In 2018, there are dozens of options for an audio interface selection. With the holiday season just around the corner, we wanted to share our list of the best interfaces of 2018.
Here at Pixel Pro Audio, we are fanboys of Audient. They are the only interface manufacturer that uses the same microphone preamp in their interfaces as well as large format studio consoles! The iD44 came out earlier this year and is off to a great start. It wields 4 of Audient's console microphone preamps, 16 digital inputs and outputs, 2 individual headphone amps, 3 customizable function buttons and all of the monitoring options you could need. This made it to the top of our list because it is a recording solution that future-proofs all mobile and permanent studio needs.
If you want to learn more about Audient, check out their site here.
A studio that needs 8 clean preamps with lots of headroom should look toward Focusrite's Clarett Range. I used one of these for almost 3 years and was very happy with the results. Having tons of headroom and a super clean response made mixing so much easier. It's a huge step up from budget interfaces and can really step up your game as an engineer. That's not just me saying that, top level engineers stand by it too! Check it out here:
The Studio Series interfaces are the latest from PreSonus. We chose the 2|6 because this little box is built like a tank and sounds phenomenal. It has 2 of the critically acclaimed XMAX preamps and is perfect for a musician on the go who needs to record acoustic guitar, electric guitar or bass, vocals, keys, etc. The Studio 2|6 (as well as every PreSonus interface) includes a copy of the latest version of Studio One Artist DAW software so you can get to making music right away. Studio One Version 4 just released! Check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUpCTZ_Lk8
This is an interface that released in 2017, but it's so good that we had to put it on here. The AudioFuse is Arturia's first crack at the interface market and they did exceptionally well. The two inputs have tons of clean gain and are equipped with some of the flattest preamps available. The AudioFuse also has two speaker outputs. One of which can be used as a real, impedance-accurate reamp output to run an instrument DI into an amplifier. No other audio interface on this current price-point market has this feature, and it is incredibly useful to have one built-in. Perhaps the most loved part about the AudioFuse is the ability to use USB bus power, or the option to use a DC power supply for extra headroom. During mix time, the inputs can also be disabled to give full bandwidth to the speaker outputs. Arturia really impressed us, so we couldn't help but include it.
Thanks for checking out our list of The Best Home Studio Interfaces of 2018. As always, enjoy FAST and FREE shipping on any order in the continental US. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to give us a toll free call at 855-269-0474, or stop in our store in Downtown Appleton! Be sure to check out our other shopping guides here.
Audient iD44 - $699
Here at Pixel Pro Audio, we are fanboys of Audient. They are the only interface manufacturer that uses the same microphone preamp in their interfaces as well as large format studio consoles! The iD44 came out earlier this year and is off to a great start. It wields 4 of Audient's console microphone preamps, 16 digital inputs and outputs, 2 individual headphone amps, 3 customizable function buttons and all of the monitoring options you could need. This made it to the top of our list because it is a recording solution that future-proofs all mobile and permanent studio needs.
If you want to learn more about Audient, check out their site here.
Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB - $979.99
A studio that needs 8 clean preamps with lots of headroom should look toward Focusrite's Clarett Range. I used one of these for almost 3 years and was very happy with the results. Having tons of headroom and a super clean response made mixing so much easier. It's a huge step up from budget interfaces and can really step up your game as an engineer. That's not just me saying that, top level engineers stand by it too! Check it out here:
PreSonus Studio 2|6 - $199.95
The Studio Series interfaces are the latest from PreSonus. We chose the 2|6 because this little box is built like a tank and sounds phenomenal. It has 2 of the critically acclaimed XMAX preamps and is perfect for a musician on the go who needs to record acoustic guitar, electric guitar or bass, vocals, keys, etc. The Studio 2|6 (as well as every PreSonus interface) includes a copy of the latest version of Studio One Artist DAW software so you can get to making music right away. Studio One Version 4 just released! Check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUpCTZ_Lk8
Arturia AudioFuse - $599.99
This is an interface that released in 2017, but it's so good that we had to put it on here. The AudioFuse is Arturia's first crack at the interface market and they did exceptionally well. The two inputs have tons of clean gain and are equipped with some of the flattest preamps available. The AudioFuse also has two speaker outputs. One of which can be used as a real, impedance-accurate reamp output to run an instrument DI into an amplifier. No other audio interface on this current price-point market has this feature, and it is incredibly useful to have one built-in. Perhaps the most loved part about the AudioFuse is the ability to use USB bus power, or the option to use a DC power supply for extra headroom. During mix time, the inputs can also be disabled to give full bandwidth to the speaker outputs. Arturia really impressed us, so we couldn't help but include it.
Thanks for checking out our list of The Best Home Studio Interfaces of 2018. As always, enjoy FAST and FREE shipping on any order in the continental US. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to give us a toll free call at 855-269-0474, or stop in our store in Downtown Appleton! Be sure to check out our other shopping guides here.
