[triquee]

DO NOT get a 2i2 or any other USB audio interface from Focusrite. The USB drivers are shite. I auditioned a 2i4 for a few months and there were all sorts of issues with the thing: random drop outs, failures to initialize device and drivers, pops and clicks at all conceivable buffer sizes....it won't function in a 24-bit environment under any circumstances (even though it is advertised as a 92kHz/24-bit AI), the drivers refuse to release for multiple application usage without an epic battle regardless of system, DAW, or OS settings. It's a nightmare.

I have heard far fewer complaints about their firewire interfaces. If you do decide to go with a firewire interface though, be sure to get a dedicated firewire card with a Texas Instruments (TI) chipset to plug it into. Other chipsets can create issues.

I used a Presonus Firebox for a while for audio recording and it was a beast. Never had driver issues and the digital conversion was clean and versatile. The only issue I found (and the reason why I tried the 2i4) was that the mic preamps were really noisy and produced a static at all levels of gain that was impossible to EQ out. Focusrite has a reputation for having outstanding mic pres...which is well earned....when you can get the device to actually work for 5 minutes.