https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UAC2--zoom-uac-2

This has a reasonable price point, and much higher specs than any of the interfaces mentioned. Latency specs seem good too from what i can find. The ad/da dynamic range specs are similar to the ua apollo twin, and first gen apollo rack. This is the highest spec entry level interface i know of.

Lynx e22 makes a pcie card which will give you rock solid performance and very low latency. Its about 550 at JRR Shop, which has the lowest price ive seen.

jamie Lofts, post: 460162, member: 51509 wrote: Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 1st gen and I just can't get on with it. I know Gen 2 is better but, it's not for me.

Yeah the first focusrite preamps aren't very good, past 70% they are noisy.. Didn't try the new version, yet.

RME gets my love everyday. My very old Fireface 800 still rocks.
You can also check Audient, very nice preamps and nice interfaces...

I’m hoping Akai adds a few things to the MPC X

• The option to use an external monitor but I suspect that would create issues with touch function and likely processing.
• Improved preamps
• Memory

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If low latency is what you need and you don't worry about drivers, go for the Zoom. Nothing has lower latency in your budget range, preamps are decent at least.

I wouldn't worry about drivers either. It's just that Zoom has a tendency to release hardware with drivers that I would call "beta". At least they update them 'till they work. But they also release new gear every five minutes and obsolete old gear fairly soon.

If not Zoom, look at Audient. Very good preamps. Don't know about their drivers on Windows.

And ignore negative comments on Behringer. Their current range of interfaces is best bang for the buck. And If you get the rare dodgy one, their warranty is fine. Don't count on repair in ten years time, tho... But for that price, you'll want something else in ten years time, I think.

Im surprised how little attention zoom got, considering the dynamic range is at least 10db higher than most of its competition (scarlett, umc, maudio, ect) and the latency up near RME's spec.

kmetal, post: 460221, member: 37533 wrote: Im surprised how little attention zoom got, considering the dynamic range is at least 10db higher than most of its competition (scarlett, umc, maudio, ect) and the latency up near RME's spec.

That is interesting. I will hold my hand up and say I have always looked at zoom stuff with a screwed up face. I think it lays with people knowing what's popular and what the big names are (I'm not saying zoom isn't) but when it comes to a multi fx pedal for instance, back in the day people would always go with Boss. Fx Racks people would look towards Alesis, Lexicon and so on. They are certainly overshadowed now because we have a lot of different companies offering something. Tbh I think the designs have probably turned me off from a lot of their products.

Yeah i always associated Zoom with budget level stuff since i got their digital multi efx pedal in the mid 90's. My perception changed when i used their h4 portable recorder which was surprisingly good.

I think berringer is in tbe same boat, after making lackluster gear for so long, they stepped into the truly pro level with their x32 live mixer, and their cat5 heaphone system.

I think part of the zoom thing has to do with marketing budget and dealer push. Sweetwater for instance has always been a big proponent of focusrite, and i dont even recall seeing zoom interfaces at GC when i was there a few years back, but focusrite and presonus were fron and center.

Like alot of music itself, it seems gear usually starts to take a quality hit when it becomes blown up and mainstream.

Zoom only started making interfaces a few years ago. And the stuff they made before isn't bad. It just looks plasticky and flimsy in some cases. Usually it's quite solid.