Scarlett

Why this is here: fifth pastor-audio SKU after BLX14/CVL, SLX-D, SM58, and EW-D. It is not a camera. It is not a switcher. It is not wireless.

A Focusrite Scarlett 4th Generation USB-C audio interface family. Path into a laptop running OBS (or similar) for the stream. For a small church that streams from a laptop, the default box is Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen (two mic pres, two Hi-Z/line, Auto Gain, Clip Safe, Air, Loopback). Adjacent Scarlett Solo 4th Gen if you truly have one mic and a tight budget. Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen only when you need extra line inputs, MIDI, or independent mixes.

This sits between a mic or mixer line out and the streaming laptop. You still need a mixer path for sanctuary FOH. This does not replace BLX14/CVL, SLX-D, EW-D, or SM58. Those feed the mixer. Scarlett feeds the laptop (or takes a mixer aux / tape out).

Who it is for

Start with need and path. Whether the stream already has a clean USB or digital path, and how many analog sources must hit the laptop, is the real question.

Need / room	What you actually get	Fit
Stream already leaves an ATEM, YoloBox, or mixer USB interface clean	Another USB box you do not need	Skip. Stay on ATEM Mini or YoloBox (or the MG-XU USB).
Laptop OBS stream, two mics or one mic plus a mixer line	2 mic pres, Auto Gain, Clip Safe, bus-powered USB-C	Recommend Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen (about $225). Default USB interface.
Truly one mic into OBS, budget about $160	1 mic pre + 1 Hi-Z/line, no Auto Gain	Hold / skip as the default. Solo is OK if that is really the room.
Extra line ins, MIDI, or independent headphone / monitor mixes	4 in / 4 out, MIDI, extra PSU in the box	Recommend 4i4 only when that I/O is real (about $310 B&H). Otherwise overkill vs 2i2.
Pastor wireless or wired handheld, no laptop interface need	Wireless lav or wired SM58 already on this site	Stay on BLX14/CVL, SLX-D, EW-D, or SM58. Those are not this box.

If you only buy one USB interface for a small church that streams from a laptop, buy Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen.

Volunteer skill

• USB-C into the laptop, pick Scarlett as the OBS audio device, set gain, leave it alone. Sunday-viable after one rehearsal.
• Auto Gain on 2i2 / 4i4: play for about ten seconds, let the box set the level. Clip Safe watches for peaks. Solo has neither. Someone still has to watch the gain halo.
• Mixer aux / tape out into a line input: the usual church path. Do not plug a speaker-level amp out into the Scarlett. Line or mic only.
• Sanctuary FOH still needs its own mixer. Scarlett does not replace the house mix.

Standout details

Facts from Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen product pages and live retailer carts (fetched 2026-09-12). Prefer Focusrite for specs. Prefer B&H live carts for the hero street price.

• 4th Generation USB-C family. 24-bit / 192 kHz. About 120 dB dynamic range on the converters (Focusrite D-A spec 120 dB on these three).
• USB 2.0 over USB-C. Bus-powered: Solo and 2i2 at 900 mA. 4i4 at 1.5 A (external PSU in the 4i4 box; bus power still supported at that higher draw).
• Air Presence and Harmonic Drive on all three. Loopback virtual inputs for mixing computer audio into the stream. Easy Start, Focusrite Control 2, and Hitmaker Expansion ship in the box. Software is not the church-stream buy reason.
• Hero Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen (MFR SCARLETT-2I2-4G / MOSC0033): two mic pres, two front Hi-Z/line, Auto Gain, Clip Safe, 69 dB gain range. B&H $224.99 in stock this fetch (BH# FOS2I24G). Focusrite USA $224.99. Guitar Center $224.99. Sweetwater product-page snippets also $224.99 (some category and sale pages showed $199.99). A later B&H 2i2 cart fetch was Cloudflare-blocked.
• Adjacent Scarlett Solo 4th Gen (MFR SCARLETT-SOLO-4G / MOSC0032): one mic pre (57 dB), one Hi-Z/line, two outs. No Auto Gain. No Clip Safe. B&H and Focusrite USA $159.99 in stock (BH# FOSSOLO4G). Standalone pass-through is possible with external USB power (not in the street price).
• Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen (MFR SCARLETT-4I4-4G / MOSC0034): two mic/line/instrument plus two extra line ins, four line outs, MIDI I/O, independent headphone and monitor mixes, Auto Gain, Clip Safe. B&H $309.99 in stock (BH# FOSCAR4I44G). Focusrite USA product page $309.99 this fetch. Global Focusrite family page listed 4i4 at $339.99.
• Focusrite 3-year hardware warranty.
• This is not wireless. This is not a mixer. This is not a replacement for ATEM Mini USB webcam out or a YoloBox stream. Skip if that path is already clean.
• Related family on this page: Scarlett Solo 4th Gen, Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen. Related pages: BLX14/CVL, SLX-D, SM58, EW-D, MG-XU, ATEM Mini, and YoloBox.
• Status on this site uses words (recommend / hold / skip), not color-only cues.

Rechecked 2026-10-20: B&H listed the Scarlett Solo 4th Gen at $159.99 in stock, unchanged.

Earlier check, 2026-09-12, live carts: B&H Scarlett Solo 4th Gen $159.99 in stock (MFR SCARLETT-SOLO-4G / MOSC0032, BH# FOSSOLO4G). B&H Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen $224.99 in stock (MFR SCARLETT-2I2-4G / MOSC0033, BH# FOS2I24G). That is the hero street price. B&H Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen $309.99 in stock (MFR SCARLETT-4I4-4G / MOSC0034, BH# FOSCAR4I44G). Focusrite USA Solo $159.99, 2i2 $224.99, 4i4 $309.99 (global family page still showed 4i4 at $339.99). Guitar Center 2i2 $224.99. Sweetwater 4th Gen product-page snippets $224.99; some Sweetwater category and sale pages $199.99 (Sweetwater may bot-block; a later B&H 2i2 cart fetch was Cloudflare-blocked). Confirm the cart. No affiliate link on this page.

Honest verdict

Recommend the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen as the default USB interface for a small church that streams from a laptop: two mic inputs or one mic plus one mixer line, Auto Gain helps volunteers, about $225.

Hold / skip Solo as the default if they need a stereo mixer feed or two mics. Solo is OK if truly one mic into OBS and the budget is about $160.

Recommend 4i4 only when extra line inputs, MIDI, or independent mixes are real (about $310 B&H). Otherwise overkill vs 2i2.

Skip Scarlett if the stream already takes a clean digital or USB path from an ATEM Mini, YoloBox, or MG-XU mixer USB.

This does not replace BLX14/CVL, SLX-D, EW-D, or SM58. Those feed the mixer. Scarlett feeds the laptop.

Honest limits: not a FOH mixer, not wireless, Solo lacks Auto Gain, 4i4 is extra money for I/O you may not use, and you still need a sanctuary mix path. This box does not replace a camera or a switcher.