Head-to-head · Best Audio Interfaces

Audient iD4 MkII vs Focusrite Vocaster Two

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Audient iD4 MkII comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about solo recording setups with technical demands — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Audio Interfaces

Audient iD4 MkII

4.5

3 sources$195as of Jul 31

The Audient iD4 MkII packs professional performance into a compact desktop box with an all-metal shell. Reviews cite a -114.8 dB A-weighted noise floor and 115.0 dB of dynamic range. The complaints are physical: the volume knob feels flimsy, and volume settings reset every time you power cycle. It also skips the input monitoring hardware its sibling, the iD14 MkII, includes. Solo recording setups are a good match; anyone wanting more advanced monitoring features will be disappointed.

Strengths

— All-metal construction with solid heft and professional appearance
— Excellent technical performance with low noise floor (-114.8 dB A-weighted)
— Good dynamic range (115.0 dB A-weighted)

Watch-outs

— Volume knob feels less robust compared to other models
— Volume level does not persist between power cycles
— No input monitoring on hardware (unlike iD14 MkII)

$195 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Audio Interfaces

Focusrite Vocaster Two

4.4

5 sources$106.48as of Jul 31

Focusrite built the Vocaster Two for podcasters: two XLR inputs, phone connectivity with mix-minus, and Bluetooth in a compact chassis. Reviewers found it easy to set up and rated the audio quality solid, but $299 is steep if you only record occasionally. It plays well with macOS and iPad, though the deeper features live in the Vocaster Hub software. It covers a lot of ground that most users will never touch, which makes it a better fit for serious podcasters who want one box that does everything.

Strengths

— Includes two XLR inputs with phantom power support
— Built-in phone connection with mix-minus for echo reduction
— Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio input

Watch-outs

— Expensive compared to basic audio interfaces at $299
— Requires dedicated software (Vocaster Hub) for advanced features

$106.48 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Audient iD4 MkII

The Audient iD4 MkII offers excellent technical performance with a low noise floor and good dynamic range, surpassing the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen and Behringer UMC22 in these areas. However, it lacks the analog preamp features of the Universal Audio Volt Series and the specialized podcasting capabilities of the Focusrite Vocaster Two, making it more suitable for solo recording setups rather than multi-mic tracking or podcasting.

Focusrite Vocaster Two

The Focusrite Vocaster Two is unique in its phone connectivity with mix-minus and Bluetooth capabilities, features absent in the Universal Audio Volt Series and the Audient iD4 MkII. However, it's more expensive than the Behringer UMC22 and lacks the technical performance and build quality of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, making it less suitable for users needing raw audio quality or budget-conscious buyers.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Audient iD4 MkII	Focusrite Vocaster Two
Inputs	2	2 XLR
Outputs	2	Stereo 3.5mm jack, Camera output
Connectivity	USB-C, 3.5mm jack, 1/4" jack	USB-C, Bluetooth
Sample Rate	96kHz	48kHz
Bit Depth	24-bit	24-bit
Preamps	JFET	JFET
Power	Phantom power available	Bus-powered via USB-C
Headphone Jack	3.5mm and 1/4-inch	1/4" jack

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