Research shows that the benefits of higher-resolution audio recording (like 24/192) are “small and difficult to detect.” You can read more about audio resolution in this post. High-resolution recording: Most USB audio interfaces available today are capable of accurate, noise-free recording at 24-bit depth with a 96 kHz sampling rate or higher, so we considered that a minimum requirement for our music-oriented picks.It’s important to be able to see and read the meters easily, but the meters on many USB interfaces are small and tough to see. Setting it too low can result in excessive noise and make a recording more difficult to mix. If the level is too high, distortion (often called “clipping”) will result. These meters are critical for setting gain, or record level. Meter design: One of the biggest differences among USB interfaces is the way their signal-level meters are configured.I’ve been using M-Audio’s plastic-bodied MobilePre for my subwoofer measurements (all of which are done outdoors) for more than a decade, and it’s still operating flawlessly.

A well-made interface, even if it’s made of plastic, should survive years of use.

Build quality: We noted from reading online reviews that many users place a premium on the build quality of a USB interface, so we immediately dismissed any obviously cheap, flimsy interfaces that looked like they might not survive more than a few months of frequent use.

But the 2i2 3rd Gen interface has limited iOS compatibility and lacks a MIDI connection (which is useful only if you have a very old keyboard, drum machine, or sampler you want to use).

It also adds stereo direct monitoring ( we explain this below), which can be an advantage in certain circumstances. The 3rd Gen version adds an Air button for each channel this delivers a subtle bit of extra zip to recordings. The LED rings around the 2i2’s gain knobs will glow green when the input level is safe, yellow when you’re nearing the danger zone, and red when the gain is too high. When setting the gain (aka the input or record level), you want it to be high enough to minimize noise but low enough to prevent distortion in instruments or voices.

We especially like the design of the 2i2’s gain level indicators. The Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen is compact, yet it’s sturdy and bulky enough to stay put on a desktop, and all of the knobs and jacks are in the right places for comfortable operation. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen is the latest version of the interface that’s become something of a standard for home recording and has long been our top pick.

Presonus studio 2 6 usb audio interface