Focusrite Vocaster One Review: Podcast Interface

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This write-up is based on Focusrite’s published specifications and documentation, not hands-on testing.

The Focusrite Vocaster One is a single-microphone USB-C podcast interface with over 70 dB of gain, Auto Gain, voice Enhance presets, a mute button, phone and camera connections and stereo loopback. It is designed for one host who records or streams speech, rather than for music production.

See the Focusrite Vocaster One on Amazon.

Focusrite Vocaster One key specs

Mic input	1 XLR, 70 dB gain range, switchable 48 V phantom power
Outputs	Headphone output, speaker outputs (mono or stereo)
Phone	3.5 mm TRRS input and output (mono); cable not included
Camera	3.5 mm TRS output to a camera; cable not included
Loopback	Two stereo loopback channels from the computer
Controls	Auto Gain, Enhance, Mute, gain ring, volume
Software	Vocaster Hub for levels, Enhance, routing and Show Mix
Power	USB bus-powered; Focusrite notes it needs a 900 mA USB port

Specs come from Focusrite’s Vocaster One page.

Why 70 dB of gain matters for podcasting

The most popular broadcast microphones are dynamic models with low output. Spoken word at a normal distance produces far less signal than a singer or a guitar amp, so these microphones often need 60 dB or more of clean gain. Many entry-level music interfaces offer around 55 to 57 dB, which pushes their preamps to the noisy top of the range or forces you to add an inline booster. Focusrite’s position is that the Vocaster’s 70 dB range is enough for any XLR microphone without a booster.

A simple test tells you whether gain is sufficient: speak at your normal level about a hand’s width from the microphone and check that peaks reach around −12 to −10 dBFS in your recording software without the gain control being at its maximum. If they do, you have headroom.

Auto Gain, Enhance and Mute

Auto Gain. Hold the Auto Gain button and speak; the interface listens and sets the input level. Focusrite’s page describes this as a set-and-forget step before recording. Speak at the level you will use on the show, not louder, because a test that is too loud leads to a quiet recording.

Enhance. Enhance applies a voice preset that combines compression, EQ and rumble reduction. Focusrite offers several presets, switchable in Vocaster Hub, and an Enhance Edit view to adjust each part. Because Enhance is processing on the interface, the result is part of the recording. If you prefer to process in an editor later, leave it off and record clean.

Mute. A hardware mute silences the microphone for coughs or interruptions. It is faster than muting in software during a live stream.

Phone, camera and loopback connections

The phone connection uses a single 3.5 mm TRRS cable, so a guest on a phone call can be heard and recorded, or you can play audio from the phone into the show. The camera output sends the processed show audio to a camera’s microphone input over a TRS cable, which saves syncing separate audio and video files afterward.

Loopback brings audio from your computer, such as an intro jingle or a guest on a video call, into the recording or stream. Vocaster One offers two stereo loopback channels, set up in Vocaster Hub.

Use	Connection	Cable needed
Phone guest or phone audio	Phone input/output	3.5 mm TRRS to TRRS
Recording audio onto video	Camera output	3.5 mm TRS to TRS
Intro music or call audio from computer	Loopback (USB)	None
Editing on speakers	Speaker outputs	Depends on monitors

Vocaster One vs Vocaster Two

Vocaster One handles one host microphone. Vocaster Two adds a second microphone input with a second headphone output, for an in-person co-host or guest. If you only ever record yourself and remote guests, the One covers it. If anyone sits next to you, you need the Two.

Who should consider the Vocaster One

• Solo podcasters who use a low-output dynamic microphone.
• Streamers who want hardware mute and loopback without extra software.
• Video creators who want clean voice recorded straight to a camera.
• Anyone running remote interviews who records phone guests.

Who should look elsewhere

The Vocaster is built around speech. It has no instrument input, no MIDI, and its preset-driven processing is aimed at voice. Musicians recording guitar or synths alongside vocals will get more from a music interface such as a Scarlett or Volt. If you need more than two in-person microphones, look at a podcast mixer or a multi-input interface.

Common mistakes

• Running Auto Gain while speaking louder than you will on the show.
• Stacking Enhance with heavy compression in the editor, which makes breaths and room noise jump up.
• Monitoring loopback audio in the call software as well, which causes echo for remote guests.
• Plugging into a USB port that cannot supply 900 mA, which Focusrite lists as a requirement.
• Sitting too far from a dynamic microphone. Moving closer raises the voice above room noise more effectively than more gain.

Setup checklist

1. Connect with the included USB-C to USB-A cable and run Easy Start.
2. Install Vocaster Hub and enable phantom power only if your microphone needs it.
3. Position the microphone a hand’s width from your mouth and run Auto Gain.
4. Choose an Enhance preset, or leave it off if you will process later.
5. Set up loopback and the phone or camera connection you need.
6. Record a one-minute test and listen back on headphones and speakers.

For voice recording technique, read recording and editing a voice-over or podcast and audio interfaces for podcasting, or browse our recording hub.

How to set up the Focusrite Vocaster One step by step

Vocaster One is built for quick setup. Still, a few steps make the first episode sound better.

1. Use a capable USB port

Focusrite states that Vocaster One needs a USB port that supplies 900 mA. Most modern computer ports do. Avoid unpowered hubs, because they may not supply enough current.

2. Install Vocaster Hub

Vocaster Hub controls Enhance, the loopback and the Show Mix. Install it, connect the interface, then check for firmware updates.

3. Connect the mic and headphones

Plug a dynamic or condenser mic into the XLR input. Turn on 48V only for a condenser that needs it. Then plug headphones into the headphone output.

4. Run Auto Gain

Speak at your normal show volume for the length of the Auto Gain process. Talk the way you will on air, not quieter. Afterwards, check that loud laughs stay out of the red.

5. Choose an Enhance preset

Try each Enhance preset while reading a short script. Record each one and compare. Pick the one that sounds natural on your voice, rather than the one that sounds loudest.

6. Set up the recording software

In your recording app, select Vocaster One as the input. Record the mic on its own track. If you use the loopback, record it on a separate track so you can balance it later.

A solo podcast workflow

Here is a simple workflow for a weekly solo show. First, write a short outline. Then sit at a consistent distance from the mic, about a fist away for most dynamic mics.

Next, run Auto Gain at the start of each session, because your voice changes from day to day. Use the Mute button when you cough or need a pause, which saves editing time.

After recording, edit out long gaps and mistakes. Then normalise loudness to your platform’s target. Finally, export and listen on earbuds before publishing.

Recording remote guests and phone calls

For a video call guest, use the loopback. It sends computer audio into your recording software. Record your mic and the loopback on separate tracks.

For a phone guest, use the TRRS phone input. Focusrite notes that this cable is not included. The phone input is mono, which suits speech. Again, record the guest on a separate track if your software allows.

Always run a short test call before the real interview. Check that the guest hears you clearly and that you are not hearing an echo of yourself.

Vocaster One vs similar interfaces

The table compares published specs. Focusrite’s Vocaster One product page lists more detail.

Feature	Vocaster One	Vocaster Two	UA Volt 1	Scarlett 4i4 (4th Gen)
Mic inputs	1	2	1	2
Mic gain	70 dB	See vendor page	55 dB	69 dB
Auto Gain	Yes	Yes, per host	No	Yes
Voice presets	Enhance	Enhance	Vintage mode (tone)	Air modes
Headphone outputs	1	2	1	1
Phone connection	TRRS (mono)	TRRS and Bluetooth	No	No
Camera output	Yes	Yes	No	No
Loopback	Yes	Yes	Not listed	Yes
MIDI	No	No	Yes	Yes

The Vocaster models are designed for speech, with phone and camera connections. The Volt 1 and Scarlett 4i4 suit music better, with instrument inputs and MIDI.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 70 dB of gain suits low-output dynamic mics.
• Auto Gain and Enhance make good sound quick.
• Mute button on the unit.
• Phone input, camera output and loopback.
• Bus-powered from a 900 mA USB port.

Cons

• One mic input only.
• Phone cable not included.
• Not designed for instruments or music production.
• One headphone output.

Choosing a microphone for Vocaster One

Broadcast-style dynamic mics are a popular match. They reject much of the room sound, which helps in untreated spaces. Many of them have low output, but 70 dB of gain covers that without an inline booster.

Condenser mics also work. They capture more detail, but they also pick up more of the room. Use one in a quiet, softened space, and turn on 48V phantom power.

Whichever mic you choose, keep the distance consistent. Moving closer and further changes both volume and tone. A boom arm helps you stay in place during a long recording.

Improving the room on a budget

The room affects a podcast as much as the mic. Hard walls create echo that makes speech sound distant. Soft furnishings reduce it. Record in a room with carpet, curtains, a sofa or a bookshelf.

Avoid recording in the centre of an empty room. Instead, face into a soft area, such as a wardrobe of clothes. Also turn off fans and noisy devices. Enhance can shape tone, but it cannot remove a strong echo.

Using the camera output for video podcasts

The TRS camera output sends your mix to a camera’s mic input. That puts good audio on the video file, so you can skip syncing later. Set the camera’s input gain low, then adjust in Vocaster Hub.

Many creators still record a separate audio file on the computer. It works as a backup and gives you more control when editing. You can sync it to video with a hand clap at the start.

Streaming with Vocaster One

For live streams, select Vocaster One as the audio device in your streaming software. The Show Mix combines your mic with loopback audio, such as music or game sound. That gives viewers one balanced feed.

Test the balance before going live. Speech should stay clear above music. Then use the Mute button for coughs or private moments.

Editing and loudness tips

After recording, remove long pauses and mistakes first. Then use gentle compression to even out levels. Finally, set loudness to your platform’s target with a loudness meter. Many podcast hosts publish their recommended levels.

Listen to the finished episode on earbuds and in a car if possible. Those are the places most people listen. If speech is hard to follow there, adjust before publishing.

When to upgrade to Vocaster Two

Upgrade when you regularly host a second person in the same room. Vocaster Two adds a second mic input and a second headphone output. It also adds Bluetooth for phone guests. Otherwise, Vocaster One covers a solo show well.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy Vocaster One if you host a solo podcast, voice-over work or a streaming channel. It also suits interviewers who record remote guests through a phone or video call. The controls are simple, so it works well for beginners who want good results fast.

Skip it if you record music. It has no instrument input or MIDI, and a music interface such as the Scarlett 4i4 suits that work better. Skip it too if two people share a room for every episode, because Vocaster Two handles that directly.

More mistakes to avoid

• Running Auto Gain while speaking softly. Use your real show voice.
• Stacking Enhance with heavy plugins. Too much processing makes speech sound harsh. Choose one approach.
• Recording loopback and mic to one track. Separate tracks give you control in the edit.
• Skipping a test call. Echo and level problems are easier to fix before the interview.
• Using a hub with low power. Connect to a port that supplies 900 mA.

Building a repeatable recording routine

Consistency matters more than gear on a regular show. Set up the mic in the same place each time. Use the same Enhance preset and the same distance from the mic. Then run Auto Gain at the start of every session.

Save a template in your recording software with tracks for the mic and loopback. Name each file with the episode number and date. Finally, back up raw recordings before you start editing. A routine like this makes each episode sound like the last one.

FAQ

Releasing a show with music beds or a theme song? Our single track mastering makes the music sit at a consistent level next to your voice.