It has a desktop form factor that offers the advantage of being a light, compact tool for singer-songwriters who want to take their productions and recordings on the road. In the studio, ADAT is commonly used to send all 8 channels of a multi-channel mic preamp to the audio interface. Feel free to contact me with your thoughts on the Motu you use for a future post update. Conversely, if you’re a beginner, just keep reading. Once you realize what you’re working with, it’s quite easy to appreciate this audio interface. It’s compatible with both Windows (10) and OS X. Thunderbolt connectivity ensures low-latency performance while ensuring future proof capabilities. If you’re a fan of Lynx’s acclaimed AD/DA conversion, then this interface is a no-brainer. UA’s Apollo audio interfaces are top sellers here at Sweetwater, and the latest generation is the most powerful ever — 50% more powerful in fact. If you are prepared to invest in a serious audio interface that can handle most any task, the MOTU 1248 could be exactly what you’re looking for. As you’d expect, the U-phoria UMC404HD connects to your computer via its USB 2.0 port in the back. Most audio interfaces come with 48v Phantom Power switches nowadays, but be sure to check and make sure that yours does if you’re using a condenser microphone. Image 1 of 4. Since you already have independent level controls for each interface output signal path, a switchbox is all that's really required. All that said, this is makes the UR28M pretty impressive. It has 24-bit, 192 kHz audio recording capabilities, and the near-zero-latency monitor mixing and control-room integration make it versatile enough to handle a wide variety of recording applications. But just like the interfaces mentioned above, you aren’t able to connect a MIDI controller to your interface, and there are still just two connectors in the front, and one left/right channel in the back. Need more I/O? One of the M-Track Eight’s main features is its Octane Preamp Technology. A good selection of DSP effects are provided as well, giving you more options for monitoring or mixing. There are even some high-end choices for creating high-quality mixes and masters, as this list covers cheap and budget interfaces, to high-end top-of-the-line audio interfaces. If you’re using it with your iPad, you get the Capture Duo iPad App, which will capture your musical performances before you lose them, and transfer them to your DAW seamlessly. You also get 12 analog outputs, and an additional 18 channels of digital I/O (ADAT and S/PDIF). If you think your need a mixer instead, take a look at these options. Sweetwater Sound Next, you get the great sound reverb plugin REV-X, and a channel strip by Sweet Spot Morphing. Despite it being a great audio interface, there is one major downside… it utilizes the dated FireWire 400 connection mentioned. Portable desktop USB interface with 1 mic preamp and headphone connector each, and a pair of analog ins and outs. Each channel has its own real-time level display which has been praised by many reviewers. Bottom-line, the Behringer U-phoria UMC404HD is an amazing little device. You can also read this forum discussion on the difference between them. The Arrow also allows you to alternate between Hi-Z/Lo-Z inputs (on channel 2) and monitors/headphones. On the front is an OLED display unit that shows you readings of all your output and input levels, including your headphones levels. If you plan on transporting your device, you’ll never need to worry about damaging any knobs/sliders. Its headphone amplification also provides more than enough juice for your high-impedance studio headphones. In other words, they’re not independent. With over 28,000 articles and counting, inSync is your FREE resource for breaking news, reviews, demos, interviews, and more. But as you up your game, you’ll find that the more expensive interfaces offer excellent sounding preamps, some with analog circuitry, to give your vocal and instrument records better clarity and precision. And you can use it to pan the stereo signal coming from your DAW. Some users did mention being initially hesitant to spend so much on an audio interface. As for analog cables, generally, you should be looking at balanced cables, the TRS and XLR ones. You can connect up to two instruments cables through the analog input connectors. How can you connect MIDI keyboard to an audio interface? However, this will affect both your monitors and headphones collectively. But it can be used as a controller for your DAW. MIDI connectors on an audio interface look like these. JBL LSR305 Professional Studio Monitor. But you’ll how much you need based on the amount of simultaneous tracks you want to record at once. The display provides an accurate display of instrument levels and active functions. Some MIDI instruments don’t even have any sound on them and are used entirely to play virtual instruments on a computer. The only possible downside one would find with the Audiobox iOne is to be expected for the form, function, and price you’d be paying for it: You can’t connect your MIDI devices to the Audiobox iOne, as it sports no MIDI port. This, of course, means that you’d need an AD/DA converter and, in most cases, microphone preamps, in order to convert your analogue microphone and instrument lines to digital before they can be hooked up to your audio interface via ADAT. Marrying a 12AX7-fueled preamp with Two Notes amp and cab sims, along with a 3-band EQ and powerful re-amping capabilities, this interface is your one-stop shop for killer guitar tones. That being said, you can still hook up a pair of studio monitors to a laptop or PC without the audio interface. For digital cables, look for high-quality shielding. Otherwise, share this post with your friends or anyone you think would find this information useful. Superior sound quality is what audiophiles will appreciate the most, but the I/O and expandability and connectivity options are certainly nothing to sneeze at. It’s a great little DAW for doing basic music making and recording. At the back, there are 4 dedicated XLR input connectors for your microphones and instruments, plus 4 other combination microphone XLR/instrument line connectors, two of which are hardware inserts, and 4 sends/returns. Apogee even includes BNC Word Clock I/O to synchronize your DAW with compatible digital hardware. And there are four assignable buttons to the right of the device. Image 3 of 4. Combining the included VMS ML-1 modeling microphone with the VRS8 puts an endless array of classic studio sounds at your fingertips — it’s a great way to inject a home studio with that expensive pro-studio sound. On the back of the audio interface the monitor outputs will be marked as monitor, or main out, and then have a L and an R to show you which line is meant to go to the left speaker and the right … However, it was included this in the list because we’ve noticed that there are people who still use Macs with FireWire connectivity that may need either a hardware upgrade or replacement audio interface without having to get a new computer or get an adapter. And then there are 1en analog outputs at the back, two of which are for your monitor speakers. Bottomline the PreSonus Studio 1824 is a flexible and great sounding audio interface that will be more than adequate for most home studio and music production setups. Check Out NAMM Believe in Music Week for Free! It means you can connect your instruments and microphone to your audio interface without any additional gear. Each one is capable of handling any external preamp and/or mixer you throw its way. Additionally, like I mentioned, there is a MIDI connector in the back. It offers the same content, features, and specs as the iOne. If that isn’t enough, the fast and reliable Thunderbolt connection, the flexible DSP mixer, and the extensive routing options should be enough to convince you of its worth. After testing your monitors, plug in one side of the Dual ¼” TRS cable into the … Apogee claims to have achieved 1.41ms round trip latency at 96kHz and a buffer size of 32 samples. What you end up with is a nasty delay. What you end up with, then, is a device that produces close to zero latency, undetectable by the human ear. Many audio interfaces these days come with preamps. Amazing simply because of it price. You’ll also gain access to the Tracktion’s DAW Essentials Collection which features 16 mixing and mastering effects (EQ, compressor, delay, etc…). Sound-wise, there is not a lot of difference between the two. It allows for clear, precise, and smooth flow with music and other audio productions. I use a mid 2010 iMac i7 27″. Most people have noticed that when a speaker of any size is placed against a wall, … If you are concerned about how we help to secure your privacy once visiting this page, please check out the privacy policy page. Directly connecting your high-impedance instruments (guitar/bass) is easy. How do you make your decision? The new AVB devices are great! Desktop/half-rack space USB and Firewire interface, with 2 mic preamps, 1 headphone connector, and 8 analog inputs with 6 outs. It’s compatible with Mac, Windows, and even iOS (with the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit). You can also expand Sono via ADAT for tracking entire bands. When you purchase the U-phoria UMC404HD you receive a refreshingly minimal package. Get Directions | The Clarett 8PreX has eight ISA transformer-based microphone preamps (hence the name) with phantom power for each. A definite recommend. The Fireface UCX can be connected to via USB 2.0, 3.0, and FireWire 400, and is compatible with Windows or OS X. But it’s setup does make it ideal if you plan of just recording a couple instruments or mics, and you can already plug MIDI via USB into your laptop or computer. It’s not “portable,” but it’s still easy to carry and set up for live on-stage situations. 15 Best Audio Interfaces for Home Studio – At a Glance, Ideal user: Beatmaker/composer, recording, mixing and mastering engineer, Ideal user: Singer-songwriter, beatmaker/composer, podcaster, Ideal user: Producers of small bands, recording and mixing engineers, Ideal user: Singer-songwriter, beatmaker/composer, mixing and mastering engineer, Ideal user: Home studio producer, singer-songwriter, audiophile, Ideal user: Home studio producer, audiophile, Ideal user: Producer/recording engineer for a small band, mixing engineer, Ideal user: iPad / iOS musicians, singer-songwriters, and podcasters, Ideal user: Singer-songwriter, beatmaker/composer, audiophiles, Ideal user: Singer-songwriter, beatmaker/composer, mixing and mastering engineer, podcaster, Ideal user: Home studio producer, recording, or mixing engineer for a band, podcasters, Ideal user: Home studio producer, recording/mixing engineer for a band, podcasters, Ideal user: Home studio producer/recording/mixing engineer for a band, mastering engineer, Ideal user: Producer/recording/mixing engineer for a band, mastering engineer, synchronizes multiple digital sources or devices, What’s New in Reason 10 – Find out all the New Features of Propellerhead Reason 10, The Essential VST Plugins In Your Digital Audio Workstation. You can still get good quality from one of the entry level audio interfaces on this list, given that you choose one with the right amount, and type, of connections you need. The Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII DUO audio interface is a very popular option that gets a lot of great reviews, particularly when it comes to the quality of sound you can get with it. If your input is too high, you can lower it by lowering the gain. And it sounds great, with ultra-clear AD/DA conversion and up to 120dB of usable dynamic range. We’d recommend this for anyone from a singer-songwriter to a recording engineer. If you’re an advanced user, you’ll be very familiar with much of this information already. Plus it comes with its own powerful on-board processing unit. In fact, the Arrow comes with the Realtime Analog Classics collection which includes 14 of these plugins. You can read more about what DSP is and how it relates to music production here. Essential Equipment to Set Up a Home Studio Audio Interface. MusicProductionNerds.com is a participant in a variety of affiliate programs, such as Amazon Associates and Loopmasters Affiliate Program. Monitoring with this interface is as simple as it gets though. However, any other DAW user can utilize it. Their audio interfaces are the perfect hybrid of analog and digital technology and now, it’s portable. The Lynx Aurora (n) 32-TB3 couples Lynx’s renowned AD/DA conversion with ultra-low-latency performance — exactly what every well-equipped home studio needs. You’d then plug the audio interface in as you normally would with your USB/Thunderbolt/Firewire cable. The Universal Audio Apollo Twin X QUAD is another excellent way to bring the power of UAD plug-ins to your Thunderbolt-equipped Mac or Windows computer. Purchasing one of their interfaces really opens up a world of possibilities, but it will end up costing you down the line. That’s all. Proclaimed “the fastest Thunderbolt interface on the planet” by Sound on Sound magazine, the PreSonus Quantum 4848 offers 48 channels of I/O — ideal for integrating a console or patchbay into your home studio. The other connector is the S/PDIF connector. You can control the monitor, and dim or mute the levels without losing your actual level. Offering eight mic preamps, double optical ins/outs (16 channels), S/PDIF in/out, word clock in/out, and two Thunderbolt ports, plus the ability to connect a second Ensemble, this unit can be the heart of your fully featured home studio. With two mic inputs offering 60dB of gain that double as 1/4″ inputs via combo jacks, switchable +48-volt phantom power, stereo main outs, and a headphone jack, this compact USB 2.0 interface is a great way to get into high-resolution mobile recording. The onboard QUAD Core processor enables the Apollo Twin X QUAD to use plug-ins for real-time tracking and mixing in Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton Live, and other popular DAWs. Exclusive deals, delivered straight to your inbox. The Steinberg UR28M audio interface is from the makers of the Cubase DAW, making it ideal for Cubase users. This ID22 is one of the best interfaces I’ve ever used and has some amazing preamps! It’s also compatible with both Windows and OS X. Is an audio interface necessary for studio monitors? But the 2 analog inputs become combination inputs instead of one separate for instrument, and another for mic. Then, if you want even more than the amount of connections than the analog connectors can offer, you can connect up to 8 more inputs with the ADAT optical connector. And as it fits on your desk, it’s small enough to take up a small space, as well as  carry with you wherever you need it. The 48v switch, also known as Phantom Power, is used for condenser microphones. It’s the perfect balance of “old-school” I/O and “new-school” controller software! , But why? It can operate at 24-bit/192kHz, but can also be lowered if latency becomes too much of an issue. That meas…. “Gain” on an audio interface is what you can use to adjust sound levels. This time to get an electrical analogue signal that can be picked up by headphones or studio monitors. 3 – D’SUB Connectors A few audio interfaces will have this option. For a more detailed explanation, take a look at this Sound On Sound forum discussion. FireWire is still going strong, some users, like you, still rely on it because they have older Mac systems. Required fields are marked *. On the upside you can control it using the software that comes in the package. In fact, in a blind test among some professional studio engineers at well known pro audio company the Clarett 8PreX won out against other audio interfaces for twice the price. Only possible downside is the lack of MIDI connection, classic or USB. Indeed, Clarett is a useful audio interface for people who still rely on USB (there are people that still rely of Firewire, after all), but they will certainly need to up their game inevitably. The Slate Digital VRS8 Thunderbolt interface was tailor-made for use with their VMS modeling microphones, offering eight uber-transparent VMS-ONE preamps. The M4 is the perfect choice for podcasters, thanks to built-in loopback functionality, which includes a mix knob for balancing your live input with your computer’s playback. A MIDI data note is a command that comes from a controller or instrument telling your DAW or virtual instrument want sounds or parameters are to be triggered within the software to produce a sound within your DAW, or some other desired result. You need to know how many instruments or microphones inputs you need to connect to your computer’s digital audio workstation, as well as how many outputs you will need to run to you outbound gear. That’s 32 channels of audio. What surprised me the most is the fact that it’s compatible with Windows, Mac and even Linux-based operating systems! If you click on one of these links to purchase a product or service that we recommend, we will be compensated it. If your input is too low, you can raise it by raising the gain. You’ll also be better off relying on your DAW’s meters for accurate gain-staging. Although Universal Audio includes some incredible plugins, it has been said that their other plugins are quite pricey. There are three types of analog connectors: All audio interfaces (in this guide) come with at least one to many analogue connectors. This gives you not only near zero-latency for your audio, but also for your performances on MIDI instruments. One of the first considerations is the number of connections. That being said, it does offer a limited amount of connections, which for some wouldn’t be enough. Users who’ve bought it have noted a significant jump in audio quality, coming from cheaper audio interfaces they’ve owned. Plug the male side of the XLR cable into the audio interface on the right or left slot, depending on which side the studio monitor is on. Audient’s console-derived mic preamps sound great on almost every source, while its JFET DI makes interfacing your guitar with amp modeling software a pleasure. However, Apogee didn’t forget about including 48V Phantom Power! Whether you are shopping for your first audio interface or you are looking to upgrade from your current model, PreSonus Studio 1824 deserves serious consideration. And the Clarett 8PreX comes a lot of great content. For the serious musician/engineer who needs a lot of inputs and outputs combined with the speed of Thunderbolt 2, the Apogee Ensemble fits the bill. Digital distortion is usually either caused by an issue with the audio interface, or the monitors being connected to the same power strip/socket as the computer. The chief reason why you’d want to get this is because it is small, compact, and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and connect your instrument and microphone to your iPad for live performances. I’ve used Apogee and Avid interfaces in the past and this is just as good for me. This is because of some the of the vagueness of manufacturer descriptions (particularly for a newbie), and especially when it came to connections. Store Hours, If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 222-4700. Within a typical computer environment, your audio signal would need to go through many layers of processing. You also get a Quick Start tool to get you up and running fast, along with a generous software bundle. Again, even if that’s not enough, there is the option to expand to S/PDIF inputs and outputs. The onboard DSP offers incredible effects and latency-free processing with its dedicated EQ, dynamics, reverbs, and delays, all controlled within the integrated DSP monitor controller. As the UR28M comes from the makers of Cubase, you’re going to expect great software when you purchase this box. Bottom-line, Focusrite Clarett 8PreX is one of the best audio interfaces on the planet. There are also an additional 4 inserts in the back, totaling the amount of analog inputs to 8. There are even eight channels of ADAT Optical I/O–four of which can record at 96 kHz–enabling you to expand the 1824’s capabilities even further. Given the amount of connections it utilizes, you could find this essentially useful if you only planned on using one instrument and microphone setup in my studio. Avoid the Walls. With a 32-bit signal path directly from your DAW, plus an ESS Sabre32 Hyperstream D/A, the audio playback from this unit is amazing, with an astoundingly low THD+N spec and huge dynamic range. The result of this research amassed a total of 10 best audio interfaces for home studio that are available to buy online. As long as you’ve got your laptop with you, you’ll be making music with the Onyx Producer wherever you go. From the tweakiest techniques to the biggest ideas, our experts work hard to constantly supply inSync with a steady stream of helpful, in-depth demos, reviews, how-tos, news, and interviews. Available in 40, 50 and 65 flavours, the … In those cases, the large knobs can be used to control your iTunes library to scroll through selections. One user noted a significant improvement in sound quality with each succeeding model, with the 1824 offering especially warm, clear, and articulate recording and reproduction. This can be disappointing for producers using older hardware, but most have looked past this. Mackie Studio Bundle with Big Knob Studio, Monitors, and Microphones Recording Bundle with Mackie Big Knob 3x2 Studio Interface, 2 CR3-X Monitors, EM-91C Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone, … Some monitor controllers can also switch between several sets of monitors. The price may cause you to squirm while nervously checking your credit balance, but for the price you will pay, you simply won’t find a more capable and fully-featured interface. The large volume control can be used to control DAW parameters like effects plugin controls, virtual instrument, or mixer faders. The M-Track Eight is also capable of ultra-low latency playback using its digital/analog balance knob. The Ensemble Thunderbolt falls under the high-end, industry level spectrum of studio gear. 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 This is different from the two separate mono outputs seen on the audio interface above which sends two different mono signals to either the left or right speaker separately. Also mixing and mastering engineers will find this powerful, offering a truly professional level sound quality. Copyright © 2021 MusicProductionNerds.com, Those with audio gear and utilize Thunderbolt connectivity should take a look at the, Even though a little long in the tooth, FireWire connections are still prevalent in some home studio. For output, you can connect two headphones and up to six line outs (3 pairs of L/R channels). If you want to learn more about our affiliate partners, click here. Audio interfaces also greatly reduce latency, and help out tremendously if you have a weaker laptop or PC sound system. In fact, you can even control the interface via your iPhone with the Apogee Control iOS remote app. The microphone input comes with a high-performance Class A preamp with phantom power, with the ability to input up the 24-bit resolution at 96 kHz, at a 105 dB dynamic range, which is pretty big for this price. And for you to listen back in real-time to that audio signal (called monitoring), your laptop or computer will need to again process that digital signal. This may, or may not be an issue for most people, and you can easily get around it. Even set to 100% input, some of the DAW’s output still bleeds through. Class-leading Burr-Brown converter technology ensures impeccable sound quality. For music makers using software, an audio interface is essential. Of course, we even get access to 48V Phantom Power for active microphones such as condensers. What is “word clock” on an audio interface? 2 of these inputs come at the front of the device for easily plugging your instruments into the rack unit. The Clarett 8PreX comes loaded with some really good features as well, as you’d expect for the money. Bottom-line, if you’re looking for an entry-level Universal Audio interface, the Arrow will impress you! All you have to do is plug the ¼” cable into the monitor(s), and plug the other end into the headphone jack input on your laptop or pc. This is simply an analogue instrument/microphone preamp connector which allows the audio interface to facilitate high numbers of analogue connections in a smaller space. Given the extremely fast performance provided by the Thunderbolt connection, many users probably won’t have a need for the onboard DSP mixer. Is a mixer the same as an audio interface? M-Audio has made up for this in many ways! I keep hearing people talk about the robustness of this audio interface. This 4-in/4-out USB-C interface includes two great-sounding mic preamps with individual gain adjustment and phantom power, along with 1-touch hardware monitoring that makes tracking easy. The connector is a pair of I/O 5 pin plugins. There are a total of 6 balanced line outputs at the back, plus 4 more balanced instrument line inputs. With such a wide variety of features and prices, Sweetwater has the audio interface that will work best in your home studio. The sound-quality and build-quality seem to overpower all these small imperfections though and at this price point, it’s still quite competitive. Bottom-line, the M-Audio M-Track Eight can get your small to medium-sized recording studio up and running. You also get an easy-to-use touchscreen interface. However, given its purpose, as a simple iPad and computer audio interface that you can carry around, these downsides may be negligible for your tastes. Rackmounted USB interface with 8 mic preamps, 2 headphone connectors, and a total of 8 analog ins and 8 analog outs. The RME Fireface UFX+ builds upon the capabilities of its popular predecessor with MADI I/O, boosted DSP, and ultra-low-latency Thunderbolt connectivity. But I think that inevitably it will be replaced by the Thunderbolt. It works seamlessly with their DAW and allows them to make adjustments with their iDevice when they’re away from their computer. However, many of its owners have noticed the absence of a MIDI interface. Originally, I was going to include the Focusrite Scarlett Solo in this list instead of the 2i2 because, for one, that’s the first audio interface many people tend to go for, thus it is super popular. Another handy thing with this unit is that if that by using the external power supply, it will work as a stand alone mixer without a computer if you need something simple for a small live setup or monitoring system. But, given the amount of analog connections it offers, one would think it suits best the producer or engineer of a small band that needs to record a small group of electrical instruments and a couple of microphones, or a mixing or mastering engineer looking for a high quality audio interface. It’s compatible with both Mac and Windows computers, and is easy to set up and get going. With 30 inputs and 34 outputs, this 24-bit/192kHz interface is a no-compromise professional unit. Often times, we found that many who were looking for a new audio interface for home studio got locked in indecision. "The Core 7 is a true near-field monitor … If you like the specs and the offers (and the candy color aesthetics also appeals to you), but disappointed by the number of connections, you can choose from other options ranging all the way up to 18 inputs and 20 outputs with 8 preamps from one device. It’s barely audible, but many people have noticed this minor flaw. Native consumer grade sound cards don’t have the capacity to render professional grade audio quality, especially over a phones jack. Additional connectors are the classic 5 pin MIDI connectors at the back for your MIDI device, and a word clock I/O connector to keep your digital signals in sync. On the back is a couple of line outputs for monitors, one is the right and the other is for the left. If you plan of recording a band, or doing a podcast for 3 or more people, a “couple of connectors” is not going to be sufficient for you. The Universal Audio Apollo x8p is one of the company’s most popular models, boasting eight Unison preamps — a top contender for the best preamp models in the industry. Bottom-line, if you’re looking for a minimalistic Thunderbolt audio interface, the Apogee Element 24 is your best bet. Then, plug the audio interface in just as you would in option number one. From its high quality preamps, to its stable drivers, and digital analog conversion, the Fireface UCX truly seems like a great audio interface to buy, with a layout that makes sense and is easy to navigate. The preamps themselves are award winning in its class and have a natural-sound to them that can handle a “hot” pick-up. When you compare the 32-bit converter to other 24-bit converts, you’ll notice the results being an astonishingly low THD+N specification, with a large dynamic range. Top-shelf features like ESS Sabre32 Ultra D/A and ultra-low latency deliver impressive performance.

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