Whatever you ultimately decide on, we hope that your chosen audio interface provides you with many years of recording! and I collected them in Sweetwater Studio A and brought in Nick D’Virgilio, Don All the mics and their placement stayed the same, plus the The Solid State Logic SSL2+ 2-in, 4-out interface comes from one of the industry’s foremost console makers whose decades-long track record for making hits is second to none. All of this audio goodness is wrapped up in a durable metal case, perfect for those who travel often and like to record on the go. On the face of the Onyx Producer 2.2, you’ll find two identical mic/line inputs. The Producer 2.2 interface blends balanced analog connectivity and 24-bit/192kHZ operation with the high-quality Onyx mic pres that is onboard. Beyond the I/O options, you’ll want to make sure that your audio interface is as flexible as possible so that you can record anything that comes to mind. Hopefully, your interface will have each of these things: The Focusrite Clarett 2Pre is just about one of the best audio interfaces on the market for singer-songwriters. Last Updated on April 4, 2020. It is bus-powered, but it can still deliver a clean enough sound to feed your DAW pure, unaltered audio. Each of these channels has a +48V phantom power switch for condenser microphones, as well as a gain control knob for adjusting levels. This is perfect for those who are looking to lay down some band demos or multi-mic some instruments for live recordings. When you purchase an audio interface for less than $500, there are a couple of things that you can expect. The M4 includes MIDI connectivity, 1-touch hardware monitoring, and comprehensive metering for all four inputs and outputs. Store Hours, If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 222-4700. For these samples, Jacob Dupre provided us with a MIDI file that we fed to the built-in Disklavier system on Sweetwater’s Yamaha C7 acoustic grand piano so we could mic the piano and have it play the exact performance each time for consistency. The Mackie Onyx Producer 2.2 is one of those hidden gems that we don’t often hear about, though when it comes to build quality, it sits at the top. There is also a redesigned instrument input that allows you to plug your guitar straight in and record without ever having to mic up an amplifier. One of the most popular and affordable interfaces among Sweetwater’s lineup of USB interfaces, the Scarlett 2i2 3rd Generation has proven itself as a dependable and fuss-free interface with just what you need to get started. We have done a little research and found five great products under $500 for you to consider: Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB 10-In/4-Out Audio Interface $500? I record everything from Metal to blues and hip hop. To learn more about our cookie policy, please check our Privacy Policy. $1500. For better performance, you can use the USB cable to power the device through a wall outlet as well. They’ve even thrown in Traktion DAW software for those who are just getting started. It is quite hard to sift the pile and just pick the golden apples. The 2-input design saves space by combining the XLRs and the line-level jacks so that you can switch between microphone and line level in a pinch. You can post now and register later. Speaking of clarity, the Clarett 2Pre has an A/D resolution of 24-bit/192kHz, giving you crystalline sound that is unmistakable. The Universal Audio Apollo Solo USB-C interface for Windows is not only the least expensive entryway into Universal Audio’s fine line of audio products, but it’s also the launching pad into the sonically rich universe of UAD Powered Plug-ins and a host of optional sounds. It has a metal-aluminum housing of black color that protects … There is no universally acclaimed best audio interface. Though the Behringer U-Phoria UMC1820 is the lowest in terms of price on this list, it also features much more than the other interfaces. Home » Gear Reviews » Recording » Audio Interfaces » Best Audio Interfaces Under $500. The 5 Best Audiophile Headphones For Under $500; The Budget Kings Series (Under $100) The Best Headphones for Gaming [In Depth Guide] Articles. On the front panel sits the power switch, a SPDIF/ADAT switch, two headphone jacks—each with separate level knobs and routing switches—buttons for Mute and Dim, a Stereo/Mono switch, and a Mix Monitoring Control knob. An easy-to-connect audio interface with 24-bit/192 kHz audio resolution, two 3rd Gen Scarlett mic preamps and a three-year warranty. Hear it here with no processing. We see you've found the Newbie subforum! Bottom Line: Though it may not deliver the crystal-clear audio of some of the other entry-level interfaces on our list, it provides some of the most inputs and outputs. Are you looking for a great audio interface with tons of I/O, great sound quality, and a price under $500? The Best Audio Interfaces under $500 [Reviews & Buying Guide] Ben November 4, 2020 Just like the Clarett, the Scarlett 6i6 is compatible with just about every major DAW as well as Mac and PC systems. After taking the time to learn … It comes bundled with SSL Native and other software. Phone Hours | There is an “Air” feature on each of the preamps as well, which essentially adds clarity to the overall sound. 3 Quote; Link to post Share on other sites. The MOTU M4 4×4 USB-C interface offers four inputs and four outputs instead of the typical two in this price range, so you can hook up two mics (or guitar and bass) plus your stereo keyboard all at the same time. Another one of our picks for best audio interface under $500 is the Avid Mbox High-Performance 4x4 Audio Interface for Mac and PC. With that said, fewer I/O options will still be more than enough for home studios, especially for those who are looking to record one instrument at a time. Free Christmas Shipping ends Zoom has become a major player in the portable-recorder industry and now brings that expertise to this desktop interface. Audio interfaces have a natural price progression, meaning the more you spend, the more you are going to get. SSL brings its expertise and superior circuitry to an interface that will fit on your desk. I am looking at the best bang for money in regards to an Audio Interface under $500. Learn More. There is no shortage of audio interfaces currently available. Lynn Fuston spent 37 years behind recording consoles in dozens of studios in Nashville, as well as doing remote recordings around the globe. When I was asked to put together a list of five of the best interfaces for less than $500, it took some careful research and consideration. We recorded with and without the 4K button engaged so you can hear the difference. Beyond the front panel inputs, there is also a large monitoring balance knob and an independent headphone output control. When it comes to softsynths and real-world instrument VSTs, they provide top-of-the-line products. In this post, I’m going to be sharing my opinion on the best audio interfaces under $200.So if you are looking for an audio interface at a cheap price point, then you’ve come to the right place. We tried to do this for you with this shortlist of amazing products: Universal Audio Apollo Twin Duo. I’ve put together a list of what I think are some of the best audio interfaces on the market in 2020. You will find the perfect product for you in our guide here. What we really love about the Audient ID4 is the Scroll Control mode, which gives you intuitive access to the parameters that are in your DAW, allowing you to control just about everything from the interface. Cambridge Audio Azur DacMagic Plus – best overall. Your audio interface is the heart of your home studio. The Behringer UMC404HD is the most affordable audio interface featured on the list, and we can say that it provides a large amount of value for your dollar. It comes with eight XLR/TRS inputs and high-quality Midas preamps, two on the front panel and six on the back. The unit has 4-channels, including 4 state of the art microphone preamps designed by Midas… A company renowned for the quality of their audio equipment. Join the conversation. It was a unique opportunity to hear and see exactly what you get and what you’ll hear when you invest in a USB interface under $500. our best and most popular interfaces under $500. Fuston is now the Manager of Written Content for Sweetwater's web and print publications. Headphone Reviews & Comparisons; Microphone Reviews & Comparisons; Amps, DACs, and Audio Interfaces; Studio Monitors; Best Of; … As such, there is no longer an excuse not to buy the best audio interface under $500 for your needs. levels were carefully calibrated, so any differences you hear are a result of From the tweakiest techniques to the biggest ideas, our experts work hard to constantly supply inSync with a steady stream of helpful, in-depth demos, reviews, how-tos, news, and interviews. That’s what we wanted to find out. best to you, here are some of the details and links to the product pages where Bottom Line: The Scarlett 6i6 is one of the leading entry-level interfaces on the market for a very good reason. Models under $500 are perfect for personal use in home studios, as well as for use on the go. We’re here to take you through some of the best entry-level audio interfaces on the market right now so that you can find the one with the right features for all of your recording needs. Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! The U-PHORIA UMC1820 from Behringer is a new item on our chart and proves to be one of the best audio interfaces under $ 500. Unsure on the best audio interface to buy? On the back of the audio interface sits a USB-B connector, a Kensington Security Slot, and TRS ¼-inch output jacks. It works with both Mac and PC systems and comes complete with two USB cables, as it is a bus-powered device. Add in the Air control (auditioned separately here so you can hear what it does), and you’ve got a winner. They have also included 48V phantom power for those who record with condenser microphones, and it can be engaged via a single global switch. Add in Studio One Artist software, including the Studio Magic plug-in suite and over 6GB of third-party content, and you’ll have what you need to succeed with this very capable interface. For under $200? Most of these models will have digital inputs and outputs if they have any more than four as it helps to cut costs. The design is quite sturdy and promises to last for quite some time. 9 Best Audio Interfaces Under $500 Shootout – Take a Listen! revealing and the differences aren’t subtle. Bottom Line: The Native Instruments Komplete 2 sounds just as sleek as you would assume from the design. The innovative Audient EVO 4 is tiny if space in your workspace is at a premium. The piano was miked with two AKG C414 XLII large-diaphragm condenser microphones. The Universal Audio Apollo Solo USB-C interface for Windows is not only the least expensive entryway into Universal Audio’s fine line of audio products, but it’s also the launching pad into the sonically rich universe of UAD Powered Plug-ins and a host of optional sounds. The Presonus AudioBox is yet another popular option when it comes to audio interfaces under $500. the best-sounding audio interface, even if you don’t have a lot of money to the differences in preamps and converters. The Steinberg UR44C USB-C 3.1 interface offers superlative 32-bit/192kHz sampling and twice as many D-Pre Class A mic inputs (for a total of four) along with dual line inputs for a total of six simultaneously recordable inputs. Keep in mind that the following links are affiliate links which give me a small percentage from any purchase without any additional cost to you. In this article, I share some of the best single and dual-channel mic preamps under $500, that help you get the best combination of price and quality. The input signals can both be monitored using the Input/DAW mix knob so that you don’t experience any annoying latency issues. Click the Download Pro Tools Session button to download the 24/96 Pro Tools session file with high-resolution WAV files. In such case, you need to review Cambridge Audio Azur DacMagic Plus. Or which one sounds best to you? Solid State Logic SSL2+ with 4K button engaged. Bottom Line: If you are looking for an entry-level audio interface that sounds amazing (why wouldn’t you be), then the Clarett 2Pre should be the first choice on your list. Some of the other top-notch technology onboard includes a JFET direct input, Burr-Brown converter technology, and console-style monitor control, which all come together to provide class-leading sound. Alternatively, if your budget is a little lower than $1000, take a look at our other article on the top 8 best audio interfaces under $500. For singing voice, we had staff engineer Rachel Leonard set up a RODE NT1-A, and Nick D’Virgilio sang along to a track from his new album Invisible. With a budget-friendly design that will fit in your backpack, it is a no-brainer for producers and singer-songwriters on the go. Don Carr performed on a Martin D-18 Authentic 1939 Aged acoustic into a Neumann KM 184 small-diaphragm condenser microphone and a Mojave Audio MA-201fet large-diaphragm condenser microphone, each routed directly to the interface. While there are plenty of great interfaces under $1,000, you don’t necessarily need to spend that much on an audio interface. With tons of features and a sturdy build, it is made to deliver quality recordings wherever you are! Another audio console that has bulldozed its way in our list of the best audio interface under $500 is the Komplete Audio 6 Mk2. Smile, as the team of experts at Music Critic have reviewed the top audio interfaces by considering; Value, Compatibility, Customer Feedback and lots more. Thursday. DI Input for Guitars and Other Live Instruments, Line Inputs for Guitars and Other Line-Level Gear. For a pristine 3.6ghz 64 bit DAW or a lowly Pentium III 550? While it might not have the flexibility and features of other audio interfaces (Scarlett has better preamps and input options), at $39.99 it certainly seems to be outdoing itself. Best picks: Audio interface under $500. Navigating: Home » Music Equipment » Audio Interface » The Best Audio Interfaces Under $500 [2021] The Best Audio Interfaces Under $500 [2021] Posted on by . With its durable casing, we highly recommend it for traveling producers and singer-songwriters. see what you think. Focusrite Scarlett 4i4. The Mackie Onyx Producer 2-2 2-in, 2-out USB 2 interface features Onyx mic preamps and dual hi-Z inputs. Featuring dual mic/line inputs along with a DI/instrument input and an informative display with single-knob control, the Apollo Solo will get you started with emulations of classic preamps — accurate plug-in emulations of the finest analog outboard gear of all time, including compressors such as the Teletronix LA-2A and UA 1176LN, EQs such as the renowned Pultec EQP-1A, and amps like the Marshall Plexi and Ampeg SVT-VR. I have considered these so far: Mackie ONYX Satelite, Apogee Duet, Firebox can people with some experience … There are a lot of audio interfaces out there today. impact resistant rack with eight XLR / TRS inputs. Focusrite has updated the Scarlett range of audio interfaces, and for less than $500, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is our top pick for the best audio interface under $500. I’ll try to cover everything from the best audio interface under $200 to the best professional-level audio interface. Cubase? Audio interfaces under $500 range from large ‘rack’ styled devices through to pocket sized incredibly compact and durable audio interfaces. It comes complete with the Focusrite Control software mixer, which is an easy-to-use system that allows you to route your setup configuration and monitor your output. In the near future I’ll do another review with some high-end audio interfaces for those who have a good budget of $500… Macs? If you and your new band want to create a record, you are going to need an excellent audio interface to make it just that little bit special. The back panel of the Clarett 2Pre features four balanced TRS outputs jacks, MIDI in and MIDI out ports, a USB-C port, an optical ADAT input, a power on/off button, and a power adaptor input. For running Sonar? For audio interfaces under $500, the best choice right after the Clarett is the Scarlett 6i6. With a budget-friendly design that will fit in your backpack, it is a no-brainer for producers and singer-songwriters on the go. A good stand-alone preamp will boost and enhance the audio signal, making the mixing process a lot easier. For a computer that has the notorious VIA motherboard chipset? Don Carr performed on a Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s that we recorded into Pro Tools and then re-amped with the Radial SGI Studio Guitar Interface through a Friedman Dirty Shirley 40 head driving a Marshall 1960AX 100-watt 4×12 cabinet with Greenbacks and miked with a Royer R-121 and a Shure SM57 running directly into each interface so that you’ll hear precisely the same performance in each of these clips. At the very end of the audio interface lies two headphone outputs for quiet monitoring, as well as dedicated volume controls. Hopefully, in the not too distant future perhaps someone will find and post a similar "shootout" comparing the DAW's. The Focusrite 2i2 provides more ins and outs than its predecessors with a 2 x 2 interface. He has hosted recording forums since 1998, both on the internet (3dB) and Facebook (3D/FB). Picking the best audio interface under $500 that will help you record your guitar and vocals on your computer isn’t easy. I … For Mac users, there is a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Apollo Solo that specs and sounds the same. The 6i6 provides users with an A/D resolution of 24 bit-depth and a 192kHz sampling rate. NOTE: This interface is Windows only and requires USB 3 (not USB 2) to interface with your computer. May be subject to additional charges, see checkout for details. After a lot of thought, we think that the Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 is the best audio interface under $500 - not just because we are big fans of Focusrite products, but because the device has proven to us time and time again that it deserves its place on the top of the list. So, we started by putting together a list of Now that you’ve listened and decided which interface sounds So, engineer Shawn Dealey They come with a combination of XLR and jack connectors, allowing you to plug in either a microphone or a line-level instrument. The USB bus-powered PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 offers dual Mic/Inst inputs, MIDI I/O, USB 2.0 connectivity, and Mac/Windows capability. * For qualifying in-stock items delivered to the contiguous United States only, on orders processed by 5PM Eastern time. Add in loopback functionality and the Smartgain automatic level-setting feature, and this minimalist-looking interface offers amazing power and sound at an affordable price. If you’re a fan of Pro Tools, then it would be better if you considered Avid’s bundle. PCs? Just like the Clarett, the Scarlett 6i6 is compatible with just about every major DAW as well as Mac and PC … We can’t wait to hear your music! Sweetwater Sound With a compact design that is perfect for your desktop, it manages to deliver a superior audio performance compared to the range of other entry-level devices out there. With a 24-bit depth and a 96kHz sampling rate, this thing sounds incredibly good for the low price. It will also reduce the need for a lot of extra processing. The back of the unit has main monitor outputs, 3-8 inputs, eight line outputs, MIDI in/out ports, SPDIF in/out ports, a USB port, and the port for the power adaptor. Carr, and Jacob Dupre to record vocals, guitars, and grand piano through all This section reviews some of the best audio interfaces for the money. May be subject to additional charges, see checkout for details. With two Unison preamps and the digital converters that have made Universal Audio famous, this interface allows you to achieve professional-quality results at entry-level pricing. Including MIDI and Mac/Windows/iOS compatibility and a download of Cubase AI means you’ll be ready to start recording right away. Bottom Line: The Mackie Onyx Producer 2.2 is a true workhorse audio interface. All parameters of the lightweight Zoom UAC-2 are controllable via the MixEfx software application. Hello! 1. For Mac OS 10.39 or OS 10.4? Bottom Line: If you are in the market for an audio interface that is expandable and versatile with a great sound, the Audient ID4 should be on your list. There are some excellent devices under $500 too — like, for example, the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. Everything you love about Sweetwater in the palm of your hand. As one of the best audio interfaces under $500, the UMC1820 displays solid performance and can handle hot instrument pickups quite easily. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 review – best audio interface under 300. If you need the cheapest audio interface available that is still reliable, then the UM2 is a great choice. With over 28,000 articles and counting, inSync is your FREE resource for breaking news, reviews, demos, interviews, and more. Of course, you may want to upgrade one day, but there is no reason to spend a few grand when you are just getting into the world of recording. When you have decided to find the best DAC under 500 you expect that it will be an ultimate converter for various purposes. For podcasters and voice-over artists, the sound of spoken SM58 dynamic microphone. Best Audio Interfaces Under $500. The large monitor knob is intuitive, allowing you to adjust the overall output level with ease. Being music makers ourselves, we love geeking out on all things gear. Plus, when you tack on the generous software bundle that is included, it is a solid deal. This 2-in, 2-out interface offers dual mic inputs, dual DI inputs, phantom power, main outs, and a headphone out with a separate volume control. Though it may not be as versatile as the Clarett, it comes with some of the best-sounding preamps that this range of interfaces has to offer. There are a few great audio interfaces in the $500 price range that will do … Top 7 Best Audio Interfaces Under $500 – The Mid-Range Superstars Last Updated: November-12-2018 We decided to give this important article a bit of a revamp as we approached winter, so we updated the article content as well as the chart itself. With all of the companies manufacturing entry-level interfaces these days, getting a solid interface for under $500 is nowhere near as hard as it used to be. Unless you have other expensive outboard mic preamps and converters, it is a major He also produced the world-renowned 3D Audio CDs, a series which allows listeners to compare mics, preamps, analog-to-digital converters, DAWs, and summing, giving them the ability to hear the differences in their own spaces. With superb sound quality and a versatile array of features, it is perfect for any singer-songwriter on a budget. Has some great features and a 192kHz sampling rate expensive outboard mic preamps and tons of I/O great... » best audio interfaces under $ 500 are perfect for any singer-songwriter on a budget space in your workspace at. Experience any annoying latency issues / TRS inputs by Noon Eastern time on Wednesday 12/23 resolution, on... Zoom has become a major player in the world amazing products: Universal audio Apollo Duo. Years of recording are the best audio interface for our Macs and PCs the input signals both. 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Is a new device being released every other week interfaces » best audio interfaces plenty great... A similar `` shootout '' comparing the DAW 's pursue music in the palm of your..