Not that long ago, it was almost unimaginable for an average music enthusiast to record multi-track projects at home. Sure, you could use a decent home recording device, or maybe go old-school style and use a tape deck recorder. However, None of these solutions brought satisfying results.
It was something that you could use for fun or just to record a demo of a song that you wrote. But if you wanted a quality demo or any other decent recording, you’d need to rent a studio and pay a substantial sum just to record one song. This is something that discouraged many young and talented musicians to pursue their dream of becoming professionals.
But luckily for us, these days we live in a time when home recording studios are no longer an expensive hobby. For a fairly affordable price, you can get a decent audio interface and record music at home. Not to mention that you can also use virtual instruments and create multi-track projects. In case you’re looking for a budget solution, we’ve decided to help you by helping you find the best audio interface under 100 dollars.
Of course, the choice wasn’t exactly easy as there are a lot of great examples in this price range. Although not professional pieces, these audio interfaces will help you create great homemade projects and even semi-pro demos. So let’s get into it.
Behringer U-Control UCA222
Behringer is one of those companies that’s well-known for its cheap but good products. Although saving up on some materials, they most certainly don’t cut corners when it comes to features and performance. When it comes to audio interfaces, they did a pretty great job with a surprisingly cheap U-Control UCA222.
This is a very simple audio interface with two channels. However, it’s extremely small and can fit in an average pocket. It’s connected via USB and has two RCA inputs and two RCA outputs. This is a very simplified audio interface and it’s the best option for turntablists since it has RCA inputs.
Behringer Xenyx 302USB
For a list like this one, it’s impossible not to mention at least another Behringer product. Up next, we have their Xenyx 302USB. Now, this is actually a mixer with USB connectivity. Technically, this is also an audio interface and can provide you with low latency and enough features for both instruments and microphones. It has one combo 1/4-inch and XLR input, as well as two stereo RCA inputs. It’s pretty simple to use and also features 3-band EQs. You’ll have full control over your recording with this compact little piece.
Midiplus Studio M
Midiplus is not that well-known in the mainstream waters. However, they still have some pretty great audio interfaces. The company’s Studio M is a great choice for both beginners and amateur home recording enthusiasts. This is a very compact and simple audio interface with one channel. It features the standard combo input for both microphones and instruments. There’s also an onboard phantom power for condenser microphones, as well as controls for input gain, and headphone and main outputs. Just a simple little audio interface for home recording purposes.
ART USB Dual Pre
Sitting right on the edge of the price level for this list, Art USB Dual Pre is a fairly versatile audio interface for its size. It has two combo inputs for microphones and instruments with individual input gain controls. On the backside, we can also find output jacks, as well as an output for headphone monitors, the output volume, and monitor mix level for near-zero latency direct monitoring. It can also be powered using USB, a 12-volt adapter, or even a 9-volt battery. It features a resolution of 16 bits and 44.1 kHz.
BandLab Link BLB-01100
BandLab’s Link BLB-01100 is a very cheap and simple audio interface, bearing only one channel. It has only one combo input for microphones and instruments, and simple outputs for speakers or headphones. In addition to this, it’s very compact and won’t take much of your space. If you need something to just record your instrument or a microphone, then BLB-01100 is worth checking out.
Pyle Audio PAD10MXU
Once again, we include a USB mixer that can serve the purpose of an audio interface. It has two channels, one for instruments and microphones that has a combo input, and another stereo input for RCA cables. It’s a pretty simple little USB mixer, but it provides some interesting functionalities for instrumentalists, vocalists, or any other music recording enthusiasts. In addition to all this, it’s also very cheap
IK Multimedia iRig HD 2
But if you want to record music using your phone or a tablet, then you should definitely check out IK Multimedia and their iRig HD 2. This very compact and simple little audio interface can record one instrument and use your phone or a tablet for multi-track projects. It’s fairly simple and straightforward to use. It’s intended for iOS devices but can also work with Windows PCs. With 24-bit and 96 kHz audio resolution, you can record just about anything with decent quality.
What’s more, the device also comes with AmpliTube 4, which is one of the best guitar amp modeling programs out there. It’s designed for guitars, but you can also use it for any instruments with line outputs.
TC-Helicon Go Guitar Pro
Last, but not least, we also have one simple audio interface by TC-Helicon, called Go Guitar Pro. This little piece is intended for electric guitars, but can also find a use for other instruments. In some way, it’s pretty similar to iRig HD 2, although we have 24-bit and 48 kHz audio resolution. Overall, it’s very simple to use, and you can pair it with iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices. In addition to all this, it’s also pretty affordable.
