How do you feel about Focusrite?

[John Loftus]

My name is John Loftus and I work for Focusrite UK.
Essentially, we'd like to understand how you feel about Focusrite.

Take our survey before the 27th May 2022 and we'll enter you into a competition to win one of our amazing prizes.

Main Prize: Clarett+ 8Pre, Clarett+ OctoPre, FAST plug-in bundle

5 Runners up: $20 Gift Voucher

The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete and you have the option to pause and return to finish it at a later point should you wish to.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6852524/f53821864539-seven-string

If you have any questions about this or would just like to confirm that this is authentic, please feel free to send Focusrite a message on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

 

[AwakenTheSkies]

I have been using a 1st gen Scarlett 2i4 since 2015. Still record vocals with it and use it daily But switched to a Helix LT for guitar. Never had any problems recording guitars with the 2i4 though. It does have some weird tricks for it to work optimally with the computer.

 

[Riverview]

I plan on buying one if that matters

 

[NoodleFace]

Mine has issues where my vocals go to robot mode and I need to power cycle it.. daily almost. Probably wouldn't buy again

 

[CanserDYI]

I'd like focusrite more if they understood that they are gear and not a band, so it's pretty silly to put them in general music section.

 

[will_shred]

I don't hate focusrite but I think that you can get better gear for the $$

 

[eaeolian]

I'd like focusrite more if they understood that they are gear and not a band, so it's pretty silly to put them in general music section.

I didn't even notice that. Moved to Recording Studio.

 

[John Loftus]

Mine has issues where my vocals go to robot mode and I need to power cycle it.. daily almost. Probably wouldn't buy again

I'm sorry to hear that. Have you ever discussed this with our Support Team? Not sure if you know but, we provide free tech support for the lifetime of all of our products. I'm sure they'd be able to provide a solution - https://bit.ly/FocusriteSupport

 

[CanserDYI]

My focusrite 2i2 is too hot for instrument even at gain at zero. Fix that.

 

[John Loftus]

My focusrite 2i2 is too hot for instrument even at gain at zero. Fix that.

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have an original, '1st gen' Scarlett 2i2?
Does this happen with all instruments? What kind of pickups do you have?

 

[Aewrik]

I used a 2i2 for a couple of months in 2019, but had immense driver issues. On my first bluescreen I switched, and didn't have any issues with the other brand. Considering how successful the Scarlett line is, I'm sure whatever my issue was has since been solved, or was bound to my hardware somehow.

A number of my colleagues swear by the Clarett interfaces, both for vocals and different instruments (mic'ed and DI).

 

[tedtan]

I have an ISA 428 with the 8 channel digital card and at this level (ISA, Red, RedNet) I like what Focusrite is doing. And I’ve always received good to great customer service, even when I had a phantom power issue with my ISA 428 just after it went out of warranty, so kudos on your professional lines and customer service.

I don’t have enough experience with the current interface line to comment, but my old Saffire Pro 40 left a bit to be desired. But then so did/do all 10+ year old interfaces.

 

[tedtan]

OK, I just took the survey and want to comment on it as there were a few questions that are questionable IMO.

First, there were questions about whether or not we think 1) Focusrite, and 2) the audio tech industry as a whole stand for something. What do either stand for? Recording audio? Live performance? You guys, as a whole, don’t take political positions so I’m not sure what you could be seen as standing for beyond the functionality of the product. Enabling musicians at a price?

Second, there were questions about whether or not we think 1) Focusrite, and 2) the audio tech industry as a whole enable creativity. I had some difficulty answering this one as no, an interface won’t inspire creativity, but an overly complex mixer can hinder creativity. Mic pres can maybe be said to inspire creativity when they are “color” preamps that allow you to drive them into saturation/distortion (Neve 1073, Chandler Germanium, UA 610, etc.), but for the most part, preamps won’t inspire creativity, either.

What can inspire creativity are things we interface with ergonomically, like a MIDI keyboard or pad controller with unique features. Or maybe the user interface of a plugin.

But for the most part, technology requires logical thinking that interferes with creativity, at least in the moment, so the best advice I can offer is to allow for user developed templates that can be implemented without thought so as to avoid interfering with the initial inspiration anywhere and everywhere possible.

 

[eaeolian]

OK, I just took the survey and want to comment on it as there were a few questions that are questionable IMO.

First, there were questions about whether or not we think 1) Focusrite, and 2) the audio tech industry as a whole stand for something. What do either stand for? Recording audio? Live performance? You guys, as a whole, don’t take political positions so I’m not sure what you could be seen as standing for beyond the functionality of the product. Enabling musicians at a price?

Second, there were questions about whether or not we think 1) Focusrite, and 2) the audio tech industry as a whole enable creativity. I had some difficulty answering this one as no, an interface won’t inspire creativity, but an overly complex mixer can hinder creativity. Mic pres can maybe be said to inspire creativity when they are “color” preamps that allow you to drive them into saturation/distortion (Neve 1073, Chandler Germanium, UA 610, etc.), but for the most part, preamps won’t inspire creativity, either.

What can inspire creativity are things we interface with ergonomically, like a MIDI keyboard or pad controller with unique features. Or maybe the user interface of a plugin.

But for the most part, technology requires logical thinking that interferes with creativity, at least in the moment, so the best advice I can offer is to allow for user developed templates that can be implemented without thought so as to avoid interfering with the initial inspiration anywhere and everywhere possible.

Those were obviously survey consultant questions trying to judge brand impact. It's almost like consultants like that don't understand your industry...because they don't.

 

[tedtan]

Those were obviously survey consultant questions trying to judge brand impact. It's almost like consultants like that don't understand your industry...because they don't.

Exactly!

 

[Crungy]

I have a 2i2 3rd Gen that I really liked but can't use it due to constant blue screens on a windows 7 pc. Understandably it's on an older OS but I had no luck configuring or updating drivers to rectify the issue. Went back to my old M Audio interface.

 

[NoodleFace]

I'm sorry to hear that. Have you ever discussed this with our Support Team? Not sure if you know but, we provide free tech support for the lifetime of all of our products. I'm sure they'd be able to provide a solution - https://bit.ly/FocusriteSupport

Yeah I've spent countless hours talking to support, other users, googling it. It seems common enough under certain applications. It gets the job done for the price, but I have struggled hard with it

 

[Adieu]

Inclusivity?

What the hell dude, you people sell RED USB INTERFACE BOXES.

It's a memorable color and a good idea. Should've asked if that helps set your brand apart in shelves (and yes it does). But you DON'T and CAN'T have any sort of inclusivity image, it's physically impossible.

Crazy marketers... damn

 

[nickgray]

Some really bizarre questions. Focusrite is a friend/authority? Conventional/rebellious? The music technology industry is inclusive? Why not ask about design and features? About common problems users are facing?

You guys should focus on writing better drivers and software instead of on weird marketing questionnaires. The last beta driver was released almost 1.5 years ago. On my machine I'm having occasional buffer underruns with any buffer size when the CPU is spiking (no, the support won't help me, there's no point in me contacting them). Just so you know, I'm buying an RME next time.

 

[Adieu]

Wait, I think I know what this is about

They're probably considering going the Beats route by rebranding with an endorsement by somebody "edgy", "rebellious", and with minority appeal.

And NOPE, it won't work. Because they make items that end up in offices and studios, not a wearable fashion item/conversation piece like headphones.

You don't show people your USB box. Its coolness doesn't become a part of the conversation.