(First post, sorry in advance if I've made any mistakes.)
I was looking around for a Focusrite audio interface deal including secondhand/refurb, but people aren't selling them cheap - they're highly rated and a top quality product. Was going to go with the 8i6 for $375.49 (which is also the cheapest I could find) until I found this deal on the 18i8 - it boasts a number of balanced inputs and outputs that I won't be worrying interfaces in the future, and can use for recording bands/church (Yes, this is defs overkill for most home studios).
The closest price I can find for the 18i8 is $590 from Music City.
Most people using mics with a PC will only want something like the Scarlett Solo or 2i2, the 4i4 is probably appropriate if you want to start recording quality sound, and the 8i6 should cover most home studios. The 8i6 is great for people who want to use condenser microphones but also record instruments, as it has balanced inputs (for cleaner signals), something most of the smaller versions don't have.
Other models:
- 18i20 for $708.74.
- 18i8 for $511.59
- 8i6 for $375.49.
- 4i4 for $300.07.
- 2i2 for $248.03.
- Solo for $166.37.
Released in 2019, this generation has USB-C. Be wary that a new generation might be coming, as 2016 was the gen 2 release, and gen 1 in 2011 - seems like we're about due for a new release, but maybe the specs won't change much.
18i8 Specs:
Supported sample rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
Microphone Inputs:
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz ± 0.1dB
- Dynamic Range: 111dB (A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.0012%
- Noise EIN: -128dBu (A-weighted)
- Maximum Input Level: 9dBu (at minimum gain)
- Gain Range: 56dB
- Impedance: 3kΩLine Inputs 1-4 (Variable Gain)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz ± 0.1dB
- Dynamic Range: 110.5dB (A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.002%
- Maximum Input Level: 22dBu (at minimum gain)
- Gain Range: 56dB
- Impedance: 60kΩLine Inputs 5-8 (Fixed Gain)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz ± 0.1dB
- Dynamic Range: 110.5dB (A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.002%
- Maximum Input Level: 18dBu (at minimum gain)
- Impedance: 44kΩInstrument Inputs
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz ± 0.1dB
- Dynamic Range: 110dB (A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.03%
- Maximum Input Level: 12.5dBu (at minimum gain)
- Gain Range: 56dB
- Impedance: 1.5MΩLine/Monitor Outputs
- Dynamic Range (Line Outputs): 108dB
- THD+N" <0.002%
- Maximum Output Level (0 dBFS): 15.5dBu
- Impedance: 430ΩHeadphone Outputs
- Dynamic Range: 104dB (A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.002%
- Maximum Output Level: 7dBu
- Impedance: <1Ω
I have the Clarett 2Pre and I love it.