After sharing some tips about which speakers to buy, today we dive into another key decision in music production: choosing the right audio interface.
Below we review the most important aspects you should consider before buying an audio interface, based on your real needs.
What will you use it for?
Everything starts by defining the purpose. Depending on your needs, you should focus on certain features.
- Do you play an instrument and want to record yourself?
- Do you have a band and want to record rehearsals or demos?
- Do you produce electronic music and only record occasionally?
- Do you have a lot of hardware that needs connecting to the computer?
Answering these questions is the first step to defining the characteristics of your audio interface.
Narrowing down the specs
If you don’t record regularly, or only occasionally, a 2 In / 2 Out interface may be more than enough. If you want some headroom, consider a 4 In / 4 Out.
If, on the other hand, you record frequently, you’ll need to further refine your needs to pick the right model.
Lots of hardware?
If you work in a studio with synthesizers, samplers or other external devices, you’ll need multiple line inputs. And if you use compressors, EQs or other external processors, you’ll also need enough line outputs.
Depending on your gear, you must correctly define the number of inputs and outputs (x In / x Out) for your interface.
How many mics do you need to record simultaneously?
Microphones need pre-amplification, so if you want to record a band, you’ll need several mic preamps. Recording a drum kit alone requires many different microphones, which directly determines the number of inputs.
Also consider whether you need digital inputs (ADAT) to connect an external preamp rack and expand the number of mics you can record simultaneously. Note that many interfaces advertise 18 In / 18 Out but only have 8 analog inputs. The rest are digital and allow expansion up to 8 extra channels via ADAT, depending on the sample rate used.
This lets you record up to 16 mics at once by adding an external preamp rack. If you only record vocals or a single instrument occasionally, it might be smarter to invest in a good valve preamp or channel strip rather than an interface with lots of built-in preamps.
Talking about quality
The audio interface is the device responsible for converting analog signal to digital (A/D) so you can work with it in your DAW.
This process involves several physical components —input preamps and converters— that determine the conversion quality and thus the interface’s price.
It’s important to clarify a commonly confusing point: the interface quality does not affect the final project export, since that is a digital‑to‑digital process handled by the DAW (Logic, Ableton, etc.).
Where it does matter is in how we listen to the sound, because there is a digital‑to‑analog conversion towards the monitors. Still, if the room isn’t acoustically treated, those differences will be almost imperceptible.
Summary
- Choose the number of inputs/outputs according to your real use.
- Price should match component quality and your needs.
- If you only produce electronic music and rarely record, you don’t need a high‑end interface.
- If you record often, it’s worth investing in a good audio interface.
Some brand recommendations
Rather than specific models, here are reference brands, since each manufacturer offers different options by need and budget.
High‑end
- Universal Audio (Apollo)
- RME
- MOTU
- Apogee
Mid range
- TC Electronic
- MOTU (some models)
- Focusrite (balanced quality/price options)
- PreSonus
- Audient
Finally, note that Apple is phasing out FireWire, so today it’s generally recommended to opt for USB or Thunderbolt.
We hope these tips help you resolve doubts when choosing your audio interface.
