Arturia MiniFuse 4

Two combo mic inputs plus two line inputs, four outputs, MIDI, and — the part that matters — two headphone outputs with independent mixes. Two people can record together and each hear their own balance, which is normally where small interfaces give up.

It is built for duo recording and small hybrid setups: vocal plus guitar plus a stereo synth, or a producer and vocalist working in the same room. Two USB-A hub ports keep dongles and controllers off the laptop.

If you record alone, the MiniFuse 2 does everything you need for less; the 4 earns its keep the first time a second person puts headphones on.