Top 3 Cheap Audio Interfaces To Start Recording With
Looking for a cheap audio interface? Well below we have our top 3 cheap audio interfaces. All of them stay under $150 and are great entry level interfaces. If you are unsure what an audio interface is or looking for recommendations that are not for entry level recording please check out our other post on audio interfaces which is part of our music production equipment series.
Keep in mind that for the price these all will be great options along with many others, however they are not the same quality as $1000 interface. If you are unsure of what to look for in below our recommendations are things you should consider.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2 In/2 Out USB Recording Audio Interface
>Check Out Real Customer Reviews Here<
Features
- 2 line/mic/instrument combination inputs – high quality XLR/¼” TRS Jack Combo
- 2 Line/Instrument switches
- 2 Gain knobs
- 2 Gain halo signal indicators
- 48V Phantom power switch
- Direct monitor switch
- Large monitor level dial
- USB Connection LED indicator
- Headphone output - ¼” TRS Jack
- Headphone level knob
- 2 balanced monitor outputs – ¼” TRS Jack
- USB 2.0 Port
- Kensington Lock slot
Included software
- Ableton Live Lite 8
- Focusrite Scarlett plug-in suite
Our Thoughts and Things to Consider
- Inexpensive coming in at $149.99
- Easy to connect and start recording
- Comes with Focusrite Scarlett plug in suite and Ableton Live Lite 8
- Works with Mac Lion and Windows
- Overall one of the best options for a cheap audio interface.
Lexicon Alpha Desktop Recording Studio
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Features
- 2-channel USB interface
- 16-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/48kHz audio
- One XLR microphone input
- 2 TRS line inputs
- 2 TRS and RCA line outs
- Hi-Z instrument input (front panel)
- 1/8″ headphone jack
- Zero-latency direct monitoring
- USB bus powered
Our Thoughts
- One of the cheapest audio interfaces for entry-level recording at $59.99
- Solid Build
- Decent converts for this price point
- Works with Mac and PC
- If you are trying to stay under $100 this is your device.
PreSonus AudioBox USB 2×2 USB Recording Interface
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Overview of the specs
This interface has 2 Microphone inputs that double as instrument inputs with 2 class A Xmax preamplifiers. The interface has 48v phantom power allowing for the use of dynamic and condenser microphones as well. When recording it can record at 24 bit recording and sample rates of 44.1 and 48k. This interface also has Midi in and out which is great for any studio setup along with 2 balanced TRS outputs which can use to send to our studio monitors.
Specs
24-bit/44.1, 48k USB audio recording interface2 Class A XMAX microphone/instrument preamplifiers 48V phantom power, 2 balanced TRS outputs MIDI input/outputPowered via USB
Our Thoughts
- Great Price
- I/Os are great
- Portable
- Works with Windows and Mac
- Good build quality
- Comes with Studio 1
- Can have some trouble with dynamic microphones ( Lack of gain)
- Drivers can be hard to learn starting out and other users have said they can be “sketchy”
- Not our favorite but a good option. For the money the 2i2 would be a better option.
Overall a great cheap audio interface for entry-level recording.
What You Should Look For In An Audio Interface
Number of inputs and outputs: How many inputs and outputs do you need at a given time to record? An example would be if you are recording vocals you would only need 1 input at a given time. If you wanted to record your entire band in your practice space you would want at least 8 inputs. Also make sure you have enough inputs and out puts for Midi controllers if you plan to use those as well as instrument inputs which are normally combined with your microphone inputs. Make sure you know what you have and what you plan to connect to the interface you are looking at.
Pre Amps: How well will the pre amps do their job? Are they very noisy? Do they produce enough gain before they become very noisy? Check reviews and recording boards like Gearslutz and others if you are unable to answer these questions before you buy. Most pre amps in this price range will not be great but will get the job done for an entry-level interface.
How is it connected to your computer?: How an interface is connected will vary so make sure you know if connects via fire wire, usb or other.
System Requirements : Make sure to check the system requirements before purchasing. Some interfaces require different hardware/softwares to work properly.