Store Hours

As more and more audio recording is done with computers, the need for easily connecting instruments and other equipment to it has increased. Whether you can't (or won't) open your computer to install hardware (such as a PCI card) or you need portable recording, a USB audio interface can fulfill that need in an external unit with nothing but a USB connection to your computer.

We've found the three best USB audio interface units that sound great and have plenty of all the necessary inputs and outputs. Each of these units will produce quality recordings with low latency due to using the fast USB 2.0 connection and supporting the highest bit rates and frequencies, with lots of inputs and controls to not limit your recording. Here is our best USB audio interface review...

M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R Review

Description: 24-bit/96kHz professional audio on all I/O simultaneously. High-speed USB 2.0 interface. Comes with MX Core DSP technology. Monitor with effects while recording. Flexible channel routing options. Expands DSP mixing interface to 16 x 8. 8 preamps with award-winning M-Audio Octane technology. 8 XLR/TRS combo jacks for mic or line-level inputs. +48V phantom power. 20dB pad on each preamp. Signal/peak LED indicator lights. 2 front-panel 1/43 instrument inputs. 8 balanced TRS analog outputs. 2 analog inserts. S/PDIF digital I/O. Built-in 1 x 1 MIDI interface. 2 independent headphone outputs with individual volume control knobs. Rugged, lightweight metal chassis. Full ASIO 2.0, WDM, MME, Core Audio support. Compatible with most major audio production software. Dual headphone amp with two completely independent headphone outputs.

The M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R is the overall best USB audio interface. It's simply the best value for the money, with lots of high-quality inputs and outputs and plenty of controls. This portable and rack-mountable unit has eight quality mic/line inputs for recording up to eight sources simultaneously that will sound great and have a clear signal. The USB 2.0 connection isn't USB 1.1-compatible, but that isn't even an issue because recording via the outdated USB 1.1 has too much latency and should be avoided anyway. While the Fast Track Ultra 8R can't be bus-powered, that shouldn't be too much of an issue because it's not designed to be mobile anyway.

Pros: Octane preamps sound great and produce a clear signal. Lots of inputs and outputs. Inputs are hybrid XLR/line. Simple and clean interface easy to read and use. Solid construction with logical input arrangements (controls in the front, inputs in the back). Useful MX Core DSP software is included.

Cons: Can't be bus-powered.

Hey what about the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra and TASCAM US-1641? How do the stack up to the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R? Visit our site to find out and to read our full Best USB Audio Interface Review