Latching XLR jacks are the standard in professional audio gear because the latch prevents the cable from accidentally being pulled loose. If you want to install the interface in a standard 19-inch rack, it is supplied with removable rack ears. And is compatible with nearly all Windows and Mac recording software. USB audio interfaces are available in a variety of configurations, with some models capable of recording 16 or more inputs at once. The Zoom U-24 is hard to set up and adjust because of its design, which places everything other than the power slider on the top of the interface. *At the time of publishing, the price was $150. So, anybody who is getting started with recordings, this is a prominent way to do so. This lets you record guitars and basses without any unwanted distortion. The gain controls feature the familiar ‘halo’ lighting on the dials to control the gain levels. 1 Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface; 2 Steinberg UR12 USB Audio Interface; 3 BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC202HD; 4 Universal Audio Apollo Twin High-Resolution USB Interface; 5 Tascam US-2×2 USB Audio/MIDI Interface; 6 Steinberg UR22MKII 2-Channel USB Interface Both channels will take mics or instruments. Whether you are a starter looking for an entry-level interface or upgrading, there is plenty to choose from. These additional outputs can be used to hook up additional external hardware such as a compressor or equalizer to add some cool analog sounds to your mix. PreSonus was established in 1995 in Los Angeles by people who knew what musicians wanted from their audio interfaces. We tested nine audio interfaces and found that they all record clear audio, but the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 offers the best combination of features, portability, and ease of use. Quite a software bundle. The Best Audio Interfaces of 2020. They help you capture that perfect vocal or catchy synth line, and allow you to hear it all back through those monitors you just blew your budget on. It is simple, easy to use, and basic but does just about all you need it to when starting off. There is also the Phantom power button and Mixer control for monitoring. It also has a headphone jack socket and a Direct Monitor switch. As long as you have the right adapters, it’ll be easy to mate the 2i2 with an iPad. The AudioBox iTwo adds a five-pin MIDI input and output, which makes it compatible with older gear. It delivers a sound quality which is more than acceptable. None of these things should get in the way of a successful recording session, though. Top 12 Best USB Audio Interfaces In 2020 Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, Top 12 Best USB Audio Interfaces To Buy In 2020 Reviews, a simple driver will add ASIO compatibility for Windows. It is simply laid out and like the unit itself basic and easy to use. Plus, you can record two channels at one time using the balanced inputs. The second recording was Will playing the electric bass, which we plugged directly into the interface using a standard ¼-inch instrument cable. We tested and dismissed the following interfaces for previous versions of this guide: The Steinberg UR22mkII supports sampling rates up to 192 kHz, but the bunched-up control knobs on the unit’s face and a phantom power switch tucked away on the back panel made it more difficult to use. It also comes with the Studio Magic package, which includes some vintage studio gear emulations. With the US-16×08, you can connect up to eight mics and still have enough room for processing and monitor mixes. It includes some nice extras like a talkback facility and the option for speaker switching. It has MIDI in/out connections for controllers and synthesizers or keyboards. This offers you a lot of flexibility in how you want to use the interface with an iPad, as long as you have the right adapters. It is compatible with the most popular music production software, and it is possible to link this up with your iPad. Native Instruments announced two interfaces during the NAMM 2019 trade show: the Komplete Audio 1 and Komplete Audio 2. It’s still a perfectly functional audio interface, especially if you never plan to use it outside of your home studio. The controls are basic and simple to use and well laid out with the two inputs, each with gain control. If you wanted to record yourself singing and playing the guitar at the same time, which might result in a more natural-sounding recording, you’d be unable to edit each source independently. The Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX is the best car stereo for people who want to add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto so they can use their smartphones in their vehicles. They are a German organization that manufactures its products in China. And being just 7 by 5.5 by 1.8 inches and weighing just over one and a half pounds isn’t going to take up too much room. Class compliant mode can be turned on or off, monitoring can be done in mono or stereo, it can be powered by USB or 5V plug, has phantom power, Hi-Z (guitar) compatibility, and more. You will have seen from the products we have looked at that there is no need to spend a fortune to get some real quality under your bonnet. The PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 has several design flaws that make it more difficult to use. Plenty of analog sounds are achievable when using vintage EQs, reverbs, and amps. There is a master volume and headphone socket with its own volume control. The Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 has all the features we like on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, including clear clipping lights, macOS, Windows, iOS support, and powerful microphone preamps, but it adds a built-in MIDI interface and two extra balanced line inputs and outputs. There is also the jack input and XLR mic input. Once we assembled a list of the available interfaces that had these features (using Amazon, Sweetwater, and Musician’s Friend), we used the following criteria to decide which interfaces to call in and how to design our tests. The Studio 26 is an interface that will work well as a starter unit for a new home studio. There are LED lights that monitor the input and output levels. It is something that you must have. Back to Focusrite for a third time and another contender for one of the Best Mid Range USB Audio Interfaces. The adjustment knobs are arranged in an odd order: The knob to adjust input 1 is to the right of the knob to adjust input 2. 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