I have a small 13" Windows laptop running an i7 and 16GB RAM with a 500GB SSD, so good enough for music production on the move. However, I need a decent audio interface to hook up so I can bring the latency and buffer down. However, I also need something lightweight and small so that it is portable to take out with my laptop.

Any suggestions?

 

How low can you go using the built-in audio codec and ASIO4All?
In my experince, an external USB audio interface is not necessarily better.

 

Here's a cool guide to check out: https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/best-audio-interfaces/

 

Focusrite Scarlett is good & not expensive

 

but second generation has monday devices

 

native instruments komplete audio 6 ,it really dose improve the performance

 

I have a Steinberg UR44 interface. Not exactly lightweight, but it can be portable, has good (if unspectacular) preamps and rock solid drivers (the most important thing in a budget interface, in my opinion). It is not powered by USB so keep it in mind.

 

If it's mainly sequencing platform, then you might get best results with internal card. Chances are yours is connected through PCIe bridge, making it ideal for low latency audio. Thunderbolt is another option, but it's proprietary and generally nothing new (4 PCIe lanes). Perfect choice would be miniPCIe bridge to PCIe x1, but rather inconvenient. USB solutions are OK, but can't match lower latencies of PCIe interfaces.

 

RME Babyface.
It's USB. It has a transport bag. Drivers are top.
It never let me down since I have it.
But you have to find one 2nd hand or get the Babyface Pro.
It's expensive, but if you buy cheap you buy twice ;-)
I will never buy a Native Instrument audio interface again, since I (and many others!) had a bad experience with their drivers.
It was Kontrol 1.

 

for just in the box producing i would go for this...no shit...
https://www.asus.com/us/Sound-Cards/Essence_STX_II/

since OP has laptop : i say go for steinberg ur22 for the first...you can buy biigger later and use the 22 as portable then....



edirol usb interface you could try too

 

RME Babyface Pro
+1

Got myself one around black friday (mainly because SuperLiquid was so persistant..;). There are reasons RME can put that pricetag on it.
- with your comp specs (you will) forget about latency (it's either zero or lowest an USB interface can do).
- the drivers are just rock solid (and again, RME knows that is what prosumers are after). Set, forget, make music!
- can't think of anything better for Windows. It's because of how it treats all audio - several programs can be used at the same time, ASIO and WDM through same playback channel, and so on..
- the Totalmix FX ctrl software. Basically you can send anything to anything, loopback, talkback, phase inv, mono, fx..

For latency freaks (like me), you can theoretically get somehow close with Focusrite (Scarlett) drivers at the expense of stability (probably depends on your setup and hw), AD/DA conv., jitter-free digi clock.. and a really superb control software.

 

if you have the money --- babyface----- fo sho