Best Sounding Portable Audio Interfaces

Introduction

There are so many audio interface models in the market and when it comes to choosing which one to buy, here comes a major issue. Difficulty in making the right purchase. It is often more difficult to beginners as they are not much familiar with industry brands and their product specifications.

An important consideration for choosing the right audio interface would depend on your needs. There are many music producers and engineers who would like to have small, easy to use and portable audio interfaces that they can simply carry out with themselves when needed. Some might travel a lot or would prefer an inspiring location outside the studio to make music oftentimes. Here, you can find out about some of the perfect matches in this case.

Apogee Duet 2

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Apogee Duet sets the industry standard for portable professional audio recording on Mac and iPad. Made for the musician, producer and engineer that wants the ultimate sound quality and elegant simplicity, Duet features legendary Apogee AD/DA conversion, 2 world-class microphone preamps, USB MIDI I/O, and ESS Sabre32 DAC technology. Take advantage of Duet’s low latency USB connection and powerful native Mac processing to join the ranks of top engineers and producers who count on Waves and Apogee to deliver hit after hit.

With Duet’s 2 Combo inputs you can connect microphones, guitars, keyboards, or line-level devices such as external mic preamps or a mixing board. Duet also includes 4 analog outputs – 2 1/4” balanced outputs for connection to speakers or outboard equipment and a separate, independently controlled 1/4” stereo headphone output.

Customers who purchase Apogee ONE, Duet, Quartet or Ensemble new after April 4, 2016, can register their product and receive a discount code good for 25% off a single plugin or 35% off any Waves bundle plus an additional $100 voucher* that can be used towards their next Waves plugin purchase. These offers can even be applied to any special deals from Waves, giving you the ability to save up to thousands of dollars on tools that give you uncompromising sound quality.

Features

2 analog inputs with world-class mic preamps and selectable 48v phantom power for connecting microphones, instruments or line-level devices
4 analog outputs – 2 balanced 1/4” outs for speakers or outboard gear, 1/4” stereo headphone output
USB 2.0 High-Speed connection to Mac
Includes reverbs, compressors, equalizers, level maximizer and effects
Direct digital connection with iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Lightning and 30-pin cable sold separately)
Software control of hardware parameters including input selection and low latency monitoring

Price: $649

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII Duo Audio Interface

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Apollo Twin MkII is a ground-up redesign of the world’s most popular professional desktop recording interface for Mac and Windows — delivering enhanced audio conversion with the tone, feel, and flow of analog recording.

Built upon UA’s 60-year heritage of audio craftsmanship, Apollo Twin MkII starts with two Unison™-enabled mic preamps and stellar next-generation A/D and D/A conversion derived from UA’s flagship Apollo 8, 8p, and 16. Together with its included bundle of UAD analog emulation plug-ins — which you can track through in real time with UAD-2 SOLO, DUO or QUAD Core processing — Apollo Twin MkII is born to make records.

Features

Record with world-class Apollo A/D and D/A conversion — as heard on hundreds of hit records
Cascade up to 4 Apollo interfaces and 6 UAD-2 devices over Thunderbolt, adding DSP and I/O as your studio grows
Mix with UAD plug-ins like the included Teletronix® LA-2A and 1176 compressors, Pultec® EQs, and 610-B Preamp
Track with near-zero latency through preamp emulations from Neve®, API®, Manley® and more using Unison™ technology

A Full Suite of Classic Analog Processing Onboard

Right out of the box, Apollo Twin MkII provides a suite of incredible analog emulation plug-ins including the world’s only authentic Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, Pultec EQs, and the Unison-enabled UA 610-B Tube Preamp. Developed by UA’s world-renowned team of algorithm engineers, these Realtime Analog Classics plug-ins set the standard by which all other hardware emulation plug-ins are judged.

From the tube warmth of the Pultec EQ on guitars, to the gentle limiting of the LA-2A on vocals, your recordings will take a giant leap forward in rich, sonically complex analog sound.

Next-Generation A/D and D/A Conversion

Of course, the heart of any audio interface is the quality of its conversion. Apollo Twin MkII improves upon the original Apollo Twin’s gold-standard audio quality with completely redesigned A/D and D/A conversion — giving you increased dynamic range and ultra-low THD. This next-generation conversion results in breathtaking clarity, depth, and accuracy in your recordings.

Improved Monitoring and Built-In Talkback Mic

The new Apollo Twin MkII offers greatly improved monitor functionality versus the original — with Mute, DIM, Mono, and ALT speaker switching. It also includes dedicated monitor remote controls and a built-in Talkback mic for easy communication with talent and/or recording slate cues. These features, combined with Apollo Twin MkII’s scalability, make it the new standard for professional desktop recording.

Requirements

UAD Powered Plug-Ins Version 9.0

MAC:

Apple Mac computer with available Thunderbolt port
Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, 10.10 Yosemite, 10.11 El Capitan, or 10.12 Sierra

WINDOWS:

PC computer with built-in Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C port
Windows 10 w/Anniversary Update (64-Bit Edition)
Qualified Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapter (sold separately)

ALL:

Thunderbolt cable (sold separately)
6 gigabytes available storage
Internet connection to download software and authorize UAD plug-ins
Compatible VST, Audio Units, RTAS, or AAX 64 plug-in host DAW software
Quad Core i7 or better processor recommended
For additional compatibility information, visit help.uaudio.com

Price: $799

Antelope Audio Zen Tour Portable Audio Interface

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Producing your own music has become the contemporary equivalent of writing poetry. Current technologies have made sound recording as easy as grabbing a pen and pouring your feelings on paper. However, unlike the solitude writing requires, music creation is usually a shared experience. A simple two or four-channel audio interface is no longer enough. A cool, creative jam with friends will require at least eight channels, packed in a portable interface that could easily fit in a backpack. Everything your band needs with the Antelope Audio Zen Tour, they are pushing the envelope once again. Antelope is offering not just a portable Thunderbolt & USB audio interface, but a pro piece, easily covering the needs of a small band. Zen Tour comes with 4 switchable Mic/Line inputs and 4 more HiZ/Line ins. Two reamp outs and a Talkback button on the Front Panel put it in the spotlight of portable interfaces.Hardware-based Audio Effects: Massive Hardware Modeling Capabilities

Already leaders in the field of digital audio clocking Antelope Audio is now on a mission to revolutionize the world of digital audio interfaces. Our custom Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) not only guarantees the lowest sound latency on the market when creating and streaming multiple mixes, but provides our devices with massive hardware modeling capabilities.

Included Guitar FX:

Modern – A Mesa-style Amp and Cabinet Combo
Top30 – A Vox style Amp and Cabinet Combo
Darkface 65 – A Fender-style Amp and Combo
(all guitar amp heads and cabinets can be used with each other to create custom stacks. All include mic models of various well-known dynamic, condenser, and ribbon mics.

Included Vintage FX:

EQP-AA – A Pultec-style vintage passive EQ with low end and top end boost/cut.
VMEQ-5A – A Pultec-style vintage mid-range EQ
VEQ-55A – An API-style 3-band vintage EQ
BAE 1073 – A current rendition of the industry’s top 1073 re-issue

Included AFX:

Antelope EQ – 4-band parametric EQ
Antelope Compressor – Features Attack, Release, Threshold, Ratio

Zero Latency Performance

Zen Tour borrows the powerful Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from Antelope Audio’s top-selling pro studio devices. This game-changing technology provides the interface with massive parallel processing capabilities and the lowest latency levels on the market. In Zen Tour portability meets studio power like in no other device.FPGA Effects

The custom FPGA is a rock-solid platform for creating multiple, zero latency mixes and applying an exciting stack of effects. Those feature Antelope’s brand new hardware-based guitar amp & cab simulations, the legendary Pultec EQ emulation and the extremely versatile AuraVerb reverb. The FPGA effects offer unbeatable authenticity and audio realism, comparable only to the sound of classic hardware gear.Next Generation Software Control

Zen Tour control is literally at your fingertips via the intuitive touch screen or the handy mobile app. The OS X and Windows compatible software control panel follows Antelope’s innovative concept for networking. You can now manage all Zen Tour features from multiple computers in the same network.Enhanced Connectivity

Zen Tour offers 8 analog outs, digital I/O on ADAT & S/PDIF, two independent headphone amps and two separate pairs of monitor outs. The FPGA powered ThunderboltTM and custom USB make the device compatible with any DAW.

Price: $1,695

Apogee One Audio Interface for Vocals and Instruments with Built In Studio Quality Condenser Microphone for iOS, Mac & Windows PC

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The Swiss Army Knife for Personal Recording and Audio Production. Apogee ONE is an all-in-one portable, USB audio interface that gives you everything you need to make professional recordings on the go. Connect a microphone, guitar or use ONE’s exceptional built-in omnidirectional microphone to easily capture your music without compromise.

ONE even lets you record with a microphone (built-in or external) and guitar simultaneously. Using Apogee’s industry-leading AD/DA conversion and mic preamp technology, ONE produces pristine music, podcast, and voice-over recordings while also delivering studio quality sound to your headphones for precision mixing or hi-fi listening. With an intuitive controller knob and seamless compatibility with macOS and Windows, ONE is easy for anyone to use.

HIGHLIGHTS: – 2 IN x 2 OUT Audio interface with built-in microphone – USB 2.0 connection for Mac or PC with 24-bit/96kHz AD/DA conversion – 2 Analog Inputs: Built-in omnidirectional condenser microphone, XLR microphone and 1/4” instrument connector on breakout cable, 2 simultaneous inputs (instrument + built-in or external mic), Mic preamp with up to 62dB of gain – 2 Analog Outputs: 1 1/8” stereo output for headphones or powered speakers – Direct monitoring, complete input/output control with – – – Apogee’s Maestro software – Die cast aluminum chassis – Legendary Apogee sound quality – Designed in California – Built in the U.S.A. iPad and iPhone compatible – Kit sold separately.

Price: $259.99

Universal Audio Arrow 2×4 Thunderbolt 3 Interface with Solo DSP Processor

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Shape your Recordings Into Records with Genuine UA Conversion and Classic Studio Sounds.

Arrow is the world’s first Thunderbolt 3-powered desktop recording audio interface for Mac and Windows — delivering class-leading audio conversion, two Unison™ mic preamps, and a suite of onboard UAD plug-ins for album-quality results.

This compact 2×4 interface starts with esteemed UA conversion derived from UA’s flagship Apollo interface range, to sonically outperform anything in its class. With its Unison technology and built-in UAD-2 SOLO Core processor, you can record through classic audio tools including the 610 Tube Preamp, LA-2A and 1176 compressors, and a genuine Marshall Plexi amp plug-in — at near-zero latency, regardless of your audio software buffer setting.

Now You Can:

Record with class-leading A/D and D/A conversion — as heard on hundreds of hit records
Track with near-zero latency through mic preamp and guitar amp emulations from Neve,® API,® Marshall,® Fender,® and more using Unison™ technology*
Mix with included UAD plug‑ins like the Teletronix® LA‑2A and 1176 compressors, Pultec® EQs, and more
Create on-the-go with a sonically superior, bus-powered interface with rugged all-metal construction

Unison™ Technology for Stunning Mic and Guitar Preamp Emulations

Arrow’s Unison technology gives you the tone, touch and “feel” of world’s most sought-after preamps. These include the bundled 610-B Tube Preamp, plus authentic mic preamp emulations from Neve® and API,® as well as guitar amp emulations from Fender® and Marshall® — complete with their signature impedance, gain stage “sweet spots,” and component-level circuit behaviors.*

The secret to Unison is its hardware-software integration between Arrow’s mic preamps and its onboard UAD-2 SOLO Core processor. Simply place a Unison preamp plug-in on your mic input in Arrow’s Console software, and it physically reconfigures Arrow’s impedance — so you can tap into the classic tube and transformer sounds of the world’s most recorded mic preamps and guitar amps.

A Full Suite of Classic Studio Processing Onboard

Right out of the box, Arrow provides a suite of incredible analog emulation plug-ins including the world’s only authentic Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, Pultec EQs, and the Unison-enabled UA 610-B Tube Preamp. Developed by UA’s world-renowned team of algorithm engineers, these Realtime Analog Classics plug-ins set the standard by which all other hardware emulation plug-ins are judged.

From the tube warmth of the Pultec EQ on guitars, to the gentle limiting of the LA-2A on vocals, your recordings will take a giant leap forward in rich, sonically complex analog sound.

Vintage Guitar and Bass Amps

For guitarists and bassists, Arrow includes Unison technology on its front panel instrument input — giving you access to dead-on emulations of amps like the Fender® ’55 Tweed Deluxe, Ampeg® B-15N Bass Amplifier, Eden® WT800 Bass Amplifier, and the included Marshall® Plexi Classic — all available at near-zero latency for songwriting and recording.

Ready to Go

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With its robust all-metal construction and bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 operation, Arrow is the only “clutter-free” portable audio interface that truly delivers album-quality results. It’s like having a virtual analog studio that fits onto any desktop, and easily travels in your laptop bag.

Getting Started with Arrow

Learn how to quickly connect, setup, and start recording tracks with real time UAD plug-in processing using an Arrow audio interface.

Included Plug-Ins

UA 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ

Impart your tracks with the iconic warmth and character of the classic hardware used to track everyone from Duke Ellington to Coldplay. By emulating the entire signal path, including tube amplifiers, transformers, and circuit nonlinearities, the 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ plug-in injects organic detail and saturation to any signal — whether you’re re-amping or tracking through the 610-B via Universal Audio’s Unison™ technology.

Marshall® Plexi Classic Amplifier

The undisputed alpha dog of rock and roll guitar amps, the Marshall “plexi” amplifier is as legendary as the music it helped create. From Jimi Hendrix to Jimmy Page, Duane Allman to Eric Clapton, the Plexi’s punishing melange of snarl, sustain, smoothness, and raunch defined the sound of rock. Developed by Softube, the Marshall Plexi Classic Amp plug-in gives you the sound of this iconic amp with a perfectly placed microphone from engineer Tony Platt who recorded AC/DC’s Back in Black and Highway to Hell.

Teletronix® LA-2A Classic Leveling Amplifier (Legacy)

With its gentle, program dependent optical compression and meticulously designed tube amplifier, the LA-2A is the go-to compressor for professional mixers around the world — especially for vocals. Incredibly easy-to-use Peak Reduction and Gain controls gives you the ideal optical compression sound for guitar, bass, drums, and more.

1176SE/LN® Classic Limiting Amplifiers (Legacy)

Get classic, ultra-fast FET compression from the world’s most recognized compressor. The 1176 will impart punch, presence, and character as well as its signature distortion overtones on drums, vocals, guitars, and bass. The 1176LN has graced countless recordings, from Led Zeppelin, to the White Stripes and Michael Jackson.

Pultec® Pro Equalizers (Legacy)

Mix with two of the most sought-after hardware EQs ever made — the MEQ-5 Midrange Equalizer and the EQP-1A Program Equalizer. Both of these tube-based icons deliver smooth and silky EQ curves with an abundance of warm analog character.

Ampeg® SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp

Introduced in 1969, the Ampeg SVT bass amp is still the reigning king of high-powered tube bass tone. Developed by Brainworx, the Ampeg SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp plug-in perfectly captures the raw power and punch that has made this the go-to amp for rock, funk, and soul players. Track in real time using Unison™ preamp technology for the tone, touch, and feel of a real SVT bass amp, or transform bland DI tracks with the thunderous roar of a stone cold classic.

Precision Mix Rack Collection

Featuring the Precision Channel Strip, Precision Reflection Engine, and Precision Delay Modulation plug-ins, the Precision Mix Rack Collection offers four modern, high-fidelity plug-ins for recording and mixing. Powerful and intuitive, Precision Mix Rack Collection gives you an impressive tool set — perfect for beginners and seasoned professionals alike.

Raw Distortion

Modeled from a vintage early-’80s Pro Co Rat, Raw Distortion delivers all the gritty dynamic raunch of the legendary stompbox. And with Unison™ technology, you can plug in to Apollo Twin, 8, or 8p’s front-panel Hi-Z instrument jack and experience the same circuit interaction, gain range, and clip points for the true tone, feel, and response of the original hardware.

RealVerb Pro

RealVerb Pro is a flexible, natural sounding reverb based on UA’s own unique set of algorithms. Allowing you to design the room just as you hear it, the RealVerb Pro goes beyond simply big/small or dark/bright, giving your sources distortion-free, smoothing diffusion control and ultra-long reverb tail.

Features

Desktop 2×4 Thunderbolt 3-powered audio interface with class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz audio conversion
Unison mic preamp and guitar amp emulations from Neve® , API® , Manley® , Marshall®, Fender® , and more*
Realtime UAD Processing allows near-zero latency tracking with classic UAD plug-in effects, regardless of software buffer setting
Includes studio compressors, EQs, reverbs, and guitar amp emulations, and more as part of “Realtime Analog Classics” bundle
Bus-powered connection to Mac and Windows systems for easy portability and reduced cable clutter

Specifications