I currently have the Line 6 POD Express for bass. It has the option of turning off the amp models. It also has two 1/4 jacks on the back. I was thinking of just plugging in some studio monitors so I’d just be using it as an interface for those without any amp tone. I’m wondering if there would be a difference between the quality of sound compared to say that of the Scarlett Focusrite 2i2, as it is strictly an interface. Both options would let me plug in pedals if I wanted. The POD also has a USB plug, so maybe I could run Tonebridge, but I’m not sure. The Focusrite seems designed more for recording, which I don’t have plans to do. For now it would be just to connect speakers to get a clean bass sound. Any reason I’m not thinking of to get a Focusrite or would the POD be just as good for that? TIA
If this is true then you don’t really need an audio interface at all - you’re just using it as an amp sim and speaker preamp.
The answer to your question is yes, there is a quality difference between interfaces, primarily in preamp quality and feature set. It’s less noticeable for bass than other applications but it is definitely there.
I don’t see where the Focusrite has a preamp, aside from a mic preamp. I’m a little confused though because although some online comments say it has a preamp for the mic and instrument, I don’t find where their website says that. Maybe there is a mic preamp, but the instrument sound passes through unaltered. But the Focusrite would just be a cleaner sound since that’s specifically what it’s meant to do, is what I’m hearing.
The preamps are for mic and instrument and are how it applies gain to the instrument input too. The quality matters but will be much more noticeable for vocals.
Another point to consider is the quality of the interface’s ASIO driver. I use my RME interface for both recording and to replace the internal sound card and speakers in my Lenovo laptop. I have Windows configured to use the mains outputs (L&R) with my Focal studio monitors for its audio. I also have a Focusrite Scarlett v4 4i4 to use with my Surface Pro. I chose the Focusrite because they provide an ARM version of their driver that runs native on the Snapdragon chip in the Surface Pro.
Since you don’t care about recording at all, I think what might serve you better than an audio interface is a small, portable mixer. You are basically using your POD for one now.
Or use a Mac and that isn’t even a thing to think about. Just got rid of my last Windows machine this weekend.
Hey all, I’m using Windows and would like a DAI, simple and reasonable, a couple hundred max or less.
I’d rather play bass than play with tech so simple is best, suggestions please… 
The entry level consumer audio interfaces are more or less similar until you get up in to the $200 range where a few stand out.
For the inexpensive ones I like Zoom’s stuff. Lots of people will recommend Focusrite, which are a solid choice, though their entry models are nothing special.
Behringer’s aren’t great but are surprisingly decent for the price.
Make sure whichever interface you get supports Direct Monitoring, preferably with a blend knob and not a switch. This is a table stakes feature for me.
Up in the $200 range the MOTU M2 and Solid State Logic SSL2 stand out as excellent interfaces. I wish the M2 had monitor mix instead of a switch though; the M4 has that.
There’s a lot of other good ones.
These as well as the Focusrite all perform the same function though, right? They are just interfaces?
I was using a Focusrite, but now I’m using the AXE I/O ONE.
I tried playing around with the POD. I can play the bass through it, but not music at the same time. When I plug in the iPad to play music, the bass cuts out. So maybe it’s only one or the other at a time. I just need one thing to plug the bass and the iPad into & both come out the other end, either using studio monitors or a headset.
Reading the manual it looks like the aux input is via the usb-c (page 7)
So you you should be able to play music via your computer and hear the bass?
It would have been nice to have a dedicated aux in though.
I would think, but when I use the USB input, I can no longer hear the bass. It plays from my iPad fine. If I then remove the USB, disconnect the bass input & reconnect it, then the bass plays again. I think it is just a USB input to run the Editor app for the POD that lets you adjust tones instead of using the POD controls on the physical unit.
Yes, just with different features and preamp quality.