Donner USB Audio Interface vs M-Audio M-Track Solo: Find the Best Interface for Your Guitar

If you are looking for a simple and affordable audio interface that can offer you high-quality sound and performance for your guitar recording, you might be interested in comparing the Donner USB Audio Interface and the M-Audio M-Track Solo.

The Donner USB Audio Interface is better for those who want more inputs and outputs, more resolution, and more durability, while the M-Audio M-Track Solo is better for those who want more features, more software, and more portability.

These are two of the most popular options in the cheaper end of the market, but they have some significant differences that might affect your decision. In this article, we will review and compare these two audio interfaces, and help you decide which one is better for your guitar recording.

A Quick Look

If you want a simple and affordable audio interface that can offer you high-quality sound and performance for your guitar recording and don’t mind a slightly lower number of inputs and outputs, you may want to choose the M-Audio M-Track Solo. It has a warm and rich sound quality that adds some color and character to your sources. It also has a monitor mix knob that can blend the input and playback signals.

If you want a more advanced and versatile audio interface that can offer you higher audio quality and more options and flexibility for your guitar recording and don’t mind a slightly higher price, you may want to choose the Donner USB Audio Interface. It has a clean and transparent sound quality that preserves the natural tone of your sources. It also has a metal chassis that makes it more durable and sturdy.

Price Comparison

The Donner USB Audio Interface is more expensive than the M-Audio M-Track Solo, as you might expect from its higher audio quality and more inputs and outputs. The Donner USB Audio Interface has a recommended retail price of $119, but you can find it online for around $100. The M-Audio M-Track Solo has a lower price tag of $49, but it also offers lower audio resolution (24-bit/48kHz) and fewer inputs and outputs (1-in/1-out) than the Donner USB Audio Interface (24-bit/192kHz, 2-in/2-out).

So, the price difference between the Donner USB Audio Interface and the M-Audio M-Track Solo is quite significant, depending on what you need from an audio interface. If you are looking for a more advanced and versatile interface for professional recording and monitoring, you might prefer the Donner USB Audio Interface. If you are looking for a simple and affordable interface for recording vocals or instruments, you might prefer the M-Audio M-Track Solo.

Common Features

• Compact and portable audio interfaces: These devices are small and lightweight, which makes them easy to carry around and use in different locations. They can fit in your backpack or laptop bag, and they do not take up much space on your desk or studio.

• USB connectivity: These devices can connect to your computer via USB, which means that you do not need any external power supply or adapter. They are also compatible with Windows and Mac computers, as well as iOS devices via USB .

• One mic/line input with XLR/TRS combo jack: This input can accept both microphone and line level signals. You can use it to record vocals, guitars, keyboards, or any other source that has an XLR or TRS output. It also has phantom power (+48V) for condenser microphones, which can be switched on or off with a button on the front panel of the audio interface.

• One instrument input with TS jack: This input can accept high-impedance sources such as electric guitars, which might otherwise sound weak or thin. You can use it to record your guitar directly into your computer without any additional equipment.

• Two balanced line outputs with TRS jacks: These outputs can send your audio signals to your speakers, monitors, headphones, or any other device that has a TRS input. They also have a main volume knob that can control the output level of both outputs.

• Headphone output with level control: This output can let you monitor your audio signals with headphones. You can also adjust the headphone volume with a dedicated knob on the front panel of the audio interface.

• Direct monitor switch for zero-latency monitoring: This switch can let you hear your input sources without any delay or latency. This is useful for recording vocals or instruments, as you can avoid any timing or pitch issues caused by latency. You can also toggle between mono and stereo modes with the direct monitor switch.

• LED meters for input and output levels: These meters can show you the input and output levels of your audio signals. This can help you avoid clipping or distortion by adjusting the input gain or output volume accordingly. The LED meters also indicate the power status and phantom power status of the audio interface.

Donner USB Audio Interface – Unique Features

• USB-C port: The Donner USB Audio Interface has a USB-C port as the main data exchange and power supply. This allows for faster and more stable data transfer than the traditional USB-A port.

• 24-bit/192kHz resolution: Can record audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution, which is a higher quality standard than the 24-bit/48kHz resolution of the M-Audio M-Track Solo.

• Balanced TRS outputs: Has balanced TRS outputs, which are different from the unbalanced RCA outputs of the M-Audio M-Track Solo. Balanced outputs have less risk of noise and interference than unbalanced outputs, especially over longer distances. Balanced outputs are more common and compatible with professional audio devices, while unbalanced outputs are more common and compatible with consumer audio devices.

• 80 effect plugins: Comes with a software bundle that includes 80 effect plugins provided by AIR, a collection of world-class virtual instruments such as TubeSynth, Electric, and Bassline, and ReValver, a guitar amplifier modeling software. These plugins can enhance your audio production with various effects, sounds, and tones.

M-Audio M-Track Solo – Unique Features

• Class-compliant device: The M-Audio M-Track Solo is a class-compliant device, which means that it does not require any drivers to work with most operating systems and software. This makes it easier to set up and use than the Donner USB Audio Interface, which requires ASIO or Core Audio drivers.

• Unbalanced RCA outputs: Has unbalanced RCA outputs, which are different from the balanced TRS outputs of the Donner USB Audio Interface. Unbalanced outputs are more prone to noise and interference than balanced outputs, but they are also more common and compatible with most consumer audio devices.

• Pro Tools First M-Audio Edition: The M-Audio M-Track Solo comes with a software bundle that includes Pro Tools First M-Audio Edition, a lite version of the industry-standard DAW that includes a collection of Avid plugins. Pro Tools is one of the most widely used and respected DAWs in the music industry, and it offers powerful features and tools for audio editing, mixing, and mastering.

Sound Quality Comparison

Both the Donner USB Audio Interface and the M-Audio M-Track Solo have excellent sound quality, but they have different sonic characteristics. The Donner USB Audio Interface has a clean and transparent sound that preserves the natural tone of your sources. It has low noise and distortion levels, high dynamic range, and wide frequency response. It uses high-performance converters that can support up to 24-bit/192 kHz resolution, and also has high-quality mic preamps that can capture the nuances of your vocals and instruments.

The M-Audio M-Track Solo has a warm and rich sound that adds some color and character to your sources. It has low noise and distortion levels, high dynamic range, and wide frequency response. It uses high-quality converters that can support up to 24-bit/48 kHz resolution, and also has Crystal preamps that are designed by M-Audio’s engineers. These preamps have a vintage vibe that can enhance your vocals and instruments with subtle saturation and compression.

Compatibility

Both the Donner USB Audio Interface and the M-Audio M-Track Solo are compatible with Windows and Mac computers, but they have different requirements for mobile devices. They both work with any DAW software that supports ASIO or Core Audio drivers, but they have different software bundles that offer various plugins, virtual instruments, samples, loops, and more.

The Donner USB Audio Interface adopts a USB-C port as the main data exchange and power supply. It is compatible with iOS devices via USB, but it also requires an Apple adapter to connect to them. It is not compatible with Android devices.

Software is not required to access its features, and it works with any DAW or plugin that supports ASIO or Core Audio drivers. It comes with a software bundle that includes MPC Beats, a digital audio workstation (DAW) that makes it easy and fun to create music or podcasts on any Mac or PC.

The M-Audio M-Track Solo is a class-compliant device, which means that it does not require any drivers to work with most operating systems and software. It is compatible with Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10.8 or higher, iOS 9 or higher, and Android 5.0 or higher. It requires a USB connection to your computer or mobile device for power supply and data exchange.

It comes with a software bundle that includes MPC Beats, a digital audio workstation (DAW) that makes it easy and fun to create music or podcasts on any Mac or PC.

Which One Would You Choose?

The answer to this question depends on your personal preferences, needs, and budget. There is no definitive answer to which one is better, as they both have their strengths and weaknesses. However, here are some general guidelines to help you decide which one would suit you better.

You might prefer the Donner USB Audio Interface if:

• You want more value for money.
• You need higher sample rate and resolution.
• You prefer a clean and transparent sound quality.
• You value durability and stability more than portability and convenience.

You might prefer the M-Audio M-Track Solo if:

• You want more features and software.
• You need a monitor mix knob for blending input and playback signals.
• You like a warm and rich sound quality.
• You value portability and convenience more than durability and stability.