The basic setup: what you need and where to plug it in

A Scarlett Solo is an audio interface — a small box that lets you record sound into your computer with better quality than a built-in microphone. To use it with GarageBand on Mac, you plug the Scarlett into your computer with a USB cable, plug your microphone or instrument into the Scarlett's input jack, and then tell GarageBand to listen to the Scarlett instead of your computer's built-in microphone.

The Scarlett Solo has one input jack (labeled "Inst" for instrument or "In" depending on your model), one headphone output, and a USB port. The USB cable connects to any open port on your Mac. You do not need to install special software first — macOS recognizes the Scarlett as an audio device automatically.

Before you open GarageBand, make sure the Scarlett is plugged in and powered on. You should see a light on the front of the device. If you are using a microphone, plug it into the input jack. If you are plugging in a guitar or keyboard, use the same input jack — the Scarlett detects what type of device you have connected.

Key Takeaways

  • Plug the Scarlett Solo into your Mac with a USB cable and turn it on before opening GarageBand.
  • In GarageBand preferences under Audio/MIDI, set the input device to Scarlett Solo and the output device to Scarlett Solo.
  • Create a new track in GarageBand, select the input source as Scarlett Solo, and arm the track to record.
  • Test your levels by speaking or playing into the microphone or instrument while watching the input meter on the Scarlett's front panel.
  • If GarageBand does not see the Scarlett, unplug the USB cable, wait five seconds, and plug it back in.

Setting the Scarlett as your input device in GarageBand

Open GarageBand and go to the menu at the top of your screen. Click GarageBand, then Preferences (or press Command + comma). A window will open with several tabs across the top. Click the Audio/MIDI tab.

In the Audio/MIDI preferences, you will see two dropdown menus: one for Audio Input and one for Audio Output. Click the Audio Input dropdown and select Scarlett Solo from the list. Then click the Audio Output dropdown and also select Scarlett Solo. This tells GarageBand to both listen through the Scarlett and play sound back through it.

Close the preferences window. GarageBand now knows to use the Scarlett for recording and playback. If you do not see Scarlett Solo in either dropdown, the interface may not be connected properly — unplug the USB cable, wait five seconds, and plug it back in, then check the preferences again.

Creating a track and arming it to record

In GarageBand, create a new track by clicking File at the top, then New, or by pressing Command + N. A dialog box will appear asking what kind of track you want. If you are recording a microphone, select Audio. If you are recording a guitar or keyboard, you can select Audio as well, or Guitar or Keyboard if you want GarageBand to explore effects designed for those instruments.

Once the track appears in your project, look at the left side of the track. You will see a small circle icon — this is the record arm button. Click it to turn it red. A red circle means the track is ready to record. You will also see a dropdown menu on the track that says Input or shows a device name. Click this dropdown and select Scarlett Solo to make sure this specific track is listening to the Scarlett.

Now you are ready to record. Press the red record button at the bottom left of the GarageBand window (or press the spacebar) to start recording. Speak or play into your microphone or instrument. You should see the waveform appear in real time on the track as you record.

Checking your input levels before you record

Before you hit record, test your levels so your audio is not too quiet or too loud. Look at the front of the Scarlett Solo. There is a small meter with lights that show how loud the incoming signal is. Speak or play at the volume you plan to use while recording. The meter should light up in the green or yellow range. If it only lights up red, your signal is too hot and may sound distorted. If it barely lights up at all, your signal is too quiet.

To adjust the level, turn the Gain knob on the front of the Scarlett Solo. This is the large dial on the left side of the device. Turn it clockwise to make the signal louder, counterclockwise to make it quieter. Aim for the yellow range on the meter — that means you have plenty of headroom and your recording will sound clean.

You can also see the input level in GarageBand itself. Look at the track you created — there should be a small meter on the left side that shows the incoming signal. This is a secondary check. The Scarlett's own meter is more reliable, so use that as your guide.

Troubleshooting: what to do if GarageBand does not see the Scarlett

If you open GarageBand and the Scarlett Solo does not appear in the Audio Input or Audio Output dropdowns, the most common fix is to disconnect and reconnect the USB cable. Unplug the Scarlett from your Mac, wait five seconds, and plug it back in. Then check the preferences again.

If that does not work, restart your Mac. Sometimes macOS needs a restart to recognize a new USB device. After the restart, plug the Scarlett back in and check the preferences again.

If the Scarlett still does not appear, make sure the USB cable is working. Try plugging the Scarlett into a different USB port on your Mac. Some ports have more power than others, and a low-power port can cause the Scarlett to not be recognized. If you have a USB hub, try plugging the Scarlett directly into your Mac instead of through the hub.

Using headphones to monitor while you record

Plug headphones into the Headphones output jack on the front of the Scarlett Solo. This is separate from the main audio output. The headphone jack lets you hear yourself while you record without creating a feedback loop.

Turn the Headphone Volume knob (usually on the right side of the Scarlett) to set how loud the headphones are. You can also adjust the Mix knob, which controls the balance between the sound coming in from your microphone or instrument and the sound playing back from GarageBand. Turn the Mix knob all the way to the left to hear only your input, or all the way to the right to hear only what GarageBand is playing back. Most people record with the Mix knob somewhere in the middle so they can hear both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install drivers for the Scarlett Solo to work with GarageBand?

No. macOS recognizes the Scarlett Solo as a standard audio device without any additional software. You can plug it in and use it right away. Focusrite, the company that makes Scarlett, offers optional software called Focusrite Control, but it is not required for basic recording in GarageBand.

Why is my recording very quiet even though the input meter looks fine?

Check the headphone volume knob on the Scarlett — this controls what you hear in your headphones, not the actual recording level. The recording level is controlled by the Gain knob. Also check that the track in GarageBand is not muted. Look at the left side of the track and make sure there is no mute button highlighted.

Can I use the Scarlett Solo with GarageBand on an iPad?

The Scarlett Solo works with iPad if you use a USB-C to USB adapter (for newer iPads) or a Lightning to USB adapter (for older iPads). However, some iPad models do not provide enough power through the adapter, so the Scarlett may not turn on. A powered USB hub can solve this problem.

What if I want to record multiple instruments at the same time?

The Scarlett Solo has only one input, so you can record only one sound source at a time. If you want to record multiple instruments or voices simultaneously, you would need a Scarlett with more inputs, such as the Scarlett 2i2 or Scarlett 4i4.

How do I switch back to my Mac's built-in microphone after using the Scarlett?

Go back to GarageBand Preferences, click Audio/MIDI, and change the Audio Input dropdown back to Built-in Microphone (or whatever your Mac's internal microphone is called). You can also unplug the Scarlett, and macOS will automatically fall back to the built-in microphone for most applications.