The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is, without a doubt, the most popular budget-friendly audio interfaces available today. The Universal Audio Volt 2 is a fairly new budget option audio interface that is increasingly becoming popular. This is because the Volt 2 is made by Universal Audio — a well established brand known for making premium quality audio interfaces.
In this article, we’ll make a head to head comparison between the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and Universal Audio Volt 2. If you’re in the market to pick up one of these audio interfaces, then stick with me. Because at the end of this article, I’ll help you decide which option to go for. Let’s get into it.
Specifications
| Attribute | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 | Universal Audio Volt 2 |
| Price | Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Amazon |
| Line Input | 2 x XLR – ¼” combo (mic/line/Hi-Z) | 2 x XLR – ¼” combo (mic/instruments) |
| Line Output | 2 x ¼” TRS | 2 x ¼” (L/R) |
| Headphone Output | 1 x ¼” | 1 x ¼” |
| MIDI | No | Yes (In/Out) |
| Display | No | No |
| Sample Rate | 192 kHz/24-Bit | 24-bit/ 192kHz |
| Direct Monitor Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Solo/Mute | No | No |
| Phantom Power | Yes | Yes |
| Power | USB Bus Power | USB Bus Power & 5V DC Power Supply |
| Connection Type | USB 2.0 Type-C | USB 2.0 Type-C |
| Dimension (W x D x H) | (6.89 x 3.89 x 1.87)” | (6.88 x 5.11 x 1.43)” |
| Weight | 1.0 lb | 1.43 lbs |
Table of Contents
Similarities Between Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and Universal Audio Volt 2
The Universal Audio Volt 2 (on Amazon) and the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (also on Amazon) are both light and compact. This is one key similarity that exists between these two audio interfaces.
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the Universal Audio Volt 2 also share a similarity in the number of inputs and outputs. Both devices come with two inputs and two output ports.
Both the Volt 2 and the Scarlett 2i2 have two ¼” TRS analog line outputs for the left and right channels. And they are meant to be connected to your studio monitors. Similarly, both devices have two input ports that are XLR/TRS combo inputs. So you can connect a microphone or any other instruments to their inputs.
The great thing about the input ports on both the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and Universal Audio Volt 2 is that they all have a built-in preamp and can supply 48V phantom power.
This means you can use both audio interfaces with a condenser mic and low-signal instruments like a guitar.
Another thing worth mentioning is that both audio interfaces have one headphone jack output that comes with direct monitoring. Since both audio interfaces offer you direct monitoring capabilities, the signal input received by your headphones has zero latency when it is activated for recording and is the exact signal sent directly to your audio interface.
And one other thing both audio interfaces shares in common is that they all have USB-C ports.
Difference Between Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and Universal Audio Volt 2
Let’s look at some of the differences between the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the Universal Audio Volt 2.
Mic Preamp Test and Sound Difference
One main difference between audio interfaces is how their preamps sound, which is quite important. So it’s important we talk about how the preamps of the Volt 2 sound in comparison to the 2i2.
But first, let me just say right off the bat that both audio interfaces sound incredibly good for the price. They are all professional sounding, clean, and can be used for professional recording. However, they sound slightly different due to their unique features.
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface has a unique recording feature known as AIR mode. This feature has been incorporated into the Scarlett 2i2’s microphone preamps.
AIR Mode is basically an emulation of Focusrite’s classic transformer-based mic preamps that they used to make back in the day. This popular preamp had a sound that many studio engineers liked.
Universal Audio Volt 2 has a similar mode known as Vintage Recording Mode. This vintage recording mode is said to emulate the tube circuitry of the Universal Audio 610. It opens up vocals and removes slight muddiness from voices when recording.
Also, what I noticed about the Vintage Recording Mode after listening to many mic tests is that they make the voice you’re recording sound very natural, full, and warm. Here is a mic test comparison between the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and Universal Audio Volt 2 by Reid Stefan.
Power Supply
Just like most entry-level audio interfaces, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the Universal Audio Volt 2 are bus powered.
This simply means to get them to work, all you need to do is to plug them into a USB port or USB hub connected to your computer. The computer will supply it with the necessary power for it to work.
Even though this is the case, the Universal Audio Volt 2 can also be powered by a 5V DC power supply. Due to this, it comes with a 5V DC input and a 5V DC adapter.
This makes the Volt 2 ideal for portable devices like smartphones and tablets that can’t supply enough power to Volt 2
Included Software and Compatibility
These two audio interfaces provide users with different software that help to make their recording adventure easy and straightforward.
To start with, the Universal Audio Volt 2 comes with a software management app known as UA Connect. This provides a platform for all your plugins and features. It also serves as a platform for managing registration, updates, and software redemption.
In addition to this software management app, purchasing the Volt 2 gives you access to a number of free control software and effects plugins such as the Ableton Live Lite, UJAM, Melodyne Essential, Softtube Marshall, Relab LX480 Essentials, and Plugin Alliance Ampeg.
These are great resources and provide you with all you need and more to start your recording journey.
The Volt 2 is compatible with smartphones or tablets running iOS 14 and above. Thus, you can easily create samples and beats and record songs by simply plugging them into your iPad or iPhone.
Also, the Universal Audio Volt 2 is only compatible with PCs having Windows 10 or macOS 10.14 and above. This is not surprising since the Universal Audio Volt 2 USB-C is the latest addition to the Volt series.
The Focusrite Scarlett also comes with a Focusrite plugin and light versions of several recording programs that are useful during recording. The Ableton Live Lite, Launchpad, and Auria Pro are just a few of the software that comes with the Focusrite plugin.
These programs are extremely useful and make a recording on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 easy to do.
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is compatible with macOS 10.12 and above and computers running at least Windows 7. Unfortunately, the Scarlett 2i2 does not come with any software management or user control app.
MIDI In/Out Ports
Another difference between the Universal Audio Volt 2 and Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is that Volt 2 has MIDI In/Out ports while Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 doesn’t.
If you own a MIDI controller, sound modules, or synthesizers that still use the traditional 5-Pin MIDI ports, then I highly recommend you go with the Universal Audio Volt 2.
Which One Should You Buy? My Opinion
These two audio interfaces are entry-level gadgets that work brilliantly. This means you won’t go wrong with any of them. However, I would choose the Universal Audio Volt 2 (Amazon) ahead of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (Amazon). Here is why.
Firstly, the Universal Audio Volt 2 is a solid audio interface that lets you record audio easily and provides you with professional studio-grade sound output.
It produces clean-sounding recordings irrespective of whether you use a dynamic or condenser mic. This can be attributed to its in-built preamps, which are regarded as among the best in its class of audio interfaces.
Even when the preamps are pushed quite high or when higher gain settings are used, the Volt 2 produces clean sound recordings with little to no distortion.
Furthermore, the Volt 2’s vintage recording mode is an impressive addition to an already amazing audio interface. This mode can be turned ON or OFF, allowing you to color both instrument and line level signals when using ¼” inputs.
Thus, it improves your sound significantly and enables you to produce natural, full, and warm recordings.
Even though the Focusrite 2i2 has a special feature of its own, known as the Air mode, that enables users to produce clean sound, its effect on recordings is not as significant as that of the Volt 2’s vintage recording mode.
To add to all these, having an audio interface that comes with a MIDI in/out port can be very useful as a recording engineer. You can use it as a MIDI out/line-in recording interface. Thankfully you can get this with the Volt 2.
Unfortunately, this is not possible with the Scarlett 2i2, which does not have MIDI in/out ports.
All these make Universal Audio Volt 2 a solid and ideal USB audio interface for beginner and intermediate categories of creative collaborators. It is perfect for songwriters, musicians, podcasters, and live streamers. No matter your expectations, the Volt 2 will certainly live up to them.
The only negative thing about this Volt 2 audio interface is the fact that its 48V phantom power is shared between its two channels. This means you cannot use two condenser microphones together. This notwithstanding, for the price they both come at, the US Volt 2 is the best of the two.
Conclusion
These two gadgets are excellent entry-level audio interfaces that work exactly how you expect them to. Simply put, they produce amazing sounds. In addition, they are well-built, of great quality, and very affordable as well.
Thus, if you are in the market for high-performing yet affordable audio interfaces, you should definitely look in the direction of these two audio interfaces.
Hello, I’m Elijah. A writer on Geek Musician, based in Ghana-West Africa. I am a writer with a passion for research and reading. I usually spend my free time playing chess or watching movies. For more info, check out my about me page. Or read more of my articles here.