Now, with the iTrack Solo Lightning, they are offering most of their top features combined into this little box.Steinberg has pimped-up its UR range of audio interfaces, introducing USB 3.0 models for PC, Mac and iOS. Apollo Solo USB brings UA’s industry-leading introductory audio interface to the Windows USB platform.Looking for a new audio interface? Here we’ve compiled the best audio interfaces you can get in 2017.Another Focusrite audio interface in this guide, that's right Focusrite is known for producing extraordinarily high quality USB and Thunderbolt audio interfaces for both Mac and PC. Bus-powered connection to Mac and Windows Thunderbolt 3 computers for easy portability and reduced cable clutter Includes LUNA Recording System a fully-integrated recording application made for Apollo (Mac Thunderbolt only) Apollo Solo USB.This includes the quality of its inbuilt pre-amp and D/A converters. Quality of audio interface & reliabilityFirst off, the audio interface you choose must have good sound quality. They are:High definition 24-bit/96kHz audio plus MIDI interface for iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC and Android devices Connects to everything, yet easily fits in your laptop bag, gig bag or pocket Neutrik™ combo input for guitar, microphone or other instruments with a professional quality. Roland says: ' The bus-powered MIDI interface is compatible with Macs and PCs, and now with the iPad as well via the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit!' By the way, it works great!By ‘best’ audio interface, we usually consider three main factors. I do not use it on a Mac, but the device uses a standard USB interface for connection to my laptop using Windows 10 and Windows 10 had a driver to support it.And I understand because I asked the same exact question when starting out too.Well, if you’re mainly producing music in your DAW and not doing any recording, you probably do not need an audio interface for now. But first, do you actually need an audio interface?I raise this question a lot because many people actually ask me this. However, we’ll compile the best audio interfaces based on the mentioned three factors.We’ve also separated the list by introducing the best budget audio interfaces first, and then the premium line-ups later. Are you getting the right value for the price you’re paying?Admittedly, there are many other considerations to think about when choosing an audio interface & I totally understand that. Are you getting the right value for the price you’re paying?And finally, the price must make sense too. Does the audio interface come with reliable drivers? Does the manufacturer who makes them constantly push out updated drivers to cope with the many OS updates on your Mac or PC?And finally, the price must make sense too.1 – Focusrite Scarlett Series (2nd Gen) – From $99The Scarlett series by Focusrite remains as one of the best audio interfaces with great sound quality and value for money.The 2nd generation models have been upgraded & now the Scarlett records up to 24bit/192khz resolution, giving you superior audio quality. Budget audio interfaces usually come with fewer inputs & outputs but that doesn’t mean you can’t make world-class music with some good models.Let’s start with budget audio interfaces first. The best budget audio interfaces to buyAudio tech has progressed so far that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get an audio interface that records great sound. But if you want to read more about audio interfaces, read this post about audio interfaces. While that is true to an extent, sometimes you don’t need all the fancy stuff to make music.I’ll leave you to decide for yourself. Other than being a device that helps you output digital audio from your computer to speakers or mixers, audio interfaces also help you reduce audio latency on your computer, especially producers on Windows-based computers.Additionally, other than being a device that helps you output digital audio from your computer to speakers or mixers, audio interfaces also help you reduce audio latency on your computer, especially on Windows-based computers.Some producers also claim that the DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) in most modern audio interfaces helps you monitor with better sound quality.
Audio Usb Interface Portable Audio InterfaceThe other function, Monitor Pan is also an interesting function that allows you to pan your recording input to one side, so you can monitor while recording, say a guitar while recording vocals.Check out excellent Audient ID4 or go for the bigger brother, the Audient ID14 3 – Steinberg UR44 – $299The Steinberg UR44 has been around for some time but I’d still recommend it. You’ll find two 1/4 balanced outputs, a headphone amp that with a 1/4 and minijack input and a combo jack input for a microphone or line input.An interesting feature on this audio interface is ScrollControl which enables the volume wheel to also control your DAW & plugin parameters – which would be extremely useful for recording in automation lines.There’s also a direct monitoring function with Monitor Mix that gives you near zero-latency monitoring. If you want a premium sounding, bus-powered & portable audio interface without breaking the bank, the Audient ID4 is the one to go for.Bus-powered via USB 2 to your PC or Mac, the ID4 offers up to 96kHz resolution and 24-bit audio recording. 2 – Audient ID4 – $199The Audient ID4 is the smaller brother of the ID14, featuring an Audient console microphone preamp and the JFET DI built in. If you’re looking to record more instruments simultaneously, go for the Scarlett 18i20 with 8 mic pres.Check out the complete Focusrite Scarlett audio interface seriesAlso I’d advise you to buy the 2nd generation as they record at higher resolutions, so to future proof your investment. On top of that, I’ve also always liked the input LEDs on the Scarlett that changes in colour as I hit the headroom – which is really useful for recording when you can keep an eye on the blinking LEDs.I’d also recommend getting the Scarlett 2i2 at a minimum, so you have 2 inputs to play with. I’d recommend going for the UR44 as it gives you great connectivity. However, you’ll lose out on the I/O options. This is exceptionally useful for some cases, for example, when you’re recording a singer who needs to monitor their voices with some reverb.You could go for the UR22, the smaller model. You could use the interface with the dspMixFx software that allows you to record and monitor with effects – from reverb, EQ, compression and more. The M-Track 2X2M records and playback at up to 192kHz/24 bit audio resolution.The M-Track 2X2M is a 2in/2out audio interface which I think is a great start for most music producers. The M-Audio M-Track 2X2M is a compact audio interface with 2 inputs for simultaneous recording.A great sounding audio interface with super clean pre-amps and great A/D converters for great audio. However, Steinberg has shown to be quite proactive in supporting their users with drivers & fixes, so you could say it’s safe to go for the Steinberg UR44.Check out the Steinberg UR44 and the other sizes here 4 – M-Audio M-Track 2X2M C-Series – $149M-Audio has years of record for creating great audio interfaces. Additionally, there are two headphone outputs which is useful when making music with other producers.The downside to the Steinberg UR44 is that it’s an aging model & we’re not sure when the driver support will be dropped. Whats the lates version of chrome for macI guess M-Audio want to make sure you’re connected and be making music!An audio interface recommended for beginners and intermediate producers: M-Audio M-Track 2X2M 5 – iConnectAudio4+ – $299Hitting the borderline of audio interfaces below $300, the iConnectAUDIO4+ is a solid audio interface designed with connectivity in mind.You can simultaneously plug your computer, iOS device & USB keyboard controller all into the iConnectAudio4+ and record up to 4 microphones or line instrument. Cubase LE is included along with some useful VST/AU effects by M-Audio AIR themselves, the AIR Creative FX collection.Two cables, a standard USB and USB-C port is also included with it. Why? The single MIDI input option will give you better future-proofing and also opens up to more setup configurations in your studio.It also comes with a bunch of software which many producers won’t even use but perhaps you might find them useful if you’re just starting out.
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