Best Audio Interface of 2017 - USB, Firewire, and Thunderbolt

11/13/2017 Best Audio Interface of 2017: USB, Firewire, and Thunderbolt
THE 6 STUDIO CHAPTERS THE INSTRUMENTS

Chapter 1: The Essentials
1. Computers/Laptops
The Ultimate Guide to 2. DAW Software

3. Audio Interfaces
Audio Interfaces for 2017 4. Headphones

5. Studio Monitors
6. Microphone Cables
7. Microphone Stands
8. Pop Filters
Whether youre starting a new home
9. Ear Training
studio, or improving an existing one
<< Switch Chapters >>
Theres no single purchase 1/2/3/4/5/6
moreconfusingthan the audio interface.
Because among the dozens of options
Each one is designed to meet the demands

of a speci ctype of studio.
For example
At one extreme,a small $100 interface

might beperfect in asimple bedroom
studio
If all you need is a single pair of outputs for

your studio monitors.
https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/best-audio-interfaces/ 1/14
At the opposite extreme, a pro studio that requiresdozens of INs/OUTs might need
severalinterfaces, each costing $4000 or more.
Needless to say, matching the right interface with

THEthe rightstudio
6 STUDIO is tricky
CHAPTERS THEeven for
INSTRUMENTS
the experienced. And for beginners, its 10x worse.
Which is whyfor todays post, Ive created an in-depth
2. DAWguide to help you nd the
Software
perfect option for your studio.
3. Audio Interfaces
So lets get started. First o 4. Headphones

5. Studio Monitors
The 5 Key Features to Look For

Because of the fact that audio interfaces have so8.many features, its di cult to
Pop Filters
know which ones matter, and which ones dont.
9. Ear Training
So lets talk about that now. In particular,these<<

areSwitch
the 5 Chapters
key specsto
>> focus on:
1/2/3/4/5/6
1. DAW Compatibility
2. Interface Connectors
3. Input/Output (I/O) Count
4. Input Channel Types
5. Form Factor
And heres why:
1. DAW Compatibility
In general,mostDAWs work with
mostinterfacesbut not always.
If you dont yet have a particular DAW that you are loyal to, then you need not
worry here.
Because 90% of the top DAWs will be

compatible with any interface you choose.
However if you alreadyhave a DAW you THE 6 STUDIO CHAPTERS THE INSTRUMENTS
want to continue using, besure to verify
compatibility on the companys website. 1. Computers/Laptops
And just to warn you, this info is often hard
2. DAW Software
to nd.
3. Audio Interfaces
You would think they would just post DAW 4. Headphones

compatibility in the interfaces product description,
5. Studio
right? Monitors
But it rarely happens.
Usually its buried somewhere within an FAQ page.6. Microphone Cables
While its not clear why this is done, my best guess is that these companies prefer
8. Pop Filters
not to advertise their current DAWcompatibility, because they have no
guaranteesof futurecompatibility. 9. Ear Training

Aparticular interface might be compatiblewith yourDAW today, but it may not be
1/2/3/4/5/6
in a future release. And while thatsnot likely to happen, its 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 thatit severely limits your options.
Up next
2.Interface Connectors
When connecting an audio interface to a
computer
There are 4 cable options commonly used:
1. USB which istypically seen on cheaper

home studio interfaces, and o ers the
slowest data transfer rate.
2. Firewire which is usedon more THE 6 STUDIO CHAPTERS THE INSTRUMENTS
expensive home studio interfaces, and Chapter 1: The Essentials
o ers a signi cantly faster transfer rate 1. Computers/Laptops
(nowadays these are becoming less
2. DAW Software
common).
3. Thunderbolt which has recently become 3. Audio Interfaces
popular with newer semi-pro interfaces, 4. Headphones
and is way faster than either USB or 5. Studio Monitors
Firewire.
4. PCIE which has long been the standard
connection for professional interfaces, 7. Microphone Stands
because it o ers additional processing power8. Pop
andFilters
extremely fast data-
transfer. 9. Ear Training

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. 1/2/3/4/5/6
So if youre on a budget, USB is what I recommend.
But whichever typeyou 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:
Solo musicians may need only 2-4.

Songwriting teams who work in small THE 6 STUDIO CHAPTERS THE INSTRUMENTS
groups, want at least 4-8.
Engineerswho record bands should 1. Computers/Laptops
have as many as possible (16 at least).
2. DAW Software
3. Audio Interfaces
Alsoelectronic drum kits alone can
sometimes require 8 inputs if theyo er 4. Headphones
separate channels for each part of the kit. So 5. Studio Monitors
take that into consideration if you plan on 6. Microphone Cables
using one.
8. Pop Filters
4.Input Channel Types 9. Ear Training
One thing recording newbies often fail to << Switch Chapters >>
realize is
1/2/3/4/5/6
When counting the input channels ofan

audio interface, manufacturers could be
referring to any number ofdi erent
input types.
However in almost all cases, it includes

some combination of these 3:
1. Mic Input which allows you to connect amic directly to the interface.
2. Line Input which requires the addition of an outboard mic preamp to be
used as a mic channel.
3. 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.
Nowheres 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.
Becauseas youll notice, interfaces often have 16 or6 more

THE total
STUDIO input channels,
CHAPTERS but
THE INSTRUMENTS
only 2-8 mic inputs.
So without any additional gear,the real number
2. of
DAWinputs on your audio interface
Software
is the mic preamp count, NOT the same as the input count.
3. Audio Interfaces
Now that you knowmake sure you actually have 4. enough

Headphones
channels for your
5. Studio Monitors
purposes. Otherwise you will be sorely disappointed.
NOTE: Two other input types that you should also look for are DI
7. Microphone inputs (if you play
Stands
guitar/bass), and MIDI inputs (if you useany type of keyboards/MIDI controllers).
8. Pop Filters
9. Ear Training
5. Form Factor
A fancy jargon term used by computer 1/2/3/4/5/6
geeks
Form factorsimply refers to the physical

size and shapeinterface.
The two form factor optionsare:
1. DesktopInterfaces whichare
smaller, and sit on your desk next to your computer.
2. RackmountedInterfaces whichare larger, and mount in a standard size rack
unit.
For beginners, I recommend starting with a desktop interface, because theyre

cheap, easy-to-use, and require no special mounting or peripheral devices. You
just plug them in and start recording.
Withintermediate/advanced studios, rackmounted interfacesare typically better,

as they tend too er more I/Os, as well as greater exibility with signal routing and
organization.
Now that you know what to look for, lets check out somespeci c models.
Starting with 2. DAW Software
3. Audio Interfaces
Best Desktop Interfaces 4. Headphones
5. Studio
For the vast majority of people reading this article, Monitors
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
8. Pop normally costs between
Filters
$100-$300 on the low-end, and $500-1500 on the high-end.
9. Ear Training
<< SwitcharePresonus,Focusrite,
Currently, the top brands for these types of interfaces Chapters >>
Avid,Universal Audio. 1/2/3/4/5/6
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 22VSL (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 )

2. DAW Software
3. Audio Interfaces
4. Headphones
5. Studio Monitors
Scarlett Solo (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Scarlett 2i4 (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
8. Pop Filters
Who do I recommend these for? 9. Ear Training

Beginner studios on a tight budget who already have a 3rd party DAW they prefer.
1/2/3/4/5/6
Focusrite Clarett (Thunderbolt connection)
Clarett 2Pre (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Clarett 4Pre (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for?
Studios of ALLlevels that dont need a lot of I/Os and can a ord the price tag.
Apogee (USB connection)


2. DAW Software
Apogee One (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Apogee Duet (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
3. Audio Interfaces
Apogee Quartet (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
4. Headphones
5. Studio Monitors
7. Microphone
Intermediate studios that dont need a lot of I/Os, Stands thatcan
or beginner studios
a ord the price tag. 8. Pop Filters
9. Ear Training
Avid (USB connection) << Switch Chapters >>
1/2/3/4/5/6
(Bundled with Pro Tools 12 DAW)
Pro Tools Duet (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Pro Tools Quartet (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
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

Chapterconnection
1: The Essentials )
2. DAW Software
3. Audio Interfaces
4. Headphones
5. Studio Monitors
Apollo Twin SOLO (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Apollo Twin DUO (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Who do I recommend these for? 8. Pop Filters
9. Ear Training
Intermediate/advancedstudios who want pro studio quality, in a home-studio-
sized package. << Switch Chapters >>
1/2/3/4/5/6
More Options?
If for some reasonof the previous options arent 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, lets de ne an intermediate studio as a home
setup that requires a higher I/O count to meet theTHE demands of some ofTHE
6 STUDIO CHAPTERS theINSTRUMENTS
more
complex recording tasks.
If thats the type of studio you need, I recommend an 8+Software
2. DAW channel
rackmountedinterface.
3. Audio Interfaces
4. Headphones
Againthe best interfaces in this category are made by Presonus, Focusrite,
Apogee,Universal Audio, and Antelope Audio: 5. Studio Monitors
Here are the top modelsI recommend: 7. Microphone Stands
8. Pop Filters
Presonus 9. Ear Training

1/2/3/4/5/6
Audiobox 1818VSL (USB) (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Firestudio Project( rewire) (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 1. Computers/Laptops

2. DAW Software
3. Audio Interfaces
4. Headphones
5. Studio Monitors
Apollo 8(thunderbolt) (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Apollo 16 (thunderbolt) (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
8. Pop Filters
Antelope Audio 9. Ear Training

1/2/3/4/5/6
Antelope Audio Zen Studio (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Antelope Audio Orion Studio (Amazon/Thomann)
Antelope Audio Orion32+ (Amazon/Thomann)
And nally
Professional Interfaces
While any of the interfaces weve covered so
far are more than capably of producing
professional results
Theres higher class of audio interfaces that we have yet to cover.
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 ofinterface is to upgrade to Pro Tools
HD, which is the standard system used by the majority of pro studios in the world.
2. DAW Software
In terms of performance, they o er many premium advantages, including:
3. Audio Interfaces
Ultra-Low latency 4. Headphones

High I/O counts 5. Studio Monitors
Premium Digital Conversion 6. Microphone Cables
Multiple Connection Options 7. Microphone Stands
8. Pop Filters
And while these interfaces would almost certainly be overkill for the average home
studio 9. Ear Training

Its still good to know about them, just in case the day comes when you decide your
1/2/3/4/5/6
studio needs one.
Some examples of popularinterfaces in this category are:
Avid HD 1616
ApogeeSymphony
Now one last thing

Assuming you chose a rackmounted interface, youll obviously need a rack to store
it in, right?
So if you dont have one yet,check out this article:
The Beginners Guide to Studio Rack Mounts for Home Recording
Loving the content so far?

Download the entire course and pay whatever you want.

2. DAW Software
3. Audio Interfaces
4. Headphones
5. Studio Monitors
8. Pop Filters
9. Ear Training

1/2/3/4/5/6
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11/13/2017 Best Audio Interface of 2017: USB, Firewire, and Thunderbolt

THE 6 STUDIO CHAPTERS THE INSTRUMENTS

The Ultimate Guide to 2. DAW Software

Audio Interfaces for 2017 4. Headphones

Because among the dozens of options

Each one is designed to meet the demands

At one extreme,a small $100 interface

If all you need is a single pair of outputs for

Needless to say, matching the right interface with

So lets get started. First o 4. Headphones

The 5 Key Features to Look For

So lets talk about that now. In particular,these<<

And heres why:

Because 90% of the top DAWs will be

You would think they would just post DAW 4. Headphones

<< Switch Chapters >>

There are 4 cable options commonly used:

1. USB which istypically seen on cheaper

<< Switch Chapters >>

So if youre on a budget, USB is what I recommend.

But whichever typeyou choose, remember to double-check that your computer

3. Input/Output (I/O) Count

1-2 on a simple interface, to

Solo musicians may need only 2-4.

When counting the input channels ofan

However in almost all cases, it includes

Nowheres what this means for you:

Becauseas youll notice, interfaces often have 16 or6 more

Now that you knowmake sure you actually have 4. enough

Form factorsimply refers to the physical

The two form factor optionsare:

For beginners, I recommend starting with a desktop interface, because theyre

Withintermediate/advanced studios, rackmounted interfacesare typically better,

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)

Focusrite Scarlett (USB connection )

Who do I recommend these for? 9. Ear Training

<< Switch Chapters >>

Focusrite Clarett (Thunderbolt connection)

Clarett 2Pre (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Who do I recommend these for?

Apogee (USB connection)

THE 6 STUDIO CHAPTERS THE INSTRUMENTS

(Bundled with Pro Tools 12 DAW)

Pro Tools Duet (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Who do I recommend these for?

Universal Audio (Thunderbolt

Here are 2 more great budget desktop interfaces to check out:

Audient iD4(USB) (Amazon/Thomann)

And here is 1 more great high-end desktop option:

Antelope Audio Zen Tour(Thunderbolt/USB)

Best Rackmounted Interfaces

<< Switch Chapters >>

Audiobox 1818VSL (USB) (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Scarlett 18i20 (USB) (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Universal Audio 1. Computers/Laptops

<< Switch Chapters >>

Antelope Audio Zen Studio (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Theres higher class of audio interfaces that we have yet to cover.

Ultra-Low latency 4. Headphones

<< Switch Chapters >>