Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface? Music producers and directions or people in music production are always enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction or audio interface. A udio interfaces give you the ability to connect professional microphones, instruments and other kinds of signals to a computer, and output a variety of signals as well.
But, judging the quality of the preamps or the overall sound on an audio interface isn't as easy. Still, 2016 has seen some excellent new interfaces hitting the market. These included new interesting features for the future of audio recording and new technology to improve sound quality. While you can certainly download any free DAW software, arm a track, hit record and play your heart out into your laptop’s built-in microphone, you need an external audio interface to step up your sound quality. An interface replaces your computer’s built-in sound card, giving you analog and/or digital inputs and outputs for microphones, electric instruments, monitor speakers, headphones and external gear to and from your computer.
High quality music reproduction includes all these stages: the initial audio recording, the production process, and the playback. You might think you are an audiophile, but in reality very few music lovers tick all of the necessary boxes. Of course, obtaining the best audio interface money can buy is highly recommended. The better the speakers, amplifier, turntable or digital converter, the better the music sounds. Audio interface is a piece of hardware that expands and improves the sonic capabilities of a computer. The below article gives you the detail instructions for what are the best audio interface devices for music production or listening.
List of best audio interface for your for either PC or Mac computer. Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface:. An audio interface is what you need to get good quality recordings. They come with built-in preamp inputs for microphones (microphone level) and instruments (instrument level), as well as line level inputs for CD/DVD players and other electronic sources. There is a huge variety of audio interfaces on the market. The M-Track Eight’s inputs can be used for microphone, instrument and line level devices. It supports digital resolution up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution. Audio interface is also like a gear used to playback, mix and master music. An audio interface or sound card has multiple functions. Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface.
Enables us recording by using either its inputs or MIDI data. Converts the signal from digital to analog and vice-versa. Enables you to push your CPU power as hard as you want by adjusting its buffer size. It entirely depends how you will be using your audio interface in order to choose a good Audio interface. An audio interface comes with different types of input and output connections, preamps and configuration settings and you should always determine what you need at first, before buying any Audio interface. Audio interfaces comes in all prizes and sizes, from low to high and feature rich to moderate. Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface Some Important factors to look at, while choosing an audio interface: Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface.
Number of inputs and outputs. Number of microphone pre-amps. Stable drivers. No ones wants his DAW to crash during mixing. USB connectivity.
Studio Monitors. MIDI Keyboard/Controller. Headphones Outputs. Digital Signal Processing. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Software.
Cables: USB-A to USB-B cable, XLR cable. Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface? Right equipment is a must, if you want to be on top of everything; and in the business of music direction and production the better the equipment, the better the quality of sound.
People love to hear high quality music, in which every beat is clear and real. Music production is a step by step process, begining from setting up devices then Recording to mixing the right sound together, it’s a high precision task which needs uttermost Sound clarity and whatsoever no distortion. And If you have experience in recording music, then I am sure that you should know that how important it is to have the right equipment. The Apogee One is an all-in-one portable, USB audio interface that gives you everything you need to make professional recordings. Apogee one has a exceptional built-in omnidirectional microphone to easily capture your music without compromise. This Audio Interface produces high Studio quality pristine music, podcast, and recordings. It is compatible with all these GarageBand, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Ableton or any Core Audio compatible application.
It has a Mic preamp with up to 62dB of gain, which is great. This microphone is the first and USB audio interface for Mac computers and iPads. You can record professional quality music via your iPod touch, iPhone, Mac computer, or iPad. You Can also record with a microphone (built-in or external) and guitar simultaneously. 2 IN x 2 OUT Audio interface with built-in microphone.
Direct monitoring, complete input/output control with Apogee’s Maestro software. Compatible with GarageBand, Logic Pro X or any Core Audio Application. Mac (iPod touch, iPhone, iPad available with upgrade kit-sold separately). Produces pristine sound quality. AD/DA conversion delivers studio quality sound to your headphones. 2 simultaneous inputs (instrument + built-in or external mic).
Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface. Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface? It’s ideal for singer songwriters and guitar players looking for the easiest way to record studio-quality music onto Mac or PC. Take it anywhere, connect by USB, plug a mic and guitar straight in, and immediately start recording with the same sound quality as the rest of the latest Scarlett range. Best Audio interface should have a high-quality microphone, and Focusrite Scarlett Solo has it.
It records studio-quality music. You can also Record your guitar and vocals at the same time, onto separate tracks. Super-low latency lets you enhance your recordings in ways that are simply impossible with any other interface. Compose, record, edit, save and export your music straight away. And For recording You don’t need a power supply, either – just connect with a USB cable and start recording. You are free to play without the worry of unwanted distortion.
It operates at sample rates all the way up to 192kHz with new super-low latency that lets you record and monitor with software effects in real time. Used By the best Sam Smith, Foo Fighters and Massive Attack. It’s Thunderbolt audio interface is simply great and outperforms all other Audio interfaces. The mic pres have been designed specifically for the Clarett range. Instrument inputs feature extra headroom to handle the loudest pickup. Focusrite Control offers a traditional mixer workflow and allows immediate access to internal hardware functions. Clarett offers the cleanest way yet to get music in and out of your DAW. Focusrite’s has class-leading 24/192 conversion quality: with up to 119dB dynamic range Clarett’s ultra-low round-trip latency helps and fastens your workflow. The monitor section provides a clear view of both analogue and digital input levels. Monitor features also include an assignable level control, plus back-lit dim and mute buttons, alongside dual high-power headphone outputs. Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface? Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 Firewire interface is part of Focusrite’s extensive range of computer audio interfaces. Focusrite’s award-winning mic preamps, specially designed for our computer interface ranges and based on 30 years of design experience, to deliver clean, transparent sound with minimal noise and distortion. Saffire interfaces are compatible with any DAW on Macintosh or Windows, and with the included Red 2 and Red3 AAX plugins, make perfect partners for Pro Tools. Saffire PRO 24 includes two of Focusrite’s mic/line/instrument preamps, combined with an additional 14 inputs and eight outputs plus the very latest in mix control software and FireWire interfacing technology to deliver seamless integration, excellent routing flexibility, rock-solid driver stability. The two Focusrite preamps ensure low noise and distortion from any type of microphone, line or instrument input, and are accessed direct from the front panel.
Front panel five-step LED metering is included for each analogue input, offering detailed viewing of levels. It features flexible output routing and monitoring, as well as intuitive one-click set-up solutions designed to help you track, monitor and mix as quickly as possible. Focusrite’s Saffire PRO 24 is designed to capture every subtle nuance of your performance and delivers it seamlessly and effortlessly into the digital domain Pros. High-quality award-winning Focusrite preamps. High-quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire interface.
Front 5-LED metering keeps the musician aware, at all times. Saffire MixControl ultra-low-latency DSP mixer. Front panel 5-LED metering. Fairly affordable for a 16 channel interface. Providing a fully customised monitor mix.
Provides an 18 x 16 DSP mixer with excellent routing flexibility. Pristine audio quality and reliable synchronisation are guaranteed. Best Audio interface 2016 Best professional audio interface. This incredibly affordable interface is compatible with Mac and Windows computers. It delivers professional performance and is capable of delivering 24-bit/96 kHz digital conversion. The unit utilizes a direct monitor function, which provides zero-latency tracking.
The Focusrite mic preamps are definitely impressive and have. The front panel provides you with easily accessible inputs for your, guitar and your. All of the interfaces’ controls are also found on the front panel. This makes the unit easy to use, so it is more than suitable for those that are new to music recording. The unit is effortless to setup and can be used in a plug and play manner.
More pros and cons will be provided below.
Whether you want to call it an audio interface or a soundcard, if you make music on a Mac, PC, iPad or even iPhone, it makes sense to get the best box of I/O tricks that you possibly can. But how do you decide which USB audio interface you should buy in 2018, or even if you should buy a ThunderBolt audio interface for your home studio? Well, the product for one person might not be the best one for another. Firstly, you need to decide how many audio inputs and outputs you need. If you're going to be recording lots of instruments at the same time - in a band, for example - then multiple inputs will be very useful, but if you just plan on plugging in a mic or guitar once in a while, a 2-in device will be sufficient. Think about MIDI connectivity, too - do you plan to plug your MIDI controller directly into your computer over USB, or would full-size MIDI ports on the interface be useful?.
Then there's the issue of how the interface connects to your computer. A majority of models work over USB 2, but you'll also find ThunderBolt interfaces that promise better performance but typically cost a little more.
Whichever you go for, make sure it's compatible with your PC/Mac/iOS device and DAW before you buy. You also need to decide if you want DSP (Digital Signal Processing) in your interface, which will enable you to use dedicated plugins that won't place any load on your computer. Universal Audio, with its UAD products, is the undisputed king of this market. Form factor is a consideration, too: is your interface for the studio or do you want to take it on the road with you?
Audio interfaces comes in all shapes and sizes; some are designed to sit in a rack or on a desk while others can be stuffed in a laptop bag and taken anywhere. Finally, but crucially, there's the issue of price. You can get a decent audio interface for well under $200/£200, but spend a bit more and you're likely to see better quality, performance and specs. So, there are lots of great audio interfaces, but which one you should buy depends on your requirements and budget. Whether you're looking for the best budget audio interface - the Audient iD4 is our current recommendation - or something from the top end, read on for MusicRadar’s picks of the current crop. There's not much to complain about at this price Arguably the best audio interface you can buy for less than $200, The iD4 is a simple two-input/two-output offering featuring a mic preamp - complete with phantom power for using condenser mics - as well as an instrument level DI for plugging in your guitar or bass.
On top of this, there’s a main output for your speakers and dual headphone outputs. The whole thing is powered via USB and, with Apple’s camera connection kit, it can also work with an iPhone/iPad. However, the studio devilry is in the detail; Audient has really thought about everything with value and usability in mind, making what is a budget solution feel anything but inexpensive. The best USB audio interface we’ve seen at this price for a long time. Read full review. No DSP processing A couple of years ago, Focusrite’s original Clarett interfaces introduced premium quality mic pres, ISA transformer mic pre mode (Air) and super-low latency operation at a great price.
They also required a Thunderbolt-equipped computer - fine for Mac users, but not for Windows. Thankfully, the Clarett Thunderbolt interfaces are now joined by USB versions. Much like the Thunderbolt version, the Clarett 4Pre USB is an 18-input, 8-output interface with MIDI I/O.
On the input side, that’s achieved via two combo mic/line/instrument inputs, two combo mic/line inputs, four line-level inputs, stereo S/PDIF and eight channels of ADAT optical. Meanwhile the eight outputs comprise four line-level and two stereo headphone outs. A great all-rounder, the addition of USB brings this high spec’d yet reasonably-priced audio interface to a wider audience. Performance issues when battery levels are low The iRig Pro Pro Duo is IK Multimedia's best mobile audio interface yet. It's got everything you need from a two-channel audio interface - MIDI, phantom power, direct monitoring, signal metering, combi XLR/Hi-Z inputs - and can be either battery- or mains-powered.
The Pro Duo also feels more robust than some of its predecessors. The unit comes complete with a plethora of cabling for connecting to your devices of choice, including MIDI breakout cables. One thing we did notice was that, as the batteries ran down, the unit became less stable. This is, of course, only a minor gripe, but if you're out and about, remember to bring spares. Read full review.
Other interfaces with similar levels of I/O are available for substantially less. AudioFuse is an attractive and portable Mac, PC and iOS-compatible interface with a raft of features. Despite its compact frame, there’s plenty of connectivity on offer. Along the front edge, you’ll find combi inputs and two fully independent headphone feeds. In turn, these can accommodate both mini-jack and 1/4-inch plugs. At the back, there are speaker outputs for two pairs of monitors, line level connectors, MIDI In/Out ports (which, due to size restrictions, have been replaced by mini-jack connectors, which you’ll find in the box) and - for digital interfacing - both S/PDIF and ADAT In/Out.
There are also inserts for inputs 1 and 2, allowing you to track through hardware compressors or channel strips. AudioFuse connects via USB 2, but USB connectivity goes further; Arturia has built a USB hub into it, providing three extra USB ports.
AudioFuse provides a beautiful and contemporary approach to USB audio interfacing with a great design, compatibility with a huge range of possible audio sources, a great sound and a highly tactile control set. Read full review. No MIDI Still a desktop-format 2-in/-6-out interface with 24-bit/192kHz capabilities, the Apollo Twin MkII would be almost indistinguishable from were it not now black rather than silver. It connects to your Mac or PC via Thunderbolt (there’s no cable in the box), but it has to be powered from the wall. The back panel and front edge house the inputs and outputs, while the top panel centres on a satisfyingly oversized knob.
Also a DSP box for powering UAD plugin effects (you can choose from Solo, Duo and Quad options), the Apollo Twin MkII features the same game-changing Unison preamps as its predecessor, fed by the Mic/Line and Hi-Z ins. These enable a gradually expanding subset of UA’s classic hardware emulation plugins to be inserted directly into each input path. This is a musically empowering hardware/software hybrid that's capable of elevating even the humblest of home and project studios to genuinely professional-quality heights, and certainly one of the best audio interfaces you can buy. Read full review. Only one compressor Antelope doesn't tend to scrimp on the quality of its products and the Zen Tour is no exception. It’s very compact given how much functionality it offers, and feels solid. It has a small but useful touchscreen which enables you access to all the basic functions of the unit, with the likes of input gains, headphone levels and talkback directly accessible using buttons on the front panel and the large 'soft' knob.
At the front are two headphone outs, two re-amping outs and four line/Hi Z inputs, all on 1/4-inch jacks. To the rear are four dual XLR/1/4-inch inputs, two pairs of monitor outs on 1/4-inch jacks, eight analogue outs on a DB25, two RCA sockets for S/PDIF in and out, a power connector and USB and Thunderbolt sockets. On the left-hand side are two pairs of ADAT ins and outs.
Once you have the software installed on your computer and connected you are ready to go. There are six amplifier emulations covering vintage to modern and clean to downright filthy. They sound great and, unlike some software emulations, have a great dynamic response.
You also get a great range of EQs and a single compressor. If you want a high-quality audio interface for studio, rehearsals and gigs you have to look at this.
It sounds great and is supremely flexible. Certainly one of the best audio interfaces for guitarists you can buy. Read full review.
No MIDI I/O One of the best audio interfaces for Mac on the market, the Element 46 prioritises function over form: it’s an extremely simple and rather plain-looking unit with not an LED or LCD in sight. Don’t let the featureless look throw you, though - the (optional) Remote Control unit might look like the more interesting piece of kit, but that plain grey box plays host to the real action.
The real ace up Apogee’s sleeve is that the Element interfaces aren’t actually designed for physical interaction at all - instead, they’re designed to be put to one side on a surface in your studio, with their microphone connections (front-mounted for convenience) the only part you’ll get hands-on with during the recording process. Everything else is handled by software, with that aforementioned Remote Control or a free iOS app providing extra hands-on interaction should you wish. While nearly all of the best audio interfaces now provide software control over hardware, Element Control goes further than most, providing an essential front end to Apogee’s superb preamps and A/D conversion. Read full review.
Definitely for pros only Prism Sound has quickly developed a reputation as a go-to choice for many professional users and studios seeking exemplary audio quality at the interfacing stage. Atlas is a 2U USB interface with plenty of I/O possibilities, but the extra ace up its sleeve is an MDIO port, which provides additional, flexible interfacing capability. The rear panel shows the internal interfacing capabilities Atlas offers, with eight coveted Prism Sound preamps provided, which allow for either XLR or TRS connections, alongside eight dedicated balanced 1/4-inch outputs. You'll also find digital inputs, with supported formats including S/PDIF and ADAT, meaning that Atlas is capable of recording up to 18 channels at once, at up to 192kHz, though digital track count becomes lower at super-high resolution. In use, Atlas feels like a thoroughbred interface from the moment it's up and running. You can configure some settings from the front panel, but Prism Sound also provides a comprehensive Control application to allow you to set up Atlas's assorted I/O over software. Atlas is a sumptuous interface, offering unparalleled sound quality.
Prism Sound's reputation is further enhanced with its arrival and, since the quality of its interfaces was already seen as excellent, that's a glowing endorsement. Read full review.