Audio interfaces for studios, bedrooms and podcasters: Best audio interfaces and how to choose one that’s right for youMost music production setups include a laptop or a computer — but these don’t usually come with the dedicated inputs and outputs required by those working with sound. That’s where an audio interface enters the picture.
At its core, an audio interface is essential hardware that converts analogue signals into digital audio. Among other uses, the digital audio can be recorded by your DAW while providing low-latency monitoring through outputs for your monitor speakers or headphones.

READ MORE: Best Spotify alternatives in 2024 for music listening and discovery

Introducing an interface into your setup unlocks a world of possibilities, whether you’re recording vocals and instruments, processing tracks with external hardware effects, or simply want to hook up your speakers when crafting beats.
With countless options available, finding the right audio interface for your needs can be a daunting task. But don’t worry — our expert reviewers have tested countless audio interfaces over the years. Here are the best ones we’ve found.
Best audio interfaces at a glance:

Our pick: Focusrite Scarlett
Best interface for beginners: Audient Evo 4
Best high-quality interface: MOTU UltraLite-mk5
Best DSP-powered interface: Universal Audio Apollo
Best interface for spatial audio: Audient ORIA
Best interface for guitarists: Universal Audio Volt
Best interface for podcasts: RØDECaster Duo
Best interface for electronic music producers: Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig

How to Choose an Audio Interface
There’s an enormous variety of audio interfaces on the market, catering to a range of budgets and requirements. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing an audio interface:

Number of inputs – Think about how many microphones, instruments, or other gear you’ll need to connect at the same time. For many cases, one or two inputs is enough, but you might want at least four if you’re recording a drum kit, for example.
Number of outputs – Consider your needs for monitor speakers and headphones, and whether you’re planning to connect any external gear using sends and returns.
Connectivity – Whether it’s USB-C, Thunderbolt, or something else, make sure your interface matches your computer’s ports.
MIDI support – If you want to use MIDI keyboards and controllers, check the interface includes MIDI in and out, whether via 5-pin DIN or USB.
Latency – Consider your latency requirements. For example, very low latency is important if you’re using your interface in a recording or live context, but may not matter as much for tasks like mixing and mastering.
Future expansion – If you think your studio setup might grow in the future, it might make sense to choose an interface with more capabilities than you currently require.
Budget – Find a balance between what you need and what you can spend. Sometimes, a little extra cash goes a long way.

Best Audio Interfaces in 2024
Our pick – Focusrite Scarlett
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4. Image: Focusrite
Scarlett Solo: £139
Scarlett 2i2: £199
Scarlett 4i4: £274
The Focusrite Scarlett series has become a staple in home studios everywhere, and for good reason. These interfaces are reliable, easy to use, and offer fantastic sound quality up to 192kHz and 24-bit — all at an affordable price.
Features in the 4th Gen update include Auto Gain for automatically setting input levels, Clip Safe that adjusts gain on the fly to prevent tracks from clipping, and an Air Mode that adds a pleasing high-end boost to your signal.
If you’re looking for your first audio interface, the Scarlett 2i2 is a strong option, offering two input channels for instrument, line, or mic signals. For monitoring, there are two output channels for your speakers and a separate headphone output with independent volume control.
[products ids=”7rtt4qzuJpAWp0eF7ad585″]
Read our Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen review or check out our Focusrite Scarlett buyer’s guide.
Best interface for beginners – Audient Evo
Audient Evo 8
Evo 4: £92
Evo 8: £145
Evo 16: £380
If you’re just starting out or working with a tight budget, the Audient Evo series is a real gem. Coming in three sizes with various input and output configurations, these interfaces are compact and user-friendly, while offering surprisingly high sound quality for the price.
All Evo interfaces feature the same transparent preamps found in Audient’s pricier gear, supplying 58dB of gain that’s plenty for most microphones. Other functions include Smartgain for automatic level setting, per-channel phantom power, and direct monitoring.
The 2-in/2-out Evo 4 is a great entrypoint, although for the extra £50, we’d recommend going for the Evo 8. With four XLR/TRS inputs, and four TRS outputs with mirrored headphone amps, this model suits a wider range of applications without a significant price increase.
[products ids=”6Wl34C47KYFUPHhNApaOwE”]
Read our Audient Evo 8 review.
Best high-quality interface – MOTU UltraLite-mk5
MOTU UltraLite-mk5
MOTU UltraLite-mk5: £599
MOTU interfaces have a strong reputation for quality, and the UltraLite-mk5 continues to deliver on this promise. Under the hood is ESS’ Sabre32 DAC technology providing crystal-clear conversion with incredible detail and 125dB of dynamic range. You’ll also benefit from sample rates up to 192kHz, near-zero latency, and built-in DSP for real-time effects processing.
With a half-rack form factor, the unit is small and lightweight — but don’t let that deceive you. Squeezed into the UltraLite-mk5 are two XLR/TRS combo inputs, six line inputs, ten line outputs, MIDI connectivity, a single headphone output, 8-channel optical I/O, and even LED metres for every single in and out.
All in all, the UltraLite-mk5 — along with its generous array of inputs and outputs, outstanding build quality, additional features, and reasonable price tag — is an interface that’s ready for anything from studio recording to live performances.
[products ids=”4SQfkmZDRc5ng2r1fUId7q”]
Read our MOTU UltraLite-mk5 review.
Best DSP-powered interface – Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Duo
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X
Apollo Twin X Duo: £769
Universal Audio’s Apollo interfaces are favourites among producers looking for onboard digital signal processing (DSP), and it’s common to find them in hobbyist and pro setups alike.
Apollo interfaces deliver pristine analogue-to-digital conversion through UA’s Unison preamps. However, thanks to the onboard DSP, these preamps can be transformed into emulations of classic channel strips, processors, or amp models that modify the behaviour of the analogue circuitry and simultaneously apply digital modelling — all of which can be printed to the audio in your DAW on the way in.
In addition, you’ll find a vast array of effects in the UAD plugin library, including recreations of legendary reverb units like the Lexicon 480L or delays like the Roland Space Echo. And given Universal Audio’s storied background in audio recording hardware, the accuracy and quality of these DSP-powered effects is no surprise.
The the Apollo Twin X features two mic/line inputs, four line outputs, and an optical connection, and is available in 2-core or 4-core versions based on how much onboard DSP you need.
[products ids=”5ggaG7ANt6IHHHzd7QzZAW”]
Read our Apollo Twin X review.
Best interface for spatial audio – Audient ORIA
Audient ORIA. Image: Simon Vinall for MusicTech
Audient ORIA: £2,445
For those working in spatial audio, the Audient ORIA is built for the job — but at a price point that makes it more accessible than most alternatives. Specifically designed for immersive audio, the ORIA supports up to 9.1.6 speaker setups, so it’s ideal for mixing in formats like Dolby Atmos.
The ORIA includes a range of purpose-built features. Built-in speaker processing makes it easy to calibrate your monitors to your room thanks to controls like individual trim, delay, and bass management. This calibration can be configured manually based on physical measurements, or made easy through ORIA’s close integration with Sonarworks SoundID Reference. In either case, the processing is handled by onboard DSP so there’s no performance hit to your CPU.
What’s more, the Down Mix button lets you instantly fold down an immersive mix into 7.1, 5.1, binaural, or stereo. Undoubtedly, these features — and a user-friendly design at a competitive price point — make ORIA the go-to for anyone serious about spatial audio.
[products ids=”3heQgTrvs6UoMw95aM9KTr”]
Read our Audient ORIA feature.
Best interface for guitarists – Universal Audio Volt
Universal Audio Volt
Volt 176: £149
Volt 276: £219
Volt 476: £268
Volt 476P: £350
Appearing for a second time in the list, Universal Audio is clearly doing something right with its interfaces. This time, it’s earned a spot thanks to its cheaper Volt interface line introduced in 2021.
Volt’s price range pits it against myriad competitors (for example, Focusrite’s Scarlett range that won our overall pick), but it does differentiate itself from the pack with a couple of extra tricks. In the standard units, users get a ‘vintage’ preamp mode that adds pleasing saturation based on the UA 610 tube preamp. But spend a bit more for the ‘76 edition and you’ll get an interface with a built-in analogue compressor inspired by the unmistakable UREI 1176.
These processing options are what make the Volt interfaces a top choice for guitar players, letting you inject some extra character into your tone for a fuller, more vibrant recording within the DAW. If you’re just recording guitar or bass, the single-input Volt 176 is incredible value for money, although the two- or four-input versions provide more flexibility for those who need it.
[products ids=”5HzxtQtY02CkhweEqY8SAB”]
Read our Universal Audio Volt review.
Best interface for podcasts – RØDECaster Duo
RØDECaster Duo
RØDECaster Duo: £399
Aimed at podcasters and content creators, RØDE’s series of RØDECaster devices combine mixing and recording functionalities into one slick console. The Pro model kicked the line off to much acclaim — but for many, the smaller RØDECaster Duo will be enough.
On the input side, two XLR/TRS combo connections feed into ultra-low-noise, high-gain Revolution preamps. There’s also a built-in wireless receiver for RØDE Series IV transmitters. Then, your signal can be processed with onboard effects like reverb, delay, and compression for a more professional touch.
Unlike many other audio interfaces, the RØDECaster Duo also features six programmable pads that can be used to trigger sounds, music, effects, transitions, and MIDI commands. Another killer feature? You can record straight to a memory card or external drive — no computer needed — so it’s an incredibly versatile option for all types of content creation.
[products ids=”7uXHwZXlE6Vrh4PigVRpNC”]
Read our RØDECaster Duo review.
Best interface for electronic music producers – Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig
Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig
AudioFuse 16Rig: £1,159
For electronic music producers, the AudioFuse 16Rig from Arturia is a powerhouse. It’s built to handle the complexity of modern electronic music setups, with 16 analogue inputs, 10 analogue outputs, and dual ADAT in/out to further expand the channel count.
This is complemented by MIDI in/out/thru plus word clock to keep all your devices perfectly in sync. You can also connect external devices through the USB MIDI port, and line outputs can even transmit CV signals.
Given the 16Rig’s connections are split between the front and back panels, you might expect repatching to be cumbersome, but that’s not the case. Where sockets on the front panel correspond to ones on the back, switching between the two is handled in software so you won’t have to unplug any cables — an elegant solution.
All in all, the AudioFuse 16Rig packs a tremendous amount of functionality into just 1U of rack space, and it’s an excellent choice for gearheads with extensive external hardware.
[products ids=”44AdyWF33Zn1ArTS4T6HHF”]
Read our Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig review.
Why You Can Trust MusicTech
MusicTech reviews hundreds of new products every year, from powerful synthesizers, DAWs and pro plugins through to everyday headphones and portable speakers. Our expert reviewers are producers, engineers and enthusiasts with hundreds of years of collective experience, with a keen ear to the ground on new trends and technologies.
Every guide on MusicTech is created by a producer, musician and tech enthusiast just like you. We understand what you’re looking for when searching for a new audio interface, and we want to ensure you purchase genuinely useful products for your craft. Other websites might show you products that have a big discount or a super low price, but you can trust that every product MusicTech recommends to you is a product we’d be happy to have in our studios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an audio interface for music production?
It depends. While you can produce music using just a computer and headphones, if you want to connect studio monitors or record instruments and microphones, you’ll generally need an audio interface.
How do I choose an audio interface?
Consider your requirements — how many inputs and outputs do you need? Any extra features? What’s your budget? Think about how your setup might grow in the future too, as it might be cheaper in the long run to spend a bit more now instead of upgrading down the line.
Do DJs need an audio interface?
A dedicated audio interface can greatly improve sound quality and give you the outputs you need for a professional DJ setup. However, many decks and controllers have audio interfaces built in so you won’t need a separate device.
Do more expensive audio interfaces sound better?
Generally speaking, more expensive interfaces are built with better components like converters and preamps, resulting in superior sound quality. Whether you’ll notice this quality difference in the context of a full mix is relatively subjective, however.
What is the difference between an interface and a sound card?
Typically, an interface is an external device that offers better audio conversion and more connectivity options. It’s designed specifically for recording and playing back audio. Conversely, sound cards are typically built into your computer and offer fewer features, designed for playing back audio in a casual context.
The post Audio interfaces for studios, bedrooms and podcasters: Best audio interfaces and how to choose one that’s right for you appeared first on MusicTech.

This new accessible Xbox nunchuck controller has 3D-printable joystick partsMicrosoft demonstrated its leadership in accessible gaming hardware again on Wednesday with the announcement of a new one-handed joystick controller for Xbox and PC. The Xbox Adaptive Joystick works with the company’s already robust accessibility hardware stack, and even includes support for custom 3D-printed parts. The Adaptive series of devices and controllers has been around […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Picking winners in the next cycle — Wyoming Blockchain Symposium VC panelCrypto startup companies attracted $2.7 billion in venture capital funding during the second quarter of 2024.

The Immediate Family Q&A at The Village StudiosHistoric recording studio The Village hosted a special intimate screening, Q&A, and performance with the Immediate Family last night. The Immediate Family is composed of legendary session guitarists Waddy Watchel and Danny ‘Kootch’ Kortchmar, bassist Leland Sklar, drummer Russ Kunkel who were the go to session players in the 70’s along with guitarist/vocalist Steve Postell (David Crosby). The film was released in December of last year and included a special premiere at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA. This documentary takes you into the lives of the Immediate Family members, how they became musicians, how they formed a band together, and interviews with the icons they performed with like James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Warren Zevon, Linda Rondstandt, Carole King, David Crosby, Don Henley and more. 

 Following the film legendary producer Jimmy Jam moderated a Q&A with the band and filmmaker Denny Tedesco who also made the world-renowned Wrecking Crew documentary. The band and crowd would move into the “Moroccan Room” down the hall from the screening room to perform several songs featured in the movie including Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” and Jackson Browne’s “Somebody's Baby.” In attendance were Browne, session bassist Bob Glaub, Elton John keyboardist Kim Bullard, song-writer Diane Warren, Guitar Center Foundation President David Helfant, keyboardist/producer CJ Vanston, producer Dave Reitzas, Capitol Records studio manager Paula Salvatore, Judith Owen, engineer Ross Hogarth, Get Together Foundation's Kevin Wachs, and Jefferson Starship’s Jude Gold.

The post The Immediate Family Q&A at The Village Studios first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Atari Announces the Atari 7800+ Nostalgia ConsoleFollowing the trend of re-releasing every single game console as some kind of modern re-imagining or merely an ARM-SBC-with-emulator slapped into a nice looking enclosure, we now got the announcement from Atari that they will soon be releasing the Atari 7800+.
It’s now up for pre-order for a cool $130 USD or a mega bundle with wired controllers for $170 and shipping by Winter 2024. Rather than it being a cute-but-non-functional facsimile like recent miniature Nintendo and Commodore-themed releases, this particular console is 80% of the size of the original 7800 console, and accepts 2600 and 7800 cartridges, including a range of newly released cartridges.
On the outside you find the cartridge slot, an HDMI video/audio output, a USB-C port (for power) and DE-9 (incorrectly listed as DB-9) controller ports, with wireless controllers also being an option. Inside you find a (2014-vintage) Rockchip RK3128 SoC with a quad core Cortex-A7 that runs presumably some flavor of Linux with the Stella 2600 emulator and ProSystem 7800 emulator. This very likely means that compatibility with 2600 and 7800 titles is the same as for these emulators.
Bundled with the console is a new 7800 cartridge for the game Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, and a number of other new games are also up for pre-order at the Atari site. These games are claimed to be compatible with original Atari consoles, which might make it the biggest game release year for the 7800 since its launch, as it only had 59 official games released for it.
Given the backwards compatibility of this new system, you have to wonder how folks who purchased the 2600+ last year are feeling right about now. Then again, the iconic faux-wood trim of the earlier console might be worth the price of admission alone.

Kiive Audio release M5133 Mastering Equalizer plug-in Kiive Audio’s latest plug-in promises to bring mixes to life with its combination of musical-sounding EQ and three distinct types of saturation.

FLOSS Weekly Episode 797: Coreutils — Don’t rm -r Up the TreeThis week Jonathan Bennett and Dan Lynch chat with Pádraig Brady about Coreutils! It’s been around since the 90s, and is still a healthy project under active development. You’ve almost certainly used these tools whether you realize it or not! What’s the relationship with the other coreutils implementations? And why is GNU Coreutils the most cautious of them all?

https://www.pixelbeat.org/contact.html
http://www.pixelbeat.org/docs/coreutils-testing.html
http://www.pixelbeat.org/docs/coreutils-gotchas.html
http://www.pixelbeat.org/programming/avoiding_large_buffers.html
https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/rejected_requests.html
https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/quotes.html
http://www.pixelbeat.org/docs/coreutils_i18n/

Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show Right on our YouTube Channel? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or contact the guest and have them contact us! Take a look at the schedule here.

Direct Download in DRM-free MP3.
If you’d rather read along, here’s the transcript for this week’s episode.
Places to follow the FLOSS Weekly Podcast:

Spotify

RSS

Full details confirmed of NVISION Latino Film and Music Festival following acquisition and expansion by NTERTAINLeading Latin culture event includes music artists, executives and panel sessions for first time
Source

On… Elliot Grainge, major labels, megastars, and a new era at Atlantic Music GroupMBW founder Tim Ingham on the most talked-about music biz story of the past few weeks
Source

Taylor Swift v. Donald Trump: AI Images and Legal ConsequencesIf this were to go to court, the docket might read Taylor Swift v. Donald Trump. Swift "clearly has credible causes of action against Donald Trump for his false and misleading social media posts," writes entertainment and intellectual property attorney Wallace Collins.
The post Taylor Swift v. Donald Trump: AI Images and Legal Consequences appeared first on Hypebot.

MUSIC TECH NEWS: Revelator & EVEN connect• KLVR battles battery waste • Songhunt adds image-based playlistsThe latest Music Tech News: Revelator and Even have announced a partnership designed to help connect artists with their fans and monetize music.
The post MUSIC TECH NEWS: Revelator & EVEN connect• KLVR battles battery waste • Songhunt adds image-based playlists appeared first on Hypebot.

Huge haul of Avicii’s music gear and personal belongings to be auctioned for charityA massive auction consisting of 267 items belonging to the late Avicii is set to take place this October.
The Avicii Collection auction is being run by Stockholms Auktionsverk, and will take place both online and in Stockholm, Sweden on Tuesday 1 October at 9am ET. All proceeds will be donated to The Tim Bergling Foundation, a mental health charity set up by Avicii’s family under his real name.

READ MORE: Watch never-before-seen footage of Avicii’s last-ever Sweden show

Bergling tragically took his own life in 2018. His song Wake Me Up has earned over two billion streams and is the highest-ever certified dance song by the RIAA. All items in the auction have been donated by Bergling’s family, with belongings such as sneakers, clothing, and instruments to go under the hammer, which have been stored in Stockholm for the last six years.

This auction will not take any reserve or buyer’s commission, so all proceeds can go to the foundation. The auction will be published in full on 6 September, when you’ll be able to view all the items included online, and in The Avicii Collection – A charity auction catalogue. This will be available both digitally and as a limited edition printed version, which you can pre-order now (28€).
“Tim Bergling left behind some incredible things,” states the auction website. “Given Tim’s lack of attachment to material things, his family decided that a charity auction is the most natural solution, with the proceeds directed towards The Tim Bergling Foundation.
“This auction will support the Foundation’s work for young people’s mental health and other causes close to Tim’s heart, such as endangered animals, nature, and climate. This way, Tim’s belongings can contribute to the positive change he always sought to inspire.”
You can find out more at Stockholms Auktionsverk, or read the FAQs page for information on how to bid.
The post Huge haul of Avicii’s music gear and personal belongings to be auctioned for charity appeared first on MusicTech.

Get 90% OFF Izotope’s Creative FX Bundle
Izotope’s Creative FX Bundle is now available for $49 at Plugin Boutique, in a deal that wipes 90% off the list price of $497. This means buyers can save a whopping $448 compared to buying the three included plugins individually.  The bundle features Izotope’s  VocalSynth 2 vocal effects suite, Neoverb reverb, and Stutter Edit 2 [...]
View post: Get 90% OFF Izotope’s Creative FX Bundle

Get iZotope’s Neutron 4 Elements absolutely free for a limited time onlyPlugin Boutique is currently running an iZotope Manufacturer Focus Sale until 1 September, where you can get your hands on the AI-powered Neutron 4 Elements plugin for, well, absolutely nothing.
Yes, you read that right – this channel strip plugin is entirely free until the sale ends. But that’s not the only big deal, as you can also grab a range of other iZotope bundles, productions suites, and standalone plugins, with most available for over 50 per cent off.

READ MORE: How to use mix correction plugins for creative sound design

The iZotope Neutron 4 Elements plugin lets users mix in the moment, and hosts an updated Assistant which intelligently suggests processing for your audio that can be fine-tuned to your liking.
You can also dynamically match the tone of your track to a sample or stem using improved tone-matching technology from your own library of references or a collection of presets. You can take a closer look at the plugin in action below:

Elsewhere in the huge sale, you can save £483.50 (91 per cent) on the Creative FX bundle, featuring Vocal Synth 2, the Neoverb reverb plugin, and Stutter Edit 2. The VEA vocal processor is also available for just £10, and a Mixdown bundle for just £94 – a saving of £547 – is also on offer, packing in Neutron 4, along with the Nectar 4 vocal mixing tool and the Insight 2 metering and audio analysis plugin. For fans of the Elements series, you can also grab the RX 11 audio restoration plugin, now for just £37.50, or Ozone 11 for £19.
Last May, iZotope’s parent company, Native Instruments, announced a new tiered subscription model called NI 360. Created as a replacement for the company’s Komplete Now model – which gives users a curated selection of plugins for a monthly fee – NI 360 offers a wider selection of tools from Native Instruments, iZotope and Brainworx.
Find out more and view the full range of deals over at Plugin Boutique.
The post Get iZotope’s Neutron 4 Elements absolutely free for a limited time only appeared first on MusicTech.

Guarantee Music Bloggers Won’t Ignore You: Avoid These MistakesDiscover promotion mistakes that guarantee music bloggers won't ignore you. Follow these tips to ensure your songs get the attention they deserve.
The post Guarantee Music Bloggers Won’t Ignore You: Avoid These Mistakes appeared first on Hypebot.