15 documented inputs
XLR/TRS combo + IEC C14
- Arrives as
- 15 documented inputs
- Connector
- XLR/TRS combo + IEC C14
- Signal
- analog audio
Audio Interface
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen USB Audio Interface. Plan its source-defined physical connections and placement in your rig.
Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.
01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.
Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen USB Audio Interface. Plan its source-defined physical connections and placement in your rig.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.
Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.
Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.
XLR/TRS combo + IEC C14
03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.
Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.
Use it when 1U and 260 mm of depth fit the case.
Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.
Documented connectors: XLR/TRS combo, ¼-inch TRS, IEC C14, usb c. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.
04 · Every connector, grouped by job.
Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.
Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.
| Port | Panel | Connector | Direction | Signal | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INPUT 1 · FRONT MIC / LINE / INST | front | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 2 · FRONT MIC / LINE / INST | front | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| HEADPHONES 1 | front | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| HEADPHONES 2 | front | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| AC INPUT · IEC | rear | IEC C14 | input | power | — |
| USB · COMPUTER DATA | rear | usb c | bidirectional | data | — |
| S/PDIF OUT | rear | rca | output | digital audio | — |
| S/PDIF IN | rear | rca | input | digital audio | — |
| WORD CLOCK OUT | rear | bnc | output | data | — |
| OPTICAL OUT 1 | rear | toslink | output | digital audio | — |
| OPTICAL OUT 2 | rear | toslink | output | digital audio | — |
| OPTICAL IN 1 | rear | toslink | input | digital audio | — |
| OPTICAL IN 2 | rear | toslink | input | digital audio | — |
| MIDI OUT | rear | midi din5 | output | data | — |
| MIDI IN | rear | midi din5 | input | data | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 9 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 10 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 7 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 8 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 5 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| LINE OUTPUT 6 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| ALT OUTPUT 3 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| ALT OUTPUT 4 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| MAIN OUTPUT 1 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| MAIN OUTPUT 2 | rear | ¼-inch TRS | output | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 8 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 7 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 6 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 5 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 4 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 3 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 2 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
| INPUT 1 · REAR MIC / LINE | rear | XLR/TRS combo | input | analog audio | — |
Showing 33 of 33 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.
05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.
The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.
| Compare | ![]() | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | 📐 1U | 📐 1U | 📐 2U | 📐 1U |
| Power | ⚡ Unverified | ⚡ 30W | ⚡ Unverified | ⚡ Unverified |
| Weight | ⚖️ 7.3 lb | ⚖️ 9.1 lb | ⚖️ 12.3 lb | ⚖️ 6.3 lb |
| I/O | 🔌 33 | 🔌 24 | 🔌 50 | 🔌 33 |
| Estimate | 💵 ~$769.99 | 💵 ~$899.99 | 💵 ~$2,299.99 | 💵 ~$799.99 |
| Deep dive | Current selection | Full comparison → | Full comparison → | Full comparison → |
06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.
Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.
It occupies 1U. Its documented depth is 260 mm.
Its power requirement is not yet verified in the catalog.
33 documented physical ports, including INPUT 1 · FRONT MIC / LINE / INST, INPUT 2 · FRONT MIC / LINE / INST, HEADPHONES 1, HEADPHONES 2, AC INPUT · IEC, USB · COMPUTER DATA.
07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.
08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.
Planning guides for audio interface systems.
Workflow · 7 min
How to choose between a digital mixer, a Thunderbolt interface, and a Dante converter as the brain of your IEM rack — with concrete picks at each tier.
Workflow · 14 min
How to build a live-performance playback rig that runs click + backing tracks reliably — interface sizing, routing rules, software comparison, and what to do when the laptop crashes.
Workflow · 12 min
How to build a fail-safe live playback rig with primary + backup laptops, an auto-switching audio interface, and a failover workflow you can actually trust on a Sunday morning.
Workflow · 11 min
LTC vs MTC vs MIDI Clock, how to generate timecode from Ableton or Playback, how lighting and video receive it, and the frame-rate mistake that drifts every show.