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Pretty much any audio interface will come with some form of a software bundle. Most audio interfaces come with at least one.ĭo you need midi connectivity? MIDI keyboards now can plug directly into one of your computer's other USB ports, but if you have an older keyboard you'll need an audio interface that allows you to connect via old-school midi cables. How many you need depends on the number of people who will be recording at the same time. Will you be using external preamps, or effects processing? You'll need additional outputs for these.įor monitoring purposes, you'll need headphone outputs. If you're hooking up a pair of studio monitors you'll need to make sure the outputs of the interface are compatible with the inputs of your monitors. Similarly, consider where the output signal of the audio interface is going. If you're using USB microphones to record note that these won't be part of the signal path of the interface. Rocking out through a Marshall stack and capturing it with some well-placed mics? You'll need a mic input, and phantom power if it's a condenser microphone.
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If you're recording a signal from an instrument, like that dusty Korg M1 in the corner, you'll need at least one instrument input. For multi-track recording, you'll need more inputs. If you're a one-woman home studio recording tracks one at a time, a single input will suffice. Next, you'll want to think about how many inputs you'll need. If you have Thunderbolt ports that opens up more options, and if you're still clinging on to Firewire there are some options there too. USB interfaces are by far the most common way to hook up an audio interface to your 'pooter, especially as technology improves transfer speeds. If you have a spare USB port you can choose from one of the many models out there. Ready? Alright, so what do you need to look for when choosing between audio interfaces?Īgain this depends on what kind of music you make, and how you make it.įirst of all, you'll want to decide how you'll connect with your computer. Additionally, you'll need a way to monitor your recording.Īnd if you want to p**s off dazzle your roommates with your creation you'll need a way to hook up your boombastic speakers to let the world know it's time to get louuuuddddddd.įor a more detailed look at what an audio interface actually does If you want to record instruments or voices, you'll need a way to get that analog signal into your computer.
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If you're an in-the-box kind of person, who likes mixing on their headphones, then you could get by with just using aįor input and the headphone jack on your laptop or PC. That depends on what kind of music you produce, and how you want to listen to it. When it comes to making music on your computer choosing a good great audio interface is hugely important if you want to get the highest quality sound in and out of your computer.īut with so many makes and models on the market where do you even begin? And what do you need to look for in an audio interface? And do you even need one? We all know the expression: 'garbage in garbage out'.