This audio interface turns your Mac into a music studio for two microphones and two instruments.
Photo: Focusrite

If you’re going to make and manipulate music or other sound with your Mac setup, odds are you need a good audio interface. Today’s Mac Studio workstation relies on a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB audio interface when the user makes YouTube videos, for example. Check it out below, along with the rest of the setup’s gear.

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Focusrite Scarlett audio interface masters Mac Studio setup’s sound

Redditor bucketofmonkeys (“Monk”) showcased the setup in a post entitled, “New Mac Studio M2 Max setup.” On Monday we covered his refurbished M2 Max Mac Studio and Studio Display. On Wednesday we zeroed in on his Keychron K8 tenkeyless mechanical keyboard. Today is all about his Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB audio interface. That’s an older model, but Scarlett makes a bunch of high-quality audio interfaces, some of which are featured in Cult of Mac’s upcoming feature about the best audio interfaces for Mac. “I’ve had it for about a decade now. I used to make [YouTube] videos and used it to record my voiceovers,” Monk said when we asked about the Scarlett. “Now I mainly use it as a headphone amp for when I want to use my nice headphones (Sennheiser HD 598). It’s been pretty reliable, although the headphone jack is starting to get a little flaky over the years.”

A connector and converter for sound

An audio interface connects audio equipment to your Mac. And it converts analog audio signals from various sources, like microphones and musical instruments, into digital signals. That way, you can alter and record the sound using Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software installed on your computer.

The interface often handles digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), too, allowing you to listen through headphones or studio monitors, aka speakers. Many interfaces come preloaded with software, so shop carefully to get exactly what you want. In the case of Monk’s interface, it features two microphone inputs and two instrument inputs as well as four outputs for speakers, headphones and MIDI.

Scarlett 2i4 audio interface features:

Two natural-sounding Scarlett mic preamps with plenty of even gain; two instrument inputs. Two 1/4-inch balanced jack outputs to connect professional studio monitors; one headphones output with gain control; MIDI I/O
Conversion and sample rates up to 192kHz / 24 bit; low roundtrip latency for using your plug-ins in real time without the need for DSP.
Includes Pro Tools | First Focusrite Creative Pack and Ableton Live Lite, Softube Time and Tone Bundle, Focusrite’s Red Plug-in Suite, 2GB of Loopmasters samples, Choice of one free XLN Addictive Keys virtual instrument, all available via download upon purchase and registration.
Compatible with Mac OS X 10.10 and higher and Windows 7 and up. Frequency response – 20 Hz – 20 kHz ± 0.1dB. Supported Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz.
3-year warranty

You can find all the gear in the gear list below, including the audio interface (pictured furthest left in the photograph below, under a mouse and a guitar picks).

Mac Studio and Studio Display refurbs in setup — This user said it’s hard to tell his Apple-refurbished Mac Studio and Studio Display aren’t new.
Photo: [email protected]

Shop these items now:

Focusrite Scarlett audio interface:

Computer:

Display and accessories:

Mechanical keyboard and mouse:

Connectivity:

Other:

If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.

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FocusRite Scarlett audio interface masters setup’s sound