Welcome back Tech Room Enthusiasts! We're trustedshoppingguide.com
and today we are in the Tech Room. In this video, two audio interface brands will be
going head to head. We have the Audient iD4 MkII and the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen.
With a good audio interface, you can get high-quality audio into and out of your computer
and connect other important studio gear and instruments during your recording sessions.
In fact, we believe getting hold of one is probably the most important measure you can
take as a home producer to ensure that your setup is up to industry standard.
Having said that, we will be pitting two high-end audio interfaces- the Audient iD4 MkII and the
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen - against each other in a battle of epic proportions.
Both of these audio interfaces have earned five badges from our team at trustedshoppingguide.com,
attesting to their quality, durability, and performance. However, there s only one room
for a winner, so sit back, relax, and watch as we battle it out in today s Brand Wars!
If you are interested in the other audio interfaces that we reviewed, do check out
our audio interface review video linked below. If you want direct links to the products themselves,
all these links are also listed below too. So, without further ado, let s start the brand wars!
The first category that these audio interfaces will be going toe to toe with
would be their size and form factor. If you prefer to take your interface
outside of the home studio and use it across different setups, then we suggest having
enough space for it in your backpack or luggage. Having said that, an audio interface that comes
in a lightweight size and form factor would be well-suited for such arrangements. Not only that,
but a smaller and more portable interface also means you ll have more desk space to spare.
The Audient iD4 Mark II comes in a fairly lightweight size with overall dimensions of 5.2 by
4.72 by 1.57 inches and a weight of 1.63 pounds. With this interface on your desk, it shouldn t
be taking up too much space and the rounded-off edges also add a sleek and understated elegance to
the unit. The Focusrite Scarlett 4i4, on the other hand, is no slouch in this department either. With
overall dimensions of 4.72 by 7.28 by 1.87 inches and a weight of 0.99 pounds, this interface is a
much more portable unit than its competition. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that
the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 wins the first round and takes one point in this battle.
The second category that these two brands will be going toe to toe with would be their loopback.
Loopback can combine audio from both application sources and audio input devices,
then make it available anywhere on your computer. With an easy-to-understand wire-based interface,
Loopback gives you all the power of a high-end studio mixing board, right inside your computer.
The Audient iD4 Mark II has an audio loop-back that enables you to capture playback from
applications on your computer at the same time as your microphones. This comes as a really
handy feature to have, especially if you re a streamer or a podcast host. On the flip side,
the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 boasts a pair of virtual loopback inputs that allow you to record a
stereo feed from any combination of hardware input and software playback channels, making podcasting,
live streaming, and sampling easier. In terms of the better application of the
loopback feature, we believe the Audient iD4 Mark II has the edge over the 4i4.
Having said that, it takes one point and evens up the competition at one apiece.
The third category that these two brands will be going toe to toe with would be their mic preamp.
Preamps are used for amplifying low-level microphone and guitar signals,
and they are usually attached to each mic and instrument input. If you want to use condenser
microphones with your interface, you ll need to make sure at least some of your
input channels have a phantom power switch. A few of these tips will ensure that you get
the best out of your interface regardless of how expensive your recording equipment is.
The Audient iD4 Mark II features an Audient Console Mic Preamp, which is the same discrete
circuit design found in the world-renowned recording console, the ASP8024-HE. It is
designed to deliver ultra-low noise and low distortion with a touch of classic analog warmth
to give you the professional sound you deserve. Without a shadow of a doubt, this brings the
interface to a professional-grade caliber that few interfaces in its price range can offer.
The Focusrite Scarlett 4i4, on the other hand, features two mic preamps, one of which has an
optional Air setting that emulates the Air effect of the original ISA mic preamp, giving your vocal
or acoustic recordings a brighter and more open sound that s more pleasant to the ears.
With a decisively better mic preamp performance, the Audient iD4 Mark II wins this category.
Having said that, it takes another point and breaks away from the competition at 2-1.
The fourth category that these two brands will be going toe
to toe with would be their sound quality. Most interfaces available today are capable
of accurate, noise-free recording at 24-bit depth with a 96-kilohertz sampling rate.
This sampling rate allows the interfaces to reliably record audio at a wider range
of frequencies with more detail than the human ear can actually perceive. Having said that,
a higher quality of sound is and always will be the main draw to choosing an audio interface.
The Audient iD4 Mark II s converters are designed to ensure you hear every nuanced detail of your
audio. This, in effect, allows you to hear your mix more accurately. Not only that, but this also
allows you to work faster and make better creative decisions as a result of not having to make sure
your monitors are balanced and accurate. Likewise, you can get professional-sounding
recordings with the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 s high-performance converters,
which enable you to record and mix at up to 24-bit depth and 192-kilohertz sampling rate.
This basically means your recordings will retain all of their sonic qualities so that you can hear
all the details in your track on playback. It s hard not to love what the Focusrite
Scarlet 4i4 has done in terms of ensuring high-quality sound recording. With that said,
we are awarding it this round s one point which leaves us with a score of 2-2.
With the score tied up at two apiece, we will now have the fifth and final category
that these two brands will be going toe to toe with, which would be their ease of use.
Another important quality of an audio interface is usability. You shouldn t have to dig through
the manual just to connect the interface to your computer. It should be easy to plug in a
microphone or instrument, adjust gain levels, and monitor the signal level. Additionally,
it s also a big bonus if your interface comes with some form of software bundle of plugins.
The Audient iD4 Mark II comes bundled with a selection of free professional software,
providing you with everything you need to start recording. It is also beautifully engineered in a
small, all-metal package, making plug-and-play situations much easier. With no need to find
a power outlet, the interface is powered directly from your computer via USB, without
compromising on sound quality or performance. On the other hand, Scarlett 4i4 is designed to
stand up to days on the road and connects straight to your Mac or PC via USB cable.
If you re also familiar with other Focusrite products, you ll know that they have a knack
for having easy, intuitive designs, which is exactly what you ll find with the 4i4.
Lastly, one free plug-in will be featured in your Focusrite account every couple of months,
keeping you up to date with the tidal wave of releases.
If we had to choose one winner out of this category, we would have to choose the Focusrite
Scarlett 4i4. With a reputation for high-quality and user-friendly recording experiences,
this definitely does not fall short of expectations. It takes the final
point of this battle and wins it all. Finally, we have come to the end of this
battle of audio interfaces between the Audient iD4 MkII and the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen. Even
though it was a very tough fight, the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 beats the Audient iD4 MkII by a
narrow margin of one point. As much as we would like to keep going on about the wonderful features
these audio interfaces offer, there can only be one victor today and the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4
has already claimed its throne as it waits for yet one more battle with another formidable opponent.
And there you have it, folks the battle between the Audient iD4 MkII and the Focusrite Scarlett
4i4 3rd Gen has finally ended. If you have any contenders for our next audio interface face-off,
which you would like our team to test, do drop them in the comments section below and we will
be sure to assess them for our next update. If you liked this video and it helped you in
any way please do give it a like and hit the subscribe button so that you
can stay connected and updated with all of our research into everything that makes our
Tech Rooms great! We look forward to seeing you at the trustedshoppingguide.com again soon.