WTB: (SORTED) Budget audio interface

roundthebend

I've just ordered a Rode NT1A to do some recording onto my MacBook. I'll be recording acoustic guitar and vocals, and probably some electric through my Yamaha THR10.

I'm no expert just a hobbyist looking to get a simple workflow for getting riffs, chord progressions, vocal ideas down or for cover tracks.

I think I need a budget audio interface which can power the mic and provide a good signal to the laptop, with the ability to monitor without lag through headphones.I might like to add some monitor speakers later for playback too.

What do people have for sale? Let's say £50 as a starting point, which would get me a Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 with change, or nearly a UMC202HD (£58).

roundthebend

Really nothing about?
The ones I listed aren't in stock anywhere

Jalapeno

Not really much point buying a Rode mic and skimping on the Interface IMHO

Focusrite Scarlett Solo c.£85 ?

spark240

Presonus audio box of some sort?....might be worth thinking about what DAW you want, that may influence the interface type?

roundthebend

I was going to use GarageBand as it's on my MacBook already.

roundthebend

Jalapeno said:

Not really much point buying a Rode mic and skimping on the Interface IMHO

Focusrite Scarlett Solo c.£85 ?

That's an interesting view, I'm glad I've bought a decent mic! I can stretch the budget up to £100 I guess, just wondered what people had available. Focusrite seen to be the goto brand, what else is there?

Should I bother with 2 or more inputs for recording do stuff etc? 

Jason

I'd go new Focusrite, my Steinberg UR22 no longer works with the new Mac OS, to be fair it is quite old, just ordered a 2i2 to replace it

Jalapeno

Yep the 2i2 is the model of choice

roundthebend

Jalapeno said:

Yep the 2i2 is the model of choice

I think I'll just get one of those then, either 2nd hand or new if the price isn't massively different.

Mwnci

@roundthebend ive a 2i2 version 1 i could do for £50?

sweepy

Mac or PC ?

roundthebend

sweepy said:

Mac or PC ?

Mac

roundthebend

Mwnci said:

@roundthebend ive a 2i2 version 1 i could do for £50?

Thanks, I think I want a better model now though. I've heard of an issue with the 1st Gen. Can't remember what it was, but one bad review puts me off.

roundthebend

The slippery slope gets slippier! I've realised I might also want to plug in my electronic drum kit via Midi, and maybe a piano or midi keyboard.

So, I probably want the Scarlett 4i4. £180. That's some budget shift!

roundthebend

Perhaps, as a novice, I should go back to looking at the Behringer range for budget.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_u_phoria_umc204hd.htm

I'm only trying to get demos done, I'm sure the quality is more than sufficient.

roundthebend

I opted for a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Adding MIDI with the 4i4 was too much money and I'd probably give up learning how to record.

Thanks for the help.

LastMantra

I'm still using a saffire 6 USB. You could probably get a second hand one for pnuts. Don't know if they are still usable on all OS though? Is the scarlet any better?