Focusrite SCARLETT-18I20-3G User Guide

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Low Latency Monitoring

You will frequently hear the term “latency” used in connection with digital audio systems. In the

case of the simple DAW recording application described above, latency will be the time it takes for

your input signals to pass through your computer and audio software, and back out again via your

audio interface. While not an issue for most simple recording situations, under some circumstances,

latency can be a problem for a performer who wishes to record while monitoring their input signals.

This might be the case if you need to increase the size of your DAW’s recording buffer, which could

be necessary when you record overdubs on a particularly large project using many DAW tracks,

software instruments and FX plug-ins. Common symptoms of a buffer setting that is too low could

be glitching audio (clicks and pops), or a particularly high CPU load within your DAW (most DAWs

have a CPU monitoring function). Most DAWs will allow you adjust buffer size from their Audio

Preferences* control page.

The Scarlett 18i20, in conjunction with Focusrite Control, allows “zero latency monitoring”, which

overcomes this problem. You can route your input signals directly to the Scarlett 18i20’s headphone

outputs. This enables the musicians to hear themselves with ultra-low latency – i.e., effectively in

“real time” – along with the computer playback. The input signals to the computer are not affected

in any way by this setting. However, note that any effects being added to the live instruments by

software plug-ins will not be heard in the headphones in this case, although the FX will still be

present on the recording.

In the example, each of the band members is receiving his/her own monitor mix, because they each

have their “own” Scarlett 18i20 output. Focusrite Control lets you deﬁne up to eight separate mixes,

and these mixes may include previously recorded DAW tracks as well the current input signals.

Guitar Bass

Kick

Direct Monitoring

set up in

Focusrite Control

SnareOverheads Vocals

Headphones

(Guitar)

Headphones (Vocals) Headphones (Keyboards)

Headphones

(Bass)

Headphone

Amplier

Headphone

Amplier

Headphones (Drums)

Headphone

Amplier

Keyboards

When using Direct Monitoring, ensure that your DAW software is not set to route any inputs (what you

are currently recording) to any outputs. If it is, the musicians will hear themselves “twice”, with one

signal audibly delayed as an echo.

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Focusrite SCARLETT-18I20-3G USB-C Audio/MIDI Interface (3rd Generation)