at the end of this video you have a lot
of info to help you understand audio
interfaces and how to choose the right
one for your home studio maybe you're on
a budget or maybe you're ready for an
upgrade this info is good for musicians
producers podcasters and gamers first
I'll explain what an audio interface
does then I'll show you different types
of interfaces and who they're best for
I'll cover mic breeze MIDI phantom power
inputs and more if you're new to all
this don't worry I'll explain everything
in simple terms you may even discover a
feature you never knew you needed you'll
find my top audio interface
recommendations in the video description
if you new around here I'm Sanjay see
I've got lots of videos to help you get
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always get straight to the point in my
reviews and tutorials let's get started
an audio interface is the best way to
get sound into your computer and it
could also improve sound quality it's a
device that typically has one or more
inputs and at least one set of outputs
I've got mics in my studio and an
electric guitar and I want to record
them on my computer but my computer
doesn't have the right inputs an audio
interface solves this problem it
connects to a computer by USB and when I
sing or play my guitar it converts the
audio signal into a digital signal that
my computer can record you may be
familiar with devices with multiple
inputs and outputs mixers mixers have
been around forever and if you're
comfortable with them I've got the
Mackay Pro effects right here mixer
audio interface and effects all in one
so do you really even need an audio
interface every computer comes with a
sound card built-in if you don't need to
record a mic or an any external sound
that may be all you need built-in sound
cards are fine but you will get better
quality from a dedicated interface if a
microphone is all you need you may be
fine with a USB mic check my review of
the road and two USB mini it's a great
mic for a podcasting and even vocal
recordings you can hear some samples in
that video USB mics are convenient but
they don't have much room
expansion later so let's stick with our
audio interfaces if you want to keep
things compact I came multimedia has a
bunch of audio interfaces that are super
portable with every feature I'll show
you some of those later so let's talk
about the different types of interfaces
available to you the most popular
interfaces cost around 100 to 150
dollars this is the focus right - I -
the first two stands for the number of
inputs and the second - the number of
outputs this little box gives you a lot
for the money you have two inputs four
mics guitars and you can also use this
as stereo inputs as well
it has outputs for your speakers and
headphones most small interfaces like
this one are powered by USB so just one
cable to your computer it's got a bunch
of other features that are super useful
these are features you'll find on most
audio interfaces at any price range
understanding these features is
important when you're shopping for
interfaces first is the gain knob this
is kind of like a volume knob for
whatever you connect in since different
mics guitars and gear send different
levels of volume into the interface a
gain knob helps you set it so that it's
not too loud and it doesn't distort next
you've got a button for phantom power
it's usually marked plus 48v phantom
power is necessary for microphones that
require power usually condenser
microphones condenser mics are more
sensitive than dynamic mics and they
work better for a lot of singers I
mostly use condenser mics in my studio
so yeah having phantom power is
necessary and it gives you more options
for mics in the future next we've got
the direct monitor feature this allows
you to hear the signal straight from
your mic or instrument that you plug
into your audio interface along with the
music from your computer well why would
you want that well when you record with
a computer it introduces some delay
called
latency in the recording process with
direct monitoring you hear your voice
before it gets routed to your computer
which allows you to sing in time with
the music without that delay that could
put you off time if you're a vocalist
you really need this feature next you
have a headphone jack and this is super
important when recording with a mic you
don't want your mic to be picking up the
music from your speakers so best you
wear some headphones when you record
last is a feature you don't really see
the analog-to-digital conversion rate
and it's measured by sample rates 44.1
48 96 192 kilohertz lots of options
higher sample rates offer higher quality
but for most music and podcasting and
video applications forty four point one
or 48 is all you need so don't get
caught up in those numbers alright
you've learned a lot about audio
interfaces already but before I demo the
different types if you're finding this
information useful hit the like button
and leave a comment if you have question
and watch till the end because I'm gonna
tell you what you get when you upgrade
to the high-end stuff are you ready for
it now if you're looking for an audio
interface for $100 with all the features
I just explained
check out my list of the top interfaces
available right now I'll put a link to
that video in the description and over
here but wait don't go anywhere yet a
couple interfaces I'll show you next
have some features you may want to
consider and the next one even includes
MIDI in and out this is the iRig Pro by
I cam multimedia it's 150 bucks if
you're looking for something super
portable and compatible with an iPad or
any tablet this could be a good option
for you it's really compact and feels
like a thick remote control it's got a
combo mic and instrument input with
phantom power but to keep it small it
only has one output for headphones but
there is an eirick duo option with
speaker outputs and two inputs best of
all they even include MIDI in and out
MIDI allows you to connect keyboards
through your audio interface to your
computer now these days most keyboards
have USB but all do keyboards use an old
MIDI connector if you've got an old
keyboard that doesn't have USB find an
audio interface that includes this
feature I really can't believe they fit
all of this into this iRig Pro alright
next up is an interface and mixer combo
this is the Mackie Pro effect 6 for $150
so why would you want this option lots
of reasons first you may be more
familiar with the mixer form factor you
can use this as a stand alone mixer
without a computer or as an audio
interface with your computer and it's
got built-in effects I think this is a
great option if you record at home and
play live on stage you don't even need
your computer to add effects to your
voice or instruments listen to this
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you can totally use this as a USB audio
interface as well mic and instrument
inputs gain knob is here headphone and
speaker outputs and even direct
monitoring you get a lot for $150 here 6
inputs those effects and it's built like
a tank
I was honestly super surprised with this
thing by the way this interface has a
button for high Z what's that well high
Z inputs are best for instruments with
low levels of output like an electric
guitar the other type of input is called
line it's for things that you plug in
that already have a high volume it could
be a keyboard a synth or even it'll
turntable if you're a guitarist check to
make sure that the interface you're
looking at has a high Z input it's also
called an instrument input so what are
those more expensive audio interfaces
all about well you get more more inputs
or outputs and some other very cool
things but does it justify the high
price well it depends on where you are
in your production career some of these
interfaces feature better mic preamps Oh
what our mic preamps well every
interface and mixer includes a preamp
that boosts the sound of a mic some mic
pries aim to add some color and some try
to be as transparent as possible
higher-end audio interfaces like those
by Universal Audio give you high quality
mic preamps but just between you and me
for home producers the difference in
sound may not be a big deal to you you
can check out the difference in a video
here but wait there are more features on
these higher-end interfaces the arturia
audio fuse 8 pre right here can connect
to other audio interfaces and extend the
inputs I've got it connected with a
single cable to the universal Apollo 8
and now I have 16 channels it just
combines everything into one super
convenient but wait who needs all these
inputs well it is useful if you're
recording a band or how about a drummer
with multiple mics it's also useful if
you've got a bunch of keyboards and
since and you
want to keep unplugging and plugging
them in I've got everything in my studio
connected PR Toria Audio fuse costs $800
and the Apollo 8 costs over 1500 well
why the jump in price for the universal
audio well you ad audio interfaces also
include what's called DSP processing it
allows you to use the computing power
inside the interface to apply effects
instead of taking up your computer's
power Universal Audio makes high-quality
plug-ins that are only compatible with
their interfaces you sound great
but you may be ready for them when
you're ready to upgrade your studio you
don't need it when you're just getting
started
the last audio interface I have is one
that helps you stream online so how do
these work these are great for live
streams podcasts and gaming online this
works with a tablet or a laptop so plug
in any audio source and then mix in your
voice as well with the input for a mic
or a mic / headphones combo it even has
a loopback feature so you can be
outputting from your music application
while talking and then sending
everything to your live stream honestly
I've been dying to do this for so long
I'll let you know when I do a live
stream with this listen if you're just
getting started with music production I
recommend you start small those budget
interfaces are perfect if you're just
trying to record at home with a mic or
your guitar and it'll even cover you if
you have a guest artist come buy all the
audio interfaces are featured in this
video are linked in the description
below if you have a question leave it in
the comments keep making the music you
love and I'll see you guys later
[Music]