If you have a 2nd gen Scarlett audio interface, Focusrite posted new updated Windows drivers for them a couple of days ago on their website (still no word on 1st gen updates, unfortunately).
The new driver version is listed as 4.12.0. More specifically the new driver version on my PC is 4.12.0.141.
The 4.12 update includes a couple of major bug fixes (listed below), one that I’ve experienced several times myself so I’m glad to see it resolved.
I also noticed that the overall latency numbers are lower with the 4.12 update.
I usually use 48kHz/64 samples for playing guitar and that used to show 7.79 ms of overall latency in Ableton Live 9; now the same setting shows 5.88 ms.
It’s a couple of seconds lower at 128 samples than it used to be as well, so they must have tweaked them a bit, but it’s still the exact same at 32 samples as it was before.
In fact looking back at my Scarlett Latency Comparison Review, those lower numbers correspond with the original latency numbers from the very first set of drivers that had all kinds of problems.
Update: After more intensive testing, I’ve concluded that the 4.12 driver sucks ass. I’ve gone back to using the 4.11 driver (glad I kept a copy). Focusrite is getting too greedy with lower latency numbers. What the hell do we need 5.88 ms at 48kHz/64 samples when it’s 5.17 ms at 32 samples? Now 64 samples induces crackling at higher CPU usage on my PC when it never did before. Then the 128 sample setting jumps all the way up to 10.5 ms. So they give us two 5 ms settings that run virtually the same and nothing in between that and double the latency. Whatever, Focusrite…
Fixes from 4.11:
– Major improvements with issue that caused distorted audio when streaming for long periods of time on Windows 10. In the unlikely event of this occurring again, the driver recovery time back to clean audio is also greatly improved.
– Major fixes for crashes found when disconnecting Scarletts from some computers.
Hi
Do you know where we can get the old 4.11 drivers?
Thx.
The link for the old one still downloads when changing the 4 to a 3 on the url link: 4.11 Driver Download Link
Thank you Nathan.
No problem. 😀
Good day Sir. 4.1.1 Driver Download Link is not working. Can you help us Sir? TIA
Hi, Audio keeps becoming distorted after 3-4 hours. Makes me sound like a robot. Is this a problem with the drivers of the Focusrite Solo 2nd Gen ? or my mic, which is the Rode NT1 . Both purchased last week.
Thanks
I don’t know, man. Never experienced that. Those are the kind of questions for customer support.
I have the same issue. I’ve contacted the support of course, but they can’t do shit :(.
I have a sample of the distorsion thingy, see if it’s the same as me: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2GkWlUN4UYhN2ZtUHE2ekFFd00
Sick of all of that, i’ve reset Windows 10, so good, so far, not perfect (still have some clic issues even at high latency… annoying as hell)
Somehow, i’m with the 4.13 version of the driver (it says 4.13.0.140 in my device manager Oo ) it’s the one they propose when you have the signature issue thingy on windows 10 AU. So try theses, maybe it will solves that. (Link: https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/211427089?flash_digest=58776df5c1f0254411e89740e510fd064ba1d0bf)
Support probably already mentioned it but make sure to test your PC for DPC latency and hard pagefaults issues to help with crackling and drop-out problems.
Funny enough, the support didn’t provide me thoses tool. Hopefully, I uses thoses before my mail to focusrite.
Last time i used LatencyMon, I just ignored the pagefault. Because it was off the charts ! (the bar is full) and the software says that my system is good for real time audio.
So, thanks to you, I know why it clics: I read my audio from my network, not my machine. If i read a file localy, it’s fine. Everytime i do an action with my network drive, the pagefault meter goes crazy.
DPC is all good.
Just wanna say thanks for your thorough Scarlett-related updates. Since I found your Gen-2 review, you have been my go-to source for new Scarlett info (or lack-thereof) 😀
Glad I could help! We’ll be getting another free plugin from Focusrite in about a week as well once October hits. I wonder what it will be this time?
Not find in focusrite site any driver version 4.12.0.141 !! please EDITOR put correct link for download !
The number is going to vary depending on OS. And it’s different with the 18i20 becuase it uses the control panel software for updates.
I’ve been having a LOT of trouble with my USB mouse and keyboard freezing up intermittently for half a second to a second at a time ever since I picked up a used 8i6 and was running the beta drivers from focusrite.
Since I found this site and installed the 4.11 USB drivers (with many mistakes and reboots to get them + mixcontrol working) – knock on wood – NO MORE PROBLEMS.
Focusrite desperately needs to update the official drivers for the first generation.
Can you update the 4.11 Driver once again? The link is dead. Many Thanks Nathan
Sorry, it was Focusrite’s link. I don’t have another. I’ve had way better performance with 4.15 anyway.