Applies to:
- Saffire (FireWire range)
- Scarlett 1st Gen (6i6, 8i6, 18i6, 18i20)
- Scarlett 2nd Gen (6i6, 18i8, 18i20)
- Scarlett 3rd Gen (8i6, 18i8, 18i20)
- Scarlett 4th Gen (16i16, 18i16, 18i20)
- Clarett 4Pre & 8Pre (all ranges)
The RCA S/PDIF connection on the back of your Focusrite interface is a digital connection that allows two channels of S/PDIF Format Uncompressed Digital Audio to be passed along a single RCA SPDIF Digital cable - What type of RCA cable can I use for S/PDIF?
This can be used to connect a device with digital output or input to avoid unnecessary conversion from analogue to digital and vice versa.
Send audio to an external device with an S/PDIF Input
If you'd like to send audio from your Focusrite interface to another device, connect the S/PDIF Output of the interface to the S/PDIF Input of the external device using a coaxial S/PDIF cable. You can then follow the control software setup steps below, depending on the interface you have.
Saffire & Scarlett (1st Gen)
With Saffire/Scarlett MixControl and your interface connected to the computer:
- Navigate the S/PDIF Outputs in the Routing section.
- Using the dropdown menus, choose what you wish to send to the external device. In the example below, we're sending the Left channel of Mix 1 to S/PDIF Output 1, and the Right channel of Mix 1 to S/PDIF Output 2, shown as:
Mix 1 (L) -> S/PDIF Output 1
Mix 1 (R) -> S/PDIF Output 2 - Set the Sync Source to 'Internal' in the Device Status Section.
- Ensure the sample rates for both your Focusrite interface and the external device are matching (e.g. both set to 44.1 kHz). You can change this in the Device Status Section for your Focusrite interface.
- Refer to the user guide of your external device to set its clock/sync source to external S/PDIF, and the sample rate to match the one your Focusrite interface is set to - this will let the external device sync to your Focusrite interface over S/PDIF.
Often, third-party S/PDIF devices will default to 48 kHz - for example, the Kemper Profiling Guitar Amp.
Scarlett (2nd Gen), Scarlett (3rd Gen) & Clarett (all ranges)
With Focusrite Control open and your interface connected to the computer:
- Go to the Output Routing view.
- Under the Outputs column, navigate to the S/PDIF Outputs 1-2.
- Using the dropdown menu, choose what you wish to send to the external device.
- Open the Settings menu (cog/gear icon).
- Set the Clock Source to 'Internal'.
- Ensure the sample rates for both your Focusrite interface and the external device are matching (e.g. both set to 48 kHz). You can change this in the Settings menu for your Focusrite interface.
- If you are using Scarlett 18i20 (3rd Gen) or any Clarett interface, ensure the Digital I/O Mode or S/PDIF Mode is set to S/PDIF RCA.
- Refer to the user guide of your external device to set its clock/sync source to external S/PDIF, and the sample rate to match the one your Focusrite interface is set to - this will let the external device sync to your Focusrite interface over S/PDIF.
Often, third-party S/PDIF devices will default to 48 kHz - for example, the Kemper Profiling Guitar Amp.
Scarlett (4th Gen)
With Focusrite Control 2 open and your interface connected to the computer:
- Go to the Routing view.
- Under the Digital outputs section, navigate to S/PDIF 1-2
- Choose what you wish to send to the external device using the Source dropdown menu.
- Click on the ... icon on the top-right corner of the app.
- Go to Preferences.
- Select Sample rate & clocking.
- Under Clock source select 'Internal'.
- Ensure the sample rates for both your Focusrite interface and the external device are matching (e.g. both set to 48 kHz). You can change this under Sample rate (kHz) for your Focusrite interface.
- Refer to the user guide of your external device to set its clock/sync source to external S/PDIF, and the sample rate to match the one your Focusrite interface is set to - this will let the external device sync to your Focusrite interface over S/PDIF.
Often, third-party S/PDIF devices will default to 48 kHz - for example, the Kemper Profiling Guitar Amp.
Receive audio from an external device with an S/PDIF Output
If you'd like to receive audio from an external device (such as a two-channel Guitar FX Processor or an external microphone preamp) connect the S/PDIF Output of the external device to the S/PDIF Input of your Focusrite interface using a coaxial S/PDIF cable.
You can then follow the control software setup steps below, depending on the interface you have.
The output from the external device will appear as the S/PDIF Inputs within your DAW/recording software. The input number varies depending on which Focusrite interface you have - see the channel listing in the user guide for your Focusrite interface: downloads.focusrite.com/focusrite
Saffire & Scarlett (1st Gen)
With Saffire/Scarlett MixControl and your interface connected to the computer, in the Device Status Section (bottom-right corner of the app):
- Ensure the sample rates for both your Focusrite interface and the external device are matching (e.g. both set to 44.1 kHz).
- Set the Sync Source to 'S/PDIF'.
- Refer to the user guide of your external device to ensure its clock/sync source is set to internal, and the sample rate matches the one your Focusrite interface is set to - this will let your Focusrite interface sync to the external device over S/PDIF (Sync Status showing as 'Locked').
If set up correctly, and the external device is sending signal correctly over its S/PDIF Output, you'll be able to add the incoming S/PDIF signals to your mix in MixControl. See our tutorial for reference: Mix Control Tutorial Part I: Creating Mixes
To set up the S/PDIF Inputs in your DAW/recording software, see the channel listing in the user guide for your Focusrite interface: downloads.focusrite.com/focusrite
Scarlett (2nd Gen), Scarlett (3rd Gen) & Clarett (all ranges)
With Focusrite Control open and your interface connected to the computer:
- Open the Settings menu (cog/gear icon).
- Set the Clock Source to 'S/PDIF'.
- Ensure the sample rates for both your Focusrite interface and the external device are matching (e.g. both set to 44.1 kHz).
- If you are using Scarlett 18i20 (3rd Gen) or any Clarett interface, ensure the Digital I/O Mode or S/PDIF Mode is set to 'S/PDIF RCA'.
- Refer to the user guide of your external device to ensure its clock/sync source is set to internal, and the sample rate matches the one your Focusrite interface is set to - this will let your Focusrite interface sync to your external device over S/PDIF (Sync showing as green).
If set up correctly, and the external device is sending signal correctly over its S/PDIF Output, you'll be able to add the incoming S/PDIF signals to your Custom Mix in Focusrite Control. See our tutorial for reference: Focusrite Control Tutorial: 2 - Setting Custom Mixes
To set up the S/PDIF Inputs in your DAW/recording software, see the channel listing in the user guide for your Focusrite interface: downloads.focusrite.com/focusrite
Scarlett (4th Gen)
With Focusrite Control 2 open and your interface connected to the computer:
- Click on the ... icon on the top-right corner of the app.
- Go to Preferences.
- Select Sample rate & clocking.
- Ensure the sample rates for both your Focusrite interface and the external device are matching (e.g. both set to 48 kHz). You can change this under Sample rate (kHz) for your Focusrite interface.
- Under Clock source select 'S/PDIF'.
- Refer to the user guide of your external device to ensure its clock/sync source is set to internal, and the sample rate matches the one your Focusrite interface is set to - this will let your Focusrite interface sync to your external device over S/PDIF (Synced showing as green in the top-right corner of the window).
If set up correctly, and the external device is sending signal correctly over its S/PDIF Output, you'll see the incoming S/PDIF signals in the S/PDIF channels (1 and 2) under the Input view:
To set up the S/PDIF Inputs in your DAW/recording software, see the channel listing in the user guide for your Focusrite interface: downloads.focusrite.com/focusrite
Which cable should I use?
For more information regarding which cable to use for a coaxial S/PDIF connection, please see this article: What type of RCA cable can I use for S/PDIF?
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