Guitar Center just opened a new store not too far away and they have a good stock of USB interfaces. I'd like to buy my initial one locally so if it just won't work for me I can return it easily. I've narrowed my choices down to an Alesis iO2 Express ($82), a Presonus AudioBox USB 2x2 ($119 on sale) and a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 ($150). They also has a couple of ART USB interfaces but I don't recall which. I'm trying to keep it around $100 but will stretch my budget to $150 is there's a particular unit that would be the best choice. I'm open to other suggestions too if none of these are a good choice to start out with.
Here's my question. Do any of these stand out as a particularly good or bad choice in terms of ease of configuring, what software they'll work with and what software comes with it? I'm new to this game and don't really know the software yet, so I'm trying to avoid buying an interface that will give me compatibility problems later. You guys know the issues that certain combinations may bring out, so I'd appreciate your guidance (It will have the added benefit of reducing the number of dumb questions I ask in this forum).
I'll be using it with a Windows XP Pro system, and an iPad1 once I get a CCK and USB hub, so I know I'll have some limitations in running multiple apps. If I could, I'd just get an iTrack Solo but the specs say it requires Windows 7 and I don't have the funds to upgrade the OS right now.
I really appreciate the time you guys take with this thread to help us noobs out when we get into trouble and to try an keep us from getting into trouble in the first place. It probably helps you too, to have this thread as a sandbox to keep us in until we're up and running on our own.