Discover the Best Audio Interfaces

Simple to use, great sounding audio interface!

IMO the one of the best things about this audio interface is its ease of use. On a Mac, it's plug and play using the built in core audio driver. The sound is detailed, clean and hiss free and the pre-amps sound great either with a mic or a guitar/bass direct in. But my favorite thing about this unit is everything is operated by real knobs and switches. No software virtual mixer needed. No one knob that controls 20 different functions. And the round trip latency (7ms on my 2012 MacBook Pro) is low enough that I don't even bother with the direct monitor switch. Probably the best thing I can say about the 2i2 is I can focus on making music and not on troubleshooting why it doesn't work. ... More

Good fit for high-quality mic-ing for Zoom meetings

I needed to connect my Sennheiser wireless mic to the computer. I bought a $15 usb sound card that provides separate line-in and line-out 3.5mm ports and it works fine for the price. The 2i2 allows for greater control of the gain and provides a really valuable visual cue: clipping. When I speak, the gain knob lights up. Green is good, yellow is warning and red is bad clipping. What I've learned is that when I test my mic setup before a Zoom call that I'll be teaching on a topic, I can get the gain set just right so it's always green with an occasional blip of yellow (I can't hear any distortion with a brief blip of yellow). However, once I'm on the Zoom call, I notice I put on my teacher's voice and I usually talk much louder than normal, so having immediate visual feedback that my audio is clipping is super helpful so I can turn it down then and there. I've had one complaint/problem with the 2i2. I'm an amateur with this audio equipment, so I don't know if this is common knowledge amongst pros or if it's a feature of the 2i2. I'm also not 100% sure what is exactly causing the problem, but here's my thoughts. At any gain level, I can get crackling, distorted noise. Not super bad, but very annoyingly so, especially for the hundreds of dollars I've now spent on higher end gear. Here's what I think may be causing the problem and how I fixed it: * If I turn the gain up so high that it clips into the red range at all, then when I turn the gain back down, it seems the 2i2 introduces some noise. Turning the gain up or down will change the overall volume (and the noise) but the noise doesn't go away. * Using the app Voicemeeter seems also to produce this noise, but I'm still not totally convinced it's the app at all and not just the 2i2. * The FIX is to go into the Focusrite Control software and Restore Factory Defaults under the File menu. The device will reboot itself in about 10 seconds and the noise is gone. It took me a while of trial and error to find the solution to this. Finally, I also had volume problems. I had good volume in Audacity and Zoom, but in OBS I could barely hear the mic recording. Something to to with ASIO and/or WASAPI low-latency source vs. MME in Windows. Audacity by default (at least in my installation) selects MME, which had no audio problems, but apparently can introduce more latency, which hasn't been a problem for me so far. When I switched to WASAPI source in Audacity, then I got the same low-volume problem as OBS. The fix was to turn up the Sensitivity on the Sennheiser G4 transmitter from -24 to -12dB. Finally I chose the 2i2 over the SOLO version (which is about $60 cheaper) because on the SOLO version you can only output from channel 1 *or* channel 2...not both at the same time. Since my wife and I plan to co-teach some classes on Zoom, we need to be able to have two live mics at once. ... More

Excellent value - best selling budget interface for a reason

I have just gotten into recording music and didn't want to invest too much into the equipment. I have been familiar with the Focusrite brand for a long time, and knew that a lot of my musician friends use their interfaces for their own professional recordings. I checked a lot of reviews and validated those assumptions. I bought this and have loved using it. Just having it plugged in constantly is a huge source of inspiration. I can fire up my DAW and start playing immediately knowing that I am getting a very clean and crisp instrument signal with negligible latency. I only use this with a guitar and a violin so I don't have firsthand experience with using a mic. I also do not have studio monitors so I just monitor with a pair of Audio Technica m50x'. I could not be more pleased with the performance of this interface. My only gripes with it are the lack of a direct / USB blend knob and a usable signal meter. For the former, there is a button that switches from the direct signal to the USB one, but having the ability to blend the two would help if you need to play along to a backing track. For the latter, I get that the glowing ring is cool looking, but it's not actionably useful if you're trying to monitor your gain levels. By the time you see the red ring, you're already clipping making it difficult to adjust in real-time. Otherwise this is a GREAT interface and incredible value for money. I can't recommend this enough for beginners in home recording or even for pros who don't need more than two inputs. ... More

The simplest one but I like it

This interface soved a lot of problems for me expectedly and unexpectedly. What I expected was: I can connect my condenser microphone to my PC via this devise. I can stream my Zoom/Skype conversation from my android phone to my PC via this devise. This set-up allowed me to make podcast interviews. Unexpectedly... I can now listen to whatever is happening on my PC via. the devise though direct monitor. Before this my computer had a mind of its own and I lose sound often and had to experiment with the sound setting. Now connected to this, the sound always comes out without a problem. Also unexpectedly, this device allows me to do two projects without moving things. The device sends sounds to my PC though a cable, which allows me to record a video using the webcam. The device also send sound to my iPad to record a podcast using a customized app for podcasting. I can do both without moving the cable around. When I record a podcast interview, I want to make sure my voice and the guest's voice are balanced. This can be easily achieved with Scarlet Solo. This replaced my ICICLE connector (Blue ICICLE XLR to USB Converter/Mic Preamp), which was a lot simpler way to connect a condenser mic to a PC. However, I feel like I liked the sound quality of ICICLE SLIGHTLY better than Scarlet Solo. Both are good, though, and this probably is just my personal preference. ... More

Better than reviewed

I read some reviews on here that kind of scared me but I decided to try it anyway. There are some reviews where people were talking about software issues and said that it was really hard to install or that drivers didn't allow for long recording times I've tried it out and I have to say it's pretty awesome! I have a Mac so maybe the software issues were only on windows. I use Mac OS Mojave and have found the 4i4 works great with Logic The installation was a little unusual, but it was pretty simple. Just go to the website listed on the printed page and you'll be downloading all your bonus software really quickly. It also has some helpful video guides The included software and extras are great, although I was extremely disappointed by the version of Pro Tools. It has such crazy limitations as not being able to save on your computer (you have to save to the cloud) and other weird stuff like that. When I found out, I didn't even bother with it. The other software is very good. It even came with some free plugins to download I've tested long recordings. The first time, it cut out after 2 and a half hours because my computer said the CPU was overloaded. The second time, it stopped recording after 5 and a half hours without any warnings. It's not great that it cut out, but I can't imagine a situation where I'm recording one long 5 hour jam, so I'm not too concerned about it I'm very happy with the sound quality. It really sounds awesome ... More

Focusrite Scarlett + Rogue Amoeba Loopback = Audio Sorcery!

Most people may use this for musical production, and I'm sure it's great for that. But my use case is a little different. I'm on Mac and I use this in conjunction with Rogue Amoeba's equally-capable software, like Loopback as a way to exercise complete control over live streaming audio. The Scarlett and Loopback are very well paired, because Loopback can see and use all of the Scarlett's inputs and outputs independently, in any combination. You can generate an audio stream from multiple software sources in Loopback, route it to the Scarlett, send that out to an external effects processor, bring it back in, add mic(s) on top of it, send the mix back to Loopback to feed the stream, and send the mix-minus to the studio monitor. This is pure audio sorcery, fully accessible to a hedge wizard like me. The only thing that could be better than this Scarlett would be a bigger Scarlett. ... More

Excellent for home studio recording...

Although a long time semi-professional singer/actor/musician, I am fairly new to recording in my home. However, I am pleased with the response I am receiving from colleagues and fans about the recordings I have made using this mic. I run the SM-57 to my laptop (running Windows 7). The sound is quite pure. Despite the limited resources I have available for creating a home studio, the reproduction of vocals using this microphone sound great on every system from which they have been played. Shure has won me as a loyal customer. As a recommendation to others who are also new to purchasing their own recording equipment, be careful when purchasing accessories recommended on this site. They are not always appropriate for use with the products for which they are being recommended. For example, the Nady SSPF-4 Pop Filter was recommended for use with this microphone but is not appropriate for the SM-57. ... More

Industry Standard.

I can't say enough good things about this mic. I have compared it with high quality dynamic mics and the Sure 57 still sounds warmer then all of them. I would suggest getting a Mogami cable to insure no cable noise. You are good to go...

Great piece of equipment!

I use the product to play the beats I've created. It's also great at catching sound from my raps to my vocals.

so far so good

Im using this product to make death metal music. this is my first time ever attempting to record anything.

This is an amazing bundle for the price

This is an amazing bundle with everything to get you started with your home studio. The other review stating the USB doesn't stay in is 100% user error.

Perfect for the novice

During all this stay-at-home time (spring of 2020) I have been messing around with a ton of my gear and I needed a way to send things to my bandmates. It's only been a week, but the actual recording aspect has been very simple to nail down (mixing is a whole other animal!). Focusrite's start-up videos walk you step-by-step through how to set up your recording. It couldn't be any easier, and I am NOT very tech savvy at all. I have been recording myself playing bass guitar by directly plugging in--no DI box or amp--to the interface and I'm amazed at how crystal clear my tone is. I would recommend this to anyone thinking about dipping their toes in the pool with home recording and I'm already thinking of ways to set up a rudimentary "home studio". ... More

Flawless plug and play

Wanted to start content creation on my mac with an XLR microphone. The x2u was immediately recognized as a mic, no config needed. It came packaged (too) securely. It's built solid, which may be a concern if you're using a cheaper mic arm that cant take the extra weight. Headphone jack on the side is actually way more convenient than the back of my computer! Only wish the gain dial had levels marked on it so I could keep it consistent between adjustments. ... More

good sound and simple setup

I bought this to simplify my mic setup for meetings. I was using my Zoom H6 as a XLR-to-USB interface but got tired of having to set it up every time I wanted to use it. This powers on with the USB bus and is ready to go right away. I cannot use the headphone jack, unfortunately, because this is plugged into the back of a microphone base and the headphone jack faces down to my desk. Other than that, this is working perfectly and the sound seems better than through the H6. ... More

Absolutely Incredible

I can't say enough good things about this interface, it is crystal clear and is helping me produce high-quality music from my home studio. Understand that the 4k feature has nothing to do with a higher quality sound, it is actually a feature that models a vintage Solid State preamp. This plus a MXL 990/ Shure SM57 and you can record an album.

Great sounding interface!

I have owned lots of great interfaces over the years - if you only need a two input interface that is usb powered this has the sound of much more expensive gear. The 4K button adds the zing you’ll recognize in the tracks of hit records mixed on SSL boards. I use two SSL channel mic pres with black knob eqs as the front ends into the SSL 2 and always have the 4K buttons on. However, if on location recording with a laptop running protools the mic pres in the SSL2 are remarkably close to the channel strips in sound quality. Have owned this for several years now and the build quality has held up very well. Great SSL sound at a price point that is this affordable and highly portable too? Thank you SSL. ... More

Excellence!

I used the MAudio Profire 2626 Highdefinition Firewire Audio Interface in my studio for several years. Recorded a couple of albums with it, and I was relatively satisfied. Then I updated my studio computer, which did not have a Firewire port. In addition to that, M-Audio had not produced a driver for Windows 10. I realized it was about time to upgrade my audio interface. I did a very extensive research. I read reviews, asked colleagues, etc, and everything started to point to the Scarlett 18i20. I then purchase it, and so far it has exceeded all my expectations. The sound quality is crystal clear; the configuration software included works perfectly in real time. Not the most important thing, but its look is spectacular, and the position of every knob, input, and output is in the right place. The two headphone outputs in the front come handy when there are two musicians recording at the same time. As I use this interface I get the feeling that I am working with an appliance 100% professional. With Sonar it blends really good, no audio drops or audio engine error messages at all. So far I haven't noticed anything negative about it. ... More

Works perfect for 5.1 or 7.1 surround in DAW, games, movies!

As most of you have noticed by now, it's extremely difficult to find software drivers in an audio interface that also work with 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound in Windows. Focusrite makes awesome drivers for Windows that work in both ASIO and WDM. I previously fought for over two years with an expensive Antelope Discreet 8 Synergy Core interface. Antelope's drivers on Windows are slow and unreliable AND they do not work in any way for 5.1 surround setups outside of the DAW. I consulted with the Antelope audio engineers and they said that their drivers will not work for 5.1 games or movies. I'm never buying another Antelope interface ever again! The Antelope hardware is great, but the drivers are garbage for Windows users. There's a night and day different between Antelope's drivers and Focusrite's drivers in Windows. The Focusrite Control software also searches and handles any firmware updates automatically. After you install the Focusrite Control drivers, in you Windows Sound options you can click on the Focusrite USB driver and get a Configure button at the bottom. Clicking on that Configure button takes you to the Speaker Configuration where you have the following choices: Stereo, Quadraphonic, 5.1 Surround, and 7.1 Surround. From there any games you play that have 5.1 surround like, Alien Isolation, Division 2, Tome Raider, etc. will work perfectly! Also movies going through my Cyberlink Power DVD software sound amazing! By the way, for my setup, I'm running the Scarlet 18i20 3rd Gen, two Adam A77Xs and three Adam A7Xs (looking to also get an Adam Sub8 in the near future). So if you are a 5.1 sound junky like I am, and you want your DAW, your games, and your movies to run through your audio interface with reliable drivers that just work in Windows... then you'll want to stick with Focusrite! ... More

Great Audio Unit and superior quality.

In 2018 I decided to buy my first audio interface; before taking the decisive step, I did a lot of research on the subject. I am absolutely satisfied that I chose Focusrite because the quality of the product is far superior when compared to the price at which it is sold. In fact, the 2i4 was a faithful and well-used travel companion. This is the second unit I buy and this time I needed a bigger unit because of the audio inputs I use. Easy and intuitive, it has a sound performance that is formidable and, if combined with the right microphones, fully highlights the sonicity of the recording source. The only drawback in my opinion, is the fact that it must be controlled through the app via computer (the line / inst selector and the pad button that was present in the younger sister are missing), for this reason it deserves 4.5 stars. Anyway, I absolutely recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to compromise with the recording audio quality. ... More

Excellent

We bought this pipe audio from a lavalier to our iMac running Audacity, our use case for lecture recording. We had to return it because the monitor knob would only work if you pressed it in but hiccups like that are normal for hardware purchases. The new one has worked flawlessly for over a year and we have had zero complaints. One particular oddity is that the gain on the input channels tends to get exponentially higher the more we go. I noticed it to see if I could get more sound into Audacity (that program normal input range seems to be rather small, huh). This isn't a problem as much as it could be a noobish understanding of how to do a recording with Audacity. the particular feature I love is how you can plug either the normal TRS connectors or the balance mic connectors into the same input; that gives you much freedom on your setup. ... More

It's a good value for money!

I haven't gone all OCD on it like I tend to do with new purchases. I just downloaded and installed the driver, and plugged the unit in my Windows 10 laptop's USB-C port with the included cable; it also includes an A to C cable for those who lack a USB-C port. The headphone outputs have good power and clarity for enjoying music. I really liked how it sounded with my CEntrance Cerene dB headphones. I forgot to test my beyerdynamic Amiron home. If you don't have a dedicated DAC/headphone amp combo, which I also do, this unit can properly serve audiophilic duties. Input-wise, the mic pre-amps have plenty of gain and headroom, and have negligible self-noise. The Legacy 4K mode is legit and makes a noticeable difference. I used a TZA Stellar X2 condenser mic and it sounds so good with this unit. My voice sounds clear and real with no harshness. I haven't really analyzed the round-trip latency in depth, but at 256 samples, I could monitor my voice in real time in Ableton Live while recording and there was no noticeable, distracting lag. The unit looks and feels nice, and best of all, all the knobs feel good in the fingers when turning, and lack any wobble. I didn't test the MIDI ports, but I plan to do so. I'm impressed with the SSL 2 . I just unboxed it, installed the drivers, plugged it in and did my thing. No fuss and no funky business. IT JUST WORKED AND GOT OUT OF THE WAY. The experience with the SSL 2 feels to me like using an Apple product, software and hardware working transparently as one. I highly recommend it. The fact that AC power isn't needed to use the phantom power as with my Audient iD14 is to me a bonus. I got this unit to replace the Audient, which I accidentally killed by plugging my BLA Auteur MK II's adapter to it. I wasn't paying attention and it fit perfectly. There's always a first time, heh! I like the SSL 2 enough that I don't feel the need to get another iD14. Gonna try it on my iMac. Thanks for reading. God bless you! ... More

A high quality audio interface, with 4K sound

An SSL gear on my desk at home, who would have believed ... Still, a cheap product from a company like SSL, it's not something that happens much, but it did very well for her. A high quality audio interface that surprised me with the sound, especially acoustic guitar and vocals. The 4K button will give your recording a pre-emulation of SSL 4000 series, that really sounds good, no gimick here. The two fully licensed SSL plugins (requires some work on installing iLock, but worth it) that alone are worth the investment, and are not bad at all. Highly recommend, you won't regret it ... More

Simple and Effective

I've knocked out a handful of episodes with this Rodecaster Pro (RCP) in the last few weeks. The sound is clean. Using the RCP is simple. I'm coming from a Behringer mixer, manual mix-minus, single-channel output, etc. I thought I would miss the control I had. I don't. In fact, I've been surprised by how easily this RCP fit into my workflow - and how effortlessly it has expanded it. I'll explain. Moving from a manual mixer to this unit feels like moving from a stick shift to an automatic. The preamps are clean (noticeably cleaner than the ones on my previous mixer). The presets built-in actually feel like they do a slightly better job shaping my own voice. This unit is smaller and has fewer inputs, but realistically, the times I would use those extra inputs on my full mixer were... never. I typically record solo from my studio and bring guests in via Skype, Ringr, or Squadcast. All of that still works great - better, actually, because mix-minus is automatic for the TRRS, USB, and Bluetooth inputs. That, by the way, is a dream & worth every penny. I use every input available on the RodeCaster and feel like it's just enough + three extra mic inputs for mobile shows. I've recorded shows from this thing in the car - literally. A little inverter + a microphone, earbuds, and pre-loaded sound pads is all I needed. It sounded great. The built-in sound gate was a must and I needed to adjust it (and my technique) more aggressively for that noise environment, but I was surprised at how well it worked. I could have even brought in a guest - in the car - if I simply plugged my phone into the TRRS or connected via Bluetooth. I could not figure out how to get Bluetooth to connect to my car Bluetooth system, but to be transparent, I didn't spend a lot of time on that. Regarding the sound pads, I didn't think I would use them, but the opposite is true. I have no need for my additional Sound Byte (great software from Black Cat) effects if I keep things simple on the road. I can still use Sound Byte on an iPad or my iPhone when I have a more complex program. The build quality is sound --pun appreciated. The sliders and pads feel solid. The weight and size is just right for my desk and my car's front seat. This unit is growing on me each week. Cons: first, it doesn't come with a good case. The packaging is fine, but it won't last if you're a traveler. I purchased a case separately for roadshows. For me, a good case is necessary. I didn't find many options for cases. The case I purchased, the SKB iSeries RODECaster Pro Podcast Mixer Case, is great except that it's precut for Rode microphones and not easily adjustable for my RE320, Shure, or ATR portable mics - though the Shure SM58 or ATR 2100 would fit. They would just bang around a bit (not that those mics can't handle a little banging around). I'm not a fan of the fact that I can't label the pads. I produce more than one show and the sound deck for each is different. I'd like to know what I have in front of me without having to remember. Of course, with only 8 pads, it's pretty easy to remember what's on them. Loading the pads with new sound clips is a fairly easy process - either through the board itself or using the free software you can download, but there is no way to easily switch between load-outs. Ideally, I'd like virtual pages of sound clips I could flip through. Like virtual page 1 would contain my basic clips for Show 1, virtual page 2 would contain my basic clips for show 2, etc. With the current firmware, it takes additional prep time to make sure I have everything I need. I'm positive I will make a mistake one day, forget to load a clip, and introduce some wrong sound into my show. I would prefer XLR inputs that also accepted a mono 1/4 inch. That would expand the functionality of this unit, but only if the quality of the input wasn't compromised. Pros: The ease of use is a big one. Prep time for my show is down. Complexity is down. I get to focus more on content and technique than on technology and audio engineering & things still sound great. Post-production time is cut down. It does take a little practice and forethought, but getting those pads properly loaded beforehand makes a more live experience possible. I added a lot to post when I was using my single channel output mixer. I didn't want to risk wrecking a recording with a bad setting or wrong selection. With 14 multi-tracks, I can record relatively worry-free. I know I can level or treat audio from any channel individually in post if I need to. Auto mix-minus is so cool... I didn't realize how much I wanted that as a feature until I really started using it. I can't imagine the spaghetti wire and finger-crossing I used to deal with before. My guests can come in via any of three channels (or all of them) and it just works like magic. My guests have not complained about audio on their end - though I found I do get a cleaner signal when I use the hard-wired TRRS connection over the Bluetooth connection. Setup could not be easier. It took me much longer to disassemble and stow my nest of cables from my old mixer than it did to have the RodCaster Pro setup, sound pads loaded, and my first recording sent to micro-SD. I literally use this board for everything audio now. When I'm recording screen share-type instructional videos, it runs through this unit. I can listen to music in the background through my earbuds or headphones as I work. Talking on the phone when I'm in my studio runs through this unit (and I get to throw the buzzer in for shock and amusement from time to time). Streaming video works. The RodeCaster Pro has become a seamless extension to my workflows in just a few short weeks. Advice: Buy a good case if you're going to be mobile, a larger SD card, and have a refreshing drink nearby. You're going to enjoy recording with the RodeCaster Pro. ... More

Professional Features, Ridiculously Low Price

The first audio board I ever ran was a Gates 16 input board in a 500watt AM radio station- in 1967. Ive run all manner of radio and broadcast gear since then, but nothing has been as simple, integrated or as high quality as this $600 RODECaster Pro. You can be an old hand or a brand-new podcaster and put together a podcast that sounds like you had a sound engineer running a console for you. Take your time, watch Ryan @ Rodes video tips on how to make the RODECaster Pro work, and youll be in business in no time. Ive seen people ask why this piece of high-tech gear still uses those outdated XLR inputs. Theyre probably the same people who think video on a phone looks exactly the same when its projected on a 60 4K monitor. Instead of jazzing over why something doesnt look the way you think it should, give the pros at Rode some credit- they know what theyre doing. Use good mics, isolate your mic stands and be prepared to sound like you know what youre doing -even if youre learning on the fly. Cant beat a system thats this simple, incorporates effects and features that used to only be available in consoles costing hundreds of times as much money. Embrace simplicity - Ive already used it to cut network voice overs, full radio spots and, yes, even my own podcast. For the first time-ever- I can put together a segmented show as simply as a live broadcast. Thats hard to beat. ... More

Works when Scarlett 2i2 doesn't

I went back and forth with FocusRite CS about my 2i2 that would just start digitally garbling the output after 0-90+ minutes and require unplugging/replugging USB to reset the driver. (Brand new top of the line Dell Precision laptop as well as 3 y/o Dell Precision laptop exhibiting same issues). Super frustrating and never was able to get the driver to play nicely with Windows 10. Contrast that with the PreSonus 26c which worked as soon as I plugged it in, quick driver download, and has zero issues/failures. Beyond that, the features are very similar but just implemented slightly differently. (24c is closer to the 2i2 but was on backorder at the time) Works flawlessly with Ableton, MS Teams, Webex, USB cameras on same bus, Premiere Pro, Zoom, browsers, etc. Sound quality is excellent for in/out. One happy customer here. ... More

Great upgrade

Purchased the Studio 26c to upgrade a much older PreSonus Firebox which requires 2 dongle adapters to connect to my 2018 MacBook Pro. The USB-C connection is direct and now supplies power to the device whereas the Firebox needed A/C power. Instrument and mic settings are now lower to achieve decent input signal allowing much more headroom if I need it. The bundled Studio One software is a plus, but I rely on Apple's Logic Pro X for audio recording and the Studio 26c is recognized immediately. I'm very satisfied with the Studio 26c. ... More

Yes, Yes and Yes I would buy this product AGAIN!!!

I love this product use to own a older presonus vsl audio box and i decided I wanted to give focusrite a try and that did not last long so I went back presonus and I am really happy I did. The sound is sharp clear and the pre amp is awesome also the way it was built and the color they chose is great I love everything about it and so much so that I am soon and I do mean really soon going to upgrade to the presonus 1824c which offers more and better connections and options for a great price for my studio setup. Thanks presonus for doing me and others proud great job on the new line I'm really thrilled.The set up process was easy although I do feel that their should or could be an easier way to install all of the plugins besides that I have absolutely no complaints. ... More

Great intro to recording with digital audio interfaces.

I bought the Presonus Studio 24C because it seemed to be a cost-effective way to create quality audio recordings in my home studio, and I have not be disappointed. As a trombonist who recently retired from his day job and has taken up serious study of the instrument again, I needed a way to record myself during practice sessions in order to analyze and help improve all aspects of my playing. I found this interface to be plug and play perfect as to the connections and setup using my MacBook Pro, Shure mics and "vintage" Yamaha YS200 midi keyboard, and the bundled PreSonus StudioOne 4 Artist DAW is such a vast improvement over Garage Band that it's well worth a bit of study of the excellent documentation to get it set up for recording. I'm very happy with the quality of the recordings I'm getting, and will probably take this unit "on the road" to create simple two mic stereo recordings of small ensembles that I perform in. So far I'd call it a winner. ... More

Works really well, best value for money

I've had the 2i4 for six months now. Having plugged and unplugged it innumerable times, recorded with it innureral times, tested it repeatedly, I cdan say it's about as close to bug-free as you'll ever get in a hi-tech product. The sound quality is excellent, very liquid-sounding. I can concentrate on the sound of the mics instead of the USB interface. When I plug in a pair of Rode NT1A, which have a self-noise of only about 5 db A weighted, I don't really hear hissing at all coming from anywhere. OK, you're probably wondering if there is any downside. Well, let's see. I wish it were easy to open up from above and also obtain the service manual, so I can modify it for even better sound (I'm sure some capacitors and stuff can be upgraded, such is the audiophile that I am). Also, once in a blue moon, I hear a sudden glitch in the sound, a sudden instantaneous drop-out. Not sure if it's my laptop (I have both a Vista and Win 8.1 laptop with SSDs on board) or the USB. I'm using the best USB2.0 cable I can find, with ferrite bars on both ends, fully shielded throughout. But it only happens maybe once in a one-hour recording, and you have to be listening to appropriate material to hear it. So all in all I'm happy with my purchase, and don't feel any need at this point to buy something new. I can concentrate on mics and mic technique instead. I've only used condenser mics. Not sure if the preamp is quiet enough for a dynamic mike like an SM57. ... More

great sound quality and unique features

I am using the Scarlett to digitize LP's and record guitar/vocals. Previously I would use a mixing panel and do the analog-digital conversion in my PC. Current laptops/desktops (even Apple) contain a very inexpensive A/D converter chip and the electrical noise generated inside a PC affects the analog signal and is audible. I used to buy a SoundBlaster PCI card but they are expensive and drivers are sometimes an issue. The Scarlett which performs A/D conversion outside the PC is audibly better. It distinguishes itself by a solid build quality, a wide range of signal levels (guitar to line level) it can handle and the useful clip indicator (ring around the level knob turns red). As expected, LP's are recorded as clean as possible but require a small preamp with RIAA correction. It is also bundled with a Lite version of Ableton Live, so all in all a great value. ... More

Next level peice of gear

Pros : • you can control Two tracks at the same time even though there is only one motorized fader. • also compatible with other DAWs (Pro Tools, Logic, etc) Con: It seems delicate compared to the other audio interfaces Presonus offers like the AudioBox 96 and The studio C series. Not a dealbreaker but it's worth noting.

High Quality, Low Price Audio Interface

When my M-Audio ProFire 610 began exhibiting noise in one of the channels I looked into a repair of it, as I really enjoyed the incredible performance of that unit. Finding the estimated repair was $125, it gave me pause knowing the Behringer offered great value for the money. After looking at extensive reviews of the U-Phoria UMC204HD, I decided to take the plunge. After unpacking, I was pleased to find the quality of construction was equal to that of audio interfaces costing twice and more. The controls operate smoothly and the plug and play operation was flawless. I tried it with GarageBand and it was recognized instantly. Operation was invisible, adding nothing to the recording. If I were to quibble with anything, It's that the UMC204HD offers only a single headphone out. This is a drawback, when there are additional individuals that need to hear the mix. Fortunately, I was already in possession of a Behringer HA400 MicroAmp, a 4-channel stereo headphone distribution amplifier. This surpasses my old ProFire's 2 headphone out, allowing even more flexibility. These are inexpensive units and I highly recommend picking one up to compliment the Behringer interface. If you're thinking of grabbing one of these, I strongly recommend that you do so. The accompanying image gives you a size comparison of the ProFire (bottom), the UMC204HD (middle) and the HA400 (top). ... More

Can't beat it for the price!

I purchased this primarily for recording guitar/vocals on my laptop in my home studio. I was using Line 6's UX2, but was having issues with the unit shorting out intermittently, and mediocre recording quality. I can't stress enough how satisfied I am with Behringer. This device blows any competitor out of the water when you factor quality and price. Crystal clear sound, low-latency and sturdy hardware make this a great buy for amateurs and professionals alike. I was leary at first, because the pricetag was considerably lower than the competitors, however don't let that fool you. It's worth every penny, and I would recommend this to anyone looking to record at high quality at an affordable price! ... More

I love this audio card to death

As a start up dj/musician I have been looking and looking for the best equipment to record my vocals/synths/drum machines, etc. and I have found that this audio card is one of my favorites. The versatility of its use's (whether it'd be the 4 outputs/inputs, the power of its internal processes, etc) makes it a great addition to my home studio. I only wish there weren't so many wires to power it and I wish it would be a bit smaller as one of my studio monitor has to sit on top of it, but I don't care, I love it. ... More

Presonus 1810C Awesome Interface and Software Package is Incredible

I’m blown away by how good this interface, especially in it’s price range. The sound of it is very clean and warm. It’s like it’s not even there at all - just the sound of whatever I am playing or recording. The software package that is included is far-frigging-out! Studio 1 seems very impressive. I have much to lean, but it’s a very capable and fairly intuitive DAW. The extra plug-ins that they have included are awesome. You have to load all of those separately which is a PITA, but it is very much worth the effort. These are some really nice plug ins they have included. All in all I’m pretty in love with Presonus right now! Presonus 1810C is the bomb! ... More

Absolutely Flawless!

This is yet another excellent audio interface from PreSonus! With a sleek design and USB-C connectivity, this thing is a powerhouse for at home recording or streaming.

Perfect interface for a home studio, best quality in the price range

As close to industry standard gain range, conversion quality etc. as you can get for $500 or less (higher quality hardware by the numbers than even the Focusrite 18i20). Perfect interface, and easily the best sounding and looking one I've ever owned. Great monitoring controls built in right up front which is huge for a smooth workflow and eliminates the need for another box taking up space on your desk. Every knob and button is smooth and responsive. You'll notice the difference in quality immediately if you're coming from a lesser/older interface as I was. As a side note, I purchased a demo unit, and you'd never know it's not brand new. I had a hard time believing mine was ever even removed from the box. Definitely worth mentioning as you can save up to 20% that way. ... More

Beautiful build, great software additions.

I love it. It was working great for a couple weeks, but now my laptop isn't reading the audio box. I downloaded their universal control and DAW, additionally the plugin extensions--by the way are all great--but their technical support team isn't extremely helpful. This is still a good product, I think it has something to do with my computer's driver anyways, but I still wish after investing in the company and product I would receive a lot more help. ... More