Audio Interface
REQUIREMENTS
Do not save money with the audio interface and with input-/output-channels
ASIO 2.0 support is a must with WINDOWS.
A multi channel audio interface can do the job of an additional audio-mixer.
Now in 2022 an USB-Interface is the standard.
Firewire is dead.
MINIMUM | OK | NICE TO HAVE | |
---|---|---|---|
Sample Frequencies | 44.1kHz | 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz | 44,1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz |
Resolution | 16Bit | 16Bit, 24Bit | 16Bit, 24Bit, 32Bit |
Inputs | 2 Analog |
4 Analog 2 Mic (+48V Phantom) |
8 Analog or more 4 Mic (+48V Phantom) |
Outputs | 2 Analog |
4 - 6 Analog sep. Headphone SPDIF (Digital Out) |
8 Analog out or more sep. Headphone(s) SPDIF (Digital Out) |
System | USB or Fire or PCi | USB or Fire or PCi | PCie or USB or Fire |
Driver | ASIO 2.0 | ASIO 2.0 and others | ASIO 2.0 and others |
Audio Quality | good | good | very good |
MINIMUM

The minimum is a 2-Channel USB Interface.
If the interface is "USB-BUS powered", the headphone amplifier is often the weakest point. It has too little power to hear adequately loud. Especially low impedance headphones it does not like, and with high impedance it is too quiet.
However, there is rarely anything wrong with the sound of these interfaces in general. It is even very good for the price.
Mostly the user misses just soon more audio channels or an integrated midi interface...
This text (Sept. 22) replaces the original.
OK

OK are all 4-6 channel audio interfaces (USB).
The quality is often good to very good. Most of these interfaces come with SPDIF and 2 - 4 inputs - also for microphones with 48V phantom power.
Either you need them right now or you will be glad about them in the near future. You also quickly learn to appreciate an integrated midi interface.
These interfaces are often very flexible for many different recording situations.
Even in this cathegory, the headphone amplifier is still very often the weakest part. When buying one should make sure that low impedance headphones do not bring the amplifier to its knees, that it has a powerful, clear sound.
This text (Sept. 22) replaces the original.
NICE TO HAVE

The qualities of the sound, the connection options up to the headphone output are normally excellent here.
However, you naturally pay a corresponding price. If you are professionally involved in music productions, of course, an audio interface of this type is part of the daily work.
This text (Sept. 22) replaces the original.
BUDGET
If you are a beginner, I would put about 40% of the audio music hardware budget into monitoring (monitors, headphones), 20% into the audio interface, 20% into acoustically optimizing the room and 20% into a midi keyboard/midi controller.
This text (Sept. 22) replaces the original.
Final Info
Keep in mind that the quality of the hardware alone does not provide a good result. The whole mix of the samples is crucial. The hardware can only transport what was created before.
This text was added in Sept. 22.