Over the past two decades, audio interfaces have become increasingly common. Those of us who have heard music recorded in both analog and digital formats may appreciate the dramatic differences between them, particularly in the richness and complexity of the latter.
The final sound can be affected by the audio interface used. You need high-quality converters if the final sound is more faithful to the analog waveform. You can employ several strategies to achieve good results, but there is only one way to get with using a high-quality converter. You might think of an audio interface as the brains of a state-of-the-art home recording studio. The higher quality they are, the more professional your recordings will be.
This article will discuss what constitutes a good audio interface, how to tell when it’s time to upgrade, and which ones are the best.
Is it worth upgrading audio interface?
It’s worthwhile for those who want to take their studio to the next level and have their recordings sound as rich as possible. But, it is optional for musicians who desire to record their musical ideas and mix their recordings. A medium-range interface is excellent; it can help produce good music.
Spend more time mastering the resources you already own, even if they are only stock plugins and a budget audio interface. Once you’ve mastered the equipment at your disposal, it’s time to invest in an upgrade and get your hands on some higher-quality preamps. The converters and preamps within an audio interface ultimately decide its quality when a pro level is needed.
When do you need to upgrade your audio interface?
So, do you need to upgrade to a professional audio interface immediately because a new audio interface results in better sounds? Not necessarily. This is because you may make high-quality music with very modest equipment. So changing the interface will only improve the quality of your recordings.
Please don’t rely on equipment to get you through unless you require more I/Os than your existing interface can provide.
Signs you need a new interface
- Lack of inputs
It would help if you had more channels to capture various sounds simultaneously, such as your band’s next rehearsal. More options are available to you with an interface that has more channels. For example, you may easily record a four-piece rock band on eight channels.
However, don’t you wish you had eight or even ten microphones to mike up your drum set? Consider the potential benefits of incorporating more channels into your current arrangement. Adding external preamps or processors can greatly improve the sound of your setup; therefore, it’s important to find an interface with balanced line inputs or digital I/O like ADAT. - Better Preamps
The decision to upgrade to a better audio interface is sometimes based on practical considerations like the number of inputs and outputs or whether or not phantom power would be required. Instead, the preamps are the key component.
In addition, the quality of an audio interface’s microphone preamps improves across upgrade tiers. So upgrading your audio interface is ideal if you want high-quality preamps but don’t want to invest in other hardware. - Better Headphone Routing
Headphone routing is a must if you plan on recording with a pal. The process is simplified by upgrading to a new audio interface with improved headphone routing. For instance, a vocalist can listen to a monitor mix of the song through a cue mix while you monitor the dry signal. Upgrading will unlock many possibilities for how your headphones are routed.
Upgrading your audio interface is always a good idea, whether you want more channels, better mic pres, or just an excuse to buy some shiny new gear, but remember that you can still perform admirably even with a low-priced interface. You should only do this if you are in dire need of extra inputs or if you want your studio to sound more polished.
Source: Wikipedia
Tips you need to know when updating your audio interface
- Sound
When creating a classic, the quality of the audio is crucial. Reduce your workload by increasing the amount of work your interface performs; among these factors is the A/D conversion. Sound is digitized through a technique called “time and amplitude quantization.” When you use D/A, the digital signal is fed back through your audio system’s interface and played on your speakers (analog sound). In this case, the challenge lies in producing a high-quality conversion. Noise distortion and limited dynamic range are two symptoms of a poor interface. - Connectivity
The solution to a sluggish workflow and a frustrating session is at hand. Thunderbolt 2’s high throughput and low latency make it the best connection technology. You may need more bandwidth if you plan to record a lengthy session and use many inputs and outputs simultaneously.
If built with a Thunderbolt-centric user interface, it’s lightning-fast and incredibly capable. Up to 25 times faster than FireWire, your interface can transfer data to and from your device. - Longevity
Stay aware of all the fancy features that equipment may have. Think carefully about your budget before purchasing a new user interface. There are several less expensive choices if you need something that requires many parts.
Reduce expenses by allocating them uniformly among inputs. Find out how much money is currently invested in each input. You could get a high-end 4-input interface like the Quartet for the same price as a cheap eight-input interface. Save your cash. - Workflow
Workflow can be increased and credibility bolstered with the help of a user-friendly interface. Value of time and resources. So, stop wasting time attempting to understand it. Many available interfaces will allow any user to quickly and easily adapt, all while improving your output. Try to find a tool that you are already familiar with or one that you can master fast. Finally, there is a task for you to complete. - Dynamic Range
The frequency response is another important factor to consider. This indicates the precision with which the interface processes sounds of varying frequencies. While it would be ideal if the interface faithfully reproduced all frequencies, it is more common to experience slight volume increases or decreases at some frequencies.
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when upgrading your audio interface. Apogee products are designed to give you the greatest possible sound, whether you’re a weekend warrior or a studio pro.
What’s Difference Between a Cheap and Expensive Audio Interface?
The more expensive interfaces will add warmth, depth, and audio resolution to your recording, masking any imperfections in your voice or instrument/original amp’s tone. The interface contains many more inputs and outputs, which is another key distinction.
Inexpensive, basic interfaces often provide one or two inputs for recording instruments, and both XLR and 1/4′′ inputs are supported. Not to mention the two studio monitor outputs (this is typically for the left and right output monitors).
More complex (and costly) interfaces typically feature more outputs and additional amenities.
The last point is that there are variations in the:
- Alteration in volume or intensity
- Reaction of frequency
- To employ tubes or transformers,
- The Conversion Quality
These characteristics may differ not only between low- and high-priced interfaces but also between brands.
Audio Interface |
Line Inputs |
Instrument Inputs |
Max Bit Depth |
Max Sample Rate (kHz) |
Headphone Outputs |
Connection Type |
Connects to iPad |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 |
2 |
2 |
24 |
96.0 |
1 |
USB 2.0 |
No |
Cheap
|
Universal Audio Apollo 16 |
16 |
0 |
24 |
192.0 |
0 |
FireWire 800 |
No |
Expensive
|
Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 |
0 |
1 |
16 |
48.0 |
1 |
USB 1.1 |
No |
Cheap
|
M-audio M-track |
2 |
2 |
24 |
48.0 |
1 |
USB 2.0 |
No |
|
Echo AudioFire12 |
12 |
0 |
24 |
192.0 |
0 |
FireWire 400 |
No |
Expensive
|
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 |
8 |
2 |
24 |
96.0 |
2 |
USB 2.0 |
Yes via CCK |
Expensive
|
Peavey AmpKit LiNK HD |
0 |
1 |
24 |
48.0 |
1 |
USB 2.0 |
Yes via 30-pin |
Cheap
|
Steinberg UR824 |
8 |
2 |
24 |
192.0 |
2 |
USB 2.0 |
Yes via CCK |
Expensive
|
Focusrite iTrack Solo |
2 |
1 |
24 |
96.0 |
1 |
USB 2.0 |
Yes via 30-pin |
Cheap
|
PreSonus Audiobox 1818VSL |
8 |
2 |
24 |
96.0 |
1 |
USB 2.0 |
No |
In between
|
Source: Reverbland
What makes an audio interface good?
- Number of Inputs
We’ll start with the input/output (I/O) count. Does it have the required telephone number? Since I rarely record more than two microphones or instruments at once, a two-input, two-output (I/O) interface suits my needs. A lot more inputs and outputs (I/Os) are required, though, if you plan on recording an entire band. - Durability
The quality of an interface’s construction is equally crucial. Your interface needs to be solid and dependable, or else it will be useless to you. Generally, metal chassis and knobs on an interface will outlast their plastic counterparts. - Sound Quality
The sound quality is the most crucial factor. To a large extent, the preamps and converters used in an interface determine its overall audio quality. With the help of a preamplifier (preamp), you can boost weak signals to a level you can record without clipping.
Your mics’ recording levels would be too low to use without a preamp. It is necessary to use a preamp to improve the recording quality because most microphone signals are 30–60 dB weaker than necessary. A low signal-to-noise ratio of -80 dB or more is recommended because preamps also produce noise. - Low Latency Monitoring
It is crucial to have low latency monitoring so the artists being recorded can hear themselves clearly and without distraction. Furthermore, having complete monitor control makes monitoring simple for the bot mixing engineer and allows for the straightforward configuration of artist foldback mixes without additional equipment. - Mixer Software
The more user-friendly the software used to manage certain aspects of a bigger interface, the better. The software should be straightforward and simple to spend more time tracking, mixing, and recording.
How does the audio interface work?
An audio interface takes electrical signals from an instrument or microphone and converts them to a digital format that can be read by your computer. In addition, an interface can transmit sound from a computer to an external audio device, such as headphones or speakers.
The audio interface bridges your computer, digital audio workstation, and other equipment (instruments, microphones, monitors, etc.). USB is the most common interface for connecting to a computer; however, Thunderbolt, Firewire, and ethernet are also used.
The price of an interface might be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. You can now utilize the lowest-priced interfaces to create high-quality, studio-grade recordings.
Source: Chrissoundlab
Conclusion
It all comes down to the audio interface you choose for your studio. Why and when you should make we also discussed that move. Keep in mind that there is a shelf life for audio equipment, just like there is for any other piece of technology.
Instead of an actual end date, you may expect it to become outdated and ineffective over time, necessitating a possible new financial commitment. However, you can make that time last for decades rather than just a few years by investing correctly.
The more you put in at each stage of your career, the more clout you’ll have when you go on to the next, so take it easy. Enjoy the process of making music as much as you can because it’s both beautiful and lengthy.
Death metal enthusiast here. I am a Romanian musician and producer with over 13 years of experience in the music industry. I’ve experienced all types of Metal up until now, playing Melodic Death Metal, Brutal Death Metal, and Black Metal with different bands. Learning by doing is my base principle, which is why I’ve been drawn to sound design from an early age. Read more…