Choosing the Best Audio Interface for Guitarists Under ¥100,000: 10 Recommended Models

If you’re a guitarist looking to start recording at home, one of the first pieces of equipment you’ll want to get is an audio interface. By connecting it to a computer or smartphone, you can record your guitar in high quality, making it much easier to create demo tracks, upload performance videos, and produce your own music.

That said, there are so many brands and models available that many people end up wondering, “Which one should I choose?” Audio interfaces come in a wide range of prices and feature sets, making it difficult for beginners to understand the differences.

In this article, I’ve narrowed the field to models priced under ¥100,000 and selected audio interfaces that are particularly well suited for guitarists. I’ll also explain the key points to consider when choosing one and highlight the unique characteristics of each model. Whether you’re buying your first audio interface or considering an upgrade, this guide is for you.

I hope it will help you find the perfect interface for your recording setup and musical needs.

Contents

1. Antelope Audio / Zenith 2
2. Focusrite / Scarlett 2i2 (Gen. 4)
3. MOTU / M2
4. Solid State Logic / SSL1
5. Yamaha / URX22C
6. Universal Audio / Volt 2
7. Apogee / Duet 3
8. Audient / iD4mkII
9. Fender Studio / Quantum LT 2
10. ZOOM / R4
11. Overall Evaluation

Antelope Audio
Zenith 2

Studio-Quality Sound with a Comprehensive Suite of DSP Effects!
A High-End Audio Interface Designed for Serious Guitarists

An outstanding centerpiece for guitar recording and music production!

It features four DSP effect modes—Studio, Guitar, Voice, and Presets. The Guitar mode is particularly impressive, offering a wide range of guitarist-friendly tools, including a noise gate, 10 amp and cabinet simulators, drive pedals, and compressors. With these built-in effects alone, you can craft polished guitar tones without relying on external plugins.

The sound is flat and neutral, with very little coloration. The low end is tight and controlled, while the low-mid range remains clean and balanced. It captures the nuances of your guitar playing and provides excellent clarity, making it easy not only to shape your tone during recording but also to make confident decisions during mixing.

USB-C connectivity ensures seamless integration with both computers and mobile devices. Whether you’re recording at home, live streaming, or producing demos, the Zenith 2 is a highly refined interface that performs exceptionally well across a wide range of applications.

Focusrite
Scarlett 2i2 (Gen. 4)

A Classic Choice That’s Perfect as Your First Audio Interface!
One of the Most Popular Models in the Scarlett Series, Combining Ease of Use with Excellent Sound Quality

The Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen is one of the most popular entry-level models in the Scarlett lineup!

Its vibrant red chassis stands out on any desk and instantly gives you that unmistakable Scarlett look.

With a 2-in/2-out configuration, it’s ideal for home recording focused on guitars and vocals. It supports USB-C bus power while also allowing an optional external power supply when needed, providing extra flexibility and peace of mind.

One of the standout features is its collection of recording assistance tools designed to help prevent common recording mistakes. Auto Gain automatically analyzes your performance or vocals and sets the optimal input level. Clip Safe continuously monitors the input signal and automatically adjusts the gain if it becomes too high, preventing clipping and distortion. These features make the interface especially user-friendly for beginners.

Another highlight is the Air mode. When enabled, it adds brightness and openness to your sound, making vocals and acoustic guitars more vibrant and present. An additional Air mode also introduces harmonic enhancement, giving your recordings even more character. With just the press of a button, you can explore different tonal flavors and expand your creative options.

Whether you’re just getting started with home recording or simply looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use audio interface with excellent sound quality, the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen is an outstanding choice.

MOTU
M2

A Popular Classic That Delivers Both Exceptional Sound Quality and Rock-Solid Performance!

The MOTU M2 is a long-standing favorite, renowned for its outstanding sound quality and ultra-low latency!

It features an ESS Technology Sabre DAC, delivering clear, highly detailed audio with excellent resolution. It accurately captures the attack and subtle nuances of your guitar playing, making it easy to shape your tone during mixing after recording.

The microphone preamps have a natural, transparent character with minimal coloration, providing balanced reproduction from low to high frequencies. Thanks to its open sound, the M2 is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to capture guitars and vocals faithfully.

Another standout feature of the M2 is its excellent low-latency performance. Its high-performance drivers provide a smooth and responsive recording experience, allowing you to play comfortably while using amp simulators and monitoring effects. This is a major advantage for guitarists who primarily rely on software-based amp modeling.
(*Low latency refers to the extremely short delay between playing your guitar and hearing the sound.)

The front panel features a highly visible full-color LCD level meter, allowing you to monitor input levels in real time and adjust gain with ease. In addition to loopback functionality, the M2 also offers RCA outputs and MIDI I/O, making it flexible enough to accommodate future studio expansion.

While it doesn’t offer flashy tone-shaping features, the M2 remains one of the strongest choices available for anyone who prioritizes pure recording quality, low latency, and an intuitive user experience.

Solid State Logic
SSL1

An Entry-Level Model That Lets You Experience the Legendary SSL Sound with Ease!

Equipped with SSL’s signature 4K mode, this interface adds presence and clarity to your guitar tone!

The SSL 1 is an audio interface that inherits the technology of Solid State Logic (SSL), a company whose consoles have helped produce countless classic records. Despite its simple 2-in/2-out configuration, it makes it easy to enjoy the clear, punchy sound that SSL is known for.

The sound quality is highly detailed, with excellent clarity and definition. When recording guitar, it’s easy to hear subtle picking nuances and the separation between chords, giving your recordings a polished feel right from the tracking stage. It pairs particularly well with rock and pop music, delivering a sound that cuts through the mix with ease.

The standout feature of the SSL 1 is its 4K switch. When activated, it adds the character inspired by SSL’s large-format consoles, enhancing high-end clarity and presence. It’s especially useful when you want to add a touch of brightness and definition to guitars or vocals.

The controls are also extremely straightforward, making the SSL 1 easy to use even for beginners. It’s an excellent choice as a first audio interface and is highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience the distinctive SSL sound in an affordable and accessible package.

Yamaha
URX22C

Yamaha’s Next-Generation Audio Interface with Enhanced DSP Features and Ease of Use!

Yamaha’s latest standard interface that lets you record, stream, and produce—all with a single device!

The URX22C is a 2-in/2-out audio interface that’s perfect for anyone looking to get started with home recording or live streaming. It comes bundled with Cubase AI and Cubasis LE, allowing you to begin making music right out of the box.

In addition to USB-C bus-powered operation, it also supports an external power supply, making it possible to run the interface from a portable power bank. This gives you the flexibility to record not only at home but also on location.

One of the URX22C’s biggest strengths is its built-in DSP processing, a feature rarely found in this price range. It allows you to monitor effects such as reverb, delay, and amp simulators with extremely low latency, making recording far more comfortable. It also features loopback functionality and streaming mix controls, making it easy to build a live streaming setup.
(*DSP processing: A feature that allows the interface itself to process effects without placing a load on your computer, while monitoring with virtually no latency.)

In terms of sound quality, the D-PRE microphone preamps deliver a powerful, punchy sound with excellent presence. Considering that it also includes MIDI I/O and built-in DSP effects, the overall feature set is remarkably comprehensive.

The URX22C is an excellent interface for anyone who wants to record and stream, or for those looking for a versatile interface that can handle a wide variety of applications in the future.

Universal Audio
Volt 2

The Perfect Entry-Level Interface for Enjoying Vintage Sound with Ease!

The Universal Audio Volt 2 is a 2-in/2-out audio interface that inherits the technology developed for the acclaimed Apollo series while offering a more affordable and accessible entry point. Equipped with high-quality 24-bit/192 kHz converters, it is well suited for everything from home recording to live streaming.

Its standout feature is the Vintage mode. With the press of a single button, it recreates the character of Universal Audio’s legendary 610 tube preamp, adding warmth and richness to guitars and vocals. Unlike conventional audio interfaces that prioritize a clean, transparent recording, the Volt series allows you to capture a more characterful, analog-inspired sound right from the recording stage.

In practice, the sound has a pleasing fullness in the low-mid frequencies, giving guitar recordings a rich and satisfying feel. It also pairs exceptionally well with amp simulators, making it an excellent choice for guitarists who want to enjoy shaping their tone rather than simply recording it.

The Volt 2 also features MIDI I/O and direct monitoring, providing the flexibility to expand your setup in the future. In addition, it comes bundled with a generous collection of UAD plug-ins and music production software, allowing you to start creating immediately after purchase.

This is an excellent choice for anyone who wants not only clean monitoring performance but also the ability to incorporate an analog-like character into their recordings from the very beginning.

Apogee
Duet 3

A Premium Audio Interface That Combines Stylish Design with Exceptional Sound Quality!

The Apogee Duet 3 is a desktop audio interface that packs the technology Apogee has refined through years of professional studio experience into a compact form factor. With its sleek design and compact chassis, it makes a striking addition to any desktop setup.

The sound is exceptionally clear and transparent, faithfully reproducing even the finest nuances of your performance. The low end remains full and rich without becoming overly pronounced, allowing guitars and vocals to be recorded naturally with an impressive sense of depth. Its excellent detail retrieval also makes it easy to evaluate your recordings, giving you confidence in the quality of your tracks from the very beginning.

The interface is controlled through the dedicated Apogee Control 2 software, allowing precise adjustment of input gain and monitor levels. Since settings can be managed numerically, it’s easy to recreate the exact same recording environment for future sessions.

The Duet 3 also includes the Symphony ECS Channel Strip, enabling real-time monitoring with EQ, compression, and saturation. This allows you to shape your ideal sound while recording, making the production process more intuitive and inspiring.

Audio I/O is handled via the included breakout cable, and the interface itself weighs only about 340 g, making it highly portable. Pair it with the optional docking station, and you can create an even cleaner and more sophisticated desktop workspace.

The Duet 3 is an excellent choice for anyone who values not only outstanding sound quality but also elegant design and exceptional ease of use.

Audient
iD4mkII

A High-Value Audio Interface Featuring a Professional-Grade Mic Preamp!

Audient iD4mkII is an audio interface that incorporates the technology Audient has developed as a professional console manufacturer into a compact chassis. Despite its simple configuration, it is a model that reflects a strong commitment to sound quality throughout.

The recorded sound is well-controlled in the low end, without any unnecessary boominess. At the same time, the high frequencies remain clear enough to reveal subtle nuances, naturally capturing the attack and expression of your guitar performance. Because the sound is not overly colored, it also pairs exceptionally well with amp simulators.

In terms of features, it supports loopback, making it suitable for live streaming performances and online lessons. The monitoring functions are also thoughtfully designed to reduce stress during recording.
(*Loopback: A function that mixes audio from your computer, such as background music, with your guitar signal and sends both to streaming or recording software.)

It also comes with a generous software bundle, including not only a DAW but also a variety of plugins, allowing you to start building your production environment immediately after purchase.

This is an excellent choice for guitarists who prioritize recording quality over flashy features, or for those looking to achieve a cleaner, more refined recorded sound.

Fender Studio
Quantum LT 2

A Guitarist-Focused Interface with Fender’s Signature Ease of Use!

Designed for instrument recording, It’s an ideal choice for everything from home recording to live streaming!

The Quantum LT 2 is an audio interface developed by Fender specifically for guitarists and bassists. While it features a simple 2-in/2-out configuration, it places a strong emphasis on instrument input quality and low-latency performance, providing a comfortable recording experience.

The sound is clean and transparent, with very little coloration, allowing it to faithfully capture the natural character of your guitar. It also pairs well with amp simulators, making it suitable for a wide range of tones, from pristine clean sounds to high-gain distortion.

It also features loopback functionality, making it a great choice for live streaming performances and creating video content. Integration with the dedicated software is smooth, and its design makes it easy to use even for those just getting started with home recording.

Combining simple operation with practical features, the Quantum LT 2 is an audio interface designed from a guitarist’s perspective.

ZOOM
R4 MultiTrak

Capture Inspiration the Moment It Strikes – A New-Generation MTR for Guitarists!

A portable recorder featuring 32-bit recording and USB audio interface functionality, perfect for guitarists who value capturing ideas!

If you want to capture guitar riffs or song ideas the moment inspiration strikes, the ZOOM R4 MultiTrak is an extremely compelling choice. Despite its compact, palm-sized design, it offers 4-track recording and a dedicated bounce track, allowing you to build songs by layering recordings over and over.

It also includes a wide range of guitarist-friendly features, such as built-in input effects including amp simulators, delay, and distortion. You can simply plug your guitar directly into the unit and start recording with ease. When connected via USB, it also functions as a 2-in/2-out audio interface, making it possible to use it as a DAW recording interface at home and as a standalone recorder while on the go.

Actual users have praised it as ‘an excellent sketchbook for songwriting’ and ‘a great tool for turning ideas into recordings quickly’. It is a versatile unit suitable for everyone from home recording beginners to experienced songwriters. It is highly recommended for guitarists looking for a product that bridges the gap between a traditional audio interface and a multitrack recorder (MTR).

Audio Interface Comparison for Guitarists (Under ¥100,000)

*Scroll horizontally and vertically to view the full table.

Overall Evaluation

The under-¥100,000 price range is one of the most competitive segments of the audio interface market, with technologies inherited from each manufacturer’s flagship models packed into these products. No matter which model you choose, you’ll get more than enough sound quality for what can truly be called professional-quality guitar recording at home.

That’s why I believe the most important factor when choosing an audio interface today is its unique strengths beyond sound quality—whether that’s built-in DSP effects, vintage preamp emulation, or streaming-oriented features. Choosing a model that matches your playing style and recording needs is the key to finding the perfect interface.

The 10 models introduced in this guide can be grouped into the following categories:

1. For First-Time Buyers and Guitarists Who Want Great Sound with Minimal Effort

These models are easy to operate and let you achieve excellent results without getting lost in complicated settings.

• Focusrite / Scarlett 2i2 (Gen. 4): A trusted favorite for beginners, featuring Auto Gain that automatically sets the optimal input level for hassle-free recording.
• Solid State Logic / SSL1: Adds the signature SSL console-inspired 4K character at the press of a button, making it easy to create a guitar tone with enhanced presence and clarity that stands out in a mix.
• ZOOM / R4: Its biggest advantage is the ability to start recording without a computer. Perfect for quickly capturing riffs and song ideas, making it an excellent choice for beginners as well as songwriters creating demos.

2. For Guitarists Who Want Warmth and Analog Character Right from the Recording Stage

When using amp simulators, the quality of the original DI signal is crucial. These models feature preamps with distinctive sonic character.

• Universal Audio / Volt 2: The Vintage Mode adds the warmth and thickness of a classic tube preamp from the moment you record.
• Audient / iD4mkII: Equipped with a console-grade microphone preamp, this outstanding value model delivers pure, high-resolution recordings with virtually no unwanted coloration.

3. For Guitarists Who Prioritize Core Performance and a Comfortable Playing Experience

Ideal for players who want to minimize computer load and enjoy ultra-low-latency performance for stress-free playing.

• MOTU / M2: One of the most popular interfaces in its class, featuring a premium DAC and delivering class-leading low latency along with outstanding audio resolution.
• Fender Studio / Quantum LT 2: Designed specifically for instrument recording by Fender, offering low-latency performance and a natural, transparent sound.

4. For Guitarists Who Want Advanced Features Such as DSP Effects, Streaming Tools, and Expandability

These models are designed for users who want onboard DSP processing without taxing their computer’s CPU, as well as room to expand their setup in the future.

• Yamaha / URX22C: A highly versatile interface with built-in DSP, capable of handling recording, streaming, and music production in a single unit despite its affordable price.
• Apogee / Duet 3: Combines premium sound quality with an elegant desktop design while offering a DSP-based channel strip for professional monitoring and processing.

ConclusionAudio interfaces under ¥100,000 have evolved far beyond being simple devices for capturing sound—they’ve become the centerpiece of modern guitar sound creation.
Find the one that best matches your recording setup and your vision of the sound you want to create, and you’ll have a reliable partner for years to come.