Best Audio Interface For Recording – Note: We may receive commissions when you click on our links and make a purchase. Read our full review here.
Sound integration is at the core of modern studio design from home studios to home recording and mixing technologies. With so many options, where does one begin?
Best Audio Interface For Recording
Well, the right features vary depending on the user and their needs. Here, we present several options for you to choose from.
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Our top choice for the best professional face mask is the RME Babyface Pro FS, as it offers the right amount and value for money.
For those who want versatility, the Universal Audio Apollo Twin X offers a variety of options and integration with UA’s top software.
For musicians on a budget, the PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 is our top pick. And finally for those who want the best, Apogee Symphony Desktop is our first choice.
The RME Babyface Pro FS is a powerful, yet portable, USB bus powered. It has a solid, low-profile build with a clean design and user-friendly interface.
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This type of FS surpasses its predecessors, thanks to the wide variety of changes that ensure its enduring popularity among discerning professionals.
Babyface Pro also comes with a number of plug-ins that will greatly assist you in your setup. This is our top pick on this list.
The RME Babyface Pro FS is a bass guitar that strikes the perfect balance between price, performance and portability. It has on-board metering with peak and RMS for each channel that offers free calibration, including 3-band EQ, low-pass filter, reverb and tone.
This interface provides 4 x 4 (analog) and 8 x 8 (digital) I/O. In addition, it has TotalMix FX which offers 288-channel and 46-bit internal mixing.
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The Babyface Pro FS provides isolation, improved performance of its predecessor with a PLL analog control circuit and reference Direct Digital Synthesis and PLL to the noise quartz crystal.
Babyface Pro FS’s self-jitter reaches levels typically found in a quartz clock, even though it works in PLL.
Another variation of this model is the inclusion of basic microphones and signal-to-noise controls, from 112.2dB to 113.7dB, and mobile devices/devices from 114dB to 116.3dB.
The line inputs’ THD is optimized by 8dB. Additionally, the 3.5mm output has been lowered from 2 ohms to 0.1 ohms.
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This RME combo comes with basic plug-ins including Scuffham S-Gear, Brainworx bx_opto, and Brainworx bx_masterdesk, as well as experimental versions of Modartt Pianoteq 6, GG Audio Blue 3 Organ, and Gig Performer.
The Apollo Twin X allows musicians and producers to track, overdub, and mix with advanced A/D and D/A conversion, two Unison-enabled preamps, and DUO or QUAD Core real-time UAD processing.
Universal Audio is one of the most respected names in audio. He entered the domestic game a few years ago with the popular Apollo series.
The performance of the Twin X DUO is similar to that of UA’s rackmount Apollo X audio interfaces but omits features such as 5.1 surround monitoring and +24dBu operation.
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As a result, you get computer designs that are designed for project studios. You can also track and mix with simulated and real-time demos, thanks to UA’s powerful DUO Core processor. The Apollo Twin X is our top pick.
The Apollo Twin X DUO features an AD/DA 24-bit/192kHz converter and two Unison preamps based on the industry’s most popular hardware.
In addition, there is a powerful 2-core DUO Core processor that allows you to monitor in real time with Neve, Manley, or API lines, or run large UAD numbers when mixing in your DAW.
This sleek look also comes with UA’s LUNA software, for recording, editing, and mixing scenes, with full software control over the elements of your look.
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For faster connections, the Apollo Twin X comes with Thunder 3, which allows you to work with higher numbers with less than 2ms of latency.
If needed, you can connect up to four Apollos via Thunder to add speed, bandwidth, I/O and DSP to your studio, without buying a new computer!
Another best-selling feature of this model is a plug-in package that contains real-time playback of popular instruments from UA, Teletronix, Pultec, Marshall, Ampeg, and more.
In short, the Apollo Twin X Duo offers you a complete recording solution with the highest standards.
What Is An Audio Interface (and Why Would You Need One)?
Symphony Desktop integrates Apogee’s AD/DA converter into a desktop interface, along with dedicated preamps and powerful DSP.
Symphony Desktop features Apogee’s popular AD/DA converter, known as a pro audio interface. Apogee are pioneers in this field, responsible for many products since the early days of digital photography in the 1980s.
With real preamp simulations, powerful DSP, and more, this setup is one of the best you’ll find in your home studio. If you want the best and are willing to pay the price, look no further than the Apogee Symphony Desktop.
Apogee Symphony Desktop is the creme de la creme of home studios. It features up to 24-bit/192kHz audio, Apogee’s Alloy Mic Preamp pickups, and Apogee FX plug-ins, powered by your DAW’s built-in or native DSP for low-latency streaming.
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All the way to the preamp, Apogee’s Advanced Stepped Gain architecture ensures clean, low-noise results with a gain of up to 75 dB.
In addition, the Alloy Mic Preamp uses analog circuitry and digital processing to create some of the features available, including Solid State Class A sound effects inspired by the combination of British audio history and American tube rigs.
If you’re a Logic X user, you’ll love this because it lets you keep up with Apple’s software. This is thanks to Apogee’s DualPath Link.
DualPath lets you play your own l sounds, without recording what happens. You can also save the settings of your plug-in, so you have the opportunity to change the effect parameters later on in the mix.
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Using Symphony Desktop and Logic Pro X together allows you to work from a single window in your DAW.
Additionally, Symphony Desktop comes with the Bob Clearmountain-tweaked ECS Channel Strip plug-in. In short, it’s hard to beat the quality and functionality of Symphony Desktop.
The audioBox USB 96 audio mics / two front-facing devices make it ideal for singers / songwriters, podcasters, and guitarists or guitarists.
If you’re broke as it goes but still want to record, we have the answer for you: PreSonus AudioBox USB 96. For less than a hundred dollars, this device offers impressive results for such a low price. point.
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If you want a recording solution that is portable, simple, easy to use, and affordable, then the PreSonus model is for you.
The PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 is an easy-to-use two-way audio system. If you’re a singer-songwriter, you can connect a microphone to your guitar and record both at the same time.
The onboard mixer makes it easy to balance between input and audio playback, so you don’t have to worry about latency.
If you’re new to recording, this version also includes PreSonus Studio One Artist DAW software with 6GB of third-party content inside the Studio Magic plug-in. These include the Brainworx bx_opto compressor, the Lexicon MPX-i Reverb, SPL’s Attacker Plus, and more.
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The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio recording package gives you the ultimate package that includes everything you need to record.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 features two upgraded Scarlett mic preamps, highly adjustable 24-bit/192kHz AD/DA, optimized preamp design, low latency, and hardware-hot pickups. All this at a great price that was unthinkable ten years ago.
It also comes with an “Air” preamp emulation based on the company’s popular ISA system for a bright, open sound. This connector is a good choice for small project studios or mobile devices.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 with 2 x XLR-1/4″ combo (mic/line/Hi-Z) USB bus interface with 24-bit/192kHz and low latency converters.
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The third generation has an updated chassis and interior and comes with all the equipment you need to boot. This includes Ableton Live Lite, Plug-in Collective access, Hitmaker Expansion Bundle (with Antares Auto-Tune, Softube Marshall Silver Jubilee 255, XLN Audio Addictive Keys, XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2, Brainworx bx_oberhausen, Brainworx moon bx_3 bx_3 etc.) Avid
The Scarlett 2i2 also features new halo indicators that ensure you get the perfect shooting position.
This is especially important if you are new to photography. If the halo is red, your signal has been reduced, and you must return your profit. The halo will temporarily turn amber as the world returns to happiness.
If possible, we have good news: The 3rd Gen Scarlett display can now be used with iPad Pros with USB-C ports. Just install, open your favorite music production software, and record your heart’s content as you do
