10 Best Audio Interface Recommendations & Tips How to Choose

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Dogzily.com – Audio interface is a smart choice to get recordings with qualified audio quality. The reason is, this tool is able to capture sound signals in detail and cleanly. 

Therefore, their products are commonly used by musicians, streamers, content creators, and podcasters.

This time we will review audio interfaces for you by comparing prices and features. We’ll also share audio interface recommendations from good brands, like Focusrite and Behringer. 

Those that use a USB connection to PCIe, everything is there. Come on, read this article to the end so you find the best audio interface !

Best Audio Interface

What is the Function of the Audio Interface?

Audio interface is a device that functions to connect musical instruments and microphones to a computer. This is because the sound from musical instruments and your voice are analog signal types. 

In order for it to be read by a computer, you need to convert an analog signal to a digital signal via an audio interface.

Therefore, the audio interface is an important tool for musicians, content creators, podcasters, and streamers. Actually, the function of the audio interface is the same as the soundcard. 

The difference is, the audio interface has much better recording quality and minimal noise. That way, the process of processing audio becomes easier. 

How to Choose An Audio Interface

There are several things to consider before you make your choice. So that you get the right product, look carefully at our explanation of how to choose an audio interface below.

① Customize audio interface features according to needs

Currently the audio interface is used for various needs, such as music recording, podcasts, and live streaming. Each type of need requires a product with different features. We will detail them below for you.

Recording and voice over, suitable for products that produce natural sound

If you use an audio interface for music recording or voice over, choose a product that doesn’t have a lot of sound effects. This is because you need natural recording results so that the sound effects feature on the audio interface is not used much. 

Look for products with a natural and clean sound that is noise free. Thus, processing audio during editing becomes more optimal.

Podcasts and live streaming, more practical with various features and effects

There is also an audio interface with various features and sound effects. This type is suitable for those of you who want to make podcasts or live streaming. 

This feature allows you to manage recordings directly on the product without processing them on a computer.

There are also products that use a plug and play system. This system allows you to take the audio via a smartphone without having to connect it to a PC first. That way, your podcast or live streaming activities will become more practical.

② Check the connection type to connect with the computer

There are several types of connections that you can find on the audio interface. Each connection type affects its data transfer speed. Therefore, know the character of each in advance.

USB, high compatibility and easy to connect to various PCs

USB connection is usually used on the audio interface for home studios. This type has a more affordable price compared to other connections. The advantage of products with a USB connection is that they have high compatibility.

An audio interface with a USB connection can be connected to many devices, such as PCs, laptops and notebooks, easily. Even so, the data transfer speed of this connection is classified as the slowest. 

Even though many use USB-C connections, not a few audio interfaces still have USB 2.0 ports.

FireWire, consistent transfer speed for recording various instruments

FireWire connections have higher and more consistent transfer rates than USB. Audio interface with this connection is usually used to record many devices at once. For the needs of a home studio, the price is still quite affordable.

It’s just that there are still a few PCs with FireWire ports so not all of them are compatible with this connection. 

Therefore, you need to check it carefully, yes. If you still want to use the audio interface with this connection, you can install a FireWire adapter card which is sold separately.

Thunderbolt, the latest technology for high-end PCs

This type of connection has high data transfer rates with low latency. The technology used is also more modern, especially for Thunderbolt 3 which is installed on the latest Macs.

Thunderbolt 3 is known to be twice as fast as Thunderbolt 2 and eight times as fast as USB 3.0. This connection even supports data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbps and cable lengths of up to 100 meters. 

Usually, high-end laptops or PCs, such as Macs, already support Thunderbolt connections.

PCIe, for professional needs

For professional needs, you can choose an audio interface with a PCIe connection. This connection offers very fast data transfer with a powerful audio processing system. 

Audio interfaces with this connection are typically used to handle high track-count sessions with multiple layers of audio.

Note that PCIe is an internal card-based interface, so it cannot be connected via USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt. In order to connect, you must install the connection directly to the computer motherboard. 

In addition, products with PCIe connections are relatively more expensive than other connections.

③ Check the output audio quality

There are two important factors that can affect the sound quality of an audio interface. These are the sample rate and bit depth values. We will explain both of these for you in the following points.

Sample rate, produces clear sound waves

In order to be processed, the analog signal must be converted to a digital signal. Because it has infinite resolution, not all analog signals can be converted to digital signals. Therefore, it takes sampling that is able to represent the signal.

You could say the sample rate is the number of samples of a digital signal in one second. A large sample rate value produces a digital signal that resembles the original waveform. 

Even so, a sample rate value that is too large requires large storage as well. Not all of these sound waves can be heard by the human ear. The minimum sample rate standard in the music industry is 44.1 kHz. 

Audio with this sample rate already sounds clean and the tones captured are also accurate. If you want a more detailed audio quality, choose an audio interface with a minimum sample rate of 48 kHz. 

Bit depth affects the volume that the audio interface is capable of recording

Bit depth is the sound wave line based on its amplitude. The more the number of wave lines, the more accurate the captured sound amplitude. Meanwhile, the higher the bit depth value, the more wave lines. So, the captured tone of voice is more precise.

There are three bit depth values ​​for the audio interface, namely 16 bit, 24 bit, and 32 bit float. The recommended values ​​for recording are 16 bit and 24 bit. This is because the 32 bit float audio interface has a dynamic range that is too wide. 

The bit depth value is recommended for those of you who record high voices or screams. The 16 bit value means that there are around 65,000 wave lines that can be reached by the audio interface. 

On the other hand, a 24 bit value has a band of up to 16 million. As a result, the level of precision of the captured sound is more accurate. The bit depth value is still able to capture even very loud sounds.

④ Know the input/output details of the audio interface

It is important to check that the number and type of input / output (I/O) of the audio interface are suitable for your instrument. That way, its use becomes more optimal. Come on, see our full explanation below.

The number of I/O, affects the number of devices to be recorded

The amount of I/O on the audio interface needs to be adjusted to the device to be used. The number varies, ranging from two, four, up to over six. The more devices that are recorded, the more I/O is needed.

 If you’re recording sound for a two-person podcast or voice over, an audio interface with two I/O is sufficient. Devices with two I/O can also be used for live acoustic. For these needs, you only need one input for the mic and the other for the guitar/ keyboard.

If you’re a songwriter in a small team, an audio interface with four to eight I/Os is sufficient. For the need to record electric drums, choose a product with eight I/O. 

Meanwhile, products with sixteen I/O and above are used for professional needs, such as band recording.

I/O type, determines the type of cable that can be connected

Also check that the audio interface I/O type matches the cable on your instrument. In general, the types of I/O audio interfaces include XLR and TRS. There is also an audio interface that is equipped with a combo type input. 

This is a multifunctional input that can be used as a guitar or condenser jack. Usually the audio interface for live streaming uses a 3.5mm or 1/8″ TRS input.

This is an audio jack for a microphone that does not require phantom power. If you use a digital musical instrument, such as a synthesizer or electric drum, choose an audio interface that has an input MIDI.

10 Best Audio Interface Recommendations

Next, we will recommend the ten best audio interfaces that we have determined based on the selection method above. These products are carefully selected by considering product quality, buyer reviews, and the level of trust in the seller. 

1. Behringer UM2

Are you new to the world of home studios? If so, you can consider this Behringer audio interface. This product has an economical price so you don’t need to prepare a big budget to get an audio interface. The mini size makes it easy to carry anywhere.

The Behringer UM2 even has a phantom power button. That way, you can use a condenser microphone to get maximum audio results. 

This product also has a direct monitor button that functions to directly monitor the sound of the recording. Thanks to these features, the sound to be processed by this product has minimal delay.

2. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio 3rd Gen

This Focusrite audio interface is recommended for those of you who often make cover songs. This tool has the best mic converter and preamp which allows for crisp cover results even when using a budget microphone. 

The recorded guitar sound is of no less quality thanks to the input with high headroom.

At the bottom of this product there is a pad that keeps it from moving when used. You can also adjust the sound settings more precisely with a solid knob control. The premium body of this product also gives a luxurious impression to its users.

3. Maono All-In-One Podcast Production Studio Maonocaster Lite

Maono Maonocaster Lite is suitable for beginners who are just entering the world of podcasts. This podcast console can be directly connected to a smartphone. So, you can directly upload your recordings without having to process the audio again.

In addition, the knob controls for this tool are easy to understand. This product also provides many sound effects, such as applause, laughter, and awkward voice. These sound effects will certainly make your podcast program even more exciting and pleasant to hear. 

4. Audience EVO 4

As a streamer, one of EVO 4’s features will make it easier for you to create content. The feature in question is loopback. You can record audio on your computer directly to this product along with the microphone. 

That way, your voice and the audio from your computer are immediately available in the DAW application. The editing process becomes more practical thanks to this feature.

5. Midi PLUSStudios 4

If you are looking for an audio interface for live performance or home recording, we recommend MidiPLUS Studio 4. This tool offers high quality audio to support your live performance and home recording activities .

The AD/DA converter of this product is also high-precision. In addition, this tool has four inputs. So you can connect up to four instruments, such as a microphone, guitar, bass and cajon. 

6. Solid State Logic SSL 2

Do you like playing music with a relaxed tempo, such as pop or ballads? If so, consider this product. Solid State Logic SSL 2 has a distinctive sound character and color.

Overall this product has a warmer character. The low – mid section is denser, but still soft. The audio in the mid – highs of this product is not gritty, so the sound is comfortable to the ear. 

Therefore, SSL2 is suitable for musicians with the pop or ballad genre.

7. IK Multimedia iRig HD 2

For those of you who want to record guitar sound, iRig HD 2 from IK Multimedia can be considered. Specially designed for recording guitar sounds, there are advanced features in this tool. 

One of them is a premium A/D converter so it can capture clear and noise- free sound. That way, this product is suitable for those of you who often do guitar solos for content needs.

8. MOTU M2

Do you have high mobility? Travel a lot so you have to work anywhere? This product is likely to suit you. MOTU M2 has a compact shape with easy use. This will certainly support your creative process in making music anywhere. 

You can use this tool while in the studio, on stage, or while traveling. To maintain the quality of the audio produced, this tool is equipped with ESS Saber32 Ultra™ DAC Technology. 

This technology is capable of capturing and processing to produce clean audio.

9. Universal Audio Apollo Solo

We recommend Apollo Solo for Mac users. The reason is, this audio interface is equipped with a LUNA recording system. This is a dedicated music production app for Mac. 

This application is used by musicians, composers, to sound designers. You can explore to create music that suits your character through this system.

10. Steinberg UR44

The Steinberg UR44 is an audio interface with four high-quality preamps. Additionally, there are two other inputs that you can connect an external preamp to. This product also offers MIDI input for your digital instrument recording needs.

This tool also has two headphone outputs on the front to monitor the quality of the audio that comes out. This combination of six input features and a practical monitor system allows you to use it for band recording needs.

Conclusion

The audio interface is important for those of you who want to create works with quality audio. From home recording, voice over, live streaming, to podcasts, all of these activities require an audio interface.

After reading our tips on choosing and the products we recommend, have you found the right audio interface? 

It is important to use an audio interface that suits your needs. Therefore, first understand the things that we have reviewed in this article. Happy choosing!

5 Best Audio Interfaces Recommendation

  • Behringer ｜UM2
  • Focusrite ｜Scarlett 2i2 Studio 3rd Gen
  • Maono ｜All-In-One Podcast Production Studio Maonocaster Lite
  • Audience ｜EVO 4
  • MidiPLUS ｜Studio 4

Other recomendations: