This article showcasing some of the best affordable audio interfaces on the market for home studios. When it comes to home studio equipment, usually one big word comes to our mind: “Affordable“. This list of audio interfaces is no exception, prices are between $80 dollars and a maximum of $300, so any music producer/sound engineer with a modest budget can get one of these audio interfaces, depending on his needs and preferences.
As with anything, trying to find the best audio interface that is also affordable can be tricky. Go ahead and check the most important features and price of each audio interface from our list, and why not, maybe is the right time to upgrade your home studio with a new “toy”.
Steinberg UR22 MK2
Main Features:
- 24-bit/192 kHz USB 2.0 audio interface
- Two Class A D-PRE mic preamps
- Rock-solid metal housing
- Latency-free hardware monitoring
- Compatible with all major recording software
- Dedicated high-impedance switch
- MIDI input & output
- Cubase AI included
Price: €122
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd Gen
Main Features:
- 2 great-sounding Scarlett mic preamps with generous even gain
- 2 re-engineered instrument inputs accommodate the hottest pickups
- Class-leading converters, sample rates up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Headphone output with volume control
- Vanishingly low latency lets you monitor with plug-ins, no DSP is required
- 2 balanced 1/4″ outputs accommodate pro studio monitors
- Compact, roadworthy chassis goes where you go
- USB bus-powered — one cable does it all
Price: €125
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd Gen
Main Features:
- 2 great-sounding Scarlett mic preamps with generous even gain
- 2 re-engineered instrument inputs accommodate the hottest pickups
- Class-leading converters, sample rates up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Headphone output with volume control
- Vanishingly low latency lets you monitor with plug-ins, no DSP is required
- 4 unbalanced RCA outputs
- 2 balanced 1/4″ outputs accommodate pro studio monitors
- MIDI I/O for sending/receiving MIDI notes to/from a keyboard controller
- Compact, roadworthy chassis goes where you go
- USB bus-powered — one cable does it all
Price: €169
PreSonus AudioBox USB
Main Features:
- USB bus-powered interface
- AudioBox 1.2 software update adds USB 3.0 compatibility and enhanced Windows integration
- 2 XMAX microphone/instrument preamplifiers
- 48-volt phantom power
- 2 balanced TRS outputs
- Bundled with Studio One Artist software and third-party plug-ins, loops, and drum samples
Price: €99
Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
Main Features:
- 6-channel audio/MIDI interface plus sequencing, production, and instrument software
- 4 analog inputs, 4 balanced analog outputs
- Digital stereo input and output (S/PDIF / RCA) for lossless signal transmission
- MIDI in/out for master keyboard, Maschine, or any third-party MIDI controller
- Headphone output with independent level control and source switch
- Completely USB powered, with an extra sturdy custom USB socket
- Low-latency performance for using virtual instruments and effects
- High-quality preamps with individual gain controls
- Direct monitoring for live, latency-free recording
- Mono input switch for recording vocals, guitar or other mono sources
- 48V phantom power for using condenser mics and active DI boxes
- 15 status LEDs provide visual feedback for all signals and indicate clipping
- Includes Komplete Elements – over 3 GB of inspiring instruments and effects
- Includes Cubase LE sequencer and recording software
- Includes Traktor LE 2 DJ software
Price: €215
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD
Main Features:
- Quality 24-bit/192kHz 2-channel USB 2.0 recording interface for your Mac or Windows PC
- Combo inputs with MIDAS preamp lets you plug in any mic-, line-, or instrument-level gear
- +48V phantom power lets you use studio condenser microphones
- Switchable input pads accommodate even extremely hot line-level signal
- Tip-send/Ring-return 1/4″ insert points let you incorporate outboard processors
- MIDI In and Out ports let you connect keyboard controllers and other MIDI gear
- Stereo 1/4″, RCA, and headphone outputs with latency-free monitoring make tracking easy
- Includes Tracktion DAW and 150 downloadable instrument/effect plug-ins
Price: €81
PreSonus AudioBox iTwo
Main Features:
- Bus-powered USB audio interface for Mac, PC, and iPad
- Low-noise, high-headroom mic preamps are perfect for recording vocals and instruments
- Included Studio One Artist DAW software gives you a full-featured recording and mixing solution
- Capture Duo iPad app makes it easy to record and transfer projects to your Studio One Artist 2 DAW
- Completely portable with no power supply required
Price: €139
ESI Gigaport HD+
Main Features:
- 24-bit / 96kHz D/A converter
- 8 independent output channels with RCA connectors
- Different playback modes
- 2 independent stereo headphone outputs
- compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10
- supporting ASIO 2.0, WDM, MME (using ESI’s EWDM driver technology)
- compatible with Mac OS X and supported by the native CoreAudio USB audio
- support from Apple, no special driver installation required
- compact and portable design with around 12 cm x 7 cm x 2 cm
- includes Deckadance LE from Image-Line Software
Price: €159
Roland UA-55 Quad-Capture
Main Features:
- 2 x premium VS preamps (XLR combo)
- Auto-Sens function intelligently sets optimal input levels for both preamps
- Extremely stable low-latency VS streaming driver
- Supports most major DAW platforms on Mac or PC, including OSX 10.6 and Windows 7, through ASIO 2.0/WDM (Windows) and Core Audio (Mac) drivers
- Includes Ableton Live Lite for a complete music production tool kit
Price: €189
Audient iD14
Main Features:
- 2 Class A console microphone preamplifiers
- 2-in/4-out high-performance Burr-Brown converters
- 1 discrete JFET DI instrument input
- Separate headphone amplifier output stage
- Console-style monitor control
2 Neutrik combo connectors for mic/line inputs - 8-channel ADAT input lets you expand to a total of 10 channels
- Balanced 1/4″ main outputs
- Control your DAW and plug-ins with the iD14’s virtual scroll wheel
Price: €229
I Knew to details of the information form your article.
I knew too about,
1. Steinberg UR22 MK2
2. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd Gen
3. PreSonus AudioBox USB
4. Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
if you want to buy the best audio interface for your studio. I think you should read this article.
Thank you for sharing the amazing suggestions