Best USB Audio Interfaces that will provide clean and pure audio for your sounding recordings. These USB audio interfaces are easy to connect and are essential recording equipment for recording instruments, vocals, voice-overs, or podcasts.
These are good for recording, mixing and monitoring, and are quite portable too. The inexpensive ones may not have a very robust build quality but they all come with good functions and offer very less (almost zero) latency.
Here’s a list of the top affordable audio interfaces for music producers that offer good sound quality and come with essential features (required in a studio).
Apogee One Audio Interface for iPad and Mac
Now you can record like a pro on your iPad or Mac with the Apogee ONE. This is an all-inclusive interface, packing an XLR input with pro-quality mic preamp, 1/4″ input for your guitar or bass, Apogee A/D converters, and even an internal microphone for capturing quick demos. Use this pocket interface to create polished recordings on your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and more.
Harness Apogee’s pristine A/D for your iPad or Mac. This ONE lets you record a single XLR microphone, or the 1/4″ input and internal mic in 2-channel mode.
The USB audio interface ships with a breakout cable with an XLR Mic input and 1/4-inch Instrument input, microphone stand clip, USB cable, 30-pin iOS cable, and Lightning iOS cable.
NI KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
Native Instruments is the compamny behind popular products such as the Maschine controller and Traktor Kontrol interfaces. With NI’s obvious grasp on musicians’ need for solid hands-on tools, even the Komplete Audio 6 comes across ass a heavy-duty USB audio interface.
The ruggedly built KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 from Native Instruments is a six-channel USB audio interface that comes with everything you need to record, play, and perform music. You can capture up to four analog channels through high-end Cirrus Logic A/D converters, including S/PDIF digital and MIDI I/O.
It comes with KOMPLETE ELEMENTS, a full production package of sounds and effects.
Buy on zZounds.
Roland UA-55 QUAD-CAPTURE
Roland QUAD-CAPTURE is a professional quality USB interface (housed in a road-worthy aluminum body) that allows mobile musicians to capture great audio anywhere.
Key features: Four-channel, pair of XLR/TRS inputs with VS Preamps, two TRS outputs, coaxial I/O, headphone out, MIDI I/O, 192 kHz/24-bit audio resolution, USB bus power, plenty of I/O, Direct Box functionality, bundled Ableton Live DAW software.
Behringer CONTROL2USB High-end Studio Control with VCA Control and USB Audio Interface
Behringer CONTROL2USB USB Audio interface puts source selection, talkback, monitor control at your fingertips. It comes with ample I/O, VCA technology ensures precise level adjustments.
Choose from up to 3 sets of active studio monitors and 4 different stereo input sources. Talkback mic lets you communicate directly with the singer/musician. has a big master volume knob. Its your recording studio’s command center.
Its slightly heavy and also takes up lot of space on the workspace (dimensions – 39 x 20 x 8.7 cm). The housing of the monitor controller consists of a plastic-metal mix.
Overall, the Behringer Control2USB is a nice, low-cost monitor controller, which offers a wide range of connections and routing options.
Buy on zZounds
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB Audio Interface
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 is a versatile USB-powered audio interface, ideal for anyone needing a cue mix for performing or recording. Its ideal for the modern music producer using outboard synths or for performing live.
With two XLR-1/4″ mic preamps, 4 analog outputs and MIDI I/O, the Scarlett 2i4 is the perfect portable USB-powered audio interface for DJs and producers.
Buy on zZounds
Behringer UCA222 USB Audio Interface
The Behringer UCA222 is an excellent RCA to USB Audio Interface for quick recording and if you’re looking for a cheap interface for your home studio. It’s self powered, and has both 1/8″ and RCA outputs. It easily transfers audio to your computer and comes bundled with several production tools and audio-editing software.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Compact, Good audio quality, Lightweight
- Cons: For complex recordings, you will need more inputs & outputs
Who Is It For?
It is suitable for anyone who wants to:
Review
The Behringer UCA-222 is a good option if you’re looking for something that is cheap, not fancy, and does the job. Its an external USB audio interface that can easily be used for recording music using laptop/computer, and has almost zero latency.
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Various ins and outs on Behringer UCA222 interface[/easyazon_link]
More Benefits
Its extremely portable with the size as small as a smart phone. It has two RCA inputs, two RCA outputs, headphone out, and a S/PDIF digital output.
You can connect your instruments or mixer to your computer using the UCA222, it also comes with free audio recording and editing software.
Guitar Players
In case you’re a newbie and intend to use your guitar to record music using a recording software on your laptop/computer, you need to understand that this device has no jack where you can directly connect your guitar to. This is basically a decent interface if you use keyboards or use consumer level equipment like cassette players. If you want to use it for recording guitar, you will need to run your 1/4″ regular guitar cable into a 1/4″ to RCA adapter and then the red and white plugs should match. Signal strength will be low and so will be the recording and overall levels.
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How different is it from the UCA 202?
Not very different actually! You get some more free stuff with the UCA 222 though! The 202 comes with the free and open source Audacity, and with Kreatives’ Kristal Audio Engine (also free). The UCA222, on the other hand, also comes with Energy XT2.5 music production software (“Compact Behringer Edition”) and with over 150 virtual instruments plus several more effects, and plug-ins including VST host, audio- and podcast-software for direct start-up.
One of the users uses these units to output midi sounds from my laptops internal sound moduals to a pro PA system (mostly Mackie gear) for live performance and occasionally to add sounds to recordings in his 24 track home studio.
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Here are the key features:
The Behringer UCA222 audio interface provides good value for money, provides the ease of USB, and works comfortably with windows as well as Mac.
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Behringer UCA202
Behringer UCA202 USB audio interface is an inexpensive, but high-fidelity 2-in and 2-out USB audio interface that lets you get get stereo audio into your computer via the USB port. Almost no latency at all; It comes with only basic features, but they all work nicely.
- Pros – Easy to get the sound in /out of the computer, Inexpensive
- Cons – Has RCA inputs & no 1/4 inch input, 2 ins/outs lets you connect limited instruments/devices, sound quality is okay (but better than your computer’s audio)
Who Is It For?
Perfect for anybody who wants an inexpensive and simple way to connect to the computer (for their home studio). Has a much better sound that the default computer sound card, just plug into USB and get started.
The plug and play works, but for some VSTs and Reason, you may need to download the driver from Behringer’s official website. The UCA 202 worked right out of the box with a short set up time. It is 16 bit; adequate enough for most applications. The sound is crystal clear. Allows you to add a line-in to your laptop. You can hear playback from your sequencer software, and also from the synth in case you’re using one. It comes bundled with several free software.
Here are the key features of the Behringer UCA202:
Overall, a good product for beginners and amateurs, its a 16-bit/48kHz, 2-channel USB Audio Interface with S/PDIF Out.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
Maynard says
Hello Behringer, How would I connect the Behringer UCA222 to hear my VST program on my computor? My setup is, Laptop – Yamaha keyboard (using a Midisport UNO for midi into computor) . Thanks in advance for any advise.