The Best Linux Audio Interface of March 2023: Reviews and Rankings for you

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Shure MVi Digital Audio Interface 

If you're looking for a portable, user-friendly, and affordable audio interface for home recording or podcasting, the Shure MVi is a great option. It's compatible with iOS 7 and up, macOS 10.7 and up, Windows 7 and up, and Android 7.0 and up. The MVi has five digital signal processor (DSP) presets that allow for automated adjustments to be made to the device's equalization, compression, limiting, gain control, mute, and volume. Their labels are "Flat," "Speech," "Singing," "Acoustic Instrument," and "Loud." This device can handle sampling speeds of up to 48kHz at 24 bits.

• Best Design: IK Multimedia iRig HD 2 guitar audio interface 

Although the iRig HD 2 was designed mainly as a guitar interface, it does a fantastic job as an audio interface for other instruments as well. This new and enhanced iRig HD is the successor to the previous version. We found that its tiny dimensions (3.9 x 0.83 x 1.54 inches) and lightweight (1.8 ounces) made it the most portable audio interface we tested. Both a Lightning cable and a USB cable are included, so no further adapters are needed.

• Best For Music Production: M-Audio AIR 192x4 USB C Audio Interface 

The AIR 192|4 lives true to M-reputation Audio's for making high-quality devices at affordable costs. This versatile 2-in/2-out audio interface will last for years thanks to its metal casing and LED VU meters. It's compatible with iPads, despite the fact that M-website Audio's claims it's only compatible with Windows and Mac. For plugging in a microphone or other audio device, you may use either the 1/4" TRS input or the combined TRS/XLR connection. They include independent preamps and volume knobs, allowing them to be mixed together. For audio, 192 kHz sampling rates are realizable.

• Best High-Quality: Focusrite iTrack Solo Lightning & USB Compatible Audio Interface 

Focusrite is known for making high-quality preamplifiers and audio interfaces, and the iTrack Solo lives up to that reputation. Connecting to your computer is easy with this 2-in-2-out port that is compatible with both Mac and Windows, thanks to its Lightning and USB 2.0 connections. High-impedance 1/4-inch and XLR microphone inputs supplied by 48-volt phantom power are available on the front panel. You may control the volume of each individual track separately, and a signal halo indicates when the clipping has occurred. The mic preamp has a maximum gain of 50 dB. On top of that, there's a Direct Monitor switch and a 1/4-inch headphone connector with a big volume knob.

• Best For Streaming: IK Multimedia iRig Stream Pro Streaming audio interface 

If you're looking for an affordable tone shifter without sacrificing quality, the MeloAudio Tone Shifter Mini might be what you've been looking for. It accepts guitars and synthesizers through its instrument input, accepts XLR dynamic and condenser microphones with phantom power and up to 47 dB gain, and has MIDI connectivity. The curving case weighs 10.6 ounces and measures 5.7 by 2.6 by 1.6 inches. Toggle phantom power on and off and check the status of the inputs and outputs using the respective switches on the top. It's able to sample at a rate of 192 kilohertz.