One can cost $50 while another costs $5000. Audio interfaces range drastically in price. The last thing to consider when buying an interface is the cost. Condensers can’t function without phantom power as the added volts through the interface work as a replacement for having your condensers sit with large, bulky power packs.ĭrum kit overheads are typically condenser mics, and I realized the hard way that I absolutely needed phantom power if I wanted to record my drum set. You need to have phantom power if you plan on recording with condenser microphones. Phantom power comes in the form of a button on an interface that provides a specific channel with a bit of a power boost. I’m happy that I can use my flaws to help others! Phantom power was another thing that I never considered when first buying an interface, and it bit me in the backside. FireWire is more consistent than USB or Thunderbolt, making it most ideal for doing heavy recordings with multiple channels being tracked.Ī USB connection is common to find, and arguably the easiest type of interface to use as USB connections are so universal. Most Macs come with a Thunderbolt connection, so that could be preferable for Apple users. USB, Thunderbolt, and FireWire are all viable connection types that you may be considering. PCIe is a bit different as those interfaces get installed directly into your computer. I’ve only ever used USB audio interfaces, but many people that are way more professional than me will opt for other inputs such as Thunderbolt, FireWire, or PCIe. Connection TypeĬonnection type refers to how the interface connects to a computer. It’s most ideal for the interface to have a few line inputs and XLR inputs. Establish what you’re going to be recording, and then make sure you’re getting an interface with enough inputs for that. Personally, I needed several XLR inputs on my interface, but you may only need line inputs if you’re recording guitars or keyboards. Inputs come in different shapes and sizes. So, I had to get a new interface because my first one didn’t have enough inputs. Ideally, I needed to have 4 or more drum mics to get a high-quality recording. When I learned to connect drum microphones to it and record, I realized that I only had room for 2 XLR drum mics. What to Look for When Choosing an Audio Interface Number of InputsĬhecking the number of inputs is one of the most important steps in choosing an interface. There are many to choose from, and interfaces often come included with a DAW. The interface does a lot of work before those signals get to your computer.Īlso, you’re going to need a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to read the signals coming from the interface. However, you’re going to need an interface to record 3 or more channels at a single time. For example, you could use a USB studio microphone and connect it straight to your computer. It’s possible to record without an interface. Depending on how heavy-duty the interface is, you get multiple onboard settings that will aid you in achieving the best recordings possible. If you want to do professional recordings with multiple tracks being recorded at once, using an interface is the only way to get there.Īudio interfaces give you extended control over your recordings. However, Avid doesn’t produce these anymore, so they’re quite difficult to find.Īudio interfaces allow you to run signals from instruments or microphones into a computer. All these interfaces are fairly high-quality and more than capable of running a decent recording setup. The size and number of features offered get larger as the type of Mbox gets more expensive. There are three versions – the Mbox Mini, Mbox, and Mbox Pro. There have been a few iterations of these interfaces over the years, and the latest versions are called the Mbox 3. We’ll discuss whether they’re still worth getting, where to find them, and how they may benefit you as a buyer.īottom Line Up Front: The Mbox is an audio interface made by Avid, the creators of ProTools. So, I’m going to look at a few of Avid’s Mbox interfaces in this article. In realizing that, I had to upgrade my interface more times than I’d like to admit.Ĭhoosing a good interface is incredibly important to your workflow when recording music. Little did I know that it would become the most important component of my whole studio space. I just knew that an interface was one of those things. When starting to build up my drumming studio, I had no idea what I needed. I have a long history with audio interfaces. Avid Mbox Review – Is This Outdated Interface Still Worth Buying? - February 10, 2022.Do Beats Work with Xbox One? - June 1, 2022.
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