The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen is a rack-mounted USB 2.0 audio interface designed for professional studio environments, offering 18 inputs and 20 outputs for flexible routing and multi-source recording. It features eight natural-sounding Scarlett mic preamps with improved gain structure and headroom, two front-facing instrument inputs optimized for hot pickups, and ADAT and S/PDIF digital I/O for expanded connectivity. With 24-bit/192 kHz conversion and low-latency performance, it enables real-time monitoring with plug-ins and effects directly from your DAW. The unit also includes MIDI I/O, dual headphone outputs, and ten balanced line outputs, making it suitable for complex setups.