What else you need to use it
Worked out from Focusrite’s own specifications and box contents for this model. The setup builder checks the same parts against your computer and the rest of your gear.
You need
- An XLR microphone and an XLR cable for each input you use. Its microphone inputs: 2 microphone preamps; 2 line/instrument inputs. USB versus XLR
- Headphones with a 1/4-inch plug, or a 3.5 mm adapter. Its headphone socket is 1/4-inch.
Check first
- A USB-A port on your computer. The cable in the box is USB-C to USB-A. If your computer only has USB-C ports, use a USB-C to USB-C cable instead.
When this model makes sense
- Connect your microphones to the computer through one interface; count how many voices you need at once before choosing.
- Listen on its headphone outputs, and give a remote guest a separate mix so they don’t hear themselves.
- Record each channel you need into OBS or your recording app, then play each one back to check it went where you meant.
The Interface versus mixer guide weighs it against the other ways to fill the same role.
Connections and specs
- Full name
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen
- Still sold
- Yes, a current model
- Type
- Audio interfaces and mixers
- Connection
- Connector shape
- USB-C host; 2 XLR mic; 2 1/4-inch line/instrument; 2 1/4-inch line out; 1 1/4-inch headphoneA plug’s shape doesn’t tell you its speed →
- Data connection
- USB 2.0What this means for speed →
- Audio inputs
- 2 microphone preamps; 2 line/instrument inputs
- Supplies 48 V phantom power
- Yes
- Preamp gain (dB)
- 69
- Direct monitoring
- YesWhat direct monitoring does →
- Loopback
- YesWhat loopback does →
- USB speed (Gbps)
- 0.48
- USB channels
- 4-in/2-out including loopback
- Audio outputs
- 2 line outputs; 1 headphone output
- Highest sample rate
- 192 kHz
- Bit depth
- 24-bit
- Power draw
- 900 mA over USB
- Size and mounting
- Dimensions
- 47.5 x 180 x 117 mm
- Weight
- 595 g
- In the box
- Included parts
- Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen; 1 m USB-C to USB-A cable
- Computer
- Operating systems
- Windows on Intel, AMD or ARM64; macOS on Intel or Apple silicon
Check these conditions first
For an interface, count the microphone inputs and headphone outputs you need. Loopback sends your computer’s sound back in so you can record or stream it; mix-minus sends a guest everything except their own voice. They solve different problems, so check for the one you need.
What is included, and what may be missing
- Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen
- 1 m USB-C to USB-A cable
Both cable ends and the data rating matter more than the plug shape: streaming cables and ports explains how to match them.
Place it in the complete setup
Every connection
- Webcam USB outUSB cable → A USB port on your computer
- Microphone USB outUSB cable → A USB port on your computer
- Microphone / interface headphone out3.5 mm or 6.3 mm headphone connection → Headphones (what you hear)
- Computer Ethernet portEthernet cable → router; your upload → Platform (check the stream preview)
- Wall socketThe maker’s power supply, or USB power → Computer and devices that need their own power
The diagram shows a simple USB setup. Find where the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen goes, then follow each input back to what feeds it and each output on to where it goes. HDMI and XLR gear needs a capture card or audio interface between it and your computer; it doesn’t plug straight in the way this USB example does.
The setup builder turns this into a connection list for your own computer and gear, and the pre-stream checklist covers the rehearsal once it is wired.
Compare it head to head
Each page sets the two models’ specs side by side and says what else each one needs.