If you bought a small mixer that would solve the unbalanced left right issue, Your interface would be fine if a mixer was ahead of it. There are 2 - 3 ch mixers cheap these days. Get GOOD studio monitors ...#1 most important.

Wooooah. I'm not reading very good reviews on the Ultra, you guys. People say they're having problems with it left and right.

Two people usually post reviews - guys (or gals) enraptured by their new piece of hardware (esp. if they are moving up in percieved quality) and those having problems since they are pissed.

If you are going to buy a new interface it is worth buying it locally or through a reputable on-line retailer so you can return it.  You may not have a problem plenty of others have had w/ a unit - you may have problems with one that nobody else has.  The hardware, if it matches your needs, doesn't matter a spit's worth of difference.  The driver/software does.  And your computer set up most of all when determining whether you can use your brand new dingly-dangely thing.

Find the best deal that matches your requirements and has the best reviews.  Try it.  If the interface gives you problems, ship it back for the next best piece.  Usablity is more important (and not spending all your would-be music-making time) than a red-haired difference in the preamps or conversion in an i/o channel that costs a hundred bucks.  There isn't going to be that much difference, soundwise.

An interface is a big investment, but once you decide to get one don't sweat it.  If it works on your system you'll be able to make some excellent recordings of your music.  At some point, when you get enough experience, you'll want to upgrade anyway.  You'll feel you can get 5 to 10% better sound w/ some higher end hardware.  Recording doesn't have to be expensive, but it tends that way.

@

Well, I have to admit, I was just poking around on musiciansfriend.com, and the reviews on there for it are terrible!

And thanks for the advice, AT (and Beagle). I think my first priority is to find a better mic that has lower self-noise. But, for now I think what I have is usable. 

I'm enjoying all this! It's fun. Haha. Keep a look out for a couple new songs, too. I hope to get them finished sometime this week.

You're going to find bad reviews on EVERYTHING........ Depending on what configuration a person has with their OS/PC/interface, and their knowledge/patience for resolving driver issues and other.

So for the reviews on the FTU, I am both surprised, and not surprised. When I bought mine earlier this year, I read quite a few really awful reviews, and also a few glowing reviews. I myself, chalked the poor reviews up to: people don't know what they're doing, and plain bad luck.  I've never had an issue with M-Audio gear. Decent home/project environment stuff for the price. Just want to get my ideas down cleanly. 

But like others said, in your price range, it really doesn't matter too much what you get. The important thing is to get something you're attracted to for various reasons (not just reviews).  In the end it's your music that is your art, as you said you're a writer that needs to get ideas down. And lot's of stuff/configurations will do that for you.

But yes, get a good mic....