Focusrite offers a popular and affordable range of audio interfaces in the Scarlett, a device that works well with DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Ableton, Logic Pro, and of course – FL Studio.
Unfortunately, some FL Studio users have experienced trouble with the Focusrite Scarlett not working properly. How frustrating!
Luckily, if this is you, we have 6 solutions to get your Scarlett and FL Studio working in perfect harmony.
How to Set Up Your Focusrite Scarlett and FL Studio Correctly
If you’re having trouble getting your Focusrite Audio interface to work smoothly with FL Studio, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s begin with how to correctly set up your Scarlett with FL Studio on a Windows machine:
1) Setting up the Audio Device
- Open FL Studio and navigate to the “Options” menu. From there, click on “Audio” Settings.
- Choose the name of your device or select the “Focusrite Driver” (if you’re using Windows).
- Make sure to set the playback tracking to either “Hybrid” or “Mixer”
2) Adjusting Buffer Size (Windows Only)
- To change the buffer size on Windows, access the “ASIO Control Panel” by clicking on “Show ASIO Panel.”
3) Configuring Output and Input
- Go to the mixer window by selecting “View” and then “Mixer”
- Locate the master channel and click on it. Confirm that the output is set to “Focusrite” (usually Output 1 and 2).
- To enable microphone input, choose an insert channel and select the desired microphone as the input source.
4) Recording Audio
- Once you’ve set up the previous settings, you can now press “Record” and “Play” to start recording your audio. The recorded audio will appear as a waveform.
- Note that if you want to disable the initial count-in (the 3.2 count-in), make sure it is turned OFF.
5) Exporting Your Recording
- To export your recorded audio, go to “File” and select “Export”. Choose the desired format for your audio file.
- You’ll be prompted to provide a name for the file and select its location.
- Next, the rendering window will appear, where you can specify the details of your export.
6) Rendering Your Audio
- Double-check the settings and make sure everything is as you want it.
- When you’re satisfied, click on “Start” to begin the rendering process.
That’s it! By following these steps, you should be able to use your Focusrite Audio interface seamlessly with FL Studio.
You Need to Use the Right Drivers
If you’re having trouble with your Scarlett interface suddenly not working with FL Studio 20, there’s a chance it might be because of the incorrect drivers being used.
Let’s go through some troubleshooting steps to resolve this problem:
Check the ASIO Driver – Choosing the correct driver is crucial for getting good results with your Focusrite Scarlett and FL Studio.
Make sure you are using the ASIO driver specifically designed for your Scarlett interface.
Avoid using FL Studio ASIO or ASIO4ALL for optimal performance. The correct ASIO driver will ensure proper functionality and optimal performance as it’s specifically tailored to work seamlessly with your Scarlett hardware and FL Studio software.
To obtain the correct driver, visit the Focusrite website and navigate to the support section.
Look for the downloads or drivers page, where you can find the latest driver version available for your Scarlett interface model.
Download and install the driver following the provided instructions.
In summation, here are the reasons why your driver is so important for optimal performance:
- Alternative ASIO drivers like FL Studio ASIO or ASIO4ALL are not optimized for your Scarlett interface and may cause compatibility issues, audio latency, or performance problems.
- Using the official driver ensures full support, the best audio quality, minimized latency, and a stable recording and playback experience.
It’s also important to keep your drivers up to date by regularly checking the Focusrite website for updates.
Installing the latest driver versions is essential to maintain compatibility with FL Studio and your operating system, ensuring continued optimal performance.
Check Your Scarlett 18i6’s Outputs
Are you experiencing the frustrating issue of not getting any audio output from your Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 interface when using FL Studio?
Let’s jump into some troubleshooting tips for Windows to help you map the output to your speakers and resolve the problem.
Verify Audio Interface Settings in FL Studio
First things first, it’s time to make sure your device settings are correct!
Here’s how:
- Open FL Studio and press F10 to access the options.
- Enable the Scarlett audio interface in the audio settings. Look for the audio interface option and make sure it is selected.
- Check the volume settings in FL Studio to ensure they are not set too low.
Adjust the Mix Knob
The Focusrite Scarlett 18i6, unlike smaller Focusrite models, has a lot more flexibility in its inputs and outputs.
Follow these steps to ensure the Mix knob is set up correctly:
- Locate the Mix knob on your Scarlett 18i6 interface and ensure it is turned to the right.
- This knob determines the balance between the input and output signals, so adjusting it to the right should prioritize the output signal.
Make sure that no other applications are using the ASIO sound drivers simultaneously. Only one application can use ASIO drivers at a time, and the application opened first will likely have priority. Close any other applications that might be using the audio interface.
You Need to Enable Microphone Access
If you’re experiencing issues with your Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) not inputting audio into FL Studio 20 on your Mac, I understand how frustrating that can be!
Don’t stress though, we’ve got some solutions to get your recording working smoothly again.
Check Audio Settings in FL Studio
Audio settings can make or break the performance of DAW and audio interface, so it’s important to make sure you get them right!
- Ensure that you have selected the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) as your input/output device in FL Studio’s audio settings.
- Go to “Options”, then “Audio Settings” and select the Scarlett Solo as the audio device.
- Make sure to also select it for each individual channel you want to use as the input device.
System Preferences: Enable Microphone Access
A lot of Mac users have experienced their microphone’s audio signal not being picked up in FL Studio from the Scarlett.
If this is you, follow these steps to get your inputs set up correctly:
- Open “System Preferences” on your Mac and go to “Security & Privacy”
- Navigate to the “Privacy” tab and select “Microphone” from the left-hand side.
- Check if FL Studio is listed in the applications allowed to access the microphone.
- If not, click the lock icon at the bottom left, enter your password, and enable microphone access for FL Studio.
Try Using Rosetta (for M1 Macs)
If you’re still experiencing problems with FL Studio not picking up input signal from your Focusrite Scarlett, another option to try is running FL Studio in Rosetta mode. Rosetta is a compatibility layer provided by Apple for Mac computers with the M1 chip.
Here is some technical jargon to explain what that entails!
The M1 chip is based on ARM architecture, while previous Macs used Intel processors with x86 architecture.
Rosetta allows applications designed for x86 architecture to run on M1 Macs by translating the instructions from x86 to ARM.
When an application is run in Rosetta mode, it emulates the x86 environment, enabling it to work with software that hasn’t been updated to natively support the M1 chip.
This includes older versions of software or apps that haven’t been optimized for the new architecture.
Here’s how to run FL Studio in Rosetta mode:
- Find the FL Studio application in Finder, right-click on it, and select “Get Info”
- In the “General” section, check the box that says “Open using Rosetta”
- Launch FL Studio again and see if the audio input from the Scarlett Solo is now detected.
Check Your Connections and Volumes
If you’re experiencing no sound in FL Studio when selecting your Focusrite Scarlett input, it could be something simple causing the issue.
When it comes to audio issues, the problem is often so simple we overlook it.
Here are two possible solutions to get your audio working properly from your Focusrite Scarlett and FL Studio:
1. Check Speaker Connection:
- Ensure that you have external speakers or headphones connected to your audio interface and not directly to the computer.
- Laptop speakers alone won’t work as the audio signal is routed through the interface.
- Make sure your speakers or headphones are properly connected to the audio interface’s outputs.
2. Verify Volume on Interface:
- Make sure the volume level on your Focusrite Scarlett interface is turned up.
- Adjust the volume knob on the interface itself to ensure that the output signal is not muted or too low.
- As simple as these solutions are, it’s worth double-checking to make sure you’re not overlooking the solution that’s right in front of you.
RELATED: Focusrite Scarlett Too Quiet? 4 Quick Fixes
Final Thoughts
Troubleshooting audio issues can often be a painful process, but don’t give up hope! As long as you’re patient and methodical, you’ll get to the bottom of your issue and get your Scarlett and FL Studio working properly.
It’s also a good idea to read through the user manuals for both Focusrite Scarlett and FL Studio. These manuals are full of good information that could lead to your issue being solved. Remember, knowledge is power!
If all else fails, it’s always a good idea to contact Focusrite and FL Studio support directly, as they’ll be able to give you individual advice and support on your problem.