The audio interface is the hub of the modern recording studio. From humble home studios to massive media production houses, audio interfaces serve the vital function of passing audio from the outside world into your computer and back again. For many artists and engineers, the audio interface is the single most important piece of hardware, providing microphone preamplifiers, direct instrument inputs, digital converters, metering, headphone distribution, even digital signal processing (DSP), all in one unit. In more sophisticated setups, high-channel-count audio interfaces completely replace the role of traditional recording consoles. With Focusrite Scarlett interfaces, you get Pro Tools First Edition along with many other free resources to get you started recording. With Presonus, you get access to their software, Studio Live Artist Edition, along with other free resources. Either one of these options are great and the fact that both include free software ensures that you have all you need to get started recording once you receive your interface.