What Audio Interface Should You Use?

Whatever it is you wish to record, there's no denial that in this day and age you're going to need an audio interface (more info: https://music-trends.co.il/כרטיס-קול-לאולפן-ביתי/). It doesn't only facilitate the link between your instruments and your computer, but it also significantly improves the sound you end up hearing in your monitors or headphones. Interfaces are those small pieces of the chain that take your sound and give it a representaion as a waveform on your screen.

That said, interfaces are only the final stop before your computer. Capturing any real-world sound like a saxophone or voice actually requires a microphone, a device that's ment to serve as a blank canvas for soundwaves and deliver them neatly in a cable as electric energy so they can be sent to mixers and audio interfaces alike. If you're not planning on singing or playing saxophone anytime soon though, and are intersted in an interface for the sole purpose of creating electronic music, chances are you don't even need a mic. Even if you own a synthesizer or a sampler, these sorts of instruments can be hooked up straight into the input channel of your card.

An audio interface's job is to take the audio signal from your various sound sources and translate it into data that can be fed straight to your computer. This method of processing sound is relatively new. It's what made professional audio recording within reach for the average person, in contrast to the complicated ways of the past which involved robust tape machines that would often need service, not to mention the tape itself that was an expensive resource. The digital alternative of our day isn't only more reliable than the those monstrous machines, but it's also much more comfortable to handle and capable of recreating sound with much greater detail.

While I hope by this point in the article you've already realized that an audio interface is what you need to take your music production hobby seriously, there's still much to be said about which one to choose. So in your quest for the perfect interface for your home studio, you should first consider how many inputs will you be using. Getting an interface with an insufficient amount of channels is a mistake you'll most definintely regret down the line, and getting something that is at list a tiny bit above your needs is always advisable for the purpose of future-proofing your purchase.

It is also crucial to note that not all input channels are created equal. Almost all microphones cannot operate correctly without a component called a "preamlifier" to increase their signal's voltage. So, if you'd like to record your drumkit with 6 mics, you'd want to make sure that your interface doesn't only have at least 6 imputs but also that all of them have preamplifiers.

Audio interfaces vary in the amount of channels, but all of them use the same connectors for the purpose of hooking up mics and instruments to your machine. The XLR is the most in-use connector type for microphones, and if you see this kind of 3-pin connection on a channel it probably means that this channel has a preamlifier.

Another common connector type on audio interfaces is the famous ¼" jack, that is the connector of choice for electric guitars, synthesizers, keys and more. Channels that have only this type of connection on an audio interface almost never have an internal preamplifier so they cannot be used for mics.

The third popular connector for audio transfer is the combo jack, that is practically a combination between an XLR an ¼". This type of connectoris almost always hooked up to a preamplifier internally, so it can handle microphones with ease. However, it posesses an internal mechanism that can also skip the preamplifier if an instrument that doesn't require it is connected.