Whether you’re starting a new home studio, or improving an existing one…
There’s no single purchase more confusing than the audio interface.
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Because among the dozens of options…
Each one is designed to meet the demands of a specific “type” of studio.
For example…
At one extreme, a small $100 interface might be perfect in a simple bedroom studio…
If all you need is a single pair of outputs for your studio monitors.
At the opposite extreme, a pro studio that requires dozens of INs/OUTs might need several interfaces, each costing $4000 or more.
Needless to say, matching the right interface with the right studio is tricky even for the experienced. And for beginners, its 10x worse.
Which is why for today’s post, I’ve created an in-depth guide to help you find the perfect option for your studio.
So let’s get started. First off…
The 5 Key Features to Look For
Because of the fact that audio interfaces have so many features, it’s difficult to know which ones matter, and which ones don’t.
So let’s talk about that now. In particular, these are the 5 key specs to focus on:
- DAW Compatibility
- Interface Connectors
- Input/Output (I/O) Count
- Input Channel Types
- Form Factor
And here’s why:
1. DAW Compatibility
In general, most DAW’s work with most interfaces…but not always.
If you don’t yet have a particular DAW that you are loyal to, then you need not worry here.
Because 90% of the top DAW’s will be compatible with any interface you choose.
However if you alreadyhave a DAW you want to continue using, be sure to verify compatibility on the company’s website. And just to warn you, this info is often hard to find.
You would think they would just post DAW compatibility in the interface’s product description, right? But it rarely happens. Usually it’s buried somewhere within an FAQ page.
While it’s not clear why this is done, my best guess is that these companies prefer not to advertise their current DAW compatibility, because they have no guarantees of future compatibility.
A particular interface might be compatible with your DAW today, but it may not be in a future release. And while that’s not likely to happen, it’s always possible.
Which is why personally, I prefer to use a DAW/interface combo made by the same company. Later in this post I will give you some good examples of these.
However, since there are only a few companies that make both, the downside to this solution is that it severely limits your options.
Up next…
2. Interface Connectors
When connecting an audio interface to a computer…
There are 4 cable options commonly used:
- USB– which is typically seen on cheaper home studio interfaces, and offers the slowest data transfer rate.
- Firewire– which is used on more expensive home studio interfaces, and offers a significantly faster transfer rate (nowadays these are becoming less common).
- Thunderbolt– which has recently become popular with newer semi-pro interfaces, and is way faster than either USB or Firewire.
- PCIE– which has long been the standard connection for professional interfaces, because it offers additional processing power and extremely fast data-transfer.
While USB is by far the slowest of all 4 options, it is still more than fast enough to get the job done for the vast majority of home studios.
So if you’re on a budget, USB is what I recommend.
But whichever type you choose, remember to double-check that your computer has the appropriate connection.
3. Input/Output (I/O) Count
On a typical interface, I/O counts can range anywhere between:
- 1-2 on a simple interface, to…
- 20+ on a professional one.
And the number you need for your studio depends mainly on the number of tracks you plan to record/monitor at once.
For example:
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- Solo musicians – may need only 2-4.
- Songwriting teams – who work in small groups, want at least 4-8.
- Engineers who record bands – should have as many as possible (16 at least).
Also…electronic drum kits alone can sometimes require 8 inputs if they offer separate channels for each part of the kit. So take that into consideration if you plan on using one.
4. Input Channel Types
One thing recording newbies often fail to realize is…
When counting the input channels of an audio interface, manufacturers could be referring to any number of different input types.
However in almost all cases, it includes some combination of these 3:
- Mic Input – which allows you to connect a mic directly to the interface.
- Line Input – which requires the addition of an outboard mic preamp to be used as a mic channel.
- Optical Input – which is a type of “digital” input that requires the addition of BOTH an outboard mic preamp, and digital converter w/ “optical out” to be used as a mic channel.
Now here’s what this means for you:
If you want to use your interface “as-is” without adding a multi-channel mic preamp, you might have less available inputs than you think.
Because as you’ll notice, interfaces often have 16 or more total input channels, but only 2-8 mic inputs.
So without any additional gear, the “real” number of inputs on your audio interface is the mic preamp count, NOT the same as the input count.
Now that you know…make sure you actually have enough channels for your purposes. Otherwise you will be sorely disappointed.
NOTE: Two other input types that you should also look for are DI inputs (if you play guitar/bass), and MIDI inputs (if you use any type of keyboards/MIDI controllers).
5. Form Factor
A fancy jargon term used by computer geeks…
“Form factor” simply refers to the physical size and shape interface.
The two form factor options are:
- Desktop Interfaces – which are smaller, and sit on your desk next to your computer.
- Rackmounted Interfaces– which are larger, and mount in a standard size rack unit.
For beginners, I recommend starting with a desktop interface, because they’re cheap, easy-to-use, and require no special mounting or peripheral devices. You just plug them in and start recording.
With intermediate/advanced studios, rackmounted interfaces are typically better, as they tend to offer more I/O’s, as well as greater flexibility with signal routing and organization.
Now that you know what to look for, let’s check out some specific models.
Starting with…
Best Desktop Interfaces
For the vast majority of people reading this article, who only want a cheap interface that will allow them to record their music at home…
I recommend a 2-6 channel USB desktop interface, which normally costs between $100-$300 on the low-end, and $500-1500 on the high-end.
Currently, the top brands for these “types” of interfaces are Presonus, Focusrite, Avid, Universal Audio.
Here are the models I recommend from each brand:
Presonus AudioBox (USB connection)
(includes Presonus Studio One Artist DAW)
- AudioBox USB – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- AudioBox iTwo – (iPad Compatible) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Audiobox 44VSL – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for? – Beginner studios on a tight budget who want a bundled interface/DAW combo.
Focusrite Scarlett (USB connection)
- Scarlett Solo – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Scarlett 2i4 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Scarlett 6i6 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Scarlett 18i8 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for?
Beginner studios on a tight budget who already have a 3rd party DAW they prefer.
Focusrite Clarett (Thunderbolt connection)
- Clarett 2Pre – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Clarett 4Pre – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for?
Studios of ALL levels that don’t need a lot of I/O’s and can afford the price tag.
Apogee (USB connection)
- Apogee One – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Apogee Duet – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Apogee Quartet – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for?
Intermediate studios that don’t need a lot of I/O’s, or beginner studios that can afford the price tag.
Avid (USB connection)
(Bundled with Pro Tools 12 DAW)
- Pro Tools Duet – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Pro Tools Quartet – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for?
All Beginner/Intermediate studios who want to use the industry standard Pro Tools DAW.
NOTE: While the Apogee Duet and Quartet are “Mac Only” interfaces, the newer Pro Tools Duet and Quartet are compatible with both Mac and PC.
Universal Audio (Thunderbolt connection)
- Apollo Twin SOLO – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Apollo Twin DUO – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for?
Intermediate/advanced studios who want pro studio quality, in a home-studio-sized package.
More Options?
If for some reason of the previous options aren’t to your liking…
Here are 2 more great budget desktop interfaces to check out:
- Audient iD4 (USB) – (Amazon/Thomann)
- Audient iD14 (USB) – (Amazon/Thomann)
And here is 1 more great high-end desktop option:
- Antelope Audio Zen Tour (Thunderbolt/USB) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Up next…
Best Rackmounted Interfaces
For the purposes of this article, let’s define an “intermediate” studio as a home setup that requires a higher I/O count to meet the demands of some of the more complex recording tasks.
If that’s the type of studio you need, I recommend an 8+ channel rackmounted interface.
Again…the best interfaces in this category are made by Presonus, Focusrite, Apogee, Universal Audio, and Antelope Audio:
Here are the top models I recommend:
Presonus
- Audiobox 1818VSL (USB) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Firestudio Project (firewire) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
- Studio 192 (USB) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Focusrite
- Scarlett 18i20 (USB) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Clarett 8Pre (thunderbolt) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Clarett 8PreX (thunderbolt) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Apogee
- Ensemble (thunderbolt) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Universal Audio
- Apollo 8 (thunderbolt) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Apollo 16 (thunderbolt) – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Antelope Audio
- Antelope Audio Zen Studio – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
- Antelope Audio Orion Studio – (Amazon/Thomann)
- Antelope Audio Orion32+ – (Amazon/Thomann)
And finally…
“Professional” Interfaces
While any of the interfaces we’ve covered so far are more than capably of producing “professional” results…
There’s higher class of audio interfaces that we have yet to cover.
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Normally only seen in high-end pro studios, these multi-thousand dollar interfaces typically connect to a separate PCIE card which can only be installed on a desktop computer.
The typical reason studios acquire this type of interface is to upgrade to Pro Tools HD, which is the standard system used by the majority of pro studios in the world.
In terms of performance, they offer many premium advantages, including:
- Ultra-Low latency
- High I/O counts
- Premium Digital Conversion
- Multiple Connection Options
And while these interfaces would almost certainly be overkill for the average home studio…
It’s still good to know about them, just in case the day comes when you decide your studio needs one.
Some examples of popular interfaces in this category are:
- Avid HD 16×16 – (Amazon/MusicianF/Thomann)
- Apogee Symphony – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusicianF/Thomann)
Now one last thing…
Assuming you chose a rackmounted interface, you’ll obviously need a rack to store it in, right?
So if you don’t have one yet, check out this article:
Best Free DAWs for music, sound design, and anything audio. These are the best free daws for Windows (pc), Mac & Linux in 2019!
There are even some free daws for mobile and online (browser).
A Digital Audio Workstation is an essential tool for the modern audio engineer or producer, so why not learn what's out there?
Chart of the best Free Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)
DAW Name | Plugin Support | OS Support |
---|---|---|
Bosca Ceoil | N/A (built-in) | Windows, Mac, Linux, Online |
LMMS | VST, SoundFont, LADSPA (64 & 32-bit) | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Tracktion T7 | VST & AU (64 & 32-bit) | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Ohm Studio | VST | Windows, Mac, Linux |
SoundBridge | VST (64 & 32-bit) | Windows |
Cakewalk | VST (64 & 32-bit) | Windows |
Garageband | AU | Mac |
Qtracktor | LADSPA, DSSI, NativeVSTi, LV2 | Linux |
Rosegarden | LADSPA, DSSI, VSTi, VST, LV2 | Linux |
Audiotool | N/A (built-in) | Online |
Soundtrap | N/A(built-in) | Online |
Audacity | VST, AU, LADSPA, Nyquist (64 & 32-bit effect plugins only) | Windows, Mac, Linux |
MixPad | VST (64-bit effect plugins only) | Windows, Mac |
WavePad | VST, DirectX (64-bit) | Windows, Mac |
Now, it's worth mentioning if you have a plugin that isn't supported by a DAW that you want to use it with, there are ways around it.
By using a plugin wrapper, you can load (for example, a VST plugin into a DAW that only supports AU). You can even turn 64-bit plugins into 32-bit, and vice-versa. It all depends on what the plugin wrapper can do.
Top FREE DAWs For any OS
Bosca Ceoil
Supported Plugin Formats: N/A
Bosca Ceoil is not only a downloadable DAW but it can also be used directly on your browser. This DAW is dedicated to chiptune and other low-bit styles of music, and it's got some pack to its punch.
It all comes as-is, so you won't be able to use any third party plugins or effects directly in the DAW, but it's not like you'll need any.
With its simplicity, this is a great tool for audio producers of any skill and even game developers who want to do their own music.
LMMS
Supported Plugin Formats: VST / SoundFont / LADSPA
Now, if chiptune or bit-music is your thing and you want to also use your own plugins or simply want to be in more of a standard DAW environment, LMMS has got you covered.
It comes with quite a few plugins that emulate those nostalgic video game sounds and is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s also said to be like FL Studio.
Tracktion T7
Supported Plugin Formats: VST / AU
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Available on the 3 major operating systems, T7 is fully-featured free DAW has a nice UI. With unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, you won’t run into any roadblocks.
Ohm Studio
Supported Plugin Formats: VST
Ohm studio has an amazing feature that is really rare for a DAW to have. With Ohm studio, you can collaborate real-time with anyone, anywhere.
This means you can work on the same project at the same time with more than one person from anywhere in the world. You can chat in the DAW and see what they're doing as well.
FREE DAWs For Windows
Soundbridge
Supported Plugin Formats: VST
SoundBridge (previously known as Lumit) has a very unique and easy to understand interface, which is great for newcomers in audio especially.
![Best Best](/uploads/1/3/4/0/134054579/152104823.jpg)
It comes with a few stock effects and a powerful drum machine called Ritmix.
Cakewalk
Supported Plugin Formats: VST
Cakewalk by Bandlab is a free DAW that used to be a popular paid one called Sonar (by Cakewalk). This gives the DAW some great premium-grade features that were made to cost money.
FREE DAWs For Mac
Garageband
Supported Plugin Formats: AU
Sharing a near-identical User Interface with Apple's flagship DAW, Logic, you have a seamless upgrade path to one of the leading DAWs in the industry. Not to mention there is a Garageband app for IOS so you can make your music wherever you are.
Its simplicity and arsenal of sounds will have you ready to produce even at entry-level. There is an abundance of resources to learn from, all interactive, all integrated into the DAW.
FREE DAWs For Linux
Qtractor
Supported Plugin Formats: LADSPA / DSSI / NativeVSTi / LV2
Qtracktor comes with many unlimited features and its open source, so its updates are virtually unlimited too.
This DAW is updated very frequently (~every few months) so you can look forward to more out of this as you develop your skill.
Rosegarden
Supported Plugin Formats: LADSPA / DSSI / VSTi / VST / LV2
If you understand sheet music or want to learn more about it and have access to a Linux computer, Rosegarden is definitely worth experimenting with.
It comes with a notation editor, so you can actually write a song using sheet music, or simply use the piano roll, which is the MIDI editor.
FREE Online DAWs (Browser)
Audiotool
Supported Plugin Formats: N/A
If you'd rather make your music online or on the go, Audiotool is the perfect DAW.
With everything being cloud-based, you can collaborate and access your projects much easier, so you can go from your computer, to your phone, then to your friend's computer.
After you've made your music, you can actually publish it through Audiotool's built-in publishing platform.
Use Audiotool For Free Here (Press app on the navbar to launch.)
Soundtrap
Supported Plugin Formats: N/A
If you just can't sit still when you produce your music or like to work on-the-go, Soundtrap works on any device. Your phone, tablet, laptop or computer, you name it.
This is a good choice for those who just want to quickly get a song down without access to a professional DAW on a computer.
Audio Editors (Semi-DAWs)
Audacity
Supported Plugin Formats: VST / AU / LADSPA / Nyquist
This audio editor is a go-to for anyone involved with podcasts or voice acting. It comes with plenty of effects built in. The use of plugins with Audacity is limited to effects.
Currently, there is no support for instruments. However, this DAW doesn’t come with the ability to edit MIDI and is focused on recording and audio editing.
MixPad
Supported Plugin Formats: VST
A simple free DAW that works on both Windows and Mac, this software can let you record multiple tracks at once. There is also a royalty-free sound library included with it.
In this, you can export files via many different formats or directly upload to SoundCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
WavePad
Supported Plugin Formats: VST / DirectX
With a similar feel to Audacity, this audio editor comes with some simple to use features for audio production. Although there is no support for virtual instrument plugins for this Digital Audio Workstation, it’s still a good way to edit and record live.
There you go, a list of amazing free DAWs that you can use to start (or continue) making music with.
No excuses, go to the library and use a computer there if you have to.
If you'd like to check out some options that cost money, you might enjoy The Best Paid DAWs.
I hope you found this list insightful, don’t forget to share this article if you liked it. Thanks for reading!