Focusrite 18i8 - worst piece of ...... I´ve ever bought! (Solved)

Discussion in 'Computer Hardware' started by phloopy, Sep 30, 2018.

  1. phloopy

    phloopy Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2011
    Messages:
    3,830
    Likes Received:
    1,749
    I came to some serious money some time ago and desided to buy me a new sound card!

    I bought the Focurite 18i8 gen2 that had good reviews. Today I simply gave up fighting with this unit, I found my nearly 10 years old sound card (Lexicon I-ONIX U82s) connected it and installed the old driver and do you know what?: It works perfect (good I didn´t sell it ;-)

    No more pops and artifacts whatever, the cpu doesn´t have to work as hard any more ..... it works and sounds perfect.

    My advise: Keep from buying any Focusrite sound card ..... IT SUCKS BIG TIME!

    Cheers
     
    • Agree x 5
    • Interesting x 4
    • Like x 2
    • Disagree x 2
    • Funny x 1
    • Useful x 1
    • List
  2.  
  3. zpaces

    zpaces Producer

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2016
    Messages:
    234
    Likes Received:
    125
    I could have tell you before. :rofl:
    I don't know what people like on Focusrite. It falsifies the sound so bad!
    They used to make a good stuff back then, tho.
     
  4. Old X

    Old X Guest

    Yeah, got burned with them once with Saffire 6, lousy drivers and USB 1.1 issue with Intel i series processors, never again Focusrite.
     
  5. playtime

    playtime Rock Star

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2016
    Messages:
    654
    Likes Received:
    448
    Sorry to hear that, mate. I have Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd gen for my "on the move" work with laptop and had no issues so far (except HP output could be a little louder).
    Just of curiosity... what is your OS? Do you use Focusrite USB ASIO driver? What is your USB chipset?
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • List
  6. Blue

    Blue Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2015
    Messages:
    1,807
    Likes Received:
    954
    I've never liked Focusrite.Here in France focusrite doesn't have good press.
    Personnally I prefer spending some more Euros and buy RME when I want a good interface.
    As all what I read here and there on the web,Focusrite has some problems with their drivers.You are not alone!
    Good luck for the future!
     
    • Agree Agree x 5
    • Like Like x 1
    • List
  7. Old X

    Old X Guest

    Guess Steinberg is the way to go for small pockets that wants good driver support and solid interfaces for the buck (or Focusrite Saffire firewire range), heard some good stuff about Behringer U-Phoria UMC line, but it might be just the same case as Focusrite, which I got based on word of mouth too.
     
  8. Daned

    Daned Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Messages:
    34
    Likes Received:
    17
    The Behringer UMC interfaces are much beter than the Steinberg UR interfaces. Cleaner preamps with more gain, better latency, cheaper. I had a Steinberg UR22mkII and when compared to a Behringer UMC204HD it's nowhere near as good. The only thing better about the Steinberg is the DI input which sounds a bit muddy on the Behringer, but I just use a DI box with it to solve this one issue.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  9. Jedi_Knight

    Jedi_Knight Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2012
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    51
    Location:
    Mustafar
    I have the Focusrite Clarett 8PreX and it works without problems. Im on Windows 10 fully updated if that helps.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  10. GodHimSelf

    GodHimSelf Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2014
    Messages:
    298
    Likes Received:
    154
    I have an 8Pre, but on a MBP, how did you connect it? USB version?
     
  11. usernone

    usernone Producer

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2011
    Messages:
    156
    Likes Received:
    92
    I too am currently stuck with an 18i20. Their drivers are THE worst. Focusrite are still making beta drivers for their 1st gen product line - and still it's just not right. I have managed to rid the clicks and pops, but i deal with frequent crashes, or the driver not initializing upon reboot. It's actually quite the headache. If I get out of sleep mode, occasionally a focusrite driver causes a blue screen "collecting data" blah blah...

    Focusrite, why can't you make proper functioning drivers for at least the majority of your customers - especially since you've had all the time in the world to try. It's quite a shame, because your hardware is actually pretty nice. Your driver-makers are gonna tear down your company.

    I'm saving up for a Slate VRS8. My wife is gonna kill me.
     
  12. phloopy

    phloopy Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2011
    Messages:
    3,830
    Likes Received:
    1,749
    Win7, I used the Focusrite usb asio driver..... usb chipset?...... Intel i7 here!
     
  13. Andrew

    Andrew AudioSEX Maestro Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2011
    Messages:
    1,981
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Location:
    Between worlds
    UMCs work. That's the best term I could use. Rather high noise floor and higher latency, but works. It's even class compliant, so you don't need drivers under linux.
    Eventually I ended up with good ol' EMU0404, which for the most part, works fine.
    Once in an eternity there's a blue screen of death due to its Win7 beta drivers, but other than that it's solid, quiet and has a headphone amp.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • Useful Useful x 1
    • List
  14. Old X

    Old X Guest

    Interesting, thanks for the info, seems you and @Daned have little different experience concerning noise floor and latencies, does UMC have dedicated drivers?

    Yeah, that EMU one is pure gem.
     
  15. Citrik Acid

    Citrik Acid Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2016
    Messages:
    533
    Likes Received:
    278
    Location:
    Moon
    Damn man, the 2nd generation have problem with driver, i have a scarlett 18i20 1st gen, i never had a problem with this soundcard, i use it to play it live, in free party, in the dust, humidity, for three years now, she is still well working, i'm using it, on my homestudio pc, and my live laptop, with win7 pro x64 and the softwae i mostly use for production and live is reason 10 now
     
  16. Diogenes

    Diogenes Guest

    Thanks for the warning phloopy! I'm looking at getting a new computer and sound card by the end of the year and was seriously considering a Focusrite until you made me think again.
     
  17. stopped

    stopped Producer

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2016
    Messages:
    339
    Likes Received:
    104
    I only use it to play live but my first gen scarley 6i6 has always treated me well
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  18. Daned

    Daned Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Messages:
    34
    Likes Received:
    17
    You can check some of the latency figures here, I think the Behringer ones are from an old driver, they recently released an updated driver that improved latency a little bit more. http://kailuamusicschool.com/tech/round-trip-latency-roundup/

    I have tested both interfaces with an SM7B and I noticed that the Behringer had more gain than the Steinberg. I managed to gain match the Behringer and Steinberg by doing a reamping test, I turned down the gain knob a bit on the Behringer so that it captures the same level of signal as the Steinberg when it is giving its max possible gain.

    I noticed that the preamp noise/hiss was 3-4db higher on the Steinberg than on the Behringer. It is clearly noticeable when listening to the gain matched recordings that the Behringer is cleaner and has a better signal to noise ratio. I did the same test with my other low sensitivity dynamic mics like the EV635A and had the same results.

    That's why I sold the UR22mkII, it just had more noisy preamps than the Behringer and less stable drivers with worse latency.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Useful Useful x 1
    • List
  19. SineWave

    SineWave Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2011
    Messages:
    4,273
    Likes Received:
    3,371
    Location:
    Where the sun doesn't shine.
    I'm sorry you had tough luck with your Focusrite audio interface, but in my experience they all work nicely and I recommend them when the budget is tight. I wonder why your experience have been so bad? :sad: Especially having a PC with Intel chipset and using W7. It should work normally.

    Anyway, I've also heard good stories about Steinberg and Behringer budget interfaces, so you might give it a shot. :wink:

    But if one wants a really great audio interface that works without any problems with any configuration, there's always RME and Lynx, of course.
     
  20. SineWave

    SineWave Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2011
    Messages:
    4,273
    Likes Received:
    3,371
    Location:
    Where the sun doesn't shine.
    I wonder if all of you having problems with USB audio interfaces have turned off Windows power management on USB hubs in Device Manager? It's also good for DPC latency. Also, you should use maximum performance power profile and turn off everything you can in it.

    This tweaking guide at Focusrite is good, but not complete: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207359245-Optimising-your-PC-for-audio-on-Windows-7

    This is a bit better. Add these tweaks to Focusrite ones: https://audiostrom.com/?epkb_post_type_1=tweaking-windows-for-audio

    Presonus Windows tweaking guide is the best IMO: https://support.presonus.com/hc/en-...ur-Computer-for-Audio-Windows-Vista-Windows-7

    Combine all these tweaks and see what happens. :wink:
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2018
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Useful Useful x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  21. ddoctor

    ddoctor Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2016
    Messages:
    229
    Likes Received:
    52
    Good ol' EMU - same here - pci version has really low latency but only people who ACTUALLY play care for that - never had bsod on win7 but I get problems with sound if I keep comp on stand by - so I have learned to shut it off completely over night now and no problems what so ever! I have to ask you - do you think usb interface could have any acceptable low latency like under 10ms roundtrip? because I am planning to buy Behringer U-PHORIA UMC22.
     
Loading...
Similar Threads - Focusrite 18i8 worst Forum Date
Roland TR8s and Focusrite 18i8 Soundgear Jul 28, 2019
Steinberg UR44 vs Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 Soundgear Aug 28, 2014
Questions about Focusrite Saffire Firewire pcie card comparability in 2023 Computer Hardware Dec 20, 2023
Planning on buying a DI Box next to my Focusrite interface Soundgear Jul 19, 2023
Focusrite FAST Bundle - FREEEEEEE but BE QUICK!!!!! [over] Software News Jun 28, 2023
Loading...