Cheap USB audio interfaces...suggestions?

[TmcB]

I'm after a cheap USB audio interface and could use a bit of guidance.
I'm primarily just trying to get guitar and bass plugged directly in from a pedalboard to track in logic pro, or maybe recording a guitar and bass amp simultaneously. I'm sick of my TC Impact Twin being a pain in the ass even though I like the Firewire.

Here's what I'm after:
- 2 xlr/high-z inputs
- USB 2 or 3
- 2 headphone outs
- plug and play with Logic Pro X
- Between $150-250
- No clipping problems

Any suggestions?

[rickenbackerkid]

Focusrite Scarlett. Bloody good little boxes

[TmcB]

Focusrite Scarlett. Bloody good little boxes

I hear there are pretty bad clipping probs with guitar going straight in, have you experienced that?
That was my first thought, if it didn't have that it'd be a no brainer really.

[rickenbackerkid]

Mine doesn’t. lots of headroom, stable drivers. I have the 8i6 version

[aliasceiza]

Currently using a scarlett 2i4, record guitar and bass direct all the time, never had an issue, and I'm still on 32 bit xp!

[TmcB]

How big are these fellas?

[jeremyb]

Scarlett is a pretty nice looking unit, also in similar price range is the m-track: http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/recordin ... -june.html

[slash-ed]

Tony, the Scarlett preamps do have relatively low headroom before they start to clip. But unless you have extremely high output pickups, you should be able to wind down the input gain to match.

Question - why do you want 2 x headphone outs?

[TmcB]

Well, the reason I want two out is because I'm writing stuff with the bassplayer and it would be good if we could both be able to be hearing whats going on at the same time; sometimes it's evening recording so kids and wives and girlfriends aren't too fussed on random noises.

[sopachrga]

The Scarlett 2i2 has a known clipping issue. Any high output humbucker will clip the input. You can switch to line level input to clear the clipping. But then it just sounds muddy and dull.

[druz15]

Steinberg UR22s are pretty good, upgrade to the UR28M for x2 headphone outs and master control for up to 3 different monitoring options. They're around 450ish I think.

Tbh anything cheaper isn't likely to have dual headphone outs

[jeremyb]

Well, the reason I want two out is because I'm writing stuff with the bassplayer and it would be good if we could both be able to be hearing whats going on at the same time; sometimes it's evening recording so kids and wives and girlfriends aren't too fussed on random noises.

Can't you just use a headphone splitter?

[Basket Case]

I wouldn't recommend the M-Track. It's what I'm currently using and I get a lot of noise when putting a dry guitar signal into it. Also, the first one I had crapped itself after a couple of weeks.

I'm also interested in suggestions for a replacement.

[TmcB]

Well, the reason I want two out is because I'm writing stuff with the bassplayer and it would be good if we could both be able to be hearing whats going on at the same time; sometimes it's evening recording so kids and wives and girlfriends aren't too fussed on random noises.

Can't you just use a headphone splitter?

Well, I definitely could. It's probably the most negotiable of all the requirements.

[jeremyb]

Would any of this be improved if you had a small mixer or something going into your existing interface?