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Suggest an audio interface for me

Kipp Harrington

Kipp Harrington

Feb 8, 2018
6,138
8,979
62
Wauseon, Ohio
#1
Greetings...

When it comes to stuff like this and recording, I am a complete novice. I plan on using Garage Band with an iPad/iPhone and need a simple, decent sounding audio interface. I'm not looking for pro-quality recordings, but would like them to sound decent. I would like to stay south of $150. Looking for something with straightforward, intuitive controls/software, without a large learning curve. I've done some research on several products, but need some direction/advice. I will be using this as a stepping stone toward something a little more sophisticated in the future. The simpler, the better! Thanks!
 
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#2
Hard to go wrong with the Focusrite stuff. Looks like the Scarlett 2i2 can be had within your budget. There are plenty of other basic interfaces you can choose from too. The current generation of interfaces by pretty much all vendors will give you solid mic pre's. Older Lightning equipped iPads will need the Apple USB-C to Lightning adapter cable, or the Apple USB-C to Camera adapter cable to connect with the 2i2.

Here's a basic how-to for the USB-C iPad from Focusrite:
Invalid Link Removed

Here's one for the older Lightning equipped iPad:
Invalid Link Removed

Garage band is a decent DAW once you know your way around it.

Come back and ask questions once you get the basic system up and running. Lots of experienced folks here.

good luck, have fun!
 
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#3
pfschim said:
Hard to go wrong with the Focusrite stuff. Looks like the Scarlett 2i2 can be had within your budget. There are plenty of other basic interfaces you can choose from too. The current generation of interfaces by pretty much all vendors will give you solid mic pre's. Older Lightning equipped iPads will need the Apple USB-C to Lightning adapter cable, or the Apple USB-C to Camera adapter cable to connect with the 2i2.

Here's a basic how-to for the USB-C iPad from Focusrite:
Invalid Link Removed

Here's one for the older Lightning equipped iPad:
Invalid Link Removed

Garage band is a decent DAW once you know your way around it.

Come back and ask questions once you get the basic system up and running. Lots of experienced folks here.

good luck, have fun!
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your response and taking the time to explain things! Much appreciated! I dug around a bit more this afternoon and I think I would like to get the Focusrite Solo Gen 3. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks again!
 
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#5
Lovep said:
I tried the Focusrite in the past and for the $$, the MOTU M2 or M4 are better in my opinion.
Click to expand...
'sall good. there's lots of good basic interfaces these days and I have no dog in the race. Care to elaborate on what you feel is better about the Motu units ?
I'm pretty certain that most entry level units like the OP is looking at are going to be pretty comparable as far as quality of pre and other key specs go (headroom/dynamic range, noise floor etc). FWIW, the MOTU units you listed exceed the OP's budget of $150, while the Focusrite 2i2 does not.
 
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#6
Kipp Harrington said:
Thank you so much for your response and taking the time to explain things! Much appreciated! I dug around a bit more this afternoon and I think I would like to get the Focusrite Solo Gen 3. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks again!
Click to expand...
should work fine for your stated goals. At your starter level I would say that getting a solid interface up and running, and then jumping into the learning process is probably more useful than agonizing over tiny, and very likely undetectable, differences in interfaces.

Good luck! have fun!

If you have questions as you go, this is a great forum for getting answers from all the experienced folks here.
 
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#7
For me, the output/input screen for monitoring levels was far better on the MOTUs for the Focusrites. The build quality in the MOTUs are far better than the Focusrite (feel of the dials, etc). The ability to blend the amount of your input vs the audio track (via computer) is great for playing along tracks. I don't remember the Focusrite having that feature. On/off switch in the back and MIDI are a nice features on the MOTUS.

The MOTU M2 is $200 vs the Focusrite being ~$130. The extra $70 was well worth the investment.

MOTU M2 2x2 USB-C Audio Interface | Sweetwater
 
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#10
I own a MOTU M4, and recently purchased a Focusrite Clarett for my music department. These, along with the Scarlett models are the most popular lower priced interfaces.

I prefer the MOTU for its excellent metering. The Focusrite Clarett has a more subtle LED metering around the gain knobs which works fine as well.
 
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#11
Kipp Harrington said:
Greetings...

When it comes to stuff like this and recording, I am a complete novice. I plan on using Garage Band with an iPad/iPhone and need a simple, decent sounding audio interface. I'm not looking for pro-quality recordings, but would like them to sound decent. I would like to stay south of $150. Looking for something with straightforward, intuitive controls/software, without a large learning curve. I've done some research on several products, but need some direction/advice. I will be using this as a stepping stone toward something a little more sophisticated in the future. The simpler, the better! Thanks!
Click to expand...

‘I use a Steinberg UR12 running Cubasis. Great system, but does not work well with iPhone or iPads. The problem is it requires operational power from the iPad/iPhone battery which in my experience lasts about 20 minutes before the the iPad battery needs recharged. A computer is highly recommended, and only certain OS operating systems (Mac computers) are compatible.

Best wishes.
 
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#12
Kipp Harrington said:
Greetings...

When it comes to stuff like this and recording, I am a complete novice. I plan on using Garage Band with an iPad/iPhone and need a simple, decent sounding audio interface. I'm not looking for pro-quality recordings, but would like them to sound decent. I would like to stay south of $150. Looking for something with straightforward, intuitive controls/software, without a large learning curve. I've done some research on several products, but need some direction/advice. I will be using this as a stepping stone toward something a little more sophisticated in the future. The simpler, the better! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Thank you for posting this question Kipp. And thanks to those who responded.

I researched interfaces for an iPad a couple years ago, got overwhelmed, and never bought one. The straightforward advice given here has allowed me to narrow it down to two affordable choices to start learning about recording. I’ll probably order one soon.
 
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#13
I’ve had a Focusrite for a long time. I used to have an Mbox2 which was a proprietary protools thing. One day they just decided to stop supporting it. That’s it, just done. I absolutely had to update my computer for other reasons and that was the day the MBox died. It was perfectly fine, they just didn’t write drivers for the new OS update at the time. I was furious. I called my sweetwater dude, and told him I need something that will never do this to me again, and he pointed me to the Focusrite. It’s worked great ever since.
 
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