On 22 October 2013, I purchased a Focusrite 2i2 audio interface.
Seven years later, it is still working great and I use it mainly now to connect my Yamaha HS5 monitor speakers to my iMac using balanced connections. I rarely use it for recording.
One great thing about Focusrite is the set of plugins it comes with and its Plugin Collective programme. In essence (and I quote its website), this is what Plugin Collective offers: “When you register any Focusrite hardware you gain access to the most innovative music software brands on the market. Plug-in Collective keeps you up to date with the latest tools, offering you new free downloads every couple of months, along with generous discounts.”
Over the seven years, I have managed to get all of those for free:
- Audiority Deleight
- Audiority Distortion 1
- AudioThing SR-88 (SoundMaster Memory Rhythm SR-88)
- D16 Sigmund
- Eventide EQuivocate
- Focusrite and sonible Balancer
- Focusrite Red 2
- Focusrite Red 3
- Focusrite Scarlett Compressor
- Focusrite Scarlett Equaliser
- Focusrite Scarlett Gate
- Focusrite Scarlett Reverb
- Mastering The Mix BASSROOM (for six months though)
- Mastering The Mix IGNITE
- Novation B-Station (Novation Bass Station)
- Positive Grid BIAS AMP 2 LE
- Softube Drawmer S73 Intelligent Master Processor
- Softube Saturation Knob
- Softube TSAR-1R Reverb
- Softube Tube Delay
- Sound Radix SurferEQ Boogie
- Venomode DEEQ
- Venomode MAXIMAL 2
- Venomode PIVOT
- and the quite excellent XLN Audio Addictive Keys
I also have a licence for Ableton Live Lite but I have not installed it because I now use the also quite excellent REAPER.
Hi,
I want to know if the audio interface is still available?
Thanks
Yes. The 2i2 is still available but, of course, in a new iteration. Mine has been working for years now with absolutely no issues.
Hi Avinash
How is the support on Linux?
I don’t know because I use the 2i2 with my iMac. But, given that it is a class-compliant device (i.e. it does not require any driver apart from the standard USB stack), I would tend to believe that it works great with Linux as well.