Focusrite's flagship 4th-gen 1U rack interface offers 18 inputs and 20 outputs over a single USB-C connection (USB 2.0 protocol). Eight XLR/TRS combo inputs with Auto Gain and Air mode pair with ten balanced line outputs, two independent headphone outputs, dual ADAT optical I/O, coaxial S/PDIF I/O, 5-pin DIN MIDI, and a BNC Word Clock output. A built-in talkback mic routes to the headphones by default. Mains-powered via a 3-prong IEC C14 inlet.
Focusrite’s flagship 18-in/20-out rack USB-C interface: 8 preamps, 10 line outs, 2 headphones, ADAT, S/PDIF, MIDI, IEC C14 power.
Device Information
- Manufacturer
- Focusrite
- Release Year
- 2023
- Model Number
- Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen
- Category
- Audio Interface
Source: manufacturer product page · Last updated: · How we verify port data →
Available Ports
| Connector | Quantity | Power (PD) | Capabilities | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLR (3-pin Balanced Audio) | 8 | — | — | Inputs 1–8 — XLR (combo) | Mic preamps with 48V phantom (switchable per pair); XLR portion of XLR/TRS combo jacks. Inputs 1–2 are on the front panel, 3–8 on the rear. |
| 6.35mm TRS (1/4 inch Audio) | 8 | — | Same jack | Inputs 1–8 — 1/4" (combo) | Hi-Z / line portion of combo inputs. |
| 6.35mm TRS (1/4 inch Audio) | 10 | — | — | Line Outputs 1–10 (rear, balanced) | Ten balanced line outputs. Outputs 1–2 and 3–4 can drive two pairs of monitors with Alt-speaker A/B switching. |
| 6.35mm TRS (1/4 inch Audio) | 2 | — | — | Headphones 1 & 2 (front) | Two independent stereo 1/4" TRS headphone outputs with dedicated mixes; talkback routes here by default. |
| Optical TOSLINK (S/PDIF) | 4 | — | — | ADAT 1 In/Out, ADAT 2 In/Out (rear) | Dual ADAT optical I/O (TOSLINK connector). 8ch @ 48kHz per pair, SMUX for 96/192 kHz operation. |
| Coaxial S/PDIF (RCA Digital) | 2 | — | — | S/PDIF In / Out (rear) | Stereo coaxial S/PDIF input and output (75Ω RCA). |
| 5-pin DIN MIDI | 2 | — | — | MIDI In / MIDI Out (rear) | Standard 5-pin DIN MIDI 1.0 input and output sockets. |
| USB Type-C (USB 2.0) | 1 | — | — | USB-C (rear, to host) | USB-C connector with USB 2.0 protocol. |
| IEC C14 (3-Pin Power Inlet) | 1 | — | — | AC Mains Inlet (rear) | 3-prong IEC C14 inlet for a standard C13 kettle cord. |
This device is not in the Cable Finder yet. Browse cables by the ports it has:
- Cables for XLR (3-pin Balanced Audio) 2 cables
- Cables for 6.35mm TRS (1/4 inch Audio) 2 cables
- Cables for Optical TOSLINK (S/PDIF) 1 cable
- Cables for Coaxial S/PDIF (RCA Digital) 1 cable
- Cables for 5-pin DIN MIDI 1 cable
- Cables for USB Type-C (USB 2.0) 4 cables
- Cables for IEC C14 (3-Pin Power Inlet) 1 cable
Notes & Compatibility
USB-C connector runs USB 2.0 protocol despite rack form factor. ADAT I/O uses TOSLINK physical connector (8ch @ 48kHz per port, SMUX for higher rates). There’s also a BNC Word Clock output (not listed in the port table).
Common questions
How many ports does the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) have?
The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) has 30 ports in total: 8 × XLR (3-pin Balanced Audio), 12 × 6.35mm TRS (1/4 inch Audio), 4 × Optical TOSLINK (S/PDIF), 2 × Coaxial S/PDIF (RCA Digital), 2 × 5-pin DIN MIDI, 1 × USB Type-C (USB 2.0) and 1 × IEC C14 (3-Pin Power Inlet).
What kinds of ports does the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) have?
By connector family, the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) has 28 Audio, 1 USB and 1 Power.
How many USB ports does the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) have?
The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) has 1 USB port: 1 × USB Type-C (USB 2.0).
How is the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) powered?
The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) has a dedicated power connector: 1 × IEC C14 (3-Pin Power Inlet).
Does the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) have HDMI?
No. The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) has no HDMI port. No video-capable port is recorded for this device.
Does the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) have a USB-A port?
No. The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) has no full-size USB Type-A port. It has 1 × USB Type-C (USB 2.0) instead, so full-size USB accessories need an adapter or a hub.
Does the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) have a headphone jack?
No. The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen (2023) has no 3.5 mm headphone jack. It does have a 6.35 mm (1/4-inch) jack: 12 × 6.35mm TRS (1/4 inch Audio).
