Applies to Focusrite Control 2 and Scarlett 4th Generation
Does Focusrite Control 2 work with my screen reader?
Focusrite Control 2 communicates accessibility information about the controls of your Scarlett within the app to your computer's operating system. Screen reader software uses this information to enable you to control the app. We have tested Focusrite Control 2 with VoiceOver on macOS and Narrator on Windows. However, other screen readers should also work on Windows.
Which features and controls can I access using screen readers?
Focusrite Control 2 offers extensive support for screen readers, enabling you to access to the controls of Scarlett 4th Generation. Firstly, if you select the Inputs page in Focusrite Control 2, your screen reader tells you the gain level when you adjust to the gain dials on the front (top left) of Scarlett 2i2 and 4i4 4th Gen — Scarlett Solo 4th Gen does not include this feature, but the dials have a minimum and maximum position if you turn them anticlockwise and clockwise respectively.
Additionally, Focusrite Control 2's Inputs page notifies you via the screen reader if you press the following buttons on the front of your Scarlett:
- On Scarlett Solo 4th Gen (bottom left of the front panel, beneath the gain dials, from left to right) Inst, 48V, and Air.
- On Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen (centre of the front panel, from left to right, top row) Select, 48V, and Inst; (bottom row) Auto, Safe, and Air.
- On Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen (centre of the front panel, from top to bottom, left column) Select, Inst, and Auto; (right column) 48V, Air, and Safe.
Scarlett Solo and 2i2 4th Gen also feature the Direct button (top right of the front panel, between the large monitor dial and small headphone dial). If you select the Direct page in Focusrite Control 2, it notifies you of the status of the Direct button when you press it.
You can access all of these features and more through controls in Focusrite Control 2 as well. The table below contains a rundown of all the Scarlett 4th Generation features you can access through Focusrite Control 2 using a screen reader.
For information on the use and purpose of these features, you can refer to the User Guides for Scarlett 4th Generation available from Focusrite Downloads: Focusrite Downloads.
| Feature | Scarlett Solo 4th Generation | Scarlett 2i2 4th Generation | Scarlett 4i4 4th Generation |
| Input Gain |
NO |
YES
|
YES
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Input Peak Level Indicator |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Channel Linking |
Not applicable
|
YES
|
YES
— for input 1 and 2 |
| 48 Volt Phantom Power |
YES
— input 2 only |
YES
|
YES
|
| Instrument Level |
YES
— input 1 only |
YES
|
YES
|
| Auto Gain |
Not applicable
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Clip Safe |
Not applicable
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Air Mode |
YES
— input 2 only |
YES
|
YES
|
| Direct Monitor |
YES
|
YES
|
Not applicable
|
| Direct Monitor Mode — Mono or Stereo |
Not applicable
|
YES
|
Not applicable
|
| Mixes |
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
YES
|
| Mixer Channel Pan |
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
YES
|
| Mixer Channel Level |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Mixer Channel Mute |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Mixer Channel Solo |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Presets |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Combine Input 1 and 2 |
YES
|
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
| Loopback |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Reset to Default Settings |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Sample Rate |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Software and Firmware Versions and Updates |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Serial Number |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
| Other App Settings, Links, and Feedback |
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
For a detailed guide to accessing these features, select the article for your Scarlett below:
- Scarlett Solo 4th Gen and Screen Readers in Depth
- Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen and Screen Readers in Depth
- Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen and Screen Readers in Depth
How do I navigate Focusrite Control 2 with my screen reader?
macOS and VoiceOver
- To move the VoiceOver cursor, press VO and the Left Arrow or Right Arrow key.
- To interact with an area, group, or slider, press VO-Shift-Down Arrow key.
- To exit an area or group, press VO-Shift-Up Arrow key.
- To perform the default action for an item in the VoiceOver cursor, such as clicking a button or selecting a tick box, press VO-Space bar.
- To adjust sliders, first interact with a slider, then press the Left Arrow or Right Arrow keys.
Get started with VoiceOver on Mac – Apple Support
Windows and Narrator
By default, Narrator ignores the grouping of controls. You can enable grouping by pressing Control-Windows-N to open Narrator settings. Under Narrator cursor, change the navigation mode from Normal to Advanced.
- To move in and out of groups, press Control-Narrator-Down Arrow or Up Arrow key.
- To move between items within a group, press Narrator-Left Arrow or Right Arrow key.
- To interact with items, press the Enter or Space key.
- To adjust sliders, press the Down Arrow or Up Arrow key.
Complete guide to Narrator – Microsoft Support
Windows and NVDA
- To navigate around the controls in greater detail, you should use Object Navigation—please refer to the NVDA website for more information.
Object Navigation – NVDA 2024.1 User Guide
Windows and JAWS
- To navigate Focusrite Control 2 in greater detail, you can use the Touch Cursor—please refer to the JAWS hotkey site for more information.
- To adjust sliders, use the Touch Cursor and press the Down Arrow and Up Arrow keys.
- To navigate the Focusrite Control 2 hierarchy in greater detail, you can enable Advanced Navigation by pressing Number Pad Asterisk on a desktop or Caps Lock-A on a laptop.
- To navigate with Advanced Navigation, press the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys.
- To move in and out of groups, press the Down Arrow and Up Arrow keys.
JAWS Hotkeys – Freedom Scientific Support
JAWS Screen Reader Documentation – Freedom Scientific Support
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