Really need help picking the right interface for my weird setup.

[DearFreja]

So I've been trying to figure out what interface to get for ages now and I'm really struggling based on my specific needs. I'll quickly list my setup, then what I want to achieve.

I'm on a windows 10 PC with an i7 8700k running on Reaper/Mixcraft (open to other DAWs)
I want to record vocals but mainly guitars, and the kicker is that I can't and don't have monitors or any guitar amps, so I need to do everything through headphones in my DAW.

I run a lot of NeuralDSP cab sims and Guitar Rig, etc, and all my guitar tones are created virtually, but the problem is that I can't figure out what interface to get that would allow me to monitor my DAW in real time while I play, without high latency (even like 5ms is borderline unplayable for me, I'm really sensitive to it).

TL;DR I need an interface with low/zero latency that will playback my DAW sounds in real time so I can track through it while hearing drum tracks and bass tracks I program.

I was looking at the Presonus Studio C26 but I'm not sure if it would be a good option. Scarlett 2i2 as well, but the Direct Monitoring on it seems whack.

My budget would be around $230-$250 USD. Maybe a BIT more if it's necessary.

[Drew Stephenson]

If guitars are your main thing it might be worth looking at the Audient Sono or some of the new Line6 interfaces as they seem to be guitar-focused.

[James Perrett]

Everything digital introduces additional latency - the A/D, the driver buffering, the guitar processing, some more driver buffering and finally the D/A. RME interfaces have a great reputation for low latency drivers but Presonus also market their Quantum range as having exceptionally low latency. Monitoring through effects is one of the more demanding applications of a DAW.

[DearFreja]

I definitely understand that latency is unavoidable, but if I'm running a guitar straight in with no effects, I'd like it to be 3-5ms. I can get 3ms on a normal guitar cable going straight into my PC without an interface but obviously you sacrifice quality for that.

I said my budget was around 250 USD but some of these recommendations are 500-1500. I totally accept that I will have latency which is why I'm wondering which devices would be, within my price range, the most effective.

[Eddy Deegan]

So I've been trying to figure out what interface to get for ages now and I'm really struggling based on my specific needs.
...
I run a lot of NeuralDSP cab sims and Guitar Rig, etc, and all my guitar tones are created virtually,
...
TL;DR I need an interface with low/zero latency that will playback my DAW sounds in real time so I can track through it while hearing drum tracks and bass tracks I program.

You don't say what interface you are using currently. If you are plumbing the axe straight into the on-board soundcard on the PC then I would expect that to be a little painful.

You say you are sensitive to 5ms latency ... I'm a pianist, and I can comfortably live with 5ms latency so I'm wondering if there is something else you found difficult. Just because an interface has 5ms latency that doesn't mean you're going to be able to monitor the output from DAW plugins in that time.

My hunch is that your issue is with the additional latency imposed by the plugins. Have you tried a hardware interface with 5ms latency using a clean guitar with no plugins? I suspect you'd find that OK tbh.

The solution may be to look at a hardware FX unit for the guitar, thus removing the overhead of plugins from the chain, in which case direct monitoring should alleviate the issue completely assuming you turn off the software monitoring and the rest of the system compensates for it.

[The Elf]

I agree with Eddy. I would look at a hardware effects unit, even if you parallel it to record a DI from your guitar. As long as you have something you can use to get the parts down you can add the processing you really want later.

It's not a budget option, but I typically record guitar through my Line 6 Helix, tracking both the processed output of the Helix and the dry DI simultaneously. Having the option to re-amp through software or hardware is liberating.

[resistorman]

Your setup ain’t so weird

In your budget:

https://line6.com/pod-studio/

[CS70]

I definitely understand that latency is unavoidable, but if I'm running a guitar straight in with no effects, I'd like it to be 3-5ms. I can get 3ms on a normal guitar cable going straight into my PC without an interface but obviously you sacrifice quality for that.

I said my budget was around 250 USD but some of these recommendations are 500-1500. I totally accept that I will have latency which is why I'm wondering which devices would be, within my price range, the most effective.

5ms is about the delay time due to your amp speaker being 2 meters away, so it sounds a little odd.

Regardless, in your situation I wouldn't rely on an interface at all, it's just a recipe for pain.
A couple of solutions: get a very good amp emulator (one that gives you a "real" feel and sound when playing) and record that; or buy a less expensive one and use it with a "similar" sound to your final one for monitoring, but recording only the DI-ed signal, so that you can reamp it later within the DAW.

Given that on the used market you can find an old POD2 or XT for next to nothing, there's really no reason to put with latency of any sort!

[merlyn]

It is possible to use Guitar Rig at low latencies. I've recently helped a friend set up a Surface Pro for live use using Guitar Rig and he is getting latencies under 5ms.

There is a trade off between latency and how many plugins and soft synths you can use. The lower the latency the less tracks with plugins you will get.

The important figure is the round trip latency. As an example a buffer size of 256 samples at 48khz represents 5.3ms. The round trip latency will be higher than that -- nearer four times the latency of one buffer. So you may see a latency of 5.3 ms reported somewhere when the round trip latency is nearer 20 ms, which you definitely would notice.

To get the latency down you're aiming for a buffer of 32 or 64 samples. Using a higher sample rate also decreases latency.

What buffer size and sample rate are you using, and how have you determined what latency you are getting?

[ef37a]

I am of course going to say "Native Instruments KA6" (still no cheque btw!) but those new MOTUs look very tasty! All have the lowest latency you are going to get without going RME or TB.

Re the Five mSecs? In another forum a well seasoned player says he finds the LACK of delay off putting when he plays guitar directly through headphones! You really don't get the benefit of a double 4x12 stack+100W of valves unless you are some ten feet afront it!

You can learn to cope with most things...Try church organist.

Dave.

[Guest]

all interfaces do monitoring. Heck if all you wanted was to monitor the sound you could use a hifi dac really. but recording into the dac of hifi realm might become difficult. guitar, don't sit too close to the equipment.