Brandon SchockIn this review, I’ll be taking a look at the Arturia MiniFuse 2 audio interface. This new release from Arturia is a part of their new MiniFuse line, also featuring the MiniFuse 1 and 4. It’s incredibly affordable, but let’s see if its performance is worth the expense.
About the author
Final verdict on the MiniFuse 2
Considering its price in tandem with its solid performance, the MiniFuse 2 is a perfect candidate for any beginners looking for their first interface. It isn’t necessarily impressive, but it’s not bad either.
In fact, it’s performance is right on par with many other popular budget units currently on the market, and while it doesn’t necessarily provide anything more, it serves its purpose well.
What I like
- Solid performance.
- Great for beginners.
- Value for money.
What I don’t like
- No-frills unit.
Contents
Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.
I/O and controls
The MiniFuse 2 is a 2-in/2-out interface, featuring two XLR/TRS combo inputs and a 1/4-inch headphone jack. Both inputs are located on the front panel, each equipped with their own designated gain controls, and the ability to toggle between XLR and line independent of each other.
Both inputs are also equipped with 48 V phantom power for condenser microphones.
The master control is located to the right of both inputs, and is accompanied by an LED VU meter for convenient monitoring and gain staging.
Lastly, the unit features a direct monitoring switch for latency-free recording, and a dry/wet knob to blend between the audio coming out from your input channels and your DAW.
The rear panel features the two 1/4-inch TRS outputs, MIDI I/O, and a USB hub to connect with another piece of gear or iLok. The interface can connect to your PC or laptop via a USB-C cable which is supplied with the unit.
Recording quality
The unit has a bit-depth of 24 bits and a sample rate of 192 kHz, which is more than enough to satisfy the most discerning audio engineers. To make things better, the interface also has a dynamic range of 110 dB and an input noise of -129 dB.
Preamps
The preamps are rather good, featuring an EIN of -129 dB and a gain range of 56 dB. It shouldn’t be too hard to get a decent sound out of this unit, at least for the sake of beginners.
In use
This is a great option for the novice engineer making music in their bedroom. The USB hub on the rear panel can be used to route the interface to another piece of gear to expand your set up.
However, for more involved recording situations or live room setups, it may be worth looking for an interface with more connectivity.
Mobile recording
The compact design of the MiniFuse 2 makes it perfect for recording on the go. The unit is lightweight, weighing a little over one pound, and is incredibly travel-friendly.
Build quality
From what I can tell, the interface is robust and well-designed. The knobs are solid and smooth, and the box itself is made of aluminum.
Software bundle
The Arturia MiniFuse 2 comes with a rather expansive software bundle, featuring: Ableton Live Lite, four Arturia FX, Analog Lab Intro, Guitar Rig 6, Auto-Tune, and a free 3-month subscription to Splice.
All of this added software is more than enough to help you get started on recording as soon as possible.
Compared to other audio interfaces
The MiniFuse 2 is one of my favorite budget interfaces and a great option for beginners. But here are a few alternatives to consider in comparison.
MiniFuse 2 vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Despite the Scarlett being usually more expensive and having the added feature of Focusrite’s iconic AIR effect preamps, the two interfaces are more or less the same. For me, however, I like the Focusrite better.
Read the full Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen review
MiniFuse 2 vs PreSonus AudioBox USB 96
Considering the PreSonus’ lackluster sample rate of 96 kHz, the MiniFuse 2 is the clear winner here. Spend the extra fifty dollars, please.
Read the full PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 review
MiniFuse 2 vs NI Komplete Audio 2
You can’t really go wrong with choosing either one of these interfaces. They have the same I/O, same bit depth and sample rate, and the preamp performances are equivalent.
Read the full Native Instruments Komplete Audio review
Who is the MiniFuse 2 best suited for?
The MiniFuse 2 audio interface suits beginners and bedroom producers on a budget.