High quality, low ins/outs Audio Interface

So I've asked in the past, but it's been a while and figured I'd ask again.
 
Any suggestions for an audio interface that:
 
- only has a couple ins/outs since I really don't need more than a couple... i'll settle for more than a couple if I have to but they will go unused.
- has really great performance both in terms of low latency, great audio quality, AND windows drivers (looking at you focusrite for making my life hell haha)
- great mic preamps on the ins
- is NOT a "budget" or "cheap" or "portable" or "amateur" or other word like that. I'm willing to pay for this thing if it exists.
- but also isn't like $1500 haha. I was hoping to spend between $300-800 lets say. pretty big range. 
 
I'm coming from a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 2nd gen which has been nothing but a buggy mess for me. I didn't buy it because it's cheap, I bought it because it has everything I want in an interface and great reviews. I used to have the 1st gen which worked great but couldn't quite handle my bigger projects (things would start getting crackles if I had too many tracks going and I was not using too much CPU). The 2nd gen fixes that problem, so I know it's the latency of the 1st gen that was the problem... But in fixing that, I now have all kinds of seemingly driver related issues with the 2nd gen. Here are some examples:
 
- All sound cuts stops until I reboot
- All sound becomes slowed down, crackly and distorted until I reboot
- When I stop the track in Sonar, everything freezes for a few seconds, and if I click the mouse, the program stops responding (if I am just patient and wait it usually is fine, but it's annoying as hell).
 
And yes I've tried both the newest regular drivers and beta drivers. And I just recently did a fresh Windows install, so honestly, I'm not looking to do another one haha. It's gotta be some hardware, and all signs point to the 2nd gen Focusrite since things were good for the most part with the 1st gen.
 
Thanks!

Audient would suit your needs.

I have heard many recommendations that the best drivers for low latency work are made by RME and MOTU.
 

abacab
I have heard many recommendations that the best drivers for low latency work are made by RME and MOTU.
 

very true. both top notch.
 
MOTU AVB Ultralite would be excellent value for its price.

BlixYZ
Audient would suit your needs.

+1000
I have the Audient iD22, and it sounds beautiful. Awesome mic preamps that respond well to being driven hard. It also doubles as a great monitor controller. Runs about $600.

Leadfoot

BlixYZ
Audient would suit your needs.

+1000
I have the Audient iD22, and it sounds beautiful. Awesome mic preamps that respond well to being driven hard. It also doubles as a great monitor controller. Runs about $600.

 
Or maybe the Audient iD14, which is essentially a cut-down version of the iD22, would be sufficient. It has the same pre-amps but only has one pair of main outs, no send & return, plus a few other things absent. But it seems to fit the OP's desription very closely and it's a lot cheaper too.

The drivers have been rock solid for me.

I used to use a Saffire Pro 24 and had no issues... I upgraded this year to the MOTU Ultralite mk4.  Prob a bit more money and features than the AudioExpress but it is a newer technology.  I wasn't sure if I needed the extra features of the Ultralite AVB, and the RME was preferred but a bit too much cost.  So far so good.

AT
Take a look at the TASCAM UH-7000.  Topnotch conversion, better pres than any other interface I've heard - they are worth the price of admission by themselves even if you are only recording audio every once in a while.  Not the best latency, but I don't have a problem and I mostly use soft synths.  If it is, you can digitally sync it to something faster and use those drivers - it is AES but can also do Spdif.  USB 2 so it should be compatible for a while.  And you can find them for $400 or so new. 

 
No offense AT, but this is exactly what I'm not looking for haha. Digital sync and AES and SPDIF and top notch conversion... I just want to plug my speakers into it haha. Also maybe ignorance is bliss but I would be shocked if I noticed a difference in quality of the pres when I already think my Focusrite sounds as good as it can get since I do so little recording of real instruments/voices (when it works... grumble grumble haha)
 
Lynx on the other hand is another option I will take a look at. Thanks for the comment :-)

Polar,
 
you can use the digital in/outs if you need lower latency, not that you have to.  I get about 10 ms with the 7000 which isn't low but workable for most of my music.  That is a win 7 computer - it gets a little lower on my win 10 and I've not tweaked USB on either unit.  If I need lower latency or more tracks, I use it as a master in/out to a TASCam US USB 3 interface that does do low latency.  Both units together costs about $800.
 
As far as the pres, I would think you could hear a difference between the 7000s and a Focusrite pre.  I could with my older TC unit and even the US unit.  I use them right beside Warm and RND Portico pres - they are not better but different, cleaner with no transformers but still big sounding.  TASCAM brought the 7000 out as a premium unit at $700 about the same time Audient etc. started doing similar units.  Most of them are now below $500 simply because there aren't enough buyers at the higher prices.  It is a good time to be in the market.  I know the audient pres are the same as in their big boards.
 
@

well, i MOVED from a PCIe card, to a RME Babyface Pro,
the RME sounds better hands down,
plus, i can take it with me anywhere i go, and use it in multiple systems,
or even live.
can't do that with a PCI card.

Well I'm going to throw in a name you don't often hear but will hear more of in time.

Waves/Digico or Digigrid. Here's a link to tell you all about it. Mind you this is no cheap stuff.

http://www.waves.com/hard...e=0%7Cpaging:number=20

polar,
still diggin' my babyface pro,
i got it for only $600 with coupon,
so compared to most everything else with similar specs,
it was very reasonable.
 

How about a UAD Twin?

Question for those of you who have and are happy with their Babyface Pro...
 
I haven't ordered yet (because they were actually sold out everywhere haha so it gave me some time to think) and now that they're back in stock at sweetwater i probably will here soon. My question is do I HAVE to use Mix Control? And if I do have to, is it a very active "have to" or just when I need to?
 
Basically if I have the interface hooked up, and am just doing soft synths and all my mixing and everything within Sonar... do I ever have to see Mix Control if I don't want to?
 
Thanks!