I recently got a Scarlett Solo 4th gen interface. On this interface, the instrument input is #1 and the xlr input is #2. I want to know if there is a way to select the 2nd input while making a mono recording. I’m able to do this in garageband, but audacity is my DAW of choice for voiceover work.
Since the inputs were reversed on my gen 3 scarlett, this was never an issue.
I’m a Windows user, but yes, normally you can record in mono.
It will be a mix of the silent and non-silent channel. Assuming it’s the same on a Mac and a Windows machine the signal will be cut in half so with one channel unused it will max-out at -6dB. But you can still trust the clipping indicators on the interface.
I think Focusrite supplies some configuration software and there might be some mono-stereo-mix settings in that utility.
…Most DAWs record multiple “mono” tracks that you can pan left-to-right but Audacity is a little different.