Best Budget Audio Interface For Music Production

The era that we live in today is the best era to be a producer. Music production unlike in the past won’t cost you an arm and a leg to start, although still expensive. Here is the best budget audio interface for music production.

An audio interface is a crucial link in any recording process that uses computers. And if you’re just getting started in the music industry, there are a lot of best budget audio interfaces that will do the job without putting your pizza habit or your kids’ college savings in jeopardy.

Best Budget Audio Interface For Music Production

1- Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD

2- M-Audio M-Track Duo

3- IK Multimedia iRig Pre HD iOS Microphone Preamp & Interface

4- Presonus Audiobox USB96

5- Miditech Audiolink III

Wanna know how Record Vocals On Garageband Without A Mic? click here

💡What to Look for in a Budget Audio Interface (Buyer’s Guide)

When choosing an audio interface under $100, your priority should be clean sound quality, low latency monitoring, and enough connectivity for your current setup. Start by checking the number of inputs and outputs, if you’re a solo artist or podcaster, two inputs (usually combo XLR/TRS) and a headphone out are often enough. Some interfaces also include stereo RCA or 1/4″ outputs for studio monitors.

Direct monitoring is a must have if you’re recording vocals or instruments. It lets you hear yourself in real time with zero latency, avoiding that frustrating delay when tracking. If you’re planning to use a condenser mic, make sure the interface provides 48V phantom power, it’s essential to power those types of mics properly.

MIDI input and output is another thing to watch for, especially if you use external gear like MIDI keyboards or hardware synths. Not all budget interfaces have it, but a few do and they’re worth considering if you’re into beatmaking or production.

Also, check if the interface comes with a software bundle. Many budget options include DAW software like Studio One Artist or Ableton Live Lite, along with virtual instruments and effects. That can be a huge win if you’re just starting out and need tools to get going.

Lastly, don’t obsess over ultra-high sample rates. As long as it records at 24-bit/96kHz, you’ll get studio quality sound more than good enough for music, podcasts, or YouTube.

🧠 Pro Tip: If you plan to use a MIDI keyboard or hardware synths, make sure the interface has built-in MIDI I/O — it’ll save you from buying an extra adapter or USB hub later.

1- Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD 

This low-cost USB audio interface is no exception to Behringer’s reputation for providing high-quality equipment to musicians on a tight budget.

This best budget audio interfaces, which can record at professional quality at 24 bits and 192 kHz, will get sound into and out of your laptop or desktop quickly and easily without taking up too much valuable desk space.

The bus power for the interface comes from the USB cable that comes with it. On the front of the unit are two mix/line combo inputs, one headphone jack, and two line outputs on the back.

The Behringer U-Phoria MC202 can be used with almost any recording software (Cubase, Garageband, Logic, etc.) and is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

A small number of users have reported issues with the Windows driver issues; however, some clever Googling can assist in this area.

Midas designed the mic preamps, which produce excellent audio with dynamic or condenser microphones.

Due to the low output of ribbon microphones, it has been reported that the preamps do not work well with them.

You could use a Cloud Lifter or an external preamp as a workaround, but if you really want to use a ribbon microphone, you might be better off saving for a more expensive audio interface.

Behringer describes the construction as “like a tank.” There have been no reports of malfunctioning buttons or wobbly knobs, and the metal chassis does look sleek.

Although most users agree that the build quality is fairly robust and suitable for mobile recording, I would not recommend testing the tank theory by throwing it down the stairs.

If you already have the tools you need to record and produce music, you could do a lot worse than the Behringer U-Phoria. Other best budget audio interfaces in this price range offer better software bundles.

2- M-Audio M-Track Duo

The M-Track Duo is one of two budget interfaces from M-Audio, which are well-known for its impressive range of audio interfaces and MIDI controllers.

Crystal preamps are used in the two TRS/XLR combination inputs

on the front of the unit. The switching feature makes it simple to record great audio from the line and instrument-level sources and provides phantom power for condenser mics.

The earphone yield has a free level of control, albeit a few clients whine about an absence of volume in this division. If you intend to use the interface in a noisy environment, this is something to keep in mind.

The sound quality is actually pretty good for the price, which is definitely enough to get you recording music without breaking the bank or sacrificing sound quality.

M-Audio claims that the M-Track’s sleek design makes it easy to carry in a backpack or gig bag, but some users say the build is a little light and flimsy. Therefore, perhaps you should not skateboard while carrying it.

Overall, the M-Track Duo is one of the best low-cost audio interfaces available, along with its smaller brother, the M-Track Solo. This could be your knight in shining armor if you’re looking for a straightforward audio interface at an affordable price that will teach you how to record music.

3- IK Multimedia iRig Pre HD iOS Microphone Preamp & Interface

 

This is not your typical audio interface designed for recording in a studio. Rather, the iRig Pre HD is planned explicitly for versatile recording, specifically for engineers who like to catch on to convenient gadgets like tablets and telephones.

It’s pretty basic to use this audio interface; It has a high-quality preamp, one balanced XLR mic input, and a side phantom power switch for condenser microphones. Additionally, the unit has a gain range control that can be adjusted. The increased control can be somewhat touchy so change with care!

On the opposite side of the unit, where you can also activate or deactivate the direct monitoring feature, you can adjust the output from the 1/8″ headphone jack.

 Whatever device you are connected to powers the preamp via the bus. The box comes with cables for lightning to micro USB, USB-A, and USB-C, which cover most of your needs. However, if you want to use the +48V phantom power, you’ll need to plug in two AA batteries.

Even when using a dynamic microphone, this iRig model produces a clear sound at up to a 24-bit/96kHz sample rate, which is impressive for a device of this size. In this case, you may need to increase the gain a lot, but the preamp doesn’t change the signal.

Although it does not fulfill all of the requirements that other models in this article do, it is still worth mentioning; in the event that you need top-notch sound with complete conveys ability, this is an extraordinary financial plan sound connection point.

4- Presonus Audiobox USB96

 

PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 is a neat little budget audio interface that costs less than $100 (before taxes) and has a lot of features for the price.

This is a great budget interface for engineers and singer-songwriters looking for a portable solution to complement their studio setup because it has two combo inputs that record at up to 24 bits/96 kHz.

Condenser microphones can be used for recording thanks to onboard phantom power, and the “mixer” knob on the front of the unit lets you blend the interface’s input and output signals to reduce latency when laying down tracks.

For musicians who want to remotely control their external hardware synths from their DAW, the Audiobox is the only best budget audio interfaces in our sub-$100 category with MIDI connectivity.

One of the best bundles in this price range includes Presonus Studio One Artist, Ableton Live Lite, and Studio Magic’s plugin collection. Basically, everything you need to get started making music right away.

The Audiobox is a strong contender for the best budget audio interface due to the combination of all of these features and a price that is less than three figures.

This USB audio interface has a lot of features for musicians just starting out in recording, so they won’t have to spend a lot of money on a new interface in the near future.

5- Miditech Audiolink III

Miditech is a German company that is best known for its MIDI-focused studio equipment. However, they decided to produce a budget audio interface without a MIDI connection for some reason.

This might be done to get customers to buy MIDI interfaces from them as well. Who can say? However, I digress. I chose to place the Audiolink III in the best spending plan sound connection point list due to two highlights that make it stick out – perhaps these are only the elements you’re searching for.

First, because each of the two combo XLR inputs has its own switchable phantom power, one of them can be used for a condenser microphone and the other for a guitar input.

The stereo line inputs on the unit’s rear are another interesting addition to this interface. The manufacturer’s website doesn’t say for sure if these are line-level inputs, but their name would suggest they are.

This is useful if you frequently want to record input from e-drums or a synth and want to leave the combo inputs open for microphones.

Aside from that, it is a straightforward device that is compatible with both Windows and Mac systems. When recording with dynamic microphones, some users have complained of a lack of dynamic range; however, once more, recording of a very high quality is not really an option at this price point.

🎯 Why I Researched This

I’m a music producer, and I bought my first audio interface back in 2015, it was a Steinberg audio inerface if I remember correctly. At the time, it was tough to find a solid audio interface without spending a ton of money. There weren’t many options for beginners or producers on a tight budget.

Fast forward to now, and the landscape has changed a lot. There are actually some great audio interfaces under $100 that deliver clean sound, low latency monitoring, and even features like MIDI and bundled software. That’s why I put this guide together, to help you skip the overwhelm and find something affordable that actually works well for music production or content creation.

Whether you’re recording vocals, producing beats, or just starting out with a mic and headphones, you don’t have to break the bank to sound professional.