In this article we suggest a selection of desktop audio interfaces you can buy for your audio production needs. The following suggestions represent great value for money. If you are in the market for a simple, budget friendly audio interface with minimal I/O then hopefully this list will help you in your research.
Cast your mind back 15 or so years ago. There really wasn’t that much choice when it came to small, budget friendly desktop audio interfaces. Since the days of one of the first properly budget friendly desktop interfaces, the Digidesign Mbox 1, it’s fair to say that today we are rather spoilt for choice!
Many of the following interfaces we have tested, reviewed and recommend. We’ve also included several news posts on new product announcements.
With your primary studio audio interface likely being anything but portable, keeping a smaller alternative in your laptop bag gives you the ability to make professional-standard recordings anywhere you like. Here are some of the best mobile-minded interfaces on the market right now…
At NAMM 2020, IK Multimedia has announced the AXE I/O SOLO, a new addition to their range of AXE I/O guitar interfaces with advanced tone-shaping features.
PreSonus, the makers of Studio One, has announced the ioStation 24c audio interface. This is what they say about the new ioStation 24c audio interface.
The team at German hardware and interface manufacturers RME announced their new third-generation Babyface Pro FS back in November 2019 and now we have one to play with. So rather than just diving into the tech specs and regurgitating our original article, we are going to use the Babyface Pro FS on the kind of session we think this box is designed to handle with ease. We are going to record a range of different acoustic instruments, electric bass and a vocal and see, well hear, not only how it sounds but also how the new Babyface Pro FS is in action.
Solid State Logic (SSL) once only known for their large format consoles, they have been more than just dipping their toes into smaller form factor devices. It started with the rather brilliant Fusion 2U rack colour processor, then came the SSL SiX and now just in time for NAMM 2020 they bring us the SSL 2 and SSL 2+ twin channel USB audio interfaces.
MOTU have announced two new USB bus-powered audio interfaces for Mac, Windows and iOS, the M2 and M4. With two and four channels of audio I/O, respectively, the M2 and M4 include individual 48V phantom power on both mic inputs, mono and stereo hardware (direct) monitoring.
The team at Universal Audio are very pleased to announce two new products in the Apollo X range of Thunderbolt 3 audio interfaces. Please welcome the Apollo Twin X and it’s new bigger brother the Apollo x4.
Back in January 2019 at the Winter NAMM show, our friends at console, mic pre and interface manufacturer Audient announced the new Sono audio interface. Sono forges a new path for the UK based company as it is firmly geared towards guitar players who want to produce high quality recordings with a minimum of extra kit. We have been using Sono not only to record guitars using the built in room, microphone and speaker cabinet simulation by Two notes audio engineering, but also vocals and drums for this demo session. Take a look and listen to how this small, yet powerful interface is able to adapt to all of your studio requirements.
In this double header video review for Production Expert, Dan & James thoroughly test a couple of Focusrite's new USB Clarett audio interfaces. In this review, we test the Clarett 2Pre and 8Pre. Watch the video to discover what we think about these interfaces and to hear both interfaces in action in a short full band recording session.
In this video review for Production Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the Tascam iXR portable USB audio and MIDI interface for Windows, Mac OS and iOS.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey shows us around the new AT2035 Studio bundle from Audio Technica and Audient. This package features everything you need to get working on your next hit song. Just add creativity.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Tascam MiniStudio Creator USB audio interface for PC and Mac OS. The MiNiStudio is a new take on the audio interface aimed at the new wave of podcasters, internet broadcasters and anyone making audio for video.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look and listen to the new AudioFuse audio and midi interface from new comers to the interface market Arturia. The AudioFuse is a small but mighty USB interface packing plenty of stunning sounding I/O into its very small and compact size making it the perfect interface for those on the go.
In this review Pro Tools Expert Team Member Julian Rodgers takes an in depth look at the DiGiGrid D, the largest of the For Desktop range from DiGiGrid.
In this review for Pro Tools Expert Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at some of the latest features in the new Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey joins Richard Rogers from Workstation Pros to take a look at running some of the Thunderbolt interfaces from Focusrite on Windows 10.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Zen Tour USB and Thunderbolt interface from Antelope Audio. The Zen Tour is a compact portable high quality interface with built in effects giving you 4 guitar or DI inputs, 4 stunning quality mic pre amps and up to 16 I/O via 2 ADAT optical connections.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, James Ivey takes a look at the new USB audio interface from British manufacturer, Audient. The iD4 is a small yet mighty audio interface housing one of Audient's stunning ASP mic pres and an amazing sounding JFET instrument DI.