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An audio interface replaces your computer sound card for recording, with mic preamps and low-latency monitoring. See our comparison.

This guide is built from product listings, not our own testing, so confirm compatibility with your operating system and ports on the product page.

Last updated: October 30, 2026.

Quick Picks

Product Type Best for
M-Audio M-Track Duo USB audio interface Two-channel budget interface
Arturia MiniFuse 1 USB audio and MIDI interface Compact interface with MIDI
Shure MVX2U Gen 2 XLR-to-USB-C interface Single XLR input
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen USB-C audio interface One mic/instrument input
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB-C audio interface Two inputs
Fender AudioBox GO USB audio interface For guitarists, vocalists and producers

Our Picks

1. M-Audio M-Track Duo

An M-Audio M-Track Duo USB audio interface, per the listing. It was listed at about $69 on Amazon.com when we checked on October 30, 2026.

Good for: budget home recording. Strengths: low price and two channels. Weaknesses: basic. Skip it if you want premium preamps.

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2. Arturia MiniFuse 1

An Arturia MiniFuse 1 USB audio and MIDI interface, per the listing. It was listed at about $119 on Amazon.com when we checked on October 30, 2026.

Good for: mobile and desktop recording. Strengths: audio and MIDI in one box. Weaknesses: mid price. Skip it if you want two inputs.

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3. Shure MVX2U Gen 2

A Shure XLR-to-USB-C audio interface, per the listing. It was listed at about $139 on Amazon.com when we checked on October 30, 2026.

Good for: XLR mic users. Strengths: Shure brand. Weaknesses: one input only. Skip it if you need many inputs.

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4. Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen

A USB-C audio interface from Focusrite, per the listing. It was listed at about $160 on Amazon.com when we checked on October 30, 2026.

Good for: solo vocalists and guitarists. Strengths: Focusrite brand. Weaknesses: higher price. Skip it if you need two inputs.

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5. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen

A Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th-gen USB-C audio interface, per the listing. It was listed at about $225 on Amazon.com when we checked on October 30, 2026.

Good for: podcast duos and home studios. Strengths: two inputs and Focusrite brand. Weaknesses: high price. Skip it if you only need one input.

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6. Fender AudioBox GO

A Fender AudioBox GO USB audio interface, per the listing.

Good for: Fender fans. Strengths: Fender brand. Weaknesses: price not confirmed in our check. Skip it if you want the cheapest.

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How to Choose

Inputs

Count the mics and instruments you need.

Drivers

ASIO drivers matter on Windows.

Connection

USB-C is common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an audio interface?

For XLR mics and instruments, yes.

Which is best?

Scarlett Solo is popular.

Sound card or interface?

See our comparison.

Bottom Line

For solo use, the Scarlett Solo. For two inputs, the Scarlett 2i2 or M-Track Duo. For MIDI, the MiniFuse 1.

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