The Best USB Audio Interface Round-up
We will help you find the best USB audio interface for your current setup with the top adapters from various price ranges and sizes.
The humble USB audio adapter has made recording easier for many music enthusiasts and has helped revolutionize the way music is being recorded and produced. USB audio interfaces are conveniently compatible with nearly all modern computers, be it Windows or Mac, or on the desktop or a laptop - as long as it has a USB port - you can use it for capturing your mic or instrument. These devices are also getting more affordable and are used in many professional level home recordings. Check out our list and find the one that fits your recording requirements and budget.
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R
Fast Track Ultra 8R takes the top spot on our list with its extensive functionality, solid build and audio quality. This 8 input phantom powered interface is designed for small to medium scale studio work. Its intuitive controls are conveniently situated on the front making it easy to record drum kits or a small band performance with impressive 24-bit/96kHz quality. The eight input preamps are raved for its quiet operation and good headroom. Ultra 8R's hardware performance is matched with M-Audio's Octane preamp and MX Core DSP which gives you a versatile virtual mixer. Manufactured by: M-Audio | Retails for $499.00 | Check out the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com
Tascam US-1800
The Tascam US-1800 is sought after for its splendid mixture of affordability, features and quality. It gives you 16 inputs and 4 outputs and can handle them with respectably low latency. You get 8 XLR Mic input ports with phantom power and 6 1/4" TRS balanced Line/Guitar inputs, all of which are enough for capturing small band performances or recording acoustic drum tracks. You will simply find it hard to find a better deal. Manufactured by: Tascam | Retails for $269.99 | Check out the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com
PreSonus Audiobox 1818VSL
The PreSonus AudioBox 1818VSL is a full featured audio interface that comes with features that actually add value. You have 8 mic/instrument inputs with 48V phantom power and 8 line-level outputs. Additional 8 input channels are afforded by its ADAT optical I/O and SPDIF connectivity. 1818VSL features PreSonus' VSL effects and channel compression, which gives you a full channel strip for every input and output. Effects include a high pass filter, limiter, compressor, 3-band EQ and a gate - these effects are controlled via a nifty software mixer that you get for free. Manufactured by: PreSonus | Retails for $499.95 | Check out the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com
MOTU Audio Express
If you prefer Firewire connectivity while at the same time appreciate the compatibility of USB, you should check out the MOTU Audio Express. It has 6 x 8 physical input/output channels that operate independently and simultaneously. Its front panel knobs are very easy to use and you can also visually monitor your audio with its indicators and meters. It supports sample rates of up to 96kHz and comes with a mixing software called CueMix. What makes this a great gear to have though is its ability to double as a portable live mixer, you can use it without your computer in live situations. Manufactured by: MOTU | Retails for $395.00 | Check out the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com
M-Audio Fast Track Pro Mobile
Portable recording technology has taken huge strides towards making things smaller while retainiing functionality and quality. The M-Audio Fast Track Pro Mobile is a perfect example of this mobile trend, packed with recording features housed in a small package. You get 2 front-panel mic/line inputs with phantom power for condenser microphones, inserts for outboard effects, balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and many more. Being portable has limitations, but these compact USB audio adapters are ideal for recording small tracks or solo live performances. Manufactured by: M-Audio | Retails for about $210.00 | Check out the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is an affordable and portable audio interface that strips down to essential recording features. What it lacks in features, it more than makes up with its solid construction, simple operation and quality input preamps. You can set it up in less than 5 minutes and start recording tracks with ease. You can then control your recording with its simplified front panel controls and while you keep your eye on the levels with its cool halo signal indicators. This gear is also a real looker, easy on the eyes as it captures your creativity. Manufactured by: Focusrite | Retails for $149.99 | Check out the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com
Lexicon Alpha
The Lexicon Alpha USB audio interface is a very affordable interface that offers basic functionality. If you want to connect your instrument to your computer and you are working on a limited budget, this humble box will get the job done. There is not much to expect at this price range, but the Lexicon Alpha delivers what you need without any complication giving you room to focus on the music being captured. Another plus is that it is USB-powered, making it clutter free and even more convenient to carry around. Manufactured by: Lexicon | Retails for $59.95 | Check out the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com
If you feel we've missed something that should be added to our Best USB Audio Interface list, please suggest it in the comments below.
You might also like to check out our DAW Controller roundup.
Related Article:
Cheap USB Microphones
The Best Microphones For Home Recording
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M-audio vs Presonus
I would really like to know for what reason you decided that the fast track ultra came up ontop of the Presonus 1818VSL since im currently trying to decide between the two.
FYI
Feel free to send a mail with your conclusion to lyhricon at gmail.com
The top three USB interfaces
The top three USB interfaces on this list are quite close to each other in terms of quality so it was really a tough choice. Since one of them had to be the top pick, we went with the Fast Track Ultra 8R because of its great sounding preamps, expanded output options (two headphones monitoring is quite nifty), and ofcourse Pro Tools SE which is great for those that are just building their home studio. Another important factor that helped it get its top spot is its value - if you check with Amazon, you can get it at a very tempting price!
In fairness to the Audiobox 1818VSL, users swear that its preamps sound better than the others, and we do agree on certain applications. Another nifty feature of the 1818VSL is its ADAT capability for expansion, which is useful if you will require more connectivity options in the future. Having said that, good luck with your pick!
the best ???
Motu Microbook 2 is in my opinion the best for its quality and price
Roland UA 55 Quadcapture
You could add the Roland UA-55 QuadCapture,USB 2.0,which is very affordable and really great, with some nice features like Autosense (automatically settings the audio inputs at their best level regarding the incoming signals). 2mic/line inputs (6.35/cannon connectors), 1 digital stereo in, 2 analog outs and 1 digital, MIDI in & out, very nice and intuitive GUI, 2 excellent pre-amp (the very same as V 700 series),ground lift (!) to avoid hums and ground loops,phantom power. Last but not least,very stable drivers, pristine sound. Really a good challenger to more expensive audio interface. Using it for weeks, I'm impressedbyf this nice looking audio interface, and realky happy with it. It comes with a free version of Sonar X LE for the beginners who want to record directly out of the box. Good deal :)
I've never been a fan of
I've never been a fan of auto-leveling, maybe I'm old skool that way, I'd have to play around with this feature before I could be convinced it's a good thing. In my experience auto-levelers don't adjust quickly enough and the levels go all over the place if you're recording something with wide dynamics.
Have you checked out the Alesis io4?
After doing a bit of research before buying my usb audio interface, strictly for home use, I settled on the Alesis io4. It has 4 inputs which can be for microphone or guitar. It has midi in/out which was also important for me. Cubase LE is included, all for the (relatively) inexpensive price of $150. I am interested in hearing what one of the experts would say about it.
Thanks,
Ed
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