Every guitarist, from the bedroom player to the touring professional, needs a reliable audio interface. This essential piece of gear is the bridge between your instrument and your computer or mobile device, transforming your analog signal into pristine digital audio for recording, streaming, or practicing with amp simulators. The right interface can make your guitar sound full, clear, and professional, while the wrong one can introduce noise and latency, hampering your creative flow.
With so many options on the market, choosing the perfect audio interface for your specific needs can be a challenge. Do you need ultimate portability for your iPhone, or are you building a professional home studio? This roundup cuts through the noise to bring you a curated list of the ten best audio interfaces for guitarists. We’ve included models for every budget and use-case, ensuring you can find the ideal tool to capture your sound.
Our Top Picks for Guitar Audio Interfaces
- Sovvid Portable Audio Interface for Guitar with Bluetooth
- Ueteto Audio Interface for Guitar, Portable Internal Recording Sound Card
- IK Multimedia iRig 2 portable guitar audio interface
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
- Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO Heritage Edition
- PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 2×2 USB Audio Interface
- Steinberg UR22C 2×2 USB 3.0 Audio Interface
- Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre USB-C Bus-Powered Audio Interface
- Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1 Two-Channel Audio Interface
- Behringer U-Phoria UM2 Guitar Audio Interface
Sovvid Portable Audio Interface for Guitar with Bluetooth
The Sovvid Portable Audio Interface is a modern solution for the guitarist on the move. It combines a compact, pocket-sized design with the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity, making it a flexible tool for recording and streaming. With professional 24-bit/48kHz sound quality, it captures your guitar’s tone with impressive clarity and detail.
This interface is built for a seamless, plug-and-play experience. It boasts ultra-low latency performance of less than 5ms, which is essential for real-time monitoring without distracting delay. The package includes a USB-C cable and a Lightning adapter, ensuring broad compatibility with iPhones, Android devices, Macs, and laptops right out of the box.
Ueteto Audio Interface for Guitar
For guitar beginners seeking a straightforward recording tool, the Ueteto Audio Interface offers remarkable simplicity. This device requires no drivers or software installation, making it a true plug-and-play interface. Its primary function is to get your guitar signal into your mobile device for recording, without the complexity of editing or mixing features.
Extremely portable and compact, the Ueteto can easily fit in your pocket and requires no charging, drawing power directly from your connected device. It is compatible with iPhones, iPads, and Android smartphones, and includes the necessary cables. It is important to note that this is a basic interface and may not be compatible with all music apps, such as GarageBand.
IK Multimedia iRig 2 portable guitar audio interface
The IK Multimedia iRig 2 is a legendary name in the world of mobile guitar interfaces, known for its plug-and-play simplicity. It features an adjustable gain dial and a built-in 1/8″ TRRS output connector, allowing you to connect directly to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This makes it a reliable and easy-to-use tool for recording ideas on the spot.
A key benefit of the iRig 2 is its dual-output design. It includes both a 1/8″ headphone output for private listening and a dedicated 1/4” output jack. This allows you to connect the interface directly to a guitar amplifier as part of a live rig without needing any additional adapters, adding to its versatility.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
Widely regarded as the industry standard for home studios, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a fantastic all-arounder. It features two high-headroom instrument inputs that are perfectly tailored for guitar and bass, ensuring your signal remains clean and distortion-free. The high-performance mic preamps are known for their clarity and warmth.
A standout feature is the switchable “Air” mode, which emulates the classic Focusrite ISA preamp. When engaged, it adds extra brightness and clarity to acoustic instruments and vocals. With its low-noise outputs and high-fidelity headphone output, the Scarlett 2i2 provides a complete and professional recording solution that is both reliable and easy to use.
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO Heritage Edition
The Universal Audio Apollo Twin X represents the pinnacle of desktop audio interfaces. This Heritage Edition comes with a premium suite of UAD plug-ins, offering unparalleled processing power. It features elite-class analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion derived from their high-end rackmount units, ensuring the highest possible audio quality.
Its most celebrated feature is Unison technology. The two mic preamps are not just physical inputs; they actively change their impedance and gain structure to authentically model classic tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amps. This allows you to record through legendary analog gear emulations in real-time, with near-zero latency.
PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 2×2 USB Audio Interface
The PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 is a robust and dependable entry-point into computer-based recording. This bus-powered interface connects via USB 2.0 and includes MIDI I/O, which is useful for connecting keyboards or other MIDI gear. It is compatible with almost all recording software on both Mac and Windows platforms.
With 24-bit resolution and support for sampling rates up to 96 kHz, the AudioBox USB 96 captures a clean and accurate representation of your guitar’s sound. Its simple design and straightforward operation make it an excellent choice for musicians who are just starting to build their home studio and need a reliable workhorse interface.
Steinberg UR22C 2×2 USB 3.0 Audio Interface
The Steinberg UR22C stands out with its future-proof USB 3.1 Gen 1 connectivity with a USB-C connector, providing fast and reliable data transfer to Mac, PC, and iOS devices. This interface is built for high-resolution audio, boasting industry-leading converters that support up to 32-bit/192 kHz audio resolution for exceptional sound detail.
It is equipped with Class-A D-PRE mic preamps, which are designed to capture all the subtleties and expressiveness of your guitar. The combination of high-resolution audio, robust construction, and super-speed USB makes the UR22C a powerful and professional-grade tool for serious musicians and producers.
Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre USB-C Bus-Powered Audio Interface
The Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre is a step-up interface that brings professional studio quality to a portable, bus-powered unit. It features two Clarett+ preamps that offer masses of headroom, ultra-low noise, and low distortion, resulting in clear and powerful recordings that require minimal processing.
Its signature feature is the all-analogue “Air” mode. This is not a digital emulation; it uses premium, relay-controlled analogue circuitry to emulate the classic Focusrite ISA 110, switching the impedance and adding a cumulative high-frequency boost. This makes vocals and acoustic instruments shine with a professional sheen right from the source.
Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1 Two-Channel Audio Interface
The Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1 is an excellent interface for musicians who are also producers. It is designed to easily record audio into your computer with pristine quality. The interface provides a simple, intuitive way to connect your guitar and start creating tracks immediately.
This interface comes as part of a complete creative package. It includes a robust software suite with everything you need to record, edit, and build tracks, plus a collection of synths, effects, and samples. This makes it a great value for artists looking for both hardware and software to kickstart their music production journey.
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 Guitar Audio Interface
The Behringer U-Phoria UM2 is a budget-friendly audio interface that provides essential recording capabilities for guitarists. It offers a straightforward solution for getting your guitar signal into your computer, making it ideal for beginners or those on a very tight budget who want to start recording their ideas.
Despite its low cost, the UM2 includes a combination XLR/instrument input for connecting a microphone or guitar, as well as a headphone output for zero-latency monitoring. It’s a simple, no-frills interface that performs the core function of an audio interface reliably, allowing you to capture your performances without a significant financial investment.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the 10 Best Audio Interface for Guitar
So, you want to record your guitar. The heart of any home studio is the audio interface, the little box that gets your sweet guitar tones into your computer. But with so many options, how do you pick the right one? Let me walk you through the key things to think about before you buy.
First up is the input/output count. For most guitarists starting out, a simple 2-in/2-out interface is the perfect fit. This gives you two combo jacks (which accept both XLR and ¼” cables) to record your guitar, and maybe a microphone for vocals, simultaneously. If you see yourself recording a drum kit or a full band down the line, you might want to look at interfaces with more inputs, but for solo work, two is the sweet spot.
Next, let’s talk about preamps. These are the circuits that boost your guitar’s weak signal to a usable level. Better preamps mean a cleaner, more detailed sound with less noise. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get good preamps these days, but this is an area where spending a little more can make a noticeable difference in the quality of your recordings.
A feature that is almost a must-have for guitarists is a dedicated Hi-Z (high impedance) input. This is usually a button labeled “Inst” or a separate ¼” jack. Using this ensures that your guitar’s pickups are properly matched with the interface, preserving the high-end frequencies and punch of your tone. Plugging your guitar into a standard line input can make it sound dull and lifeless.
Also, consider the connection type. USB is the universal standard. USB-C is becoming more common and is great for modern computers, but many interfaces still use USB-B (that squarish connector). Just make sure it’s compatible with your computer. For the smoothest recording experience, especially with more tracks, look for USB 3.0 or higher.
Finally, think about the bundled software. Many interfaces come with a “lite” version of a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) like Ableton Live or Pro Tools. This is a fantastic way to get started with recording without extra cost. Some also include amp simulation plugins, which are incredibly useful for getting great guitar tones without a physical amp.
FAQ
Can I record my electric guitar directly into an audio interface?
Absolutely. This is one of the most common ways to record. You simply plug your guitar directly into the interface’s input (making sure to engage the Hi-Z or “Inst” mode) and then use amp simulation software on your computer to create your tone. This method is quiet, flexible, and sounds fantastic.
Do I need a DI box if my audio interface has a Hi-Z input?
For most home studio situations, no. The Hi-Z input on a decent audio interface is designed to do the same job as a standalone DI box: correctly loading your guitar’s pickups. A separate DI box is typically only needed for very long cable runs, to split a signal to both an amp and the interface, or if the interface’s built-in preamps are of poor quality.
What is the difference between recording with a microphone and going direct?
Recording with a microphone means placing a mic in front of your guitar amplifier to capture the sound it produces. This captures the room’s acoustics and the specific character of the amp and speaker. Going direct (DI) means plugging your guitar straight into the interface and using software for your amp sounds. The direct method is more convenient and controllable, while miking an amp can provide a classic, organic sound that is difficult to replicate digitally.
How many inputs do I realistically need for recording guitar?
If you are a solo guitarist who records one part at a time, a 2-input interface is all you need. This allows you to record a guitar and a vocal mic at the same time, or record in stereo. You would only need more inputs if you plan to record multiple musicians simultaneously, like a drummer and a bassist together.
Why does my guitar sound fuzzy or distorted when recording direct?
This is usually caused by the input level being set too high on your interface, causing clipping. Check the gain knob on your interface and make sure the meter in your recording software doesn’t hit the red. Start with the gain knob low and slowly turn it up while playing your hardest until the level is strong but never peaks. This is a key step in getting a clean recording for our review of the 10 best audio interface for guitar.