Best audio recording interface for $300 (home studio)?

I'd go with the Duet. With Apogee converters and it's integration with Logic, you can't go wrong. I know someone who had one and was pleased with the sound quality. I have an Ensemble and it's very good.

Try looking into Focusrite interfaces. I have been using the Saffire, it cost around $250 at the time. It has multiple inputs and MIDI, sounds great for the money, and works well with Logic.

Apogee Duet, without a doubt. You can't go wrong and you won't find better converters at this price. It's also completely integrated with Logic and Mac OS.

I would go with TC - Impact Twin. Built well, works great with Logic, sounds terrific and the extra plug-ins are a real bonus.

mlehmann wrote:
Apogee Duet, without a doubt. You can't go wrong and you won't find better converters at this price. It's also completely integrated with Logic and Mac OS.

+1 for exactly these reasons!

Don't know much about that particular unit, sorry. But I can tell you that my experience with Focusrite so far has been great.

i certainly would not buy a used audio interface. you are asking for trouble. not worth the hassle or the doubt. expecially with some interent dealers offering 3 and 4 year waranty's - why would you want a used option?!? you will only regret it i am sure.

the m-audio profire 2626 is a good choice in my opinion at that price.

if you cant stretch that far then the m-audio profire 610 ia also a good choice - obviously limited in the ins and out though. there is also the M-audio fasttrack pro. worth looking at.

also look at the Alesis i/o range. on paper the i/o 26 is absolutely mint. i have just heard that the quality is questionable.

You might want to consider an Apogee 'One' interface. It's plastic-y (I own the Duet, bought used) but if you can put up with one input, the integration with Logic is fantastic. Hope that helps -- I'd be interested to know what you finally go with.

+1 for Saffire.

I have the LE with no onboard DSP. You still get the plugins, which you can run native in the host. They are excellent, and slightly different philosophy and tone to the logic plugs. Useful, especially since they are part of the package (at least they were when I bought my LE). The only real reasons for having DSP in the box are 1, to process audio on the way in (hmm. I don't know how much of a good idea that is) or to add fx to a zero latency mix. There are other ways to do that.

BTW the Saffire is my home rig. At work I use an RME FF800, and frankly, I'd be just as happy to use the Saffire.

I can't imagine VRM is worth $100, but I'm only guessing.

IMO, the most important 'extra' is the ADAT light pipe input, which is included with the more modestly priced Saffire Pro 24.

This way, you can expand your system with another 8 i/o via ADAT when you're ready - no other Mac interface offers this option at this price point.

An example of such an input only device would be a DigiMax D8, which is an eight-channel microphone preamplifier, with 24-bit 48 kHz ADAT output.

Correction - The Saffire Pro 24 only accept 8 inputs via ADAT only - no additional outputs.