Video summary

Don't buy these audio interfaces. Get these instead.

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed (theme of the video)

This isn’t a single product review—it’s a buyer’s guide-style video that warns against several specific audio interfaces and recommends alternatives. In other words, the “product” is the audio interface category, with the focus on:

  • Which interfaces to avoid
  • Which to buy instead

Key “Don’t buy these” / Avoid list

1) Behringer UM2

  • Very noisy
  • Drivers not supported
  • Bad build quality
  • Verdict: Cross off your list; don’t buy.

Alternative recommended instead: MRA Solo

2) Focusrite Scarlett Solo

  • Generally good, but with caveats
  • Avoid specific generations/models:
    • Avoid 1st gen
    • 2nd gen not recommended
    • Prefer 3rd or 4th gen

Difference vs Scarlett 2i2

  • Preamps are stated as the same
  • Main annoyance: the Solo’s knob controls both:
    • Headphone volume
    • Monitor output / monitor volume
  • Described as annoying

Verdict: Solo can be “solid” if you pick the right generation.

3) Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (including “Solo 2i2” / “Scarlett 2i2” mentioned)

  • Dangerously priced compared with other good interfaces
  • Recommended alternatives because they’re close in price (examples given):
    • Behringer (mentioned as iD4 Mark I—likely iD4 “Mark I”)
    • SSL 2
    • Motu Volt 276 / Volt 2
    • M2 / “M 2m2” (also mentioned)

Verdict: Don’t choose the Scarlett 2i2 at that price—pick better-value alternatives.

4) Audient Evo4

Crossed out / not recommended.

  • EMI issues / noise
    • Example: nearby Wi‑Fi / Bluetooth / cell phone (e.g., mouse/wifi access point) leads to a lot of noise
  • One knob does too much
    • Same knob controls mic volume, headphone volume, and switching behavior between DAW vs mic/monitoring
    • Said to be confusing
  • Slower to operate
    • Uses a menu system
    • Interfaces with separate knobs are argued to be faster

Verdict: Avoid if you want clean operation without interference or awkward controls.

5) IK / “AudioBox” GO

Crossed out / not recommended.

  • Stepping issue with gain
    • With a dynamic mic (example: XM8500), volume is:
      • too low until about 10
      • then jumps / carries too loud
    • Described as no smooth in-between
  • Weak headphone amp
    • With HD6xx, headphone volume is very, very low

Verdict: Not good for dynamic mics needing smooth gain control and/or headphone listening.

6) Shure MV1 (also mentioned as “Sure MV I”)

  • Bought used due to a deal and portability, but…

  • Deceptively heavy

    • “Like a brick”
  • Gain adjustment is awkward
    • Adjusts gain “like a phone,” described as unnatural
  • Practicality complaint → out of favor

Verdict: Not recommended for the intended workflow despite portability appeal.

7) Apollo Twin (final “don’t recommend”)

The strongest “avoid” at the end, with multiple reasons.

PC users

  • Says Apollo Twin won’t work well on Windows/PC
  • Claims many Windows users have problems (mentions Discord/online reports)
  • States makers “don’t care about Windows”, unlike companies like RME (driver support cited as better)

Mac users

  • Claims: “honestly, no—you shouldn’t buy it”
  • Cost/value critique
    • Says Apollo Twin is “worth” around $2,000 or more
    • Claim: people then keep buying extra plugins costing about $150–$300 each
  • Performance hot take
    • If you don’t use plugins, he claims Apollo Twin is about the same as an SSL 2 (tests + personal testing)
  • “You’ll end up screwed either way” argument
    • If you use plugins: total cost keeps growing
    • If you don’t: you’re not getting better audio than cheaper options
    • Emphasizes preferring one-and-done purchases, not DLC/subscriptions

Verdict: Avoid Apollo Twin for both PC compatibility/value and plugin-cost economics.

Recommended / “do buy” interfaces (unique list)

He explicitly recommends the following (not all are equally discussed):

  • Motu Volt 276
  • SSL 2
  • Focusrite iD4 Mark II
  • Babyface Pro
  • Zoom F3
  • Zoom F6
  • Motu M2

He also specifically suggests:

  • MRA Solo instead of Behringer UM2
  • For travel: Zoom AM22 (highlighted below)

Travel interface mentioned (partial recommendation)

Zoom AM22

  • Loved for travel
  • Notes: common reviews say it’s noisy (often blamed on preamps like Zoom H5/H6), but he disputes that severity:
    • Says Zoom H5/H6 are fine (cites older videos and his own view)

Strengths

  • Gain knob
  • Headphone volume
  • Monitor input/output
  • One input
  • Very lightweight/portable

Positioned as “yellow category”:

  • He likes it, but acknowledges others might not.

User experience themes (what he values)

  • Low noise / reliable drivers
  • Good build quality
  • Controls with separate knobs (faster than menu-driven and one-knob schemes)
  • Avoid EMI susceptibility
  • Sufficient headphone gain
  • Real value vs price inflation
  • Driver/support reliability on Windows (Apollo Twin singled out)

Pros/Cons summary by model type (condensed)

  • Behringer UM2: noisy, unsupported drivers, bad build → avoid
  • Scarlett Solo: good if you choose the right generation; annoying knob mapping → conditional buy
  • Scarlett 2i2: pricing poor vs alternatives → avoid
  • Audient Evo4: EMI noise + confusing one-knob controls + slow menu → avoid
  • AudioBox GO: gain “stepping” + weak headphone amp → avoid
  • Shure MV1: surprisingly heavy + awkward gain adjustment → avoid
  • Apollo Twin: Windows problems; on Mac, value crushed by plugin economics; not clearly better than SSL 2 → avoid
  • Recommended set: Volt 276, SSL 2, iD4 Mark II, Babyface Pro, Zoom F3/F6, Motu M2

Ratings / numerical scores

  • No formal star ratings are provided.
  • Numerical mentions are mostly:
    • Pricing and value comparisons (Apollo Twin ~$2,000+, plugins ~$150–$300 each)
    • A suggestion to spend an extra $30–$40 to get better than Scarlett 2i2
    • The AudioBox GO gain behavior example around ~10 (where gain “jumps”)

Overall verdict / recommendation

Do not buy

  • Behringer UM2
  • Audient Evo4
  • AudioBox GO
  • Shure MV1
  • Apollo Twin
  • Also avoid specific Scarlett generations/models, and avoid Scarlett 2i2 due to pricing/value.

Best “safer” targets from his recommended list

  • SSL 2
  • Babyface Pro
  • Motu Volt 276
  • Motu M2
  • Zoom F3/F6
  • Focusrite iD4 Mark II

Travel option emphasized

  • Zoom AM22

Speakers

  • The subtitles appear to come from one main speaker (no distinct separate speakers indicated).

Original video