Best audio interface in the low end?

Question

I'm looking to buy an USB audio interface for home recording. It has to be fairly common, since I intend to buy second-hand in Bulgaria (where I live), or maybe import from eBay UK. One instrument input is a must. I've been considering the M-Audio Fast Track Pro, thinking that it's a sound piece of gear, but then I opened Harmony Central and saw mostly negative reviews. I've also been thinking about the Alesis Multimix 8 USB FX, which would be cheap to get and would also double as a mixer for band rehearsals.

Money's little and far between for me, so buying anything that isn't best value for money would be the end of the world for me, or even worse. Besides the instrumental input, I value overall sound quality, good mic pres (I heard a FTPro has problems with that), good reliability, low latency and Win7 support.

Answer 1

Focusrite Saffire

I have been using consumer-priced Focusrite hardware for quite some time now. I've started with the smaller 2in/2out series but then bought a Saffire PRO10IO, which is now discontinued. Been using it ever since. A friend of mine has a newer version with is even easier to use as a standalone mixer, which is what you asked for, too.

The Saffire Pro series is definitely affordable and has - at least in my opinion - the best-sounding preamps in this price range. The hardware is solid and I haven't had any problems with it so far.

You might want to take a look at the Saffire 6 USB (170€), the PRO-14 (240€) or even the PRO-24 (290€).

Answer 2

M-Audio Firewire Solo!

A little outdated but, man, I get some serious quality with it. USB devices are too delayed for direct monitoring. All you need is a nice condenser and a pop filter and the vocals come pretty clean without having a mic pre-amp. Listen to the quality on my bandcamp if you want. It's cheap too! www.trevorarjeski.bandcamp.com

Answer 3

MOTU Hybrid

To be short and sweet. I recently purchased a MOTU Hybrid for under $500 and it goes toe to toe with the best of them. It has USB and Firewire and can act as a standalone mixer. It also comes with on-board FX.

MIDI in and out and a TON of ins and outs on the back. It's perfect for a beginner or even doing big film mixes like I do out of my house.

It is also 100% pro tools compatible which is the industry standard out here in LA.

Answer 4

E-MU 0404 is an option. The E-MUs have always had pretty good converters which is important for that line-in input.

Answer 5

Try these audio interfaces:

1. Focusrite Scarlet2i2 and 8i6
2. Tascam us 22 mk11
3. Roland Quad Capture

And most important, if you are going to buy a USB audio interface, be sure to buy USB 2.0 only, not USB 1.1. You can try Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 and 24.