2i2 inputs can receive mic level signals, balanced line level signals, or instrument level signals. The solo has one microphone input and one instrument level input.
This and the second preamp is the biggest difference between the two interfaces and largely accounts for the separate price tags. Recording through both via a single input, you’ll find they’re alike in quality, making your decision even harder. I enjoyed the really impressive high res 24-bit, 192 kHz recording potential of both of these interfaces. This means that both inputs on the Solo are sculpted by a single preamp, so you won’t get as much definition between your inputs as you do with the 2i2. The big difference here is that the 2i2 has two preamps and Solo only has one. This adds an optional brightness to their warm and dynamic sound profile and gives them tonal qualities reminiscent of excellent analog preamps. The original design has been updated with the patented Focusrite Air system. The Solo and the 2i2 have the same great preamps. It’s not really a problem it just means you’ll have to fix volume levels as you switch from cans to monitor. This simply means that your headphone volume is defined by your monitor volume. The Solo has the headphone jack, but no dedicated control. The 2i2 has the Solo beat in this category as it has a single headphone jack with a dedicated volume control. That said, if you’re just starting out, you shouldn’t worry too much about this.īoth devices have phantom power so you’ll be able to use condenser mics and any other bit of gear that has its own electrical system and no power supply.īoth interfaces have a USB port and the same two ¼ inch stereo outputs making them compatible with most studio monitors. This normally has a negative effect on the headphone output and the mic current capabilities. USB ports have a limited power supply so the interfaces have to limit their performance specifications slightly. This means that they draw their power from your computer via USB connection.īus-powered interfaces are incredibly convenient and portable, but inferior in some ways to mains powered devices. Well, it’ll please you to know that both of these shiny red boxes are bus-powered audio interfaces. You’ve got your amplifiers, your studio monitors, your effects power supply, and your mixers taking up all the mains sockets. If you're anything like me, you’re always short on plugs.