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The front panel input sockets are Combo XLR type, which accept either an XLR male connector (you
will probably have one on the end of your microphone cable) or a ¼” (6.35 mm) jack plug. Note the
Scarlett 18i8 has no “Mic/line” switch – the Focusrite preamplifier stage is automatically configured
for a microphone when you plug an XLR into the input, and for a line or instrument when you connect
a jack plug. Select INST in Scarlett MixControl (in the Input Settings panel below the Mixer section) if
you are connecting a musical instrument (like a guitar) via an ordinary 2-pole guitar jack, or to LINE
if you are connecting a line level source such as the balanced output of an external audio mixer via a
3-pole (TRS) jack. Note the Combo connector accepts both types of jack plug.
If you are using capacitor (condenser) microphones, press the 48V button to supply phantom power
to the mics. (In the example, this would be the 48V button for Inputs 3 and 4.) We recommend that
you don’t turn it on if you’re using any other type of mic. As the 48V button enables phantom power
at both inputs of a pair, it is best not to intermix condenser mics and other types (e.g., dynamics) in
the same input pair, as the application of phantom power may cause damage to some types of non-
condenser mics.
Each channel of the Scarlett 18i8 has a PAD facility, selectable from Scarlett MixControl (in the Input
Settings panel below the Mixer section); switching the Pad into circuit reduces the input sensitivity by
10 dB. You may find this useful if you are feeding the input from a line-level source when the output
is particularly “hot”.
