You can use the FX for monitoring while you record while not recording the FX.

You can record the inputs with the FX.

You could even use the FX to mix. If you send from sonar using external insert, you could then apply EQ, compression, reverb and echo... loopback in the RME, and there you go. :-)

gswitz
You could even use the FX to mix. If you send from sonar using external insert, you could then apply EQ, compression, reverb and echo... loopback in the RME, and there you go. :-)

Wow..this is interesting, I was looking for some way to use the onboard FX on the RME during the mix stage as against "hardcoding" them during the recording stage. Thanks for the input.

Yeppers.

Sometimes when doing a live thing with less than eight inputs, I loopback the ADAT...

This means plug the ADAT out to the in.

This allows me to stack EQ and do parallel compression.

Stacking EQ is nice if you are trying to EQ out feedback and would like more nodes.

That's quite a significant price jump.  You're not going to get an improvement in sound quality going to RME (According to the specs, the Focusrites are equal or better). 
 
What you would get with RME is rock-solid driver performance.
 
IMO, you should also look at the Audient interfaces.  They are a step up in fidelity, the built in mic-pres are some of the best available on any interface, and the prices of the lower models won't break your wallet.
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/c695--Audient--USB_Audio_Interfaces
 

That's quite a significant price jump.  You're not going to get an improvement in sound quality going to RME (According to the specs, the Focusrites are equal or better). 
 
This I would say is questionable information. 
I have a Scarllet- the pre amps are amoung the worst quality of any device I've owned. I don't use them... As I said 4 weeks ago, my next interface will either be a Tascam UH 7000 or if I'm feeling flush an RME or Motu. 
 
Note to OP, If you mostly only use 2 inputs another option is buy the best 2 inputs you can get. You might save enough money buy a Tascam us16x04 for $300 to use on the odd occation you need more inputs.  
 

Cactus Music
That's quite a significant price jump.  You're not going to get an improvement in sound quality going to RME (According to the specs, the Focusrites are equal or better). 
 
This I would say is questionable information.

I did say "according to the specs".  OP already has a Scarlett so he'd be in the best position to know how he feels about their quality.
 
Anyway, my main point was that he should take a look at the Audients, which are getting rave reviews about their sound.  Sorry, but I don't see the Tascam 16x08  as a step up in any way.  Maybe the UH7000....

The mic pres in my UFX are quieter than those in my Focusrite Octopre, and there is a difference in sound though it's not as obvious as going from a bargain basement interface to an RME would be. Pumping white noise through them indicates the RME pres have a slightly flatter frequency curve, the Focusrite ones having a slight treble boost which varies a bit from pre to pre. The difference in noise level isn't too much of an issue, or even an issue at all, with a low track count but as the number of tracks goes up it becomes more noticable.

I've nothing to say about Forcusrite drivers, as the Octopre is ADATed to the UFX so the RME driver and Totalmix do all the work.

I own an Audient ASP 880. It has problems. It is currently back in the shop for the second time.
 
Could be my unit...
 
They keep having to upgrade the firmware and this cannot be done without shipping it back. So far, out of 9 months of ownership, it has been out of my hands 4 weeks and counting. Maybe more.
 
The Audient has significant noise at the nyquist frequency at double rates (88.2 and 96). It also has significant noise at the lowest frequency level. It seems to work ok. I'm not throwing it under the bus. I mostly use it for drums anyway, but it is nowhere not even anywhere close to the RME UCX I own.
 
I would have purchased an RME Micstacy, or at least the OctaMic XTC, which is what I wanted but the price was out of reach at the time and I needed the extra eight inputs. I like trying different gear.

The Audient folks currently have the unit and are working on it. They have been a big help. And the unit sounds good. The problems have been more visible using RME DigiCheck.
 
My only regret with the RME is that I didn't get the UFX.
 
G

I am currently facing latency issues with the scarlett 2i2 and also falling short of outputs as I've moved from beginner to intermediate level over the past several years. My main concern with 2i2 has been a significant lag in hearing my own vocals on the headphone while singing to the mic. Direct monitoring is not audible unless i turn the mic gain to its max (which obviously causes clipping). The input echo in sonar is too delayed. So im ending up recording vocals without being able to hear myself on the headphone while singing.
 
So want to get rid of these kind of issues once for all, the best one my researched showed was RME. Also I need more I/O to plug in a second pair of monitors and may be some outboard gear in the future, hence the UCX and not the Babyface. UFX would have been ideal (coz i need 2 headphone outs as well) but is out of my budget. I would rather plug in a headphone amp for much lesser cost.

RishiS,

For headphones, I bought one of these...

https://smile.amazon.com/...NZpzWCL&ref=plSrch

Regarding the UFX, the biggest thing on the UFX that I would like is the memory card recording. It makes it so you can live-mix and record with just an iPad with ease.

Basically, I don't really use the iPad with my UCX, but it would be nice to.