I have the 3rd gen 4i4 that I am happy with. It does lack the buttons to control channel functions. I had to use the open source GUI to set up the routing. I have a mixer plugged into the rear inputs and I need the audio sent to my speakers by default. I only do basic recording, but it easily covers that. I've not used the MIDI, but that is an area I want to explore. I just got an Akai MPKmini keyboard that I want to experiment with. I'm more of an analogue musician really.
!BEER
I have the same exact controller. The Akai MPKmini. My 2nd-gen 2i4 has actual MIDI ports, but I haven't had the chance to use them yet because the MPKmini does MIDI over USB. I've not done much recording of guitar. When I make music on Linux I usually use LMMS, and digital instruments. I used to only use my own music in my videos, but it's not everyone's cup of tea lol. So I started using Youtube's music mostly, but I still manage to slip some of my own into the videos.
I also have a Korg Monologue with MIDI in/out's, but I haven't had a chance to try them out. It also has MIDI over USB, and if I was controlling digital instruments I'd reach for the Akai usually since it doesn't need to plug into the wall.
I think the actual MIDI ports might be most useful when going from synthesizer to synthesizer, but it was more important in the 80's and early 90's because MIDI over USb didn't exist yet.
So the in/out on the back of my Scarlet I assume is for older synthesizers if you wanted to attach them as a controller you'd have to use the Scarlet if they didn't have a USB.
I have a couple of basic old devices that use DIN MIDI cables. I need to have a play around with them. I have the latest MPKmini that has a MIDI out, but that only seems to work if you use a USB mains adaptor rather than power from a PC. I can see why USB has taken over as it makes life easier.
Yes that's the word I was forgetting:'DIN' MIDI connection.
Your MPKmini must be different than mine because it only has a USB connection, and a jack in for an expression pedal.
Yours runs off of wall power?
Recording real instruments is a genuine skill.
It's a lot harder than most people think. I find guitar particularly difficult to record with distortion/overdrive.