The Clarett+ 2Pre on test has two mic pres with combo mic/line/instrument inputs, four balanced outputs, MIDI I/O, and ADAT for a total of 10 ins and 4 outs. It is USB 2.0 compatible, with a connection via a USB-C port that supports bus powering but from a device that provides 15W (or use the included PSU instead). Focusrite's Control software is easy to use and also available as a simplified iOS app, so you can control levels, including your low latency monitoring mix from your phone. An audio interface takes the signals from your instruments or microphones and digitizes them before sending them to your computer. You can relate it to an external sound card that is equipped with extra features. Audio interfaces act as the nerve center of your studio, linking together the various tools you use to input and output sound. I bought this device because its predecessor had a pretty good reputation in the linux world. While the 2i2 2nd Gen seemes to have worked right out of the box under linux operating systems, this is no longer the case with the 3rd generation. One can get it working, though. Audient has also managed to improve the iD44’s Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) THD+N figure by an impressive 9dB to a class-leading 112 dB. The Digital to Analogue Converters (DACs) are similarly pristine, with imperceptible noise and 126dB of dynamic range. The four mic pres are exactly the same as you’ll find in Audient’s pro-level consoles.

Two inputs and two outputs; two 3rd Generation mic pres, switchable to line or Hi-Z instrument inputs, with two balanced outputs. The Scarlett 2i2 has a firewire interface so that speed is not compromised. A phantom power option is also included for microphones without an external power supply. Do you want to invest less and get the best? In that case, buy the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2 nd gen. Last but not least, some audio interfaces include onboard DSP effects, which allow you to process effects like reverb, delay, and EQ right within the device. While these tend to be more expensive, some great interfaces with DSP effects include the Universal Audio Apollo Twin X and Antelope Audio Discrete 4 Synergy Core. USB and Firewire provide 800 MB/s and all the way up to 1.25 GB/s. If you have loads of work then you either a USB and Firewire will do. Both connections are easily available on the computer. If you're part of a team of up to 20-25 people, you might consider Thunderbolt, it delivers the lightning fast speed of 5 GB/s. However, the ports are mostly found on Macs. PCIE option is more complicated as it requires you to install a special sound card which isn’t common for home or professional studio use. In most cases, USB or Firewire will do the job, but if you want some extra speed then you might consider a thunderbolt port.

What is an audio interface?

There are a number of audio interfaces available on the market and in the list below, we'll have a look at the very best.

Audio quality is where ID44 MkII really shines; everything else is icing on the cake, but that icing is layered deep and tastes exceptionally sweet. Finally, there's an interface output that uses interface cables to take digital signals to your computer. The cables are commonly USB or firewire, but newer options like ethernet cables are available. Thunderbolt cables are used for Mac computers. USB and firewire provide fast speeds so you can choose between the two according to your computer input availability. Likewise, there are adapters to switch between the two options. Most audio interfaces will work regardless of whether your computer is a PC or Mac. However, when it comes to connecting an audio interface to your specific computer, you’ll want to make sure that the connector types match. The most common connection types include USB, Thunderbolt, and FireWire, though more obscure options like PCle also exist—we’ll take a look at all of these next. Thunderbolt is known for its high-speed data transfer capabilities that enable very low latency between a computer and an audio interface. You’ll find that many higher-end audio interfaces support this connection type. FireWireClarett is Focusrite’s premium USB range with three models and a decent bundle of software including Focusrite’s Red 2 and Red 3 plugins and Plugin Alliance’s bx_console Focusrite SC. Clarett+ focuses on improving audio performance rather than expanding that feature set. The Volt range has the affordable market in its sights, and here we're looking at the Volt 176 and 276. These look very different from other UA interfaces and have a very different remit. There’s no plugin hosting, onboard software processing, or Console software. These are plug-and-play, with UA’s excellent preamps and, in the case of the two units here, the benefit of onboard analogue processing. Thunderbolt connectors are usually found in the audio boxes/interfaces designed for Mac as they have an input thunderbolt port. They offer way faster data transferring speeds compared to both USB and Firewire. PCIE

Explore royalty-free one-shots, loops, FX, MIDI, and presets from leading artists, producers, and sound designers. With the 76 Compressor, you choose 1176-style Vocal, Guitar, Fast, or Off one-button compression, each delivering a characteristic flavour without going overboard. The Vintage option provides the tube emulation, gentle saturation, and top-end lift of UA’s classic 610 channel. Form factor simply refers to the physical size and shape interface of electrical products. In audio interfaces, there are two types of Form Factors. Desktop Interfaces

Investing a lot of money into any type of gear can be a tough decision. Don’t worry! We got you covered. FireWire is an older connection type that offers reliable and relatively high-speed connection (FireWire 800 offers double the bandwidth of its predecessor, FireWire 400). However, you’ll find few audio interfaces that use it today, and even fewer computers that feature a FireWire port. PCle The 4i4 supports Focusrite’s Control application, which means that a number of settings can only be made in the software. The app also handles low-latency monitoring. The Clarett+ 2Pre is a reasonably simple interface with some very handy features, that offer subtle yet welcome improvements over its predecessor. Overall, the iD24 brings this unit in line with other 2nd generation iDs, offering an attractive balance of features, with a heavy focus on a genuinely audiophile front end – which we love. It has well-designed software for additional features like cue mixes and signal routing. All in all, it is a flexible interface delivering good value for money.

The front face of the Apollo Twin X features a huge knob that can be used for volume control of monitors, headphones, and input gain, as well as some handy buttons for phantom power, muting, and various other features. We found it to be an incredibly fleshed-out and powerful recording experience using one of these and combined with the portable size, it’s the perfect interface for taking to and from recording sessions, with the connectivity to grow with you should you choose to invest further in the UA ecosystem. On most audio interfaces you’ll typically find both XLR and 1/4-inch inputs, often combined into combo connectors so that you can plug mics, guitars, synths and the like into the same input. Many interfaces also offer a phantom power option, which is required if you want to use certain microphones. The SSL 12 is the bigger, new relation to the SSL 2 and 2+ interfaces. It has extra connectivity but the same option to inject some classic SSL character – inspired by the SSL 4000 console – into your recordings.Komplete Audio 2 is a two-input, two-output design with two identical mic/line/instrument inputs. Connections are on space-saving combi XLRs with individual selector switches to select between line and instrument. 48V phantom power, meanwhile, is engaged globally via a single switch. All units in the range have received physical and technical upgrades, with improved preamps (now up to 56dB gain), balanced connectivity throughout, and the inclusion of Focusrite’s ISA transformer preamp emulation option (Air). On the bus-powered Scarlett 4i4, you get two mic/line/instrument inputs with gain, two line-level TRS inputs, and four TRS outputs.