Applies to ISA C8X, Scarlett 2i2, 4i4, 16i16, 18i16 & 18i20 4th Gen 

Scarlett 4th Gen features Multichannel Auto Gain. This is useful for quickly setting levels for situations where you are using multiple channels simultaneously (such as recording a drum kit), as all the preamp channels will be affected at once.

You can activate Multichannel Auto Gain from Focusrite Control 2, or directly from the hardware (i.e. on the front panel of your interface).

Focusrite Control 2 setup

To activate Multichannel Auto Gain from Focusrite Control 2:

1. Open Focusrite Control 2 and click the Inputs tab.
2. Click the dropdown arrow next to one of the Auto Gain buttons.

3. Select Auto Gain all or Auto Gain multiple (18i20 only).

   

4. If you select Auto Gain multiple (18i20 only), tick the channels you want to be affected and select Start Auto Gain:
    

   

5. Once Auto Gain has finished, Focusrite Control 2 shows the channels that have been set and their new gain level.

Count in

1. Click the Inputs tab.
2. Select the Auto Gain menu in the top right of Focusrite Control 2.

3. Choose the desired count in time.

   

Device setup

Scarlett 18i20

To enable Multichannel Auto Gain on Scarlett 18i20 (4th Gen) using the device:

1. Hold down the Auto button on the front panel of your Scarlett 18i20 for 2/3 seconds - the Input Select LEDs (1-8) will flash.
2. Select the Inputs you want to be affected by Auto Gain using the dedicated Input Select buttons (1-8).
3. Press the Auto button again to begin the Auto Gain process for the selected Inputs.

Scarlett 2i2, 4i4, 16i16 & 18i16

To enable Multichannel Auto Gain on Scarlett 2i2, 4i4, 16i16 & 18i16 using the device:

1. Hold down the Auto button on the front of your Scarlett for 3 seconds.
2. The Auto Gain process will start for Inputs 1 - 2, or Inputs 1 - 4 for Scarlett 18i16).

When Auto Gain is active, each input channel analyses the signal it receives over the next few seconds - its gain will be automatically set so that the input level reaches an average of -18 dBFS in your DAW/recording application.

Auto Gain failed

If the signal going into the input is too quiet to be detected, or nothing is connected to the input, you will see this message:

Please check the troubleshooting steps in this article to check your levels and input settings: 

Auto Gain failed - didn't detect any usable signal

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