Portable Audio Interface for Linux

[lynx]

I've been looking to purchase a decent audio interface for my Libreboot'd X200 laptop, and wanted something that worked in Linux without proprietary drivers, had decent converters, live input monitoring, and digital I/O.  I seem to have nailed it with the Sound Devices USBPre 2 (http://www.sounddevices.com/products/portable-audio-tools/usbpre2).  it is targeted primarily for remote recording applications, and so despite its excellent ADCs, it is fully bus powered.  Even with Slackware Linux, my experience setting it up was literally plug & play!  it wouldn't be my first choice for low-latency recording/mixing with plugins (if that's your thing).  But if reliable, unfettered operation and quality sound "on the go" are your thing, I really recommend it.  I wish other audio hardware was so thoughtfully considered.

[FeRDNYC]

"Additional features controlled by hardware DIP switches on the back panel; no software-only features and no control panel." â€" now, that's an attractive line to read on a features list. And it's a standards-based interface which is always nice. USB Audio Class 2 (and Class 3, today) is well-supported in ALSA, meaning specialized-hardware-driver-less access to the full range of available sampling frequencies and bit depths from Linux.

Those f---ers still go for $900 at B&H, though. Too rich for my blood, as enticing as it does sound. I'm sure it's a worthwhile investment if you've got sufficient resources to commit.