Here is a short video showing how to get signal from the equipment in our studios and common troubleshooting to try if you are having issues:
Please note you can not use a Chromebook with our Focusrite recording interfaces — they only support Mac and Windows.
I’m not getting any sound out of the Speakers.
- Are the speakers turned on and showing the power light?
- Is the interface showing 3 green lights? If not, the USB cable is not fully plugged in at the back of the interface. Do not use a USB hub, plug the other end directly into your laptop.
- Are the two yellow speaker cables connected to LINE OUTPUTS 1-2 at the back of the interface?
- Still no luck? Reset the Focusrite Control software
I can’t get any sound out of the microphone?
- Connect the mic directly into Channel 1 on the interface
- Turn on the 48V button on the interface, next to Channel 1.
- Choose Channel 1 as the input source on the mic track [not Channel 1-2 as that's Stereo!]
- Check that all the switches on the mic are set to the middle position. Make sure the gain switch is on 0db (not -10 or -20db)
- Arm a track/channel to record and monitor on your DAW. Eg. Logic Pro X: click on the red "R" and yellow "I". Ableton/FL Studio: click on the record red icon at the bottom of the mic track.
- If you're using FL Studio, press the F10 key on your keyboard to open the System Settings. Alternatively, choose Audio settings from the Options Menu. Click the Audio tab in the System Settings window. In the Input/output section, there is a drop-down menu with a list of audio drivers installed on your system. Select USB and you should be on your way!
I’m not getting any sound out of the Headphones or only from one ear?
- Plug them straight into your phone and test if they work. If they do, it's an extension cable or wall port issue. You can grab another extension cable from Spares and bypass the wall.
- Get a new TRS extension cable, also called "stereo" extension jack cable. Plug straight into the interface port. Bypass the wall. It looks like this, with 2 black rings:
More cables info can be found here. - Otherwise, plug the headphones directly to the interface port if they reach.
- Still no luck? Reset the Focusrite Control software
I'm still having issues!
RESET THE INTERFACE
99% of problems with equipment in the recording studios can be resolved by downloading Focusrite Control and resetting the interface to its factory defaults.
Download links
Download and install the Focusrite Control software and then restart your computer. Once installed open the software and go to file and then restore factory defaults (it also sometimes helps to go to presets and select system playback).
If you open Focusrite Control and it shows No Hardware Detected please read this guide. If all of the above doesn't help, please double-check all steps shown in this guide.
Is the mic detached from the stand?
If the mic is loose and moving, check the cradle directly under the mic. A few turns to tighten should do it. To watch a short video, click here.
Using Ableton and getting clicks/pops/glitches?
- Go to Preferences --> Audio
- If the Driver Type is set to "MME/DirectX" - change it to "CoreAudio" or "ASIO"
- Then change Audio Input Device and Output Device to Focusrite.