Best Guitar Recording Interface (2024 Update)

Needed new PC audio interface as my Echo firewire and Windows 10 were no longer working together. First tried Behringer UMC204HD. Drivers worked great but noticed that my musical keyboard would clip/distort at low volume levels. Never had that problem with ECHO firewire AUDIOFIRE4. Second try was this MOTU M2 USB interface purchased March 33 2022. Noticed immediately that keyboard could go much higher in volume without clipping. Sound was clear and love *LOVE* full color meters vice clipping lights found on other audio interfaces in this price range. I like MOTU M2 much better than Behringer (no clipping issues and full range low noise sound). I liked ECHO firewire the best of the three because the output volume was greater with no clipping and very clear. But Windows seems to have said goodbye to firewire support. MOTU is best USB so far for me.Chuckiep

I wanted to upgrade my PC sound card, but still wanted to squeeze the maximum quality from my music collection. Although there are high quality sound cards on the market, I decided to look at outboard USB DAC’s. I looked at a number of USB interfaces, but after looking at a number of manufacturers, I whittled it down to either the MOTU M2 or M4. I eventually decided on the M4 as it had all the in’s and out’s at the rear. Having worked in broadcasting for forty years, I have to honestly say the analog output is, well, brilliant. One of the things that drew me to MOTU was the ESS Sabre32 Ultra™ DAC‘s. For the price, the quality of build and DAC quality it is the best I have ever heard. The detail and stereo imagery is first-class. I am now hearing detail that I was not hearing with my PC DAC. I cannot recommend the MOTU M4 enough.Mr G.

This has the makings of a really excellent box. The features, display, and specs are all great on paper. However, it is not compatible with the Gigabyte Aero 15 laptop with i9 10980HK processors, 64GB RAM, and Windows 11 Pro I was pairing it with. I encountered serious and debilitating audio artifacts and the diagnostics in the M-series app returned, The computer's USB host controller has dropped audio. While MOTU provided excellent support, after following all the advice including re-flashing the bios on the laptop, all remedies failed. If they do something to make it work with a high-end Windows workstation like this, it will be an awesome product. For now, it's useless to me. LBLindsay

1. You cannot use it in standalone mode, so computer is always required (It will not take power from USB power supply). This become a problem when I was trying to feed output to the camera which is connected by USB to the same computer. It creates vary bad case of ground loop. 2. It is not going to give you good sound on high impedance headphones. My Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm work, but have weak low freq. 3. Preamp for dynamic mic might be noisy. I am using Rode PodMic and for effective gain I am on edge of introducing noise. You may need to use something like Cloudlifter ($150) depends on your gain requirements.Roman

This audio interface was easy to set up and came with a lot of really cool free software. It’s pretty simple but does great for what it was designed for. I’d give it an A+ If you’re using it for a pod cast or recording instrument/vocals. I personally got this and a cloudlifter for my sm7b. The Scarlett 2i2 gen 3 does not provide enough gain for my specific mic and a cloud lifter was needed. If you’re looking at this for a twitch style streaming set up, it works as an interface, but I would recommend for around same price to get a goxlr mini. You gain more features like separate controls for chat/game/discord with the sliders and the goxlr mini has enough preamp power that you don’t need a cloud lifter for mics like the popular sm7b. Pro: * Gen 3 comes with a usb-c connector on the back. Very nice as most devices are moving from usb a+micro into a more standardized usb-c. * comes with great free DAW in form of ableton live lite. Comes with a a suite of other free software but this one was nice enough to highlight. * quality metal build * simple and intuitive!Cheddarsharp

I replaced my 2nd generation Scarlett 2i2 with the 3rd generation 4i4. I was a bit skeptical of the software application required to set the inputs to line/instrument, but it turned out to be fairly intuitive. The unit comes with a pad and air feature. Pad is self explanatory (gain reduction for loud recordings), the air setting is supposed to model some classic microphone preamp or something to that effect. I'm not totally sure what the difference is, but I've left the Air feature on anyways while recording and I've been pleased with the results, how much of that satisfaction is a result of the Air setting is hard to say since I haven't actually done any objective testing but it certainly doesn't seem to hurt anything by having it on. Initially, when I got the hardware going on my iMac I experienced significant lag while using Logic at various times, particularly when I was trying to copy logic drum tracks or expand the timeline but also while trying to do basic functions as well. I was concerned that I would have to get more RAM for my Mac which is problematic because the model I have makes it both difficult and expensive to increase RAM. However, after a few repeated uses the issue seems to have subsided, so I don't really know what that was about or whether the change in hardware even had anything to do with it, however it definitely was not an issue while I used my 2i2 so it's something to consider. I mainly upgraded because I wanted to start using midi with my electronic drum kit and that was basically as easy as plug and play (aside from a couple added steps in Logic which didn't have anything to do with the 4i4). However, for some reason the midi tracks seem to cause Logic to experience errors during playback when I close and then reopen a project. Again, can't say that this is a result of the 4i4 but I've been able to resolve the issue by simply quitting Logic entirely before reopening a project which isn't much of an inconvenience at all.Kab

Nice preamps, lovely valve guitar modelling, really satisfying to use. Customer support from Audient is also excellent. Docked one point as could do with more presets in standalone mode. Also my unit required a firmware update upon arrival.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

It is without a doubt the best you can buy at this price point, it has more features than anything else on the market. It has professional grade audient pre amps, it's expandable up to 10 inputs, it's a reamp box, a tube pre amp, it can record and playback at 96k, it's built like a tank AND it comes with some of the best amp simulation software on the market. You can save your favourite cabinets into the device so you don't even have to touch your computer at all and it has onboard DSP so you can work latency free. Not only that but it works stand alone without a daw so you can essentially use this as a pedal. Its also has a hidden feature, it a class compliant device so it works with android and iOS. Do yourself a favour and get one. This thing is a beast!sk8r3397

Took some time to set up and understand but what a piece of kit ! Very good modelling options, Room variants are brilliant. Inspiring…Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

The i-Rig2 is the perfect accessory for musicians who are looking to practice without "disturbing" those in close proximity. I play the bass guitar which can interfere with someone upstairs from me who might be trying to listen to the tv. With headphones on, I just plug into the i-Rig2, adjust my settings on the ap and practice without complaints from anyone who is looking for quiet. It is easy enough to operate. You just plug the i-Rig2 into your Smart phone and you're ready to go. It was easy to get this device through Sam Ash and they also diagnosed a loose jack output on my bass which they fixed within a few days. Thanks Sam Ash!!DAVE

I bought this thinking it would be really awesome to use as an interface to get some good pedal and amp modeling without all of the gear. I am not an Apple user, but I do have a Macbook I use for work purposes. I tried to find Amplitube to use and it is not able to download the app to Macbook. It has to be either iphone or ipad. I used it with the built in garageband app and there is a lot of feedback and static that comes through the speaker when using the pass through fx. I am a little sad about this as I had high hopes.Scott

I've known about the iRig series for over 10 years, and I wanted something that would simplify recording my guitar, keyboard, and electric violin, so I took a chance and purchased the IK Multimedia iRig 2 audio interface. I expected it to work fine with my iPad Mini (generation 1) and my iPhone 7 (using Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm adapter), though I also assumed that it would not work when I tried connecting it my Lenovo laptop's headset input. To my surprise, it actually did work with my laptop. I have yet to really tap into the iRig 2's fullest potential, and I still need to group all of my audio input apps into one folder on both iPhone and iPad, but so far, I'm very pleased with the IK Multimedia iRig 2.jayoders1986

I had M-Audio interface before after about 7 years it just stop working on me. They're so many interface's out there to choose from. You can go to YouTube and get your mind overloaded when looking. So One day I look on AMS and saw the new M-Audio Line and because I ready use it before and whenever I had a issue with the product they're Tech-support and customer service was great. That's another reason why I pick this M-Audio. There is three things that I dislike about this product that you may not know about.If you never used Pro-Tools it has a learning curve and if you already have plug-ins that you love work with all the time.They will not work with pro tool first. If you would like to get plug-ins my understand they're subscription base plug-ins. And you will not be able to share your project with another producer so you can work on the project together you can not do it in Pro-Tool first. you have to buy the full Pro-Tools or pay for the monthly or yearly subscription. Other that that for what I need it for my production work it's great.Davell B

This is a solid interface for my home studio. I use it to record Guitar, bass, vocals through an MXL990 (has phantom power). I also use the MXL above/behind drums to nicely capture cymbals, while also placing a mic on the bass drum. Not the best setup for drums, so I'll be looking into a larger unit with more inputs. The downside is that I most often have to set the preamp levels between 4-5 to avoid clipping, but the recordings are loud and clear on each track. I'm currently using PreSonus Studio One, but have also used Ableton Live, so this interface works well with multiple software packages. I haven't connected any midi devices yet, so I have nothing to add there. The headphone connection and volume control work as they should.Dambro

I bought the Rode AI-1 for my mic setup about a year ago. I was surprised at how well built (Materials and overall feel) the unit was for the price. It's a simple piece that in my opinion is a great long term investment from a trusty brand. I'm pretty tough on products I buy and I wish I could give it some sort of negative feedback but genuinely, it's so simple and well built I can't. I've paired it with the RODE Procaster Broadcast Quality Dynamic Microphone and a mixer. Great setup with pristine sound.James H.

Taking the product out of its packaging, I was immediately impressed by how dense a lump it is. It feels very solid and well made. I bought this to have a high quality headphone output with manual volume control, plus the ability to hook up the XLR microphones I already have to my computer. At both of these functions it works perfectly. Very happy with this purchase.William

The AI-1 integrated with my Mac set up seamlessly. Unlike some older devices (such as the FastTrack Pro I upgraded from), the AI-1 can be control with the Mac OS X audio controls on your keyboard. The headphone amplifier works really well and the mic/quarter inch input delivers really high quality sound for home music recordings (using Logic Pro), podcast recordings and more recently Zoom calls. I don't like desk clutter and this device is about the size of an Apple TV and connects through one cable which I run through my external monitor. One issue that the upgrade to Mac OS X Catalina fixed was that I would have to unplug and plug back in the audio interface, so my computer didn't automatically use my external monitor's audio. However, that is no longer an issue. Another small issue, that seemed to be fixed with the upgrade to Catalina, was that I would hear a very faint radio signal in my headphones, but it didn't impact my recordings at all. Finally, I have this AI-1 connected to a pair of JBL monitor speakers through the balanced line outs on the back of the unit. The audio output is incredible. If you're looking for a minimalist, high-quality USB audio interface, the AI-1 is an excellent choice.Krishnan

Stereo recordings work great! After installing the updated drivers and a reboot. I tested it with the NCH WavePad Sound Editor app to verify that it could actually record in stereo and it passed with flying colors. I could see that the right and left sound recording level bars work independently from each other. The 2i2 was connected to a headphone jack by using a 1/8 inch TRS Stereo to Dual 1/4 inch TS Mono Y-Splitter Cable. Found the stereo setting in Windows 10 under the "device properties / additional device settings / advanced tab. Changed the sample rate drop down menu to "2 channel, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD quality)" So cool!turns2gold

First off, I'm mainly using this to (phantom) power my AT-2020 for voice chat with the occasional music recording. For the most part this thing works great. The drivers were easy to install and using the unit is easy to use. I do have a very strange problem though and it is due to static and popping cropping up when using the mic after a few hours. I am unsure of whether this is a power issue with my USB port or a software glitch. I originally found people having issues with this and they fixed it by upping the buffer with the ASIO software–default is 128–I tried this and for some reason the higher the buffer, the more it popped and static'd. What's really weird is lowering the buffer to 16 reduces the popping and static for a few hours before it happens again. I am by no means very knowledgeable with audio interfaces and I could be doing something wrong, but this has been quite an annoyance. Otherwise, the unit is great and I love it.Hunter

I've owned the 2i2 for a few years now. It works fine for my purposes, but I wish it had some different features. I'm actually not a huge fan of the volume knobs for each channel. Personally I like to have ALL settings for a certain microphone for example built into an instrument in your music software. Having a physical knob just unnecessarily adds something that can easily be taken into account in the software. I'm also not a fan of connectors on the front. I wish everything was in the back to make it look "cleaner". This isn't really a major issue but I wonder why so many audio interfaces are designed this way. I can understand a headphone jack being in the front obviously but connections for XLR cables should be in the back in my opinion. Besides these few features I wish were changed, not much else to say. It works fine. I have noticed latency in some situations, but, to be fair, I'm not certain if the audio interface itself is causing this. It may just be my computer running slowly. Restarting the software usually fixes latency issues. For the price and compactness, it is hard to beat this audio interface.Peter

This is a great product for me! I use ths to record my Mic'd guitar amp to record into GB, Scorecloud or any other recrding software. The Gain enables you to hone in on volume control while recording to raise recording volume withought turning up the amp volume or to minimize fuzz sound from an idle amp not in standby coming through in the recording. You can moniter on headphonrs or split your instrument to a moniter control board, and includes speaker outputs to run your amps output in stereo through speakers. Sound quality is excellent! If you are seriously ameature and need a simple usb plug in for now, consuder searching online for a 1/4-usb patch instrument cable for your instrument or mic, or whateve combo you need, they make them all, for about 15-25 $ as a quick easy solution.Pat

Had issues with connecting the device to the ipad. The mic input works fine on garageband and other apps. For guitar however, in amplitube specifically, it will not put out a signal. After much research I found that the itrack uses its right channel for guitar and amplitube uses the left ios channel, therefore rendering it tricky to use exclusively for AT (stick to iRig, it's way easier) I've had to order a 3/4" jack to 3-pin male xlr from amazon to see if I can patch the guitar line into the left mic xlr of the itrack, although i'm not sure if it will work. If you use only garageband and are most interested in the mic input you will be fine.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I bought this to use with Garage Band on my laptop at home. Its got 2 inputs, one XLR with +48 and one 1/4 for instruments. Its important to note that in GB you must tell it per track which channel youre using- it will default to channel 1 which is the mic. To use a guitar you have to change it to ch2. After that it is super easy. Great value. Very affordable and comes with the cables you need to hook it up.mr.shatters

I'm an aspiring podcaster and for that purpose I have purchased the Rodecaster Pro, which is a fantastic device that is pretty much purpose built for podcasting, streaming and the like. The RCP was also my interface, which it did a fine job of, but it is kind of big and cumbersome to set up for small jobs. No, I don't have dedicated space for my whole podcast setup and everything else. I wanted to have something that was small, quick and easy available for those times where I just need to get my voice or some musical idea into the computer and have some hope of it sounding decent. I wanted to be in the $150 price range and know that for that amount, maybe just a few dollars more, there are a wealth of offerings, and some are better than others, but I went with the EVO4 based on the myriad of favorable reviews on YouTube as well as the price, $130. (Throw in the fact that the interface that I REALLY wanted wasn't available anywhere!) I haven't done a lot with it yet; ran some bass and guitar through it into Logic Pro X as well as recorded with several different mics into several different DAWs and everything seemed to work quite nicely. Setup was pretty easy and configuring a DAW to see this device shouldn't be a problem, I was recording something within 5 minutes of the FedEx guy handing this to me…and I definitely don't know this stuff very well, so good job for simplicity! Some find that the preamps are maybe just a bit underpowered, and yes, they are that, but they are certainly clean. I plugged my SM7B into this and though I had to wind the gain all the way up, I was still able to come up with a useful recording. I think when recording with the 7B in the future I'll probably use a FetHead, though most of the reviews I read said that isn't necessary. Like with any new piece of equipment, there is a feeling out process, so we are still getting to know each other. Loopback is a feather that I haven't yet explored. It looks like it could be cool and useful, but I don't know if that is what I will be using this for. Some aren't crazy about the UI on the EVO4, several different mode buttons and a big knob in the middle that has different functionality for each different mode. It may take some getting used to, but since I didn't have to unlearn anything, I got it pretty quickly. The only knock on this device is the build quality. This was a common concern with all of the reviews I read. The device is made of plastic, which feels reasonably rugged, but at the same time feels budget; the plastic is kind of squishy and the seams are not as clean as they could be. Some reviewers were able to pop the top off just by squeezing. This won't be a concern in my use case, but this is a small little piece of kit, ideal for tossing in a bag with your laptop and other gear for recording anywhere (anywhere your laptop works anyway…-so be mindful of that, it might get banged around after a while. I'm sure if they spend an extra few $ on production for beefier preamps and a more solid housing, this could easily be $30-$50 more expensive, so it's a trade off. The bottom line for me is that the device meets my needs and expectations. It has simple setup and ease of use. The features are ample for something in this price range. I don't know how much I will find myself using the Smart Gain feature, but it is kind of cool to check my settings against that sometimes. The USB-C bus power is pretty handy and lends to portability, but again, the build quality might be a problem if this device is going to put in many hard road miles. This probably isn't going to be the device anyone will use to create their next hit record, but it is certainly sufficient to jot down those ideas for that new record! I'm happy with this product and my purchase.Eric

This interface fulfills all my needs (I bought it to do a podcast). Is portable, easy to operate, and it has plenty of features but something is bugging me… when I plug my headphones there's a high inconstant pitch noise. This sound doesn't seem to register in my recordings but it renders direct monitoring useless. I tried everything I can to fix it: changed cables, computer, proximity to my phone (phone signal interference causes weird noises so keep your phone away from it!), possible LED lights, reinstalled drivers… EVERYTHING. Hopefully is a defective unit (fingers crossed). I already submited my RMA request to get a new unit. Still no response. I will update this review once I receive a new one. My advice: run a couple of test with yours and let us know if you experienced this issue too.Gabriel

The hardware is quite nice as far as my experience goes. I don't have anything fancy, and it sounds good without any noise – much better than the cheap USB adapter I was using. It supports high sampling rates and low latency with ASIO drivers. It's powered over USB, so you get one fewer cable. The software to control the 4i4 is nice enough, although it did take me a moment to figure out what exactly it's doing. I wanted to get a new one so I could use the bonus software it is bundled with, but it doesn't seem like that was worth it. The free software out there is as good or better than this and then you don't have to deal with weird licensing programs. A used one for cheaper without the software bundle would have been fine.justin-eb

Let me begin by saying, I started off on a nice ol' Beringer UM2. I upgraded to M-Audio and then to Focusrite and from there I dove right into the Scarlett series and got an 8i6. I couldn't believe how much of a punch Scarlett packed for the price range, it was a pretty good interface and for it being my 3rd interface I was more than happy. I just decided to upgrade 4-5 months ago to the Clarett+ 2Pre and I'm absolutely in love with it. Much better preamps, and louder gain levels for both monitors & headphones. Take Scarlett, solidify it, and you have Clarett+ (not to mention the much-favored sound of "AIR") I highly recommend Clarett+ to any beginner/professional looking to dabble into Focusrite's incredible line-up of audio interfaces.wxndr

I use the interface for my guitars into my computer for virtual amping, and also to record. It was working great until I connected the headphone out of a small lunchbox amp (a 6505 Piranha) to the line in on the Focusrite and the interface screeched at me, then lit up like a Christmas tree, and has stayed that way for 2 days. Reinstalls, removing power, etc, it refuses to register in Device Manager in Win 10. I'm pretty sure its toast, and I don't know why. The use case is something its already made for. Other than this incident Ive had Focusrite interfaces before and they were great, this is the first one out of three over the last 4 yrs that I've had a problem with. The others were sold/traded to others so I could upgrade to whatever the next one was. Now im at a place where I need more inputs and outputs, so I got the 8I6-up until this incident it was exactly what I needed for the size footprint that I have. The software routing is a little wonky, and Id like that it had more tactile button control rather than having to use Focusrite control for everything, but overall its a solid unit. I can't find any situations like mine on the Web, Reddit, etc, so this particular incident sounds to be pretty limited.Cedric S

Fantastic Value – ASIO driver for Win10 easy to install. "Problems" folks are experiencing are due to windows system configuration settings, and are easily "fixed". Great sound quality; I use this as an alternative digital audio interface with a Traktor S2 MK3 controller as an ultra compact mobile DJ setup. Very modular and extremely easy to use! USB-Bus powered is a HUGE plus; no additional power adapters necessary – 1 USB cable only! Great for live streaming/broadcasts as well! – See settings for getting the CUE & Headphone buttons to work with your controller & Live Broadcast: – Using Traktor Pro 3 & OBS Broadcasting software (Opensource Freeware) – In Traktor: Set your MASTER audio output to channels 3&4 – MONO – Set monitors to channels 1&2 – MONO – Set Microphone input to channel 1 On the unit-Cables: – TRS out [Channel 3] to your PA System or external mixer – TRS Out [Channel 4] to the front, channel 2 Input – Microphone input to channel 1 – Plug headphones into headphone jack. Settings on device: – Control input levels for your microphone and input for stream by adjusting the gain knobs (Microphone input 1 will likely be set close to MAX, input 2 will likely be set lower – watch the meter on the top of the unit to avoid clipping!) –SET ALL SWITCHES on the front of the unit to the far-left position: – Both input switches to "LINE" – Switch to MONO – Input switch to 1/2 Set input knob far-right to HOST Set large volume on the top of the unit to the MINIMUM setting – Control your MAX output volume on your pa mixer / external mixer – Adjust your broadcast audio levels in your broadcast software (OBS) FANTASTIC Product! – Also works great as a midi interface – VERY SATISFIED!John Danger.us

I choose this interface because I thought I wouldn't outgrow it. The available recording quality is high, and it came with a solid selection of software. I got it when it came with a Guitar Rig Pro, which was a huge bonus. I considered all of the typical budget interfaces and settled on this one because of the variety of inputs/outputs, large volume knob, meters rather than single light, and direct/host adjustment for monitoring. The reviews and YouTube videos convinced me it would be a solid choice for what I wanted – an intro level interface that I wouldn't quickly outgrow. I might have purchased something else if not for the Guitar Rig Pro offer, but I'm really happy with what I got. Important points that I didn't see elsewhere: This has an ASIO driver for Windows so you don't have to use ASIO4All (major plus). Be prepared to tweak settings to get rid of pops/crackles (do research, close everything else, consider saving to a hard drive that doesn't house your OS, might have to be external if you have a laptop). Make sure you are using the right option when you download software (the MK2 option) and upgrade the firmware when you get it. I've had it about a month, and it's a good fit for what I wanted. A bit more than a pure intro level interface that is relatively easy to use. I would not recommend this to someone brand new to recording (the 1 or 2 would like suffice of this brand or one of the others in that 100-150 price range) just because it's likely a bit more than needed. Happy with the purchase and service. Note: 5/5 based on meeting expectations, being a good value, and having good sound quality for an interface for someone looking to get more into recording.LesPaulWoman

I’m a newbie when it comes to audio interfaces, but this is so much better than my PC’s onboard sound. Recording quality using my MXL 770 mic is excellent, low noise and really low overall latency. I’ve had the ASIO buffer as low as 64 samples (2.5 to 3ms) on my 10 year old desktop PC and not had any issues. I like the form factor too, it’s really handing sat on my desk. The volume knob is easily accessible and the other controls feel solid too. I really enjoy the direct monitoring, not from a latency issue as I don’t really notice it much, but from a “conference call perspective” – when on headphones it’s really nice mixing your own voice with everyone else’s when having a group chat. It’s like all being in the same room and feels like the headphones disappear. The free software is nice too, new toy syndrome I know, but I love the reverb plugin! Overall I’m loving this significant upgrade to my system.Will

The pre-amp for the mic input tames a tube amp well enough to pull off serviceable vocals. This is also great for getting quick ideas down on an iPad. It's built like a tank.Keebler

I use Garageband for making beats on my MacBook and wanted to get a dedicated recording interface. I was looking for something inexpensive that would also work with my iPAD. I also wanted something simple that I could use with a MIC and guitar. After doing some research, I was told I should consider the Audiobox series from PreSonus, or the UR series from Steinberg. I was on a low budget, so the ninety-nine bux for the UR12 is what I went with. Overall, I am very happy with the UR12, it is built like a talk, works with both my laptop and iPAD and it came with a free copy of Cubase AI. I'm able to easily control the volume of my SHURE mic and my Ibanez electric guitar with no problems at all. I didn't notice that there isn't a separate knob for the headphones, but that's not a deal breaker for me since my powered speakers have volume controls right on the front of them. I mean for only ninety-nine bux , this unit does do a lot. I was kinda surpassed reading the previous review on the UR12 because for only fifty bux more, he should have considered the UR22. I did my research before I bought this item, so I knew it had all the features I needed. If it turns out I don't like it, MF has a good return policy. But so far, I'm a happy camper with the UR12!OompaLoompa44

A very good buy indeed. Works brilliantly when loan the driver from the manufacturers website. If wanna simple card for computer and sound up to standard this is very good. Output inputs are nice with RCA connection and for headphones there is an optional connection. Volume nod is great and cool. I dont record any with this but for me the sound side to my computer was the very need. Led lights are very static and cool too. Me like much!!!Sinfonius

I got this interface because it was compact, affordable, and offered great speed with USB 3.0. However, the Yamaha Steinberg driver that it uses is a total disaster. It has an incompatibility with my chipset (Windows 10 with an AMD ryzen cpu) that makes the USB 3.0 functionality completely unusable. Very frustrating. I have also heard that the Yamaha driver causes other windows to have issues when using certain DAWs. It is really frustrating because I love the device itself and it's design. If you are going to put all this effort in on the hardware, make sure you have the software to go with it. Feels like wasted potential.Jeff

Integrates well with Cubase but not a requirement. Great bargain and a ton of power with a small footprint. Of course the limitation is two inputs, but sometimes depending on application that is enough. Good sounding with quality preamps and zero-latency monitoring of input signals. Cubase AI comes free with it and is also very powerful, although it's a bit complicated to set up. User just needs to be patient and follow the instructions. MacPro Video offers some very good instruction at a reasonable cost, but there are other instructional videos out there that are free via YouTube. Be willing to start off slow and you should have little or no problems.dpuc_0

Looked for what seemed like ages for a confirmed working and decent quality audio interface for the usb c ipad pros. A lot of manufacturers are pretty non-committal. Paired it with a usb c hub and everything works immediately and well. High quality hardware, great sounding pre and latency is not to be found of any concern. If you are looking to make music on the ipad pro with a usb c then this is a viable option to consider. Works with garageband too with no issues. Comes with some software but not worth trading garageband for. I did not buy the 50 buck version of their app. Maybe better?KC

Compact solid unit. Well designed and made. Great provision of inputs and outputs. Sits on the desk nicely alongside the computer. Really good price with masses of usable software. Be aware the software is a mixed blessing. There is so much it is tedious to download. I am really happy. It can do much more but I just wanted it for basic multi-track recording at the work desk.Geoff F.

My application is a dedicated MIDI/audio interface for a VirTual Theater Pipe organ. A MIDIfied console from an actual 1920's Theater pipe organ drives a complex MIDI switching system which in turn drives a sample player. MIDI information is transferred to and from the console, utilizing the USB 96. The audio from the sample player is also output to reverb and power amps via the USB 96, so it has a lot of work to do. The USB 96 never misses a beat with 8-channel two-way MIDI as well a very clean audio stream duplicating all the complexities of a WurliTzer theater organ. The unit replaces both a MidMan Anniversary 2 x 2 which would occasionally give MIDI glitches and a Creative Labs sound card, a necessary move when organ operations were transferred from a desktop to a laptop and from Win7 to Win10. Installation was seamless, and the unit performs perfectly in its application. It works so well, I got a second one for music production on my DAW, which is also used for sample processing for the organ. These devices are rock solid.Les

This is definitely not for beginners or those who are not skilled at technology. I have spent hours trying to get this to work and am still not there. I called Eat my Beats and they referred me to the Presonus company who do not answer calls or return calls so you are on your own with this. A friend who took a college sound class told me it took him 3 weeks to get this to work for him. He wasn't able to help me with mine sadly. It appears that the Studio One DAW that comes with this can do many things which keeps me plugging away. I have until January 12 to return and I may do that yet if others who do sound recordings can't help me get this going. So just beware, if you want to plug it in and start recording right away it won't happen. So far I'm very disappointed.Pat

Works super easy, displays clipping, instantly fixed delay problems I've been having with my daw! I wish I bought one of these sooner. Highly recommend this for beginner audio editing software users. It should be one of the first item you invest some money into.ergu_1653

Ive been through several over the years. Some cheap, some high end, and it is true that get u pay for. Or I should say it was true, because focusrite is killing it with the Scarlett line! U can tell when u grab it that its built well. Strong and durable to last. But the sound quality is what is truly amazing. Recording and playback both are just so crystal clear! 10 yrs ago you just couldnt get that good of sound in a home studio unless you had 10s of thousand to drop into it. Last but not least… Small package BIG POWER! I only bought the solo (2nd Gen) the smallest I think, but youd never know it by listening to the performance. And using is super easy with midi usb, plug and play. I love my solo 2nd gen! And I see myself upgrading to at least the 212, or bigger. Either way, focusrite has a new life long customer in me. As long as they keep standards at this level. Hope this helps someone.grmrc.us.bil6bniuqu

I got this interface because it was compact, affordable, and offered great speed with USB 3.0. However, the Yamaha Steinberg driver that it uses is a total disaster. It has an incompatibility with my chipset (Windows 10 with an AMD ryzen cpu) that makes the USB 3.0 functionality completely unusable. Very frustrating. I have also heard that the Yamaha driver causes other windows to have issues when using certain DAWs. It is really frustrating because I love the device itself and it's design. If you are going to put all this effort in on the hardware, make sure you have the software to go with it. Feels like wasted potential.Jeff

Integrates well with Cubase but not a requirement. Great bargain and a ton of power with a small footprint. Of course the limitation is two inputs, but sometimes depending on application that is enough. Good sounding with quality preamps and zero-latency monitoring of input signals. Cubase AI comes free with it and is also very powerful, although it's a bit complicated to set up. User just needs to be patient and follow the instructions. MacPro Video offers some very good instruction at a reasonable cost, but there are other instructional videos out there that are free via YouTube. Be willing to start off slow and you should have little or no problems.dpuc_0

Looked for what seemed like ages for a confirmed working and decent quality audio interface for the usb c ipad pros. A lot of manufacturers are pretty non-committal. Paired it with a usb c hub and everything works immediately and well. High quality hardware, great sounding pre and latency is not to be found of any concern. If you are looking to make music on the ipad pro with a usb c then this is a viable option to consider. Works with garageband too with no issues. Comes with some software but not worth trading garageband for. I did not buy the 50 buck version of their app. Maybe better?KC

I needed at least 8 inputs so I could record my drums directly into my DAW. I have a Presonus 1818 in my control room & purchased this unit in my live room. 1st time out the box it was amazing. Once you download the software it is intuitive, easy to use, & my drums sound great.The Bro J

Overall: This review is simple. I have a Behringer UMC404HD that I use for Podcasting and to play-back YouTube video backing tracks while recording myself practicing guitar to those tracks, and recording my music. I usually use Audacity or Ardour, but occasionally I use Tracktion all with no issues. This past week everything stopped working. I thought the Behringer died because it quit working. I tried it on 3 of my Windows PC's and it had the same issue on all three PC's. I then went online and did some research on a new interface and decided to try the TASCAM US-16×08. TASCAM is a name I've long heard about in recording, so I assumed I'd be getting a top-of-the-line, even if mid-tiered, device. When the US-16×08 arrived I hooked it and downloaded the drivers, installed them and boom. It didn't work either. It got pretty much the same error, with the same symptoms. To make this short. I did some research on the error I got from the TASCAM and it turns out that several months ago Windows released an update that turns off the Windows input microphone as a new default setting. Once I got that info and corrected that setting and sure enough the TASCAM started working. Sort of. Here's the real review. It seems the TASCAM demands to have total exclusive control over the Windows sound system to record. That means I can't play along with the Youtube stuff I use for practice. It also prevents me from playing back anything that isn't coming through whatever DAW I'm using at the time. In fact, If I'm listening to anything and I load up any DAW, the audio playback continues but goes silent. I can't hear it and I can't record it. It doesn't matter the audio source if it's not coming from the DAW, then I can't use that audio. I can still use the TASCAM to record, but I expected a similar experience like with the Behringer just with more inputs and outputs as options. Turns out there are fewer options than with my Behringer UMC404HD. At this point, I feel like I've blown $300 on something that I can't use the way I need to use it. For me, the TASCAM US-16×08 is not worth the money for my uses.Thomas

Decided to step up from a Behringer UMC 404 HD as 4 channels is pretty limited. The Behringer works great, good mic preamps, great sound etc. But 4 channels is just not enough for recording a full band. I use at least that on just the drum tracks. The Tascam 16 X 08 was the ticket. The driver loaded without a hitch. I'd say it was "plug and play" but as you probably know there is some set-up you must always do with these things. Setting your buffer size, sampling rate, adjust for for minimum latency and best sound without any glitches and all that stuff with your DAW. I won't go into detail about all that. A lot of latency, glitches, sound quality is dependent on your ram size, CPU speed, how hard your DAW pushes the CPU etc. I use this with a Mixcraft StudioPro 7 DAW. I like this DAW for it's recording power and it's creative aspects too. I also love Samplitude for it's over the top creativity factor on another computer. I use this with a Mackie 1604-VLZ mixer. So now I have 4 busses for my drum tracks and have 4 more direct outs for bass, rhythm, whatever tracks. I runs smotthly with no lockups, freezing or other surprizes. This is no toy, it produces professional quality sound and probably with better results that what you'd get from a "professional studio" with limited time factor involved. As you can tell, I'm lovin it. If you'rein a band, have some recording/producing knowledge, this is the deal. Burn your own master CD's, and produce your own skipping the hassle and costs of the middle man. With the sound quality and versatility I now have, I feel this unit goes beyond just making demos. The sky is the limit, go for it.John

I bought it in 2016 to record my band. Have tried recording as live all-at-once and in studio, instrument by instrument. Have achieved some pretty professional sounding results. It Has some impressive features for the price point. For example: Auto Sens saves you so much time getting your input fader volumes exactly right. And it has a zero latency monitor mixer, so you can send different monitor mixes to each band member, helpful in a live recording situation. Preamps are okay. Unit functionality is simple and intuitive. Highly recommend!Andy

I have tried this USB interface in my studio — guitar, mic, drum machine — and one band rehearsal. I bought it to be able to record our 3 piece rock cover band to get some usable demos. The unit works well in my studio. When you set it up correctly, latency is very low. The band recording was more complex and I could not set it up correctly without overly trying the patience of the other members. This was probably because of my lack of familiarity with USB interfaces and not fully absorbing the manual. This unit is a little more expensive than other options. I hope things like the auto leveling of inputs make it work it. We will try again this weekend.AddedC

My maudio mobile pre has always been limiting with only 2 inputs, however what pushed me to a new interface was that maudio stopped making drivers for the interface and it became incompatible with El Capitan. I really wanted something portable but with more inputs, the 8 analog inputs for the Octacapture is a great start. One of the things that really convinced me to buy this interface is it's ability to be used stand alone. You can disconnect it from your computer and use it with stand alone compression, reverb, panning and levels. This is great for someone trying to do some small live performances that might have to exclude a laptop. On larger stages where a laptop is not frowned upon, this audio interface is such a great tool. Sending each module into it's own channel and utilizing Abletons vast array of fx and mastering utilities is a really great way to make a sound shine. I utilize my Octacapture with a Eurorack synthesizer, sending the outputs directly into the interface, no attenuation or sub mixers needed.artistcalled6

This is a great product for me! I use ths to record my Mic'd guitar amp to record into GB, Scorecloud or any other recrding software. The Gain enables you to hone in on volume control while recording to raise recording volume withought turning up the amp volume or to minimize fuzz sound from an idle amp not in standby coming through in the recording. You can moniter on headphonrs or split your instrument to a moniter control board, and includes speaker outputs to run your amps output in stereo through speakers. Sound quality is excellent! If you are seriously ameature and need a simple usb plug in for now, consuder searching online for a 1/4-usb patch instrument cable for your instrument or mic, or whateve combo you need, they make them all, for about 15-25 $ as a quick easy solution.Pat

Had issues with connecting the device to the ipad. The mic input works fine on garageband and other apps. For guitar however, in amplitube specifically, it will not put out a signal. After much research I found that the itrack uses its right channel for guitar and amplitube uses the left ios channel, therefore rendering it tricky to use exclusively for AT (stick to iRig, it's way easier) I've had to order a 3/4" jack to 3-pin male xlr from amazon to see if I can patch the guitar line into the left mic xlr of the itrack, although i'm not sure if it will work. If you use only garageband and are most interested in the mic input you will be fine.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I bought this to use with Garage Band on my laptop at home. Its got 2 inputs, one XLR with +48 and one 1/4 for instruments. Its important to note that in GB you must tell it per track which channel youre using- it will default to channel 1 which is the mic. To use a guitar you have to change it to ch2. After that it is super easy. Great value. Very affordable and comes with the cables you need to hook it up.mr.shatters

I also have a UCX II for a 5.1 setup, and needed a more portable solution with less IO and a similar sonic profile for traveling and doing simpler stereo work. The sound of this unit is clean, clear, honest, and indistinguishable (to me, at least) from the UCX II. The build is incredibly solid, and the included case is a nice touch. One caveat about the RME products is that these are professional grade tools, and you will not be able to jump right in and start using these without some baseline knowledge. The necessary TotalMix companion utility is by no means difficult to use or poorly designed (quite the opposite), but you'll have a learning curve with it. It's totally worth it! But the Apogees and UAs of this ilk are more plug and play and ignore the tech stuff if you want friendly as far as DAW integration goes.Aaron

I've used the apogee duet and the element 2/4 in the past and thought those tools did an incredible job. i loved the sturdiness of the element and the convenience of the duet but found both to have certain faults. the breakout cables for the duet were g-d awful and the cable would slip out sometimes if the unit was shifted. the duet itself felt hefty and great but the breakout cables made the unit kind of clunky and horrible. the satisfaction of the single rotary button kept me in the game though, i loved that thing. the element solved a lot of problems i had with the duet – it was REAL sturdy and the connections were rock solid, but something about express was lacking… the babyface is just the better version of both of these products…physically the unit is a d-mn brick and just feels premium as h-ck. the connections are great no wiggling or surprise slip-outs and the audio quality is truly a lot more noticable than anticipated. listening back to mixes i can really hear things my apogee products more or less missed? maybe colored? not sure but i feel more confident in the interface. everything about it is wonderful and i would recommend this product to anyone considering apogee or universal audio products (esp if they're not like SOLD on the in unit processing power)Mackenzie

I got this to upgrade from an original RME Babyface interface for my voice-over business. RME stuff is built like tanks! After using this a while I messed up a setting in the software and the output dropped way down. I thought I had ruined it. I put in a ticket to RME USA support and they got right back to me, dialed into my computer and found my stupid mistake. It's back working again. If you need a QUITE interface that is built tough, this is the one!Kelly