Recommendations for a new Audio Interface

[roman.i]

Presonus IO Station 24c, Presonus (presumably Thesycon too), 2022, 192kHz
Antelope Audio Discrete 4 Synergy Core - Antelope (mandatory registration), 2022 (no win11), 192kHz
Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 MK2 - Thesycon, last updated 2021, 192kHz

I had some good experience with Presonus, drivers are regularly updated, and it comes with a bundle of plugins which you may find useful, also you're getting Studio One Artist a full fledged DAW. I got a version 4 with the card, then it was updated for free to version 5 which also supports VST. I had the 26c, sound-wise it's OK, same quality ballpark as the Scarlett.
Less good experience with Native Instruments cards, the headphone jack started to be flimsy after a while and the headphone knob started to crackle. The device became unsupported very fast.

[OSWProduction]

But I do everything with my mouse and keyboard, I never record anything, not even MIDI,

Call me uneducated and stupid, and more than likely I am missing something here,but what do you need an audio interface for? Just the headphone amp?

I won't call you stupid, but yeah, basically, I need a DAC that has two line outs for monitors, and a way to connect my headphones. I feel this market segment is very overlooked, I know many more producers like me that NEVER record anything, but all the "good" interfaces are loaded with inputs.

[swivel]

Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD
M-Audio M-Track Duo USB Audio Interface

[ErikHeirman]

Highly recommend a Presonus Quantum if your computer has thunderbolt ports. Sounds very very good (have compared it to Dangerous Music source sounds same just a little quieter) but more than anything you can monitor live inputs in real time through your day with full FX and negligible latency! It s ideal.

[HAL76]

Babyface FS ($900) is 50% more expensive than the Motu Ultralite MK5 ($600). I don’t think that it’s worth 50% more money personally.

Thanks for the info, I'm a Windows boy, but I guess the quality of the driver will be at least similar. Still debating between MOTU M2, something from Antelope audio or RME babyface. Lucky I'm in no big rush

Babyface FS for Windows (not the old babyface).

RME´s drivers latency & stability are oustanding, as well as the build quality and the TotalMix software. The DACs are the same as RME uses them in its big pro interfaces, the PREs are just flat.

How to say? Things may look the same "on paper" and as long as you don´t have the special knowledge - and that may also seem true, if you don´t just trust the experts. At RME as well as around the world.

Last but not least: look at the 2nd hand prices. RME really pays off in comparison

[perpetual3]

Yeah, that didn’t make it worth it for me to pay 50% more money. And that is not the equivalent RME interface to the MOTU. That’s the UCXII which is 3x (300%) more expensive than the ULMK5. And actually latency values are quite similar and on Mac at least Motu has great stability.

But if the total mix is important and if those tiny differences in latency are also important then by all means get the RME. I’m not trying to say the RME is bad. They are obviously great. But the cost -benefit balance for ME did not tilt in their favor.

Babyface FS ($900) is 50% more expensive than the Motu Ultralite MK5 ($600). I don’t think that it’s worth 50% more money personally.

Thanks for the info, I'm a Windows boy, but I guess the quality of the driver will be at least similar. Still debating between MOTU M2, something from Antelope audio or RME babyface. Lucky I'm in no big rush

Babyface FS for Windows (not the old babyface).

RME´s drivers latency & stability are oustanding, as well as the build quality and the TotalMix software. The DACs are the same as RME uses them in its big pro interfaces, the PREs are just flat.

How to say? Things may look the same "on paper" and as long as you don´t have the special knowledge - and that may also seem true, if you don´t just trust the experts. At RME as well as around the world.

Last but not least: look at the 2nd hand prices. RME really pays off in comparison

[revvy]

My original MOTU Ultralite still works some 15 years later via 3 daisy chained dongles. Superb!

As I’ve just got a new M1 Mac I need to replace it as its software is no longer supported so I’ve just bought a Mk5. At least on Mac, MOTU are stellar.