Gear Review: Focusrite Scarlet Solo
Over the years, especially since 2020, I’ve struggled to find a reliable audio setup for online meetings. The most reliable was for a while my Bose Quite Comfort headphones but they had the same drawback as other wireless solutions: battery life. On the other hand, some “gaming“ headsets that were USB wouldn’t have the battery issue, but rather they would fall apart with extended daily professional use.
TL;DR:
For years now my Focusrite Scarlett Solo has worked fantastically. Highly recommended if you are looking for an great single microphone input device.
- Works great with Linux, MacOS, and Windows
- Very portable
- USB C works with phones and tablets as well
- Direct monitor provides a bit of your voice back into headphones, preventing unintentional shouting
- Very affordable for its feature set
Some background
Having some experience in the professional audio/video world I knew that the quality of that equipment would last probably until retirement. So I started looking around and settled on a professional broadcast headset from audio-technica. I'll probably do a separate review on that so be sure to check back later.
The challenge was that headset uses XLR for the microphone and 1/4 inch phone connection for the headphones. Most standard computers, including mine, don't come equipped with those I/O options.
The solution
Enter the Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB audio interface. Utilizing common professional audio connectors, it's compatible with a wide array of professional audio devices. This setup offers flexibility: you can connect a boom mic, a shotgun mic, or even route the output of an audio mixer to capture multiple microphones or instruments. If a microphone fails (as my expensive Blue Yeti did), you don't have to replace the entire setup—just the mic.
Photos of my Focusrite on my desk. Yes the plastic cover is still on, no I won't take it off.
Works with Linux
My personal computers are all PopOS Linux and this little box works great out of the box. Nothing to mess about with, just plug and play. There are even utilities that let you update the firmware from Linux. It's then just as simple and moving the USB cable over to my Mac for work use.
Conclusion
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo has proven to be a reliable and versatile solution for my audio needs across various platforms. Its compatibility, portability, and affordability make it a standout choice for anyone seeking a robust single-microphone input device.