Description
18i16 is the complete portable studio hub producers. Whether you're on the go, hopping from sessions, or recording at home, you'll always have access to two of our finest preamps, plus instrument, line, and MIDI connections for whatever the project throws your way: guitars, keys, synths, grooveboxes, and controllers. And if you're looking to expand your channel count, it's easily done with S/PDIF and ADAT.
Key Features
- Four ultra-low-noise mic/line preamps
- Instrument preamps on inputs 1 and 2
- Four additional line inputs
- Two Air preamp modes for classic console sound
- Clip Safe and Auto Gain modes
- Alt speaker switching
- MIDI, S/PDIF, and ADAT connectivity
- Includes Hitmaker Expansion and DAW software bundle
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Four remote-controllable preamps
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122dB dynamic range
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Auto Gain and Clip Safe
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Two Air modes
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Control remotely via mobile app
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Expandable I/O
Producers. This is your Scarlett.
Four of our most detailed, ultra-low-noise preamps.
Plug into 18i16’s 4th-Generation remote-controlled preamps — Scarlett’s most transparent and detailed ever. 69dB of gain range provides all of the headroom you'll need to get the best result from the most dynamic performances. Control preamp levels from anywhere in the studio using the Focusrite Control 2 apps, giving you the freedom to adjust settings remotely.
Auto Gain and Clip Safe.
Let 18i16 handle your levels. Auto Gain sets your levels and Clip Safe keeps them in the sweet spot, automatically tweaking the gain if you’re in danger of clipping. You'll never lose a take again.
All the I/O you need
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Play your instruments.
Connect a guitar to 18i16’s Hi-Z inputs for an amp-like feel, plug synths and grooveboxes into the eight line inputs, or use the four line outputs for your favourite outboard gear.
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Control MIDI devices.
Use 18i16 as a MIDI interface to receive and send data to your favourite external MIDI-controllable equipment.
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Expand your setup.
Increase your channel count with up to 10 additional inputs and outputs when using the S/PDIF and ADAT connections.
Mix your way, with independent outputs.
With 18i16, headphones, monitors, and line outs each get their own mix, so you can create the perfect studio setup for your speakers, the artist's headphones, or outboard gear — controllable anywhere in the studio via the Focusrite Control 2 apps.
Get that big console sound with two re-engineered Air modes.
Presence mode boosts your signal’s high-end, bringing the sound to the front of the mix. Create intimate vocal recordings, capture every detail of acoustic guitars, and hear your drum overheads shimmer.
Presence and Harmonic Drive mode boosts mid-range harmonics in your sound, making its unique character shine through the mix. Try it on guitars, vocals, or anything else that needs a little more punch.
Presence and Harmonic Drive mode boosts mid-range harmonics in your sound, making its unique character shine through the mix. Try it on guitars, vocals, or anything else that needs a little more punch.
Huge 122dB dynamic range for incredible recordings.
Scarlett delivers incredible audio quality, with converters direct from our flagship RedNet interfaces — as found in high-end studios around the world.
Powerful sound, powerful control.
Two custom-designed headphone amps deliver clear, powerful sound for high-impedance headphones, offering the best playback ever from a Scarlett.
Alt monitor switching lets you A/B your mixes between two speaker pairs — essential for studio setups with multiple monitors.
Alt monitor switching lets you A/B your mixes between two speaker pairs — essential for studio setups with multiple monitors.
All the software you need to make a hit record.
Once you've got started with Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools Intro+, or six months of FL Studio Producer Edition recording software (all included), the Hitmaker Expansion bundle has everything you need to bring big studio sound to your songs, with an unbeatable range of record-making studio tools from the biggest names in the business.
Discover Hitmaker Expansion
Explore Hitmaker Expansion
For vocals
Get exceptional vocal tracks with Antares® Auto-Tune® Access, Sonnox VoxDoubler and Relab’s LX480 Essentials reverb.
For guitar
Heat up your guitar tones with a hyper-realistic model of Marshall®’s Silver Jubilee 2555 – brought to you by analogue-modelling experts Softube®.
Add drums
Need drums? No problem - XLN Audio®’s Addictive Drums 2: Studio Rock Kit has beats to get you started and the big sound of a great drum kit.
Keys, synths and samples
Keys and synths? You’re well covered with the legendary MASSIVE from Native Instruments and XLN Audio®’s Addictive Keys. You also get all the samples you need to get started, with three months of Splice Sounds on us.
Mix, master and release
When it’s time to mix and master your tracks, there’s an exclusive suite of Focusrite and Klevgrand plugins to quickly get you release-ready sound, and 5 free masters from Landr.
Focusrite Control 2
Focusrite Control 2 is a powerful app that easily manages Scarlett 4th Gen interfaces on Windows and macOS devices. Pair the iOS and Android app to your desktop computer to remotely control your Scarlett from anywhere in your recording space.
Find out more
Easy Start
Need help getting set up? Just tell our Easy Start tool what you want to do and we’ll guide you through all the software and setup you need, with recording tips and other helpful content along the way.
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Three-year warranty
Millions of music makers rely on Scarlett every day to keep the inspiration flowing. Built to the highest standards for ultra-reliable performance, every Scarlett interface comes with the peace of mind of a three-year warranty.
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Award-winning, global support
If you need help at any point you can reach out to our award-winning global support team. We work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so you can too – if you want.
Specifications
Overview
- Number of Microphone Preamps4
- Phantom PowerYes (Independent)
- Instrument Inputs2
- Line Inputs8
- Air ModeYes
- Auto GainYes
- Clip SafeYes
- Line Outputs4
- Headphone Outputs2
- ADAT Inputs1
- ADAT Outputs1
- SPDIF Inputs1
- SPDIF Outputs1
- SPDIF Outputs1
- MIDI Inputs1
- MIDI Outputs1
- LoopbackYes
- ConnectivityUSB Type-C
- ProtocolUSB 2.0
- Form FactorDesktop
- Simultaneous I/O20 x 18 (including Loopback)
- A/D Resolution24-bit/192 kHz
- Bus Powered Yes (3A)
Dimensions
- Height60.5mm
- Width240mm
- Depth169.4mm
- Weight1.494kg
Supported sample rates
- 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
Microphone inputs
- Frequency Response20-20kHz ± 0.06dB
- Dynamic Range116dB (A-Weighted)
- THD+N-100dB @ 8dB gain
- Noise EIN-127dBu (A-Weighted)
- Maximum Input Level16dBu
- Gain Range69dB
- Impedance3kΩ
Variable Line inputs
- Frequency Response20-20kHz ± 0.05dB
- Dynamic Range115.5dB (A-Weighted)
- THD+N-100dB @ 8dB gain
- Maximum Input Level22dBu
- Gain Range69dB
- Impedance24kΩ
Fixed Line inputs
- Frequency Response20-20kHz ± 0.02dB
- Dynamic Range115.5dB (A-Weighted)
- THD+N-106dB
- Maximum Input Level22dBu
- Impedance48kΩ
Instrument inputs
- Frequency Response20-20kHz ± 0.05dB
- Dynamic Range113dB (A-Weighted)
- THD+N-80dB @ 8dB gain
- Maximum Input Level12dBu
- Gain Range62dB
- Impedance1MΩ
Line outputs (Balanced)
- Frequency Response20-20kHz ± 0.02dB
- Dynamic Range122dB (A-Weighted)
- THD+N-112dB
- Maximum Output Level16dBu
- Impedance200Ω
Headphone outputs
- Frequency Response20-20kHz ± 0.1dB @ 33Ω / 300Ω
- Dynamic Range112dB @ 33Ω
116dB @ 300Ω - THD+N-100dB @ 33Ω (Minimum)
-110dB @ 300Ω (Minimum) - Maximum Output Level5dBu into 33Ω
11dBu into 300Ω - Maximum Output Power57mW into 33Ω
27mW into 300Ω - Impedance11Ω
Analogue to Digital Converter
- THD+N-110dB
- Dynamic Range120dB
Digital to Analogue Converter
- THD+N-115dB
- Dynamic Range130dB (A-Weighted)
Power
- USB3A
- External (Optional)15W
What's in the box
- Scarlett 18i16 audio interface
- 1.5m USB-C to USB-C cable
- USB-C to USB-A adaptor
- External power supply
 Compare Scarlett
| Scarlett 16i16 | Scarlett 18i16 | Scarlett 18i20 | Scarlett 8i6 [3rd Gen] | Scarlett 18i8 [3rd Gen] | Scarlett 18i20 [3rd Gen] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlett microphone preamps | 2 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Dynamic range (D-A) | 122dB | 122dB | 122dB | 108dB | 108dB | 108dB |
| Mic pre gain range | 69dB | 69dB | 69dB | 56dB | 56dB | 56dB |
| Air Presence & Harmonic Drive | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Air Presence only | Air Presence only | Air Presence only |
| Loopback | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Headphone outputs | 2 (Independent) | 2 (Independent) | 2 (Independent) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Auto Gain | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Clip Safe | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Output metering | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| MIDI I/O | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out |
| S/PDIF I/O | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out | In and Out |
| ADAT I/O | In and Out | In and Out | Dual In and Out* | ✘ | In | Dual In and Out |
| Speaker switching | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-in talkback mic | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Focusrite Control 2 - Desktop | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Focusrite Control 2 - Mobile | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Bus Powered | ✔ (3A) | ✔ (3A) | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Simultaneous I/O | 16 in / 16 out | 18 in / 16 out | 26 in / 26 out | 8 in / 6 out | 18 in / 8 out | 18 in / 20 out |
| Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more |
*Up to 16 channels at 44.1/48kHz
