The Best Budget Audio Interface For Home Studio Recording
Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (NOT gear) all over again, so…
If you’re just getting started in home recording, you’re in the right place.
I’ve been dabbling in all things home studio since 2007 and I’ve gained a lot of experience over the years.
I’d like to share some of that with you here!
In this article, I’m going to help you decide on an affordable audio interface; arguably the most important component of any studio.
We’ll cover a few really excellent options as well as go over what it does and why it’s so crucial to have.
By the end, you should be much more comfortable purchasing one, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me!
Before we get started, it’s important to note that many companies have different versions of the same interface.
For example, the Scarlett Solo has one combo TRS/XLR input on the front for recording, while the 2i2 has 2.
For the purposes of this article, we’ll differentiate them as needed within the scope of the write-up.
Finally, I will try to stick to $200 and under!
With that, let’s dive in.
#3
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Price: Check Amazon! | Sweetwater! | B&H! | eBay!
Key Specifications
- 3-Year Warranty
- 2 Inputs / 2 Outputs
- 24-bit / 192kHz Recording
- 69dB Gain Range
- 120dB Dynamic Range
- Air Mode (Presence + Harmonic Drive)
- Auto Gain
- Clip Safe
- 48V Phantom Power
- Direct Monitoring
- USB-C Connectivity
- Dual XLR/TRS Combo Inputs
- Independent Headphone Output
- Supported Sample Rates: 44.1kHz all the way up to 192kHz
No best-of list is complete without at least one Focusrite recommendation, amirite?
There are few things in life as safe as buying one of these things.
Never leaving your apartment is sorta safe, sure, but who wants to do that?
I can honestly say that after all these years, the 2i2i continues to maintain one of the highest review counts and ratings of any audio interface on the market.
When you ponder that I bought a 1st-generation model way back in 2014 at $149, it still seems like they’re giving them away.
The only reason I sold mine was that I got a new Laptop running Windows 10 and it wasn’t compatible anymore.
I went interface-less for a few years after that due to personal reasons, but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one again given how reliable it was for me in the studio.
I created and mixed countless beats using the 2i2 paired with a set of JBL LSR305s, and it never once gave me a reason to question its reliability. It simply worked day after day without complaint.
Clean preamps, low latency, the whole 9 yards.
Over the years, Focusrite has continued refining the Scarlett lineup. The 4th generation includes Air Mode, Auto Gain, Clip Safe, up to 69dB of gain, and an impressive 120dB dynamic range, making an already excellent interface even easier to use.
In addition to that, I never had any issues with it.
It’s a simple plug-and-play USB that supports up to 24-bit/192kHz and also comes with a 3-Year warranty.
Not that you’ll really need one.
The 2i2 at its price is incredibly robust and in no way feels like a cheap product.
This has been a pretty big selling point over the years; the model I owned was simply one of the most reliable pieces of equipment I ever purchased.
Front Panel
The front panel houses everything you’ll interact with on a day-to-day basis, including two combo XLR/TRS inputs, dedicated gain controls, phantom power, air mode, direct monitoring, and a headphone output with independent volume control.
In other words, everything you need for recording vocals, instruments, podcasts, or general studio work is easily accessible from the front of the unit.
Back Panel
On the back are your TRS line outputs, which you’ll use to connect to a pair of studio monitors for mixing and production work, as well as the USB connection for your computer.
With that, Focusrite says this:
I don’t doubt it for a second. This thing is the village bicycle of audio interfaces for sure.
#2
Motu M2
Price: Check Amazon! | Sweetwater! | B&H!
Key Specifications
- 2 Inputs / 2 Outputs
- ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC
- 24-bit / 192kHz Recording
- Ultra-Low Latency Performance
- Full-Color LCD Level Meters
- 48V Phantom Power
- MIDI Input / Output
- TRS Balanced Outputs
- RCA Outputs
- USB-C Connectivity
- Bus Powered (No External Power Supply Required)
- Loopback Functionality
Motu’s claim to fame is its ultra-low-latency, solid-metal M2 that can easily drive mics like the Shure SM7B and SM57.
This interface also has very good preamps, and it’s super easy to set up; no power brick is required.
On the front, there are 2 combo TRS/XLR inputs that you’ll use to connect your microphone or guitar.
Next to that are the gain knob and 48V phantom power button.
The middle contains a 160×120 pixel full-colored LCD featuring clear, detailed level meters for all inputs and outputs.
I’ve owned a few interfaces and none have this feature.
On the right is the volume potentiometer, 1/4″ headphone jack, and headphone volume pot.
Motu (an acronym for Mark of the Unicorn) equipped the M2 with the ESS Sabre32 Ultra found in interfaces costing thousands of dollars.
Low Latency
I think it’s safe to say this is incredibly important.
Any amount of delay as you’re recording will make your voice sound like 2 voices overlapping, and if you’ve ever experienced this, you know firsthand it can make you want to punch a hole through a wall.
Motu’s M2 delivers class-leading, ultra-low 2.5ms Round Trip Latency (at 96kHz with a 32 sample buffer).
Most reviews I’ve read claim around 3 or 4, but they may be sampling at 48kHz.
In any event, the M2 is incredibly fast, and you’ll really appreciate it when working on projects in the studio.
Back Panel
The back panel contains a MIDI input and output, a pair of RCA outputs, balanced TRS outputs for studio monitors, and the USB-C connection used to interface with your computer.
Overall, the Motu M2 is a fantastic option around the $200 mark and punches well above its weight class. Between the excellent preamps, class-leading latency performance, beautiful metering, and built-in MIDI connectivity, it’s one of the easiest interfaces to recommend in its price range.
#1
Universal Audio Volt 2
Price: Check Amazon! | Sweetwater! | B&H! | Official Review: Here!
Key Specifications
- 2 Inputs / 2 Outputs
- 24-bit / 192kHz Recording
- 55dB Gain Range
- Vintage Mic Preamp Mode
- 48V Phantom Power
- Direct Monitoring
- USB-C Connectivity
- Dual XLR/TRS Combo Inputs
- Independent Headphone Output
- Bus Powered
- Mac & Windows Compatible
- Extensive Software Bundle
Perhaps I’m a tad biased, but after owning the Volt 2 for some time, I can confidently say this is a fantastic little unit and well worth the asking price.
In addition to its 55dB of gain, the Volt 2 also comes with a slew of plugins that make its asking price seem like peanuts.
Furthermore, one Amazon reviewer put it like this:
That added value for only around $20 more than the 2i2 pays for itself.
Another cool feature on the Volt 2 is vintage mode, which adds a touch of broadcast warmth to your voice and really sounds quite excellent.
Aside from all of those great things,
the Volt 2 is built wonderfully and is a breeze to use.
I haven’t had a single issue with it, and it drives all of my headphones with ease.
These are ultra-clean, professional-sounding preamps, and for the price, how could you go wrong?
Thanks to its built-in tube emulation circuitry, you’re essentially getting a vintage sound used to record artists like Ray Charles and Van Halen.
Pretty neat.
Front Panel
The front panel houses 2 combo XLR/TRS inputs, gain controls, phantom power, vintage mode, direct monitoring, and a dedicated headphone output with its own independent volume control.
Back Panel
On the back are 2 balanced TRS outputs for studio monitors and a USB-C connection used to connect the interface to your computer.
As with the others, the Volt 2 comes with 2 TRS balanced outputs on the back along with a USB Type-C jack for connection to your PC.
All in all, I think the Volt 2 is likely the best option for most people, but you can’t go wrong with any of these 3.
It also won an award in 2023!
As it stands today, I think the 2i2, while an excellent product, isn’t quite the best anymore.
It was probably top dog some years back, but the inclusion of more companies providing extra value at roughly the same cost has brought it down a peg or 2 on the pecking order.
If you are looking for the maximum amount of gain in this price range, the 2i2 is the way to go.
But, as an overall incredible value for the money spent?
It’s gotta be the Volt 2 with the addition of all that software valued at around $1000.
Learn More:
What Is An Audio Interface?
Think of an audio interface as an external Soundcard; but it’s also a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).
A DAC’s primary job is to convert information your computer understands (1s and 0s) into the sound we understand (Analog).
- Related: Beginners Guide: What is a USB DAC?
Conversely, an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) takes your voice, guitar, or instrument and converts it into digital information that your computer can record, edit, and play back later.
When you scream obscenities into your mic (they call that rapping lol), your PC is sad but has to do its job anyway.
So an audio interface is cool because it can do both of these things, while a DAC/Amp combo is typically only used when listening to music through headphones or outputting the sound to a set of speakers via preamp outs.
This is why an audio interface is so crucial.
It’s responsible for pretty much everything you do and acts as a centerpiece for your recording studio.
It’s the literal connection between you and your music. No interface = no recording – unless, of course, you’re using a USB mic.
Even so, most professionals use an interface of some sort, and we want to be professional, right?
So you can imagine it’s pretty important to buy a good one.
The first interface I ever had was an M-Audio Fast Track Pro all the way back in something like 2006-2007, and let me tell you something: it was a piece of hot garbage.
I won’t get too much into it now, but I eventually discovered the 2i2 in 2014, and it was pretty much smooth sailing from that point on.
Before I leave you, just remember that all 3 of the options discussed today are incredibly good and backed by lots of great reviews + first-hand experience from yours truly.
So don’t get hung up on it.
The Volt 2 and Motu 2 may measure slightly different than the 2i2, but I’m also here to tell you that I’ve demoed over 85 Amps & DACS, and the differences, while they’re sometimes there, are incredibly subtle to the point where they rarely matter in the real world.
If you’re interested in my stance on all of this, please read my Ethos.
As for which to buy? Just go with the one that fits your needs best and don’t stress out about it!
Why Only 3?
You may be wondering why this list only contains 3 options.
The answer is simple: once you reach a certain level of quality, audio interfaces become remarkably similar in terms of what they allow you to accomplish. Sure, one may have a little more gain, another may offer lower latency, and a third may come bundled with more software, but all of them will help you record, mix, and produce professional-quality music.
That’s why I’d rather recommend 3 products I’ve either owned or extensively researched than overwhelm you with a giant list of interfaces that all do essentially the same thing.
The goal isn’t to spend weeks comparing specifications. The goal is to pick one, start recording, and make some music.
Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on The Best Budget Audio Interface For Home Studio Recording and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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What are your thoughts on these? Do you think they’re worth the price? I’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ] > Now AudioFiles Anonymous
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