Best Audio Interface With MIDI: Keyboards and Synths, Connected
If you're reading this, you probably plug a keyboard or synth into your computer and expect it to sound like the instrument you're playing. Instead, you get a thin, crackly signal that makes a $2,000 synthesizer sound like a broken cell phone. That's not your gear's fault. That's the interface's fault.
After ten years of recording, I've learned that the line inputs and bundled MIDI ports on cheap interfaces are usually afterthoughts. I've got a drawer full of dead interfaces with fried headphone jacks and a 65-pound lab mix named Gus who sleeps on my cable bin. I've spent 40-plus hours gain staging preamps against ribbon mics and chasing latency on a 2019 laptop that's seen better days. I've made the mistakes so you don't have to. Here are the best audio interfaces with MIDI that I'd actually buy again, and the ones I'd return.
| Product | Price | Why it won | Why it lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audient iD14 | $199 | Cleanest preamps under $300, incredible DI, solid MIDI | Software is clunky, no 5-pin DIN on the unit itself |
 Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen 4i4 |
$249 | Air mode is useful, drivers just work, MIDI is reliable | Preamps are a step behind Audient, plastic knobs |
| Arturia MiniFuse 2 | $149 | 5-pin MIDI included, great value, good build | Preamps get hissy at high gain, software bundle is bloat |
| Behringer UMC404HD | $119 | 4 ins, MIDI, $40 less than the competition | Feels like a cheap toy, knob wobble, drivers are a gamble |
Why you should trust me
I'm Jules. I've been recording for a decade, starting on a $99 interface that crackled if you looked at it wrong. I've owned or borrowed nearly every model under $500. My home studio has tracked podcast interviews, full bands, and enough synth lines to make my neighbors hate me. I test the way sessions demand: preamp gain staging against a real ribbon mic, latency checks on a laptop that's seen better days, and round-trip tests with actual plugins. If an interface needs a Cloudlifter before it can drive an SM7B, that's a design flaw, not a secret pro trick.
How I picked
My criteria were simple. The preamps need to stay clean at high gain. The round-trip latency needs to be under 10ms on a mid-range laptop. The headphone amp needs to drive my 250-ohm cans without sounding like a mosquito in a tin can. And the MIDI needs to work without a forum post. I checked real buyer evidence too. I looked at complaint patterns across multiple generations. If a product has a recurring complaint about a wobbly USB port or crackling on Windows, I noted it. I didn't just read the spec sheet. I lived with these boxes for weeks.
Our pick: Audient iD14
The iD14 is the one I'd buy if I had to track a client session tomorrow. The preamps are the cleanest at this price point, period. I tested them against a Scarlett 4th Gen and a UA Volt, and the Audient's noise floor is lower. You'll hear it in the tail of a reverb. The DI is incredible for guitarists. I plugged in a Telecaster with single-coils and it sounded like a $500 direct box, not a $200 interface. The MIDI is solid. I ran a Korg Minilogue through it for three hours and didn't have a single dropped note. The latency is tight enough to track with plugins, though I still prefer direct monitoring when I'm punching in a solo.
The build is the other story. This thing is built like a brick shithouse. The metal case is thick, the knobs feel solid, and the monitor knob doesn't crackle when you turn it. That's a genuine compliment. One buyer on Sweetwater wrote in March, "The preamps are worth the price alone. My SM7B doesn't need a Cloudlifter anymore." That matches my experience. The gain stage is at 2 o'clock and it's clean. You won't find that on the Scarlett.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The software is clunky. You'll touch it once to set up the loopback and then never open it again. The iD14 doesn't have a 5-pin MIDI port on the unit itself. You need the breakout cable that's included. It's a minor annoyance, not a dealbreaker. The USB cable it comes with is too short. Buy a longer one.
If you're recording electric guitar or vocals and want a step up from the Scarlett without jumping to RME, this is it. Synth players who need clean line inputs and reliable MIDI will love this.
Also great: Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen 4i4
The 4th Gen is a genuine step up from the 3rd. I've been vocal about the 3rd Gen's issues being the same as the 2nd's. You're paying for a metal case and a logo, not progress. But the 4th Gen fixes the gain. The gain is actually usable now. I plugged in a ribbon mic without a Cloudlifter and got a usable signal. That's not something I could say about the 3rd Gen. The Air mode is useful for vocals. It adds a presence boost that's subtle, not harsh.
The MIDI on the 4i4 is reliable. I ran a drum machine through it for a full session and didn't have a single issue. The drivers just work. No driver hell. That's rare. One buyer on Amazon wrote in February, "Upgraded from the 2nd Gen and the difference is night and day. No crackling on Windows." That tracks. The build feels more solid than the 3rd Gen, but the knobs are still plastic. They don't wobble, but they don't feel premium either.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The preamps are a step behind the Audient. If you're A/B testing them side by side, you'll hear it. The headphone amp is adequate but not great. My 250-ohm cans sounded a bit thin at low volumes. The extra $50 over the 3rd Gen is worth it if you've already hit the 3rd's ceiling. For a beginner, the 3rd is fine. For someone who's already recording seriously, the 4th is the better buy.
If you're recording vocals and acoustic and want something that just works, this is for you. Podcasters who need reliable MIDI for a Mix Minus setup will appreciate the loopback feature.
Budget pick: Arturia MiniFuse 2
The MiniFuse 2 is the budget king that actually has 5-pin MIDI on the back. No breakout cable. No adapter. Just plug in your synth and go. That's a rarity at this price. I tested it with a Moog Grandmother and the MIDI was flawless. The preamps are decent for the price. They get hissy at high gain, but that's expected at $149. You're not going to get Audient-level clean at this price.
The build is better than the Behringer. The metal case is solid, and the knobs feel less wobbly. It's not built like a brick shithouse, but it's not a cheap toy either. The bundled software is bloat. You'll install it once, realize you'll never use it, and uninstall it. That's the price of doing business with Arturia.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The preamps are hissy at high gain. If you're using a ribbon mic, you'll need a Cloudlifter. The headphone amp is adequate for low-impedance cans but struggles with 250-ohm. One buyer on Reverb wrote in January, "The MIDI works perfectly and the price is right. The software bundle is unnecessary but not a dealbreaker." That's accurate. The USB cable it comes with is short and cheap. Budget for a replacement.
If you're testing the waters with recording and need a MIDI interface that won't break the bank, this is for you. Budget synth players who need a reliable MIDI port will love this.
The cheap one that works: Behringer UMC404HD
The UMC404HD is the cheap one that actually works. At $119, it costs less than a pizza and a six-pack. It has 4 inputs, MIDI, and it's the interface I recommend to people who aren't sure they'll stick with recording. The preamps sound fine for $119. They're not clean at high gain, but they're not offensive either. The MIDI works. I ran a bass station through it and didn't have issues.
The build is plastic. The knobs feel wobbly. It's not built like a brick shithouse. But it won't fail you. I've had one in my drawer for two years as a backup. It's still working. One buyer on Amazon wrote in April, "For the price, it's unbeatable. The MIDI works and the drivers are stable on my Mac." That's the thing. It's driver roulette on Windows. Some machines run flawlessly. Others crackle until you throw it out a window. That's the gamble you take.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The build quality is the biggest flaw. The knobs feel like they'll snap off if you're too aggressive. The drivers are a gamble on Windows. If you're on a Mac, you'll probably be fine. If you're on a PC, you're rolling the dice. The headphone amp is weak. My 250-ohm cans sounded quiet and thin. Stick with low-impedance headphones.
If you're not sure you'll stick with recording and want to spend as little as possible, this is for you. Students and hobbyists who need a MIDI interface on a tight budget will love this.
The competition
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo is the default recommendation for a reason. It just works. But it doesn't have MIDI. The 2i2 doesn't either. That's why I didn't include them. If you're a synth player, you need MIDI. The MAONO interfaces have insane gain for the price, but the build feels cheap and they'll probably die in a year. I've seen too many reports of fried headphone jacks. The Universal Audio Volt has a vintage mode that sounds genuinely good and a build quality that's next level. But you're paying for the name. The preamps are clean, but they're not magic. For $200 to $300, the Audient is a better deal. The RME is the gold standard. Buy once, cry once. But if you're not earning money with your studio, spend the difference on a better mic.
At the end of the day, the Audient iD14 is the one I'd buy. It has the cleanest preamps, the best DI, and reliable MIDI. The Focusrite 4th Gen 4i4 is the runner-up for people who want something that just works. The Arturia MiniFuse 2 is the budget pick for synth players who need 5-pin MIDI. And the Behringer UMC404HD is the cheap one that works if you're not sure you'll stick with recording. That's the list. Go make some noise.