The old saying goes that ‘you get what you pay for‘, but the world of music production has bucked that trend in recent years. Now more than ever before, exceptional gear can be found at exceptionally low prices – you really can build a fully-functional home studio without having to take out a mortgage on the home itself!
Here at Inta Audio, we love a good audio interface – especially if it offers top functionality at a top price!
Below is a selection of our 5 favourite USB audio interfaces of 2017 – all of which are brilliant devices that are available for less than £120!
To keep things fair, only interfaces matching the following key criteria have been featured on this list:
- 2 mic/instrument inputs
- Full USB 2.0 connectivity
- Featuring +48V (phantom power) switch for powering condenser microphones
** Not sure what an Audio Interface is, or why your studio needs one? Click here to find out more! **
Steinberg UR-22 – £99
There are few names in the industry that command the respect and reputation that Steinberg does. Most popular for their Cubase DAW software, they also produce some fantastic hardware – and in this respect, the UR-22 certainly does not disappoint!
Before even getting down to the nitty-gritty of plugging the UR-22 in, we were amazed by the solid construction and build quality of this surprisingly compact interface. This is an interface that can clearly take a few knocks (not that we’d advocate such a thing, of course!) and manages to look stylish at the same time, thanks to the minimalist two-tone black and silver design.
One of the UR-22’s greatest selling points is the inclusion of Yamaha’s acclaimed Class-A “D-PRE” preamps, which utilise an Inverted Darlington circuit containing a total of 4 transistors per unit (as opposed to the traditional 2), resulting in incredibly low distortion, regardless of signal level. This inclusion alone elevates the UR-22 far above the competition – such as its most direct competition, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. The inclusion of a Hi-Z switch offers even better results when recording guitars and basses and is a key strength of the UR-22.
Included with the UR-22 are licenses for Steinberg’s Cubase AI (a basic yet fully-functional version of Cubase for Mac/PC) and the Cubasis LE app for iPad.
It also offers class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz recording, zero-latency direct monitoring, a MIDI I/O for connecting to your MIDI controllers and equipment and can even be connected directly to your iPad. On the subject of connectivity, the Yamaha drivers used to power the interface are fully compatible with ASIO, Core Audio and WDM, meaning that the UR-22 is fully compatible with pretty much any DAW application you throw at it! A stereo line output for monitors and headphone port with independent volume control rounds out this exceptional package.
PreSonus Audiobox iTwo – £114.99
Who said you couldn’t find an interface that was powerful and simple to use at the same time? Definitely not PreSonus – their Audiobox series prides itself on doing just that! The iTwo is a lightweight, stylish interface that makes the whole process of recording, creating and sharing your music easier than ever!
Like the UR-22, its solid metal chassis can certainly survive the rigours of being flung around in a mobile musician’s backpack! Its inputs feature some of the best Class-A preamps found in an interface at this price point, ensuring a crystal-clear, low-noise, high-headroom recording whatever the gain level.
Some interfaces come with bundled software that feels like a pointless addition, but PreSonus have definitely gotten it right – their free ‘Capture Duo’ software lets you record up to 2 tracks on your iPad and then wirelessly send them to your laptop whilst editing in PreSonus’ own powerful included Studio One DAW. You also get a free account for PreSonus’ “Nimbit” platform, where you can upload, distribute and sell your music straight from Studio One. It really couldn’t be easier to get from start to finish!
Able to record up to 24-bit/96kHz, the Audiobox iTwo features zero-latency direct monitoring, a large main volume knob and a MIDI I/O in addition to the mic/instrument inputs, so you can connect your MIDI controllers and devices up as well. It is compatible with almost all recording software for Mac, Windows and iPad, making it incredibly versatile.
Behringer UPHORIA UMC204HD – £79.99
One of our most popular sellers by far, the UMC204HD is an absolute powerhouse of an interface at a price that seems almost too good to be true. With plenty of knobs and buttons to customise your sound and clear LED lights for clipping, signal and power levels, this is an interface that, like the models featured above, offers a wealth of power in a surprisingly compact, lightweight package.
Four world-class preamps designed by industry giants MIDAS steal the show with a renowned clarity and warmth to your recordings – all running through studio-grade 24-bit/192kHz converters for the best possible sound quality.
Included with the interface is a suite of free audio recording, editing and podcasting software, plus 150 free instrument/effect plug-ins, downloadable from Behringer’s website.
Offering zero-latency direct monitoring and compatibility with virtually any DAW on the market, the UMC204HD also features a MIDI I/O for connecting up your MIDI controllers and devices. As well as having its own volume dial, the dedicated headphone port offers A/B monitoring, for DJ-style cueing and referencing.
M-Audio M-Track 2X2M – £109
When it comes to producing great music gear at affordable prices, M-Audio is a name that you will hear time and time again. The 2x2M is the latest in their M-Track series of USB interfaces and boasts a number of improvements over its older brothers.
With a strikingly modern slanted metal design, a glass-effect acrylic panel over its black metal surface, colourful LEDs and a large shiny volume knob, the M-Track 2X2M looks pretty fantastic in even the most contemporary studio. And because it uses acrylic and not glass, it’s far more roadworthy as a result.
M-Audio’s pro-grade “Crystal” preamps provide for transparent, low-noise recordings and give great results along with the interface’s pristine A/D converters.
M-Audio have included an impressive bundle of free stuff with the 2X2M – a copy of Steinberg Cubase LE, the C-Series Virtual Instrument Suite from AIR Music Technology and 20 iconic AU/VST effects and processors from the AIR Creative FX Collection.
Capturing your recordings in 24-bit/192kHz for maximum audio fidelity, the 2X2 features zero-latency direct monitoring. As well as high-speed USB, the 2x2M features a USB-C port with included cables for even faster connectivity to your computer. Also included is a MIDI I/O for connecting your MIDI controllers and devices. Theoretically, the 2X2M has 4 inputs as opposed to the 2 featured on other interfaces on this list – two front-facing instrument jacks and two dedicated Neutrik ports on the rear of the interface for connecting Mic/Line inputs – making it exceptionally versatile considering its extremely affordable price!
Roland Duo Capture EX (UA22) – £115
Another hard-hitter with an enviable reputation in the market, Roland are responsible for having produced some of the finest gear on the market for decades. The Duo Capture EX continues this tradition with an incredibly rugged and compact body for excellent portability and a feature-set that is frankly quite ridiculous at this price! However, as you will see, it does have a number of limitations that other interfaces on this list don’t suffer from – some of which may be points of contention depending on your requirements.
The interface is equipped with a pair of premium-grade, digitally-controlled “VS” mic preamps – made from the same high-grade components as those found in Roland’s V-Studio 700 and M-400 digital mixer. As a nice added touch, both channels have independent phantom power control rather than the +48V button affecting all of the inputs at once. Also included is Hi-Z functionality on Input 1, which ensures even cleaner and more precise performance for your guitars and basses.
The Duo Capture EX allows recording at 24-bit/48kHz – while other interfaces on the list offer 96 or 192kHz, it’s worth bearing in mind that most users won’t ever need (or desire) to use sampling rates above 48kHz, so this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker unless you know that you definitely need the higher sampling rate for specific sound engineering or post-production work.
The Duo Capture EX comes bundled with a copy of the SONAR LE music-production DAW for Windows. For Mac users, this may be one of the main caveats of this interface, as the other models on this list offer bundled software that is both Mac and Windows compatible.
The interface is compatible with WDM/ASIO, Core Audio and iOS for total connectivity with Mac, Windows and iPad devices. You can power it via USB, 3xAA batteries or Roland’s own low-noise AC adaptor (sold separately), allowing for a versatile range of powering options. Like other interfaces on this list, you can connect your MIDI devices and controllers to the Duo Capture EX’s MIDI I/O. Output jack ports allow you to connect directly to your studio monitor speakers, with a headphone socket included at the front of the interface. However, there is no dedicated headphone volume dial, which all of the other interfaces on the list offer.
