PreSonus Audiobox USB

This PreSonus Audiobox USB is one of the best and most portable interfaces for anyone getting into basic digital-home recording or even podcasting. It hooks up to any Mac or PC via USB and comes with Studio One Artist music creation program too—practically foolproof and loaded at $99, what more can you ask for?

It's a super portable (5 lbs) USB bus-powered interface for your recording. It's constructed of metal and was built to be taken anywhere and everywhere. Want to mix while on the road? Record your show? Get some new songs down while you're at home or visiting a friend? This can do it. It gives you 2 microphone/instrument inputs with 48V phantom power, 2 balanced TRS outputs, and MIDI in/out. It comes complete with Studio One software (Mac OS X/Windows XP/Vista compatible) with over 4 GB of virtual instruments, plug-ins, loops, and samples to get you started making music right out of the gate. There's even an internal analog mixer with zero-latency monitoring, meaning you can monitor your recorded tracks and overdubs without delay time.

One of the coolest things about this is that they've used pro level Class A mic preamps, with a 24-bit sample rate so your sound is big, clear and true. The PreSonus Audiobox USB can help take your songwriting and your recording to a whole new level.

• Weight: 5 lbs.
  
• Dimensions: 5.5" x 5.5" x 1.75"
• Also: Studio One artist software included; 24-bit resolution and 44.1 and 48 kHz sampling rate
• Inputs/Outputs: 1 USB 1.1 port; 2 combo XLR/ 1/4" mic/instrument inputs; 2 balanced 1/4" main (L/R) line outputs; 1 stereo 1/4" headphone output; MIDI in/out