The history of recorded sound goes as far back as 1860, with the phonautograms created by Édouard-Léon Scott. Our top 4 options handle these requirements well, whereas our lower-ranked options tend to suit the more minimal needs of hobbyists and amateur producers. The same goes for serious producers who are looking to equip their studio with a unit capable of tracking multiple inputs at once. However, for a live performance setting where multiple inputs and outputs are needed, the aforementioned options fall short. The Mackie Onyx Producer falls in this boat, as well. A singer/songwriter on a budget will likely find the Steinberg UR12, with its one mic input and another Hi-Z guitar input, to be a great option that'll suit their needs. The best of these take their power over the same USB connections they use to send their audio to your computer, so you won't need to hunt for an outlet or be tethered to a certain spot for your setup.įrom basement producers to touring bands, all sorts of musicians and sound techs have different requirements when they go out in search of an audio interface. There are also portable options for use in the field, so users can tape interviews or record performances in small spaces like coffee houses. Its 24-bit audio is certainly high-quality, but it's bested by the 32-bit offering coming from Steinberg Audio UR816C 16x16, which would have risen higher in our ranks if it had segmented LED metering that could show you where your levels were at as you get ready to record. The Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 remains one of the most reliable offerings out there, especially for producers looking to integrate with software and plug-ins simultaneously.

That model is the only offering on our list with actual faders, though, as we have another list dedicated to USB mixers. It's also ideal for taking phone calls and not losing any quality, as it has a direct phone input. For example, a newcomer to our ranking, the Rode Rodecaster Pro, might be the best USB mixer for podcasting, as it has a set of programmable effects pads that you can load up with things like intros, outros, and advertisements. Depending on whether you're using an interface for podcasts, music, or something else entirely, you're going to find different models will be more suitable to your needs than others.

Recording interface for mac ebay