After weeks of turning our studio into something resembling a mad scientist’s laboratory (much to the dismay of our long-suffering sound engineer, Dave), we’ve finally wrapped up our extensive testing of this year’s guitar audio interfaces.
The entire team has been plugging in, twiddling knobs, and occasionally swearing at drivers that refused to install properly. We’ve passed these gadgets around our motley crew of site musicians—from bedroom noodlers to touring professionals who’ve seen more dodgy backstage areas than they care to remember—to get their honest opinions.
So, without further faff, here’s our rundown of the absolute best guitar audio interfaces that your hard-earned cash can buy. Whether you’re laying down tracks in your bedroom studio or recording the next indie breakthrough album, we’ve got you sorted.
1. Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Duo
Price: $899 / £749
Features:
- 24-bit/192 kHz resolution
- Unison preamp technology
- Real-time UAD processing
- Thunderbolt 3 connectivity
- 2 mic/line inputs and 2 line outputs
- Hi-Z instrument input for direct electric guitar recording
Rating: 9.5/10
Best For: Professional home studio owners and serious musicians who aren’t afraid to splash the cash for genuinely superb sound quality.
Our Take: The Apollo Twin X Duo is an absolute marvel, and quite frankly, made several of our team contemplate selling non-essential organs to afford one. The preamps are so clean you could eat your Sunday roast off them, and the Unison technology—which models classic preamps with uncanny accuracy—had our vintage gear enthusiasts making noises usually reserved for particularly good cake.
The UAD plugin ecosystem is simply brilliant, giving you access to spot-on emulations of classic gear that would otherwise cost more than a decent used car. Yes, it’s pricey—you could buy a perfectly serviceable used Fender for the same money—but if you’re serious about your acoustic guitar tone and recording quality, this is the business.
2. Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (3rd Gen)
Price: $229 / £189
Features:
- 24-bit/192kHz resolution
- 2 mic/line/instrument inputs with Air mode
- 2 additional line inputs
- 4 line outputs
- USB-C connectivity
- Low-latency direct monitoring
- Bundled software package
Rating: 9/10
Best For: Guitarists who need to record multiple instruments or small bands on a sensible budget.
Our Take: The Scarlett series has been the go-to for home recording types for years, and the 4i4 shows exactly why. It’s as reliable as a British queue, with preamps that deliver clean, detailed recordings without colouring your tone (unless you want it to, with that rather lovely Air mode that adds a bit of top-end sparkle).
What we particularly liked was how idiot-proof it is—perfect for those late-night recording sessions after a few inspirational pints. The build quality is robust enough that it survived being accidentally knocked off a desk by our enthusiastic office dog, Ringo. For the price, you’d be hard-pressed to find something better, and the bundled software package is genuinely useful rather than the usual collection of stripped-down demos.
3. SSL 2+
Price: $279 / £239
Features:
- 24-bit/192kHz resolution
- 2 SSL-designed preamps with “Legacy 4K” mode
- 2 headphone outputs with independent level control
- MIDI I/O
- USB-C connectivity
- Loopback functionality
- Bundled production pack
Rating: 8.8/10
Best For: Recording guitarists who want that classic British console sound without remortgaging their home.
Our Take: When SSL announced they were dipping their toes into the affordable interface market, we were skeptical—rather like hearing Harrods was opening a pound shop. But blow me down if they haven’t pulled it off with considerable aplomb. The 2+ delivers that legendary SSL sound in a compact package that won’t require you to live off beans for a month.
The Legacy 4K button is a stroke of genius, adding a touch of the classic SSL console character that’s graced countless hit records. It’s particularly lovely on crunchy rhythm guitars, giving them that extra bit of presence in a mix. The build quality is reassuringly tank-like, and the large monitor knob feels satisfyingly expensive to twiddle. If you’ve ever dreamed of recording through an SSL but your bank balance laughed hysterically at the thought, this is your chance.
4. Audient iD14 MKII
Price: $299 / £249
Features:
- 24-bit/96kHz resolution
- 2 Audient console mic preamps
- JFET DI instrument input
- Expandable via ADAT
- ScrollControl virtual scroll wheel
- All-metal construction
- Comprehensive software bundle
Rating: 8.7/10
Best For: Discerning guitarists who appreciate British console sound and expandability.
Our Take: The Audient iD14 is the dark horse of this lineup—perhaps not as instantly recognizable as some of the other brands, but absolutely deserving of your attention. The preamps are derived from Audient’s high-end recording consoles, and it shows. The DI input handled everything from delicate fingerpicking to face-melting metal with equal aplomb, capturing all the nuance and detail.
What impressed us was the ScrollControl feature, which turns the volume knob into a scroll wheel for adjusting plugin parameters. Sounds trivial until you use it, at which point you wonder how you lived without it. One of our more caffeinated testers described it as “better than discovering there’s still one chocolate digestive left in the packet when you thought they were all gone,” which we think translates to “highly recommended.”
5. Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 MK2
Price: $229 / £199
Features:
- 24-bit/192kHz resolution
- 2 mic/line/instrument inputs
- 4 line outputs
- MIDI I/O
- Direct monitoring control
- USB 2.0 powered
- Bundled Komplete Start software
Rating: 8.5/10
Best For: Guitar players who also dabble in electronic music production or need extensive software instruments.
Our Take: Native Instruments might be better known for their software instruments and controllers, but the Komplete Audio 6 is a proper dark horse in the audio interface race. It’s built like a brick outhouse with a sleek, understated design that wouldn’t look out of place in a high-end studio.
Where this interface really shines is in its versatility. The preamps are clean and transparent, capturing every nuance of your playing, while the bundled software package is absurdly generous—enough to keep you making music for months without buying anything else. Our resident electronic music producer nearly refused to return it after testing, claiming it had become “emotionally attached” to his setup. We eventually pried it from his grip with the promise of biscuits.
Conclusion
After enough coffee to fuel a small rocket and hours of critical listening that had us questioning whether we were becoming those insufferable audiophiles who use words like “soundstage” unironically, we’ve reached our verdict.
For those with deep pockets and serious professional aspirations, the Apollo Twin X Duo is unquestionably worth the investment. It’s the posh end of the market, but you genuinely get what you pay for.
However, if your bank balance is giving you the side-eye, the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 continues to offer phenomenal value for money and will serve most guitarists’ recording needs brilliantly. It’s the interface equivalent of a reliable hatchback—it’ll get you where you need to go without any drama.
The SSL 2+ deserves special mention for bringing genuine console quality to the masses, while the Audient iD14 MKII punches well above its weight class for serious recording work.
Whichever you choose, you’ll be miles ahead of those poor souls still recording through their laptop microphones. Just remember—even the fanciest interface in the world can’t fix dodgy playing, though it will capture your mistakes with exquisite clarity. Happy recording, folks!
Ready to Release Your Sonic Masterpiece?
So you’ve got your shiny new interface, you’ve somehow managed to cobble together a collection of songs that don’t make your ears bleed, and your mum has diplomatically upgraded her review from “that’s… interesting, dear” to “I genuinely quite like that one.” Congratulations! You might just be ready to unleash your musical offspring upon an unsuspecting world.
Luckily for you, we offer more than just snarky gear reviews and dubious studio advice. Our music distribution service will get your tunes onto all the major streaming platforms faster than you can say, “I’m the next Ed Sheeran, but with better hair.” No baffling forms, no hidden fees, just straightforward distribution that won’t require a PhD in digital rights management to understand.
But getting your music out there is only half the battle. Without proper promotion, your magnum opus risks joining the vast ocean of tracks that have fewer plays than your gran has Instagram followers. That’s where our music promotion services come in handy. Our team of social media wizards, playlist pluggers, and PR mavens will work tirelessly to get your music in front of actual human ears—not just those of your supportive but slightly bewildered relatives.
Whether you’re an acoustic troubadour with feelings to share or a bedroom producer crafting bangers that make your neighbors question their life choices, we’ve got the tools to help your music find its rightful audience. Drop us a line—we promise to be much nicer than those brutal YouTube commenters who’ll inevitably compare your singing to a distressed walrus.
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