Oh so you don’t have a knob to control your headphone volume? For an audio interface that kinda seems weird to me, usually you have a separated headphone and monitor control. But even for that price I still would expect good volume on your headphones. Hope you get it sorted!
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Yeah I was surprised that the thing can’t take a line in signal on the XLR in.
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So I’m glad I saw this thread!! Is there a DAI at the same price point as the Focusrite (solo or 2i2) or the Personus that CAN take the XLR right off the amp? I’m in the market and would like the option.
Thanx
Chris
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I’m surprised the Scarlett can’t. Zoom U-24/44/etc can take line level input on the combo plugs; I’m running one line level in to mine now.
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Interesting… I’m also looking at the EVO 4 and this is all the manual says about it…
To connect a line-level device, use a ¼” TRS jack which will connect to the
centre of the Combi connector. The Line input automatically reduces your
signal level slightly to minimise the chance of overloading the input and
causing distortion. The line inputs are ideal for connecting up devices like
keyboards and drum machines.
EVO 4 can lower the signal level by 8 decibels and boost it by up to 50 dec-
ibels allowing you to get the perfect recording level, this is known as the
Gain.
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For my Zoom I have only run XLR in for DI outs on pedals, but the jack itself has no problem taking line level input.
Looks like there’s about a 10:1 on the TRS vs XLR levels though:
MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL: +2.7 dBu (MIC IN) /+20.7 dBu (TRS IN)
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Yeah that is same for the Tuner and Line out for my amp 1/10 HOWEVER after some sleep and tasting in the ‘daylight’ I saw that last night I tried SEND output instead of the tuner. This morning I connected the TUNER output to Scarlet Line in and couldn’t even get any sound. I guess that is mic level as well.
BTW XLR input on my Scarlet Solo is not Combo and even on 2i2 it says when you connect XLR it automatically runs through the Mic pre amp.
I have followed @Paul 's idea for a firmware update now and that really changed things. Focusrite devices (most of them including my Scarlet Solo) don’t run independently and you cannot update a firmware. What you can update is the windows driver and Focusrite Control application and neighter of them have headphone volume control like it shows on the User Manual.
What I can do is turn on Ableton Live and use the ASIO driver which already gives significantly higher volume AND I can digitally increase the volume for both inputs and outputs. I wish there was a simpler PC independent way.
So I might have chosen poorly for Scarlet Solo instead of 2i2 which do have combo inputs and headphone volume control. This is my two cents for you @csmundell
Also now I can see that I could have bought the Behringer Usb 502 Mixer just for 1/3 price which can also record 2 channels but can also mix.
Only plus side of this DAI for me atm is that I can directly connecto to my Android phone via USB.-C. There are no official audio drivers for it though…
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“Cheap” mixers you will regret…I got a Yamaha MG10XU…while not expensive it was more than what you looked at…I live in a dusty area so I stayed with the ALL rotary pots…slides require too much cleaning in a home or minor gig situation. I can crank anything as loud as I want and add effects (on board) at different levels to different inputs and I basically can tweek things left / right, eq, some compression, volume completely independent of everything else. That mixer is a really good value…check it out and check out all the other stuff it has/does. I used to work with analog tape…personal set up was 4 track open reel but at work had 8 track open reel. no it wasn’t music per say it was commercials and sound tracks but I found this board to be an excellent value with great versatility. So much easier to just turn a knob than to grab a mouse or tap a touchscreen through a bunch steps to make a tweek. By the way the amount of inputs becomes important…and while not a massive board there is certainly more inputs than a simple stereo in and one or two mono ins. Run this puppy into your Mac or PC and what you can do easily without screwing with pads, tablets, phones or your keyboard/touchpad makes it’s increase in cost seem less than negligible . I used to buy to get by, but quickly found out that a slight wait for the $ for an upgrade was better than paying too little, for too little and selling my mistakes for too little so I could buy what I really needed. Hell if nothing else get a sign saying “Will Play Killer Skynyrd bass lines for equipment” and stand outside a Walmart…it might work cause everybody knows Stairway to Heaven sounds like dung on a bass and we all know what walmart shoppers listen to…Hell find the right walmart and you might be able to buy???
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Yeah, if I were ever to want to upgrade my audio interface I would go for a mixer with a built-in audio interface too. A bunch of good ones, I’m sure that Yamaha is great.
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The Darkglass Element after the latest firmware update is now also an audio interface. They keep on improving and adding more functionality. It’s my go-to pedal if I want to practice somewhere else besides my amp. The VOX amplug comes nowhere near the versatility, functionality and sound quality of this audio device.
I actually bought this device because the headphone out on my amp wasn’t working properly, but it turned out better then I expected. You can use it as a standalone practice device and play wherever you want or place it somewhere in your signalchain (f.e. you can even put it in the send/return from your amp). I had it between my pedals and amp. The cool thing is that it has optional cab-sims on headhpones so it still sounds like you are listening to a poweramp + cabinet which you can control easy via a mobile or desktop app. There is also an option for adding aux input via a cable or bluetooth and balance the levels on the device itself. It’s great for adding backingtrack or drums. Maybe something like this could be a solution for you as well @Fahri? It’s not cheap but for what it can do I would say it’s worth it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they would add more modeling options in the future.
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Universal Audio interfaces are nice too. I’ve got the cheapest one and I got it because I wanted no latency for my instrument input. I noticed quite a difference in quality between my 1st gen 2i2 and the universal audio one. It has a bit of a learning curve tho.
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Happy with my Zoom, really the only reason I would upgrade is if I needed another input (I’m using two now, so once I needed a third I would just get a mixer.) But Universal Audio sounds interesting for people looking for an interface.
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So if I’m understanding this chart Sweetwater so nicely made for me correctly… The EVO 4 and the Focusrite 2i2 both will accept a line connection from the DI output on the back of my amp.
If true, my next question would be what cable would be the correct connection on the DAI end? AMP side is easy, there is only one choice, female XLR.
But on the DAI side I see 3 choices, and the cables come all 3 ways…
- Female XLR to Male 1/4" TRS balanced (stereo).
- Female XLR to Male 1/4" Mono
- Female XLR to Male XLR (Microphone cable)
What would be the correct (best?) choice here?
Thanx
Chris
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I’m guessing a DI out with XLR is usually a balanced output. So a female XLR to male 1/4" TRS should work?
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I went initially with the XLR F to 1/4" TRS to connect to my Focusrite Solo. As I said here and on another thread I am not super happy with the input result. Input is just too low. I was blaming the headphones but if I put any song on spotify or youtube sound levels are as expected.
You have to turn on your DAW to raise the input volume only then it comes to levels good enough to appreciate the sound for me but even then there is a little to no breathing room is left or distortions start happening especially on lower tones…
On this matter maybe Scarlett 2i2 would work better having the independent volume knob for the Headphones…
Anyway yesterday I gave in to all this dissatisfaction and ordered the Behringer Xeynx 502 Mixer and an XLR-F/M cable. Tonight I am intending to test all the possible ways to resolve this issue for me…
Instrument to Focusrite (Which I have been using properly for a long time now)
Instrument to Zoom B1 Four to Focusrite (Which is acceptable if you use drum sets very low)
Zoom B1 Four to Amp to XLR to Focusrite Mic input
Zoom B1 Four to Amp to XLR to Mixer to Line to Focusrite Line Input
Headphones on Mixer
Headphones on Scarlet
Headphones on Zoom
Etc
I will let you know when I know more! I will try to record as well!
Fahri
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Ok so I have received my Behringer Xyenx 502. I must say the best setup ever for using headphones for me until now:
Bass—(TS)—>Amp—(XLR-TRS)—>Mixer Input 1 Line in—>Mixer Headphone Out
If I want to hear my PC or record at the same time as well
Mixer Main out Left (mono) —(TSR)—> Focusrite Line in----> Focusrite Headphone Out
I can throw in my Zoom B1 Four as three different options
-Connect between Bass and Amp as an effects pedal and/or loop my bass input
-Connect in paralel to any available Mixer input as a rythm box
-Connect between Mixer output and Headphones or Focusrite to Loop whatever comes from the Mixer which can be anything and again rythmbox
I tried also connecting the Line out of my amp directly to Focusrite microphone output. I must say the result was much more satisfactory then the line input. The microphone preamp is working very well. If I thought about this before I wouldn’t have bought the mixer at this point. I am still happy that I have bought it however!
So as @Browndog asked at the beginning for this thread. I think The very best way to attach headphones to an amp lineout is a mixer. The cheapest I have seen is this Behringer Xenyx 502. And it gives much more than that. You can connect it to line in on your PC soundcard to record. Connect PC sound ouput or your phone to add backing track. etc…etc
If you don’t have an audio interface you can consider getting Q302 USB or Q502 USB so that you can record for a super affordable price as well!
If you want the scarlet series get at least 2i2.
This is my two cents!
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