Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

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kc7gr
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Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by kc7gr »

Has anyone had any success getting the Focusrite 18i20 3rd Gen interface going with Ubuntu 18.04? Particularly in terms of setting up its mixer functions?

My searching on this topic has been inconclusive. Please excuse me if this question duplicates another thread.

Thanks much.
geoffrey
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by geoffrey »

kc7gr wrote:Has anyone had any success getting the Focusrite 18i20 3rd Gen interface going with Ubuntu 18.04? Particularly in terms of setting up its mixer functions?

My searching on this topic has been inconclusive. Please excuse me if this question duplicates another thread.

Thanks much.
Hi kc7gr,

I can't comment on the 18i20 3rd Gen specifically, but I've just received a 4i4 3rd Gen and it's the same deal as the 2nd Gen units — the USB class-compliant I/O functionality works fine but setting up the internal routing/mixing functionality needs a driver which can talk the proprietary protocol. It retains the settings so you can set up the routing as you want in Windows then use it in Linux.

I've written a driver for the 6i6, 18i8, and 18i20 2nd Gen units which will be included in Linux 5.4, and I've started on a driver for the 4i4 3rd Gen. The 4i4 3rd Gen protocol is quite similar to the protocol used in the 2nd Gen units (I already have all the routing/mixer functionality working), and so I would expect a driver for the 18i20 3rd Gen would also not take very long to write if someone would like to loan or donate a unit for me to develop with.

Regards,
Geoffrey.
tkcomposer
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by tkcomposer »

Since this thread is a top hit from Google I'm adding some info here. 18i20 Gen 3 works out of the box, with inputs/outputs available to you right away.

Of course, the mixing/routing features that Geoffrey is working on (Thank you @geoffrey!!) are not available yet, but he's saying it shouldn't be long. And considering his driver is merged into the official Linux kernel, Scarlette seems to be a safe investment.
sabrehagen
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by sabrehagen »

geoffrey wrote:I would expect a driver for the 18i20 3rd Gen would also not take very long to write if someone would like to loan or donate a unit for me to develop with.
I'm interested in loaning you a unit to develop with. Where are you located? Happy to move this discussion to private message if you'd prefer.

Best, Jackson
tkcomposer
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by tkcomposer »

@geoffrey,

I brought the thread specific to 18i20 gen3 here to avoid confusion.

For sound/usb/mixer_quirks.c, the IDs for 18i20:

ID 1235:8215 Focusrite-Novation Scarlett 18i20 USB

Anything else you need?
tkcomposer
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by tkcomposer »

@geoffrey, I tried to create scarlett2_device_info s18i20_gen3_info in mixer_scarlett_gen2.c, but it didn't work (please see the attached patch files). I figured we still need you to verify the addresses are still correct via the usb dump, which I can provide via usbmon.

For example, this is what the host sent to the device (clipped) when I changed the monitor outputs to playback 3-4.

Code: Select all

0000   02 00 00 03 00 10 04 01 00 80 00 00 04 8b 0f 00
0010   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ec 00 00 00 f8 03 00 00 90
0020   19 06 30 05 00 00 00 84 19 00 00 19 02 1d 1a 1b
0030   1c 1d 04 1f 18 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 2a 17
0040   18 17 18 17 18 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0050   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0060   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0070   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0080   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0090   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00a0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00b0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00c0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00d0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00e0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ff ff ff 03 00 00 00 00 ed
00f0   ff 87 ef ed ff 87 ef 00 00 82 ef 00 00 83 ef 00
0100   00 83 ef 00 00 83 ef 00 00 86 ef 00 00 86 ef 00
0110   00 86 ef 00 00 86 ef 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0120   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Does this help?
Attachments
patchfiles.zip
Not working! (failed attempt for 18i20 gen 3)
(7.05 KiB) Downloaded 142 times
clovis
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by clovis »

Hi tkcomposer,

I sent several data to geoffrey those past weeks, but for some reason (probably vacation), he has not answered for some time. Anyway, he worked on a driver extension which is now partially working for my 18i20 3rd Gen (great job!), although some adjustments are still required (some USB captures are in the pipe, concerning speaker switching and custom mix settings).

You can have a look at its GitHub repository - he already shared this link in another thread, so I think it's fine: https://github.com/geoffreybennett/scar ... rlett-gen3.

That could be nice if you have some time to test it, maybe you'll find some not-working scenarios I've not checked at!
tkcomposer
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by tkcomposer »

Thanks, @clovis. He has contributed a lot so we'll just be patient.

I had looked into that branch of the repository, and attempted to apply the same patches to my source tree, with modifications (I compared gen 2's 4i4 against its 18i20, and tried to apply the same logic to gen 3). I was able to get controls like pad/instrument etc., but did not manage to adjust any volumes nor any mixes. I figured this is probably best left for @geoffrey to complete since he approached the two gens very differently.

What did you get working, @clovis?
kraus
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by kraus »

I'm about to comment on this in the "Focusrite Scarlett Gen 3 4i4 (and others)" thread since it seems to be related to all models of Gen 3, but before I do, as a matter of housekeeping I was curious about proposing the closing and merging of this thread into the other so as to prevent a delta effect on the topics. Seeing as all Focusrite Scarlett Gen 3 equipment issues might be solved with a single driver, I think it would be a good idea?
clovis
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by clovis »

tkcomposer wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:28 pm Thanks, @clovis. He has contributed a lot so we'll just be patient.

I had looked into that branch of the repository, and attempted to apply the same patches to my source tree, with modifications (I compared gen 2's 4i4 against its 18i20, and tried to apply the same logic to gen 3). I was able to get controls like pad/instrument etc., but did not manage to adjust any volumes nor any mixes. I figured this is probably best left for @geoffrey to complete since he approached the two gens very differently.

What did you get working, @clovis?
Hi tkcomposer!

Sorry I'm really late in my reply. On my side I'm able to change volumes, mixes, pads...
Would you like to share your patched code so that I compare with mine?
clovis
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by clovis »

kraus wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:59 pm I'm about to comment on this in the "Focusrite Scarlett Gen 3 4i4 (and others)" thread since it seems to be related to all models of Gen 3, but before I do, as a matter of housekeeping I was curious about proposing the closing and merging of this thread into the other so as to prevent a delta effect on the topics. Seeing as all Focusrite Scarlett Gen 3 equipment issues might be solved with a single driver, I think it would be a good idea?
Hi kraus,

Yes you're totally right, that would make sense... :-)
geoffrey
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by geoffrey »

Hi all,

Sorry, life got in the way the past few months. I have made a new release which improves on the previous Gen 3 18i8/18i20 support. Source, RPM, and deb packages available here: https://github.com/geoffreybennett/scar ... g/v5.8.8s1

Please test and advise if everything works or not. It works for my 4i4 and I briefly tested with an 8i6, but the 18i8/18i20 have additional features that I can't test (mute, dim, and reading volume knob position from HW). Good luck! :)

Regards,
Geoffrey.
DneieSVb
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by DneieSVb »

Awesome :)

I'll compile it later during lunch and test it!

I do have the 18i20 gen3.

Best regards!

Update:

The hardware monitor knob does control the slider correctly. But the sliders with hardware control enabled don't move. they did when they were assigned in the focusrite program. They still work as intended though.
Dim and Mute work as intended.

Really awesome work you did :D Thank you very much!

I have an PKGBUILD to compile the patched kernel for Archlinux, I could upload to the AUR for other Arch users?

Another thing not related to this patch:
I do have recurring clicks in the audio. I recorded a sinewave through ADAT out to ADAT in and noticed that the clicks were caused by a single sample thats inserted into the audio with a value of zero. It is not registered as XRUN, my machine is more than powerfull enough, it does happen with any program using alsa. It gets worse on certain usb ports and it happens on different computers (but not on windows, as far as I know...).
Does anyone else experience this?
clovis
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by clovis »

DneieSVb wrote: Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:36 am Another thing not related to this patch:
I do have recurring clicks in the audio. I recorded a sinewave through ADAT out to ADAT in and noticed that the clicks were caused by a single sample thats inserted into the audio with a value of zero. It is not registered as XRUN, my machine is more than powerfull enough, it does happen with any program using alsa. It gets worse on certain usb ports and it happens on different computers (but not on windows, as far as I know...).
Does anyone else experience this?
Hi DneieSVb,

Could your sound problem be related to this thread?
I've experienced the same issue you described with the 18i20 Gen 3, and the patch for implicit feedback has fixed it.

I hope that helped!
DneieSVb
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Re: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen 3

Post by DneieSVb »

Hi,
that does sound absolutely like my issue. I think i even read that thread before but for whatever reason did not test it further... shame on me...

Thanks a lot for the reply, I'll test it.


@geoffrey The issue with the faders i described earlier seems to be limited to QasMixer, the fader move as expected in alsamixer. thanks again for your work!


Best regards!
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