Ohh it means "Instrument" not Instant. That makes sense! So when recording audio I press the [AIR] button, but when recording some types of instruments the [INST] button is what is needed. Thank you for clarifying that better than Focusrite's own videos do.

Jordon, I am not an audio guy. Got the Scarlette 2i2 recently and been trying to better understand the product and the underlying theory. Your channel and explanation have helped immensley. Thank you.

Perfect! Exactly what I needed to know about inst button Thank You!

these videos helped me out so much thank you man 🙌🏻

Within 6 seconds I understand what the Inst button does. Likely obvious to someone who knows what they're doing - but I'm a novice - great vid, thanks!

That helped me a lot. Thanks.

You briefly mentioned at 2:02 that you could use the Live Level Input to connect a phone, which is exactly what I'm trying to do, but the audio is very quiet and weak. If I turn up the gain it distorts badly and sounds awful. I'm running iPhone > Lightening to 3.5 adapter > 3.5 male to 3.5 male cable > 3.5 to 1/4" adapter > Line Level input.

The answer to that first question is 'no'. I connected my guitar, switched between line and inst and I hear no difference whatsover, apart from the inst signal being way more noisy, but guitar sounds the same. I am very confused.

Thank you so much. Helpful. Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤

I use a Line 6 Helix with a hard rock tone into the trs-input and I accidentally had the inst button on during a whole recording session. Does this cause damage to the interface? I was careful not to peak the signal

Quick question mate. So I have a DBX 286S Mic Preamplifier and a Focusrite 4i4. The out on the DBX is quarter inch line level. Do I connect it to the interface with a line level to XLR cable (with inst off on the interface), or connect it with a straight quarter inch to quarter inch cable and treat it as an instrument and have inst on on the interface (bear in mind I have a cloud lifter in the chain after the mic). Sorry if that sounded confusing.

A line input also means that you have connected an electric guitar with active pick ups to it isn't it?

Thanks so much

from having a guitar on "INST" mode on the soundscard, and then plugging in a bassguitar (with the INST ON).... the bassguitar is clipping..do you have to switch the "INST" button on and off depending on what intrument is connected?

If I want to record wind instruments such as Trumpet, I must use INST or I must not use it.

Si quiero grabar instrumento de viento como Trompeta debo usar INST o no lo debo usar

My guitar just buzzes like hell when I use the inst button

@boweber9034

2 жыл бұрын

exactly. SO much noise

@nparmar4462

Жыл бұрын

Did you figure this one out? How did you get rid of the buzz?

@handthroat3867

Жыл бұрын

@@nparmar4462 don't use it with guitar

Hi I have a question, the INST button when turned on boost my audio input on my Blue Yeti microphone, I know that the INST button is ideally for magnetic pickup, but my question is should I not be using the INST button with the microphone?

Can i use 2 instrument at the same time?

ok i have a scarlett solo studio 3rd gen came with mic and cables and headset. ok i own a Randall RG1003 Half satck the head has an line out speaker emulator XLR Male . soi found a had a female to 3.5 nheqdphone plug its TRS plug so its balanced. so ihooked it up and ran the 3.5 to my isnt in on my soloi assume inst lee ligts up for your guitar or bass so if i pus it inthat should be line level in right ? beacause i did not get any sound through my monitors ., i evan -layed with thtgain on it and it did not lih=ght up at all but plug guita rin and it works. so i then took an aux cable used 2 , 1'/4 adapters and plugged the 1 into my phones jack and the othef into the insterment and wall i have soiunmdf coming out oif my monitors ... so whayt the heck did i do wrong the first time, hookingh it up

Do you have a video on what the AIR button does as well?

@kettnercreative

2 жыл бұрын

Here you go: kzread.info/dash/bejne/naytprKifK28cag.html

Wait a minute, I have inst and air labels on mine but there are no buttons for them. Does this mean I have an older version?

I'm recording electric guitar, but I'm plugged into a Boss Katana and going DI out to my Scarlett. Should I use the INST button in this case or not? Presumably the signal will be hotter from the scarlett than if it were directly from the guitar so I'm not sure.

@MoneyBooBoo

11 ай бұрын

I have a similar setup using the DI out to my scarlet. Did you ever get an answer to this? Which should I use INST or LINE?

What will be the better option (line or inst) to connect guitar with processor (zoom g3n) for high gain recordings?

@bruceorr4984

3 жыл бұрын

Probably use the instrument button when recording even if your using a guitar effects processor pedal I have the zoom gx1on

Excellent video, thank you! Now where’s the video that explains what the Air button does?! 😁

@kettnercreative

Жыл бұрын

I need to make it still. It's on the list.

Next question: What is the “AIR” button for? And why can’t I get the “Direct Monitor” single circle light to turn off when I’m not using the Scarlett, but it’s got the power line plugged into my laptop?

@kettnercreative

Жыл бұрын

I'll make a video on it this week.

when i activate the "INST" button for my guitar, starts a really loud white noise even though the gain on the interface is low, and the LINE gives no noise even if i turn up the gain to max

@nicolasnegron8078

9 ай бұрын

If you dont have grounded domestic circuit you can have That problem

@nicolasnegron8078

9 ай бұрын

If you are using laptop use It only with battery

Very interesting video. I played bass for like an hour forgetting to turn on INST and then, with the bass still plugged in, I turned it on and I really felt the difference in positive. May I have damaged my bass? Thank you.

@wasItGmac

2 жыл бұрын

nah you're fine get back to it 😂

@ProcioneSx

2 жыл бұрын

@@wasItGmac Thanks 😉

@ProcioneSx

2 жыл бұрын

@RLND All clear, thanks!

What about Scarlet 18i8?. It has Inst and Pad option..but no Button to click or engage....How to activate it then? Thanks

@JonnathanWight

Жыл бұрын

You have to use the Focusrite Control software to engage these on the 18i8.

I am recording metal guitar going direct in, no preamp/pedals or anything. When I use the inst button, I clip even when the gain all the way down. I am picking very hard. It's much more manageable with inst being disengaged, I don't clip and can turn the gain up. Does anyone know what the deal with this is?

@quentins2635

3 ай бұрын

im dealing with it now and came to this video for this exact reason. I heard its better off for guitar chugging etc

didnt even know that, thanks man

Is it normal to need to have input gain veeeery low when using a guitar DI with instrument mode on? If I turn it up much past 0 i get straight to clipping

@kettnercreative

Жыл бұрын

It depends on your setup, are you using an active DI?

@kylemarik688

Жыл бұрын

@@kettnercreative no seperate DI, just using the Scarlett as a DI directly from my electric. It's an 18i20 if that changes anything

@kettnercreative

Жыл бұрын

@@kylemarik688 does your electric have a battery in it?

@kylemarik688

Жыл бұрын

@@kettnercreative no, normal passive LP humbuckers. Had similar results with other guitars as well

Clips with the gain all the way down in inst mode with guitar. Sooooo, it's kinda useless. Passive pickups btw.

The instrument button makes it sound way worse for me when playing guitar. I'm not sure how is that supposed to sound better

@jerryfick8547

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely man. When I push the inst button,even with the gain turned almost all the way down,it clips my signal coming in. Now I've noticed that the meter on the track in reaper I'm recording on will show clipping well before the halo shows clipping. I'm confused.

@DarkoTuka

2 жыл бұрын

Same with me

i always clip when i use the inst button for my electric guitar. how could i fix this

@robertscott3399

2 жыл бұрын

by chance is it a presonus iterface? because i bought one and all it did was clip no matter what i did. so iwenrt out and bought a bundle from GC and oicked uo a scarlett solo studio. no issues until today with the scarlette

@godsreclamation2539

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertscott3399 it's a 3rd gen scarlett 2i2. I have gain down to 0. I use a 7 string drop tuned to F#.

@godsreclamation2539

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertscott3399 i.e I do palm mutes and it always clips on me.

@jerryfick8547

2 жыл бұрын

@@godsreclamation2539 it does the same damn thing to me. Even with the gain turned all the way down.

Yeah I can never use the inst button. Clips no matter the gain level.

So "Inst" has to be on when recording vocals?

@evanpanzer1734

3 жыл бұрын

It's recommended to use the "air" button when plugging in a microphone to record vocals. The "inst" button is for guitar, bass, etc.

@virnamccafferty3632

3 жыл бұрын

@@evanpanzer1734 Piano too?

@evanpanzer1734

3 жыл бұрын

@@virnamccafferty3632 I use a midi piano which I plug in without the use of the interface, it just plugs in as a usb. I'd say this is the better way because you'll get audio and midi capabilities whereas connecting through the interface will only create an audio input. But I think you don't need to use either the inst or air button for piano.

@monksee

2 жыл бұрын

@@virnamccafferty3632 If it's a digital piano and you're using the jack input to connect your digital piano then INST should be turned OFF... INST should only be turned ON for "quieter" instruments such as electro acoustic, electric guitar and bass guitar.

Oh shit , I just recorded an Album with guitars and Bass without turning this on ☹️

@kettnercreative

2 жыл бұрын

It's better to record instruments with this off compared to recording a line level source with it turned on. If you haven't noticed any issues so far, I would say you should just keep going.

@ag4eng

Жыл бұрын

@@kettnercreative Confused, I thought the video stated INST - ON when inputting an instrument like from a guitar. INST - OFF is default for keyboards or mics.

@k.2768

Жыл бұрын

I finished the album without inst on and now I compared it. The guitars I was using while recording have a very high output so with the inst button on it was almost impossible to get a green level. So I guess it also depends which pick ups u are using

How does my Active EMG with an Output of 10kohms is gonna sound better with the 1.5Mohms, if Line Input has 60kohms? STL Tones says that you SHOULDN'T use the INST button if you're using active pickups (electric guitars, most bass guitars...) so I don't know the technical info behind all of this but if you're using an active instrument, you should keep the gain knob to 0, peaking at max of -12db, with Hi-Z button OFF. Anyways, Ignite Amps says that you should ALWAYS use the Hi-Z Input for their plugins work correctly as they're 1.0mOhm, so you want to use the 1.5Mohm.. I don't know, everything is quite confussing and everone says different things.

oops. i guess i need to retrack all my guitar and bass

air wtf does air mean--i didn't hear the word air in the whole video