Guide to Buying an Audio Interface

[2infamouz]

A guide for buying your first audio interface: Guide to Buying an Audio Interface

Hope it's helpful. If you have any critique or suggestions for revising it at all, please post a reply here.
If it influences your purchase or helps you let me know, and if not let me know why it wasn't helpful or what you were looking for that wasn't included.
Thanks in advance,
Ayron

 

[moresound]

Well ..... you make no mention for the need of phantom power if one is to use condenser microphones.

 

[2infamouz]

thanks i'll include something on phantom power

 

[moresound]

It's just that some interfaces offer it and some don't.

 

[Bobbsy]

Well, I think that, to be valuable, any guide to interface choice needs to consider:

Capacity for Direct Hardware Monitoring for latency free recording. I wouldn't buy an interface without this.

A consideration of balanced vs. unbalanced inputs/outputs.

Are drivers ASIO? If not, latency can become a problem again.

Quality of/noise in microphone pre amps. Many cheaper interfaces can't use the whole gain range on the mic pres.

Digital ins/outs like ADAT or AES. An ADAT input on lightpipe can allow you to add 8 more inputs fairly cheaply.

Bus power or does it need a mains plug. Both have certain advantages.

Do you need/want inserts on the mic inputs?

There's probably others.