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When USB audio interfaces first came along in 1996, it drastically changed things for the better for people recording at home or on a tight budget. With a high quality USB interface, you can get professional-quality audio without paying what the pros pay. It truly is the most affordable way to make music that can compete with the industry standards– you can get your song radio ready just like the music stars.
And what artists can turn down that potential?
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Focusrite Scarlett Solo has got to be one of the most iconic audio interfaces on the market. This is the model that many used to start recording music. Over the years, it has been ironed out to a point where you get a very tight package. If we had to choose one interface to recommend to beginners, this is it.
As you can probably gather from its name, this particular interface packs a single mic preamp. However, it is a standard dual channel rig which means that one of the channels is a dedicated mic channel while the other is a dedicated instrument channel. The audio quality is great and you can count on high resolution audio no matter what.
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Steinberg’s hardware usually represents a great combo of price and performance. That also applies to their audio interfaces. Steinberg UR22MKII may not be the most amazing interface on the market, but it sure packs a whole lot of heat for the price. This is a no nonsense package that has been proven to work and deliver day in, day out.
What we have here is a 24-bit/192 kHz setup which pushes a low latency signal using a USB 2.0 standard. It comes with two mic preamps of good quality, which offer great audio no matter what kind of mid you are running. Overall, it is a rock solid choice for beginners as well as the more advanced users.
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If there is a brand out there which is capable of designing and shipping affordable audio gear that works, it is Behringer. Their products are driving many amateur and semi professional studios around the world. Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD represents their take on a dual channel audio interface. Compared to its direct competition, this interface is packed full with great features.
You are looking at two MIDAS designed mic preamps which are truly awesome. The sound quality they deliver is worthy of respect. Each channel comes with its own gain control and attenuation pads. On top of that, monitoring features allow you to tap into zero latency monitoring of your signal. Overall it is really a bundle that keeps on giving.
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Mackie is a brand that is best known for their entry level monitor speakers. However, they have since branched out into various different gear, including audio interfaces. Mackie Onyx Artist 1-2 2×2 is an awesome little package that really brings the proven Mackie quality we are used to seeing. At this price, it’s one of the best options out there.
It comes in an awesome looking chassis and features two channels. One thing to note is that this model comes with a single mic preamp that runs through a dedicated mic channel. The other channel is a dedicated instrument channel and can’t be used for mics. Overall, the quality is pretty great especially considering high resolution 24-bit/192 kHz audio.
USB audio interfaces are usually the simplest devices out there, and that’s great news whether you’re a novice, and intermediate-level engineer, or a professional who just likes to keep things simple. One reason these types of interfaces are so simple is because they have exactly the features you need to record and not much more than that.
Most USB interface models can pull power from the computer, meaning you don’t need to have an extra outlet to power the interface. This can be especially nice for recording off-site or on the go. USB technology has come a long way from the original, now offering USB 3 — it has only gotten better with each upgrade, so that means it may continue to get better.
Because USB audio interfaces are so simple and usually have just the basics, that makes them extremely easy to use. When I first started recording, I used a USB audio interface — it was made of cheap plastic and had only one XLR/quarter-inch input, but it got the job done, helping me record an entire EP. And I spent well under $200 for the device. And now, nearly 10 years later, I’ve upgraded to a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (View Price On Amazon), which is a USB interface with two XLR/quarter-inch inputs. It, too, does a fantastic job for recording on my own. Nothing fancy, just a reliable little interface.
Likewise, even some pro engineers decide to go with USB interfaces because of their ease of use. If something’s good enough for the pros, it’s probably good enough for DIY artists. In this case, that is the truth.
USB audio interfaces are simple, easy to use, powerful, and — lastly but not leastly — very affordable.
USB interfaces are some of the most affordable devices on the market, and that’s a big draw for a lot of DIYers recording at home. Typically, you can find a decent USB interface for under $300. Compare this to any of the audio interfaces that use specialized cabling which are in the $300-$600 price range. Granted, the more you’re willing to pay, the more features and potentially better quality you might get. But if your budget is on the lower end, getting a USB audio interface is the way to go.
Are you looking to keep things simple? Think USB. Do you want an audio interface that has exactly what you need with not a bunch of extra, confusing features? Think USB. Are you trying to stay within your DIY budget? Think USB.
You get the point. If you answered “yes” to any, some, or all of those questions, then a USB audio interface should be in your recording studio. They can be a simple, affordable, and reliable addition to your recording studio setup.
With a rich history spanning over 15 years in an array of audio disciplines, our ethos is rooted in real-world performance analysis and detailed long-term evaluations. We discerningly sift through a multitude of user reviews to distill the true experience of ownership.
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