Cheap/reliable USB audio interface?

[Lebowsky]

hey all,

I am currently abroad and we're trying to exchange ideas over internet with my drummer. The idea is that he'd record some stuff at our practice space and send it to me. I'd like to record over the track. Software is not an issue. However, I only have a laptop (win7, SSD) without any line/mic input so I need an USB 3 interface. I'd like to record either the bass directly, or have a couple of effects before the interface.

Any recommendation? Preferably cheap - cheapest possible even - as this setup will only last a few months. I don't intend on recording anything else after that or need multiple inputs, etc. Win7 only (don't have a smartphone). I saw a few devices, but there were always some reviews/testimonials that put me off, so I'd like to have some actual opinions of people using them frequently.

Thanks!

 

[testing1two]

Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) is a great choice for $109 US Dollars. Also, Audient is coming out with a new low-price ($129 USD) interface called the EVO 4 which I saw at NAMM and it's really great, plus it is bus powered so no bulky power adapter/wall wart.

Note: Any new interface is going to be developed for Windows 10, and if you're lucky it will run on Windows 7/64-bit. If you're still running a 32-bit OS then your choices are limited to used gear and no support from manufacturers because, time marches on...

If you're running a licensed copy of Windows 7/64-bit, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

 

[Lebowsky]

Thanks, yeah I saw the Scarlett Solo after some more searches and it seems like a no brainer. Thinking of picking up a used 2nd gen to save some bucks, unless there are known issues or vast improvements in the 3rd gen?

I will be using Win 7/64bit as long as I can due to having to cope with win 10 at work and having to manage it on computers for a small associative cinema I volunteer at

 

[testing1two]

Thanks, yeah I saw the Scarlett Solo after some more searches and it seems like a no brainer. Thinking of picking up a used 2nd gen to save some bucks, unless there are known issues or vast improvements in the 3rd gen?

I will be using Win 7/64bit as long as I can due to having to cope with win 10 at work and having to manage it on computers for a small associative cinema I volunteer at

As far as Gen 2 or Gen 3, I think you'd be happy with either. That said I think of interfaces more like a software purchase than a hardware purchase. By that I mean I don't expect an interface to last in the same way I would expect a microphone or a piece of rack gear. Interfaces rely on drivers and software which are tied to rapidly evolving operating systems and computer hardware with a limited shelf life.

With this planned obsolescence in mind, I typically avoid older, secondhand interfaces (anything more than a year or two old) because their useful lifespan is just that much shorter.

 

[Lebowsky]

that's smart thinking, thanks for the advice!

 

[Aloe]

With this planned obsolescence in mind, I typically avoid older, secondhand interfaces (anything more than a year or two old) because their useful lifespan is just that much shorter.

my 2009 audio interface says hi to you, guys. yeah, it's still working in latest Windows and MacOS.

I recall two problems with obsolete interfaces:
1. firewire stopped to appear in new computers. that's why there're lots of second-hand firewire stuff cheap.
2. there was an Audiobox VSL that came with a driver that allowed some fancy effects like reverbs or EQ. this driver stopped working on Mac at some point, the developers said it's not possible to make same for new MacOS. but it still should work as a class-compatible device without those effects.

 

[Lebowsky]

just bought a used 2nd gen Scarlett Solo for under 40£ on ebay, looking forward to fiddling with it!

 

[nabilhuakbar]

just bought a used 2nd gen Scarlett Solo for under 40£ on ebay, looking forward to fiddling with it!

Dang it, I was just working up a reply when you posted this.

I was gonna suggest the Behringer U-Phoria UM-2. You get 2 lines in and direct monitoring and it works pretty well. You can pipe all of your audio back out through it, which can be handy for practicing and playing along to songs/tracks. If all you're doing is practicing and tooling around with something like AmpliTube it's a fantastic tool. It gets a little more squirrely when you're trying to record tracks with it. I found out the hard way that they record at 48kHz by default and trying to get that audio to sync up with the 44.1kHz track I used for a YouTube video has been a complete nightmare. Attempting to record through it at 44.1kHz means everything else gets slowed down and distorted through playback.

It was really cheap, which is why I'm not complaining, but I'm looking at other options now for recording things.