Hey I'm also looking at picking up lower priced interface as my first too! Focusrite has been recommended time and time again because they work and are affordable. I've heard that Gen 2 Scarletts can have issues with heating up and with Gen 3 they've got that fixed so if you can I'd go Gen 3 if you choose a Scarlett interface. Most lower priced interfaces have become pretty good over the last few years from the sounds of it. Most have pretty low latency. Most come with pretty good software ranging from different DAW's to even amp sims. Presonus has some good lower priced stuff as well that works well. I'm 75% sure the interface I'll end up going with is one of Audient's new Evo series interfaces. The Evo 4 comes in at $130 USD, has two mic pre amps, an instrument input, headphone jack, two speaker outs, and one of the key features is it's "Smart Gain" button. You connect your mic or instrument to the interface, press the bright green button on top, select the channel you're using, press that button again, start playing your instrument as hard as the hardest you'll be playing for that session, and it'll automatically set the gain so you don't experience clipping while recording. I've seen quite a few good reviews from each of these three but I because of the smart gain feature, and having three inputs possible I'll end up going with the Evo 4. Hope this helps man.
