The record maker. 2i2 has brought studio sound to more artists than any other interface. Ever. Hook up a couple of mics, guitars or keys and record however you want. As we just mentioned, there are several different connection types that your audio interface may offer—let’s take a look at a few of the key ones below. USB

There are three types of output ports, a headphone (for personal monitoring), a monitor (room monitoring through speakers), and an interface cable (to communicate with the computer). Low-budget audio interfaces will feature only one headphone output with a dedicated control button for volume, while an expensive one could feature more than one. It also includes a dedicated headphone amplifier that offers a wide range of outputs. An audio interface takes the signals from your instruments or microphones and digitizes them before sending them to your computer. You can relate it to an external sound card that is equipped with extra features. First, it’s worth noting why having a great audio interface is important. All audio interfaces will consist of the essentials for inputting and outputting audio— see this article for a breakdown of the different pieces that make up an interface and how they work. In a recording interface, there will be usually three types of input ports, a microphone (XLR cable to Preamplifier), an instrument (TS/TR cable bypassing preamp), and a midi (digital information about how an instrument is played). Clarett is Focusrite’s premium USB range with three models and a decent bundle of software including Focusrite’s Red 2 and Red 3 plugins and Plugin Alliance’s bx_console Focusrite SC. Clarett+ focuses on improving audio performance rather than expanding that feature set.

The Clarett+ 2Pre on test has two mic pres with combo mic/line/instrument inputs, four balanced outputs, MIDI I/O, and ADAT for a total of 10 ins and 4 outs. It is USB 2.0 compatible, with a connection via a USB-C port that supports bus powering but from a device that provides 15W (or use the included PSU instead). Focusrite's Control software is easy to use and also available as a simplified iOS app, so you can control levels, including your low latency monitoring mix from your phone. Incl. USB cable (type C to A) and Hitmaker Expansion Software Bundle (Ableton Live Lite, 3 months Splice Sounds membership and Plugin Bundle for songwriting, mixing and mastering)

Digital Signal Processing software or DSP, is included on audio interfaces that have 8 outputs or more. This software helps you to edit and create mixes within your monitoring outputs. For instance, if you're recording with your team and you guitarist asks you to turn up the pitch on his headphones, you can easily do so within the software without affecting the original sound you are recording.There are many factors that you should consider when choosing an audio interface. Some key considerations include connectivity types, preamps, the number of inputs and outputs, size, and price. You should ask yourself the following questions when evaluating any option: Two inputs and two outputs; two 3rd Generation mic pres, switchable to line or Hi-Z instrument inputs, with two balanced outputs.

Now that we have a basic understanding of what audio interfaces offer to your workflow, let’s dive into some specific models. First, we’ll look at a few options that accomodate specific use cases. Audio interfaces with phantom power Audient has also managed to improve the iD44’s Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) THD+N figure by an impressive 9dB to a class-leading 112 dB. The Digital to Analogue Converters (DACs) are similarly pristine, with imperceptible noise and 126dB of dynamic range. The four mic pres are exactly the same as you’ll find in Audient’s pro-level consoles. In our experience, Focusrite’s Scarlett USB interfaces have traditionally combined excellent sonics and audio flexibility at affordable price points, and the third-generation units keep up the good work. Investing a lot of money into any type of gear can be a tough decision. Don’t worry! We got you covered.USB is an extremely widely-used connection type that provides a convenient method for connecting an audio interface to a computer, with varying speeds depending on the USB version (USB 2, USB 3, USB-C, etc.). These days, most interfaces come with USB connectors. Thunderbolt PCIe is a unique connection type that allows for an interface to be installed directly into a computer’s motherboard via an internal card-based interface. This allows for a highly optimized data conversion process, but it’s entirely incompatible with laptops due to its nature and requires some technical expertise to install and configure.