Low cost USB interfaces to use with Audacity/Audition?

[David Peterson]

Wondering about what low cost audio interface to get?

Important points for me, in order of priority (but I could potentially be flexible on these):
1) 2x XLR inputs
2) 96kHz & 24bits
3) good pre amps
4) good limiters (which doesn't seem to be that common? Though a few like the Roland Rubix24 has them)

A few I've been considering (all prices in USD, sourced from B&H Photo, seems $150 is a very common price point here):

Zoom U-24 ($150)
Steinberg UR22mkII ($150)
PreSonus AudioBox 96 ($100)
Tascam US-2x2 ($150)
Behringer U-PHORIA UMC404HD (has **four** inputs, and only $100!)
Roland Rubix22 ($150, a new release! Not shipping just yet)
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd Gen (also, $150. What is the difference between 1st and 2nd generation?)

And one more, just because it is just so crazy cheap:

Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 2x2 (only one XLR input, and the other is 1/4", plus is just 48KHz, but is an insanely low price of $29.99!! And is there a big difference between this and the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC22 2x2 for ten bucks more??)

 

[David Peterson]

After some more thought into it, it appears Focusrite is in general the popular "default" recommendation.

But I often like to go against the grain ;-)

Steinberg UR22MKII seems to be my preferred choice at the moment, because I get the feeling from reading reviews it might have a small edge in having better pre amps, but also it has the nifty feature of being able to run from a USB power pack which gives it some extreme portability! (you can hook it up then with a iPad)

Tempted to wait for the reviews of the new Roland Rubix24 to come out, plus tempted still by the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC404HD (because it has four inputs, and is only $100).

 

[David Peterson]

Still sitting on the fence as to which cheap and affordable USB interface I should buy, I think I've narrowed it down to three that grab my interest the most:

BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC404HD (only US$100! And has MIDAS designed pre amps, and has 4 XLR inputs).

Secondhand Focusrite Scarlett 18I8 (hopefully could get it for sub US$200 secondhand on eBay? Although might be only generation 1, does gen2 add that much more?! I do like that not only does it have 4 XLR inputs, but I can easily enough expand it up to **EIGHTEEN* inputs! :-o ).

Roland Rubix24 (US$200, so probably the priciest one here. But has limiters, and two headphone outputs).

What do folks think?

 

[Fabio Lanzone]

I used the Focusrite. Moved to Steinberg DR22 II. Better preamps IMHO, especially with very low level inputs.

 

[David Peterson]

I used the Focusrite. Moved to Steinberg DR22 II. Better preamps IMHO, especially with very low level inputs.

Ah! That is interesting, seeing as you've personally compared both together. May I ask which Focusrite it was that you had?