Do I need an audio interface to play music?
What is an Audio Interface?
An audio interface is a device that allows you to connect audio equipment like microphones, instruments, and speakers to a computer (PCMag, 2022). It acts as the intermediary between your audio gear and the computer’s sound card, converting analog signals into digital data that can be recorded and processed on your computer.
Audio interfaces typically connect to computers via USB or FireWire. They provide inputs like XLR, 1/4″ instrument jacks, and RCA to plug in mics, guitars, keyboards etc. The outputs allow you to connect studio monitors or headphones to listen back. Most interfaces also include mic preamps to boost mic signals, analog-to-digital converters, and headphone amplifiers.
In short, an audio interface lets you get audio in and out of your computer for recording, mixing, and playback. It replaces lower-quality built-in computer sound cards, providing professional connectivity and audio conversion.
Why Use an Audio Interface?
The main reason to use an audio interface is for better sound quality and reduced latency compared to using your computer’s built-in sound card. Audio interfaces use higher quality components like better analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) to produce clearer, more accurate audio. They also connect directly via USB or FireWire to avoid going through your computer’s noisy motherboard, resulting in cleaner recordings.
Audio interfaces also have very low latency, which is the delay between inputting sound and hearing it come back out of your speakers or headphones. Low latency is crucial for recording and monitoring tracks in real time. Sound cards can have latencies of 100-200ms, while good audio interfaces aim for <5ms. This means almost no delay, allowing you to record and playback tracks seamlessly.
So in summary, dedicated audio interfaces provide better AD/DA conversion, reduced noise, lower latency, and an overall higher sound quality compared to built-in computer sound cards. This makes them essential for any serious audio work like music production, recording instruments and vocals, podcasting, and more.[1]
[1] https://www.mi.edu/in-the-know/do-you-need-audio-interface/
Built-in Sound Cards vs Audio Interfaces
The main difference between a built-in sound card and an external audio interface is where the analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion takes place. With a built-in sound card, the A/D conversion happens inside your computer. With an external audio interface, the A/D conversion occurs outside of the computer before the signal is sent via USB, Thunderbolt, or FireWire.
Built-in sound cards are sufficient for basic music listening through speakers or headphones. Most modern computers come equipped with decent onboard audio that can handle streaming music, YouTube videos, games, etc. The digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and audio components on built-in sound cards have improved over the years and can produce decent sound quality for casual listening.
However, built-in sound cards are limited in terms of audio quality and recording capabilities compared to dedicated external audio interfaces. Audio interfaces offer higher quality A/D and D/A conversion, lower latency, better drivers and sound processing, more connectivity options, and better circuitry and components optimized for professional audio work. If you’re doing any recording, mixing, production work, or audio/video editing, an external audio interface is recommended over relying solely on a built-in sound card.
Do You Need One for Listening?
An audio interface is not required just for listening to music. The built-in sound card and headphone jack on your computer is sufficient for casual listening.
According to https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/15h0kgv/, you only need an audio interface if you have high-end audiophile headphones that require additional amplification and power to sound their best. For most consumer headphones, the built-in sound card will provide adequate quality.
As explained by https://www.creatorbeat.com/audio/audio-interfaces/audio-interface-for-listening-to-music/, you can absolutely use a USB audio interface just for listening to music from your computer or mobile device. However, it is not mandatory. The main benefits of an audio interface for listening are lower latency, better drivers, and cleaner audio. But for casual listening, the built-in sound card is often good enough.
Do You Need One for Recording?
Yes, an audio interface is required if you want to record instruments, microphones, or other external audio sources into your computer.
The built-in sound card on most computers is designed for playback of audio, not recording. The inputs on a built-in sound card often don’t provide enough gain for microphone or instrument signals, resulting in weak or noisy recordings. Built-in sound cards also lack phantom power for condenser microphones.
An audio interface provides professional grade inputs designed for recording. These inputs offer:
- Enough gain for weak microphone or instrument signals
- Phantom power for condenser mics
- High quality preamps for clean audio
- Direct monitoring to hear input signals with near zero latency
Without an audio interface, you would be limited to only recording via a computer’s built-in microphone. To record vocals, acoustic instruments, electronic instruments, or other external audio sources, an interface is required to get those signals into your recording software.
Audio Interface vs Mixer
An audio interface and a mixer serve different purposes when it comes to music production and recording. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are some key differences:
A mixer is an analog device that allows you to blend and route multiple audio signals together. For example, you can plug microphones, instruments, and other audio sources into a mixer and control the levels, EQ, effects, and routing. Mixers output a stereo analog signal that you would then need to convert to digital in order to record into a DAW. Some mixers have built-in audio interfaces to convert the signal to digital.
An audio interface is designed specifically for converting analog signals to digital so they can be recorded into your computer and DAW. The audio interface handles the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion required to get audio in and out of your computer. Most audio interfaces have some basic mixing capabilities like gain/trim control and direct monitoring, but they do not offer the robust routing, blending, and processing capabilities of a full-fledged mixer.
The main limitation of using only a mixer is that the output remains analog. Without an audio interface, there is no way to get the audio into a DAW on your computer for recording and editing. So while a mixer’s capabilities are oriented toward live blending and monitoring, an audio interface enables digital recording and software-based mixing. Combining both gives you the flexibility of an analog mixer and the recording/editing capability of a DAW.
Important Specs
When shopping for an audio interface, there are a few key specifications to consider:
Sample Rate – This refers to how many samples per second the audio interface can capture. Higher sample rates like 96kHz or 192kHz allow capturing more detail, but also use more storage space. 44.1kHz or 48kHz is sufficient for most home studio applications according to this Sweetwater buying guide.
Bit Depth – Bit depth determines the resolution of each sample and dynamic range. Most audio interfaces support 16-bit or 24-bit depth. 24-bit offers more dynamic range and headroom but is not always necessary for beginners per this Sound on Sound article.
Inputs/Outputs – The number and types of inputs and outputs determine how many mics, instruments, monitors, etc. can be connected. 2 inputs and 2 outputs is common for basic home studio setups. More I/O provides flexibility for expansion according to Audient’s interface buying guide.
Types of Connections
There are several common connection types used on audio interfaces that allow you to connect microphones, instruments, speakers, headphones, and more:
XLR
XLR connectors are standard on most professional audio equipment like microphones and are found on higher-end audio interfaces. XLR cables transmit a balanced signal and allow you to connect professional microphones for recording vocals, instruments, and more. https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/audio-interface-buying-guide/
1/4 inch
The 1/4 inch or 6.35mm connector is also very common. Instruments like guitars, keyboards, and electronic drums usually have 1/4 inch outputs that can be connected directly to the interface. 1/4 inch inputs and outputs are also found on studio monitors. https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/best-audio-interfaces/
USB
USB connections allow you to connect the audio interface to your computer. Most affordable home studio interfaces use USB 2.0, while higher-end models may use the faster USB-C or Thunderbolt connections. The type of USB connection determines how much data can be transferred to and from the interface. https://medium.com/@electroniccentre247/what-are-audio-interfaces-know-about-the-different-types-of-audio-interfaces-238a78d48146
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt is a high-speed connection capable of transferring massive amounts of data very quickly. This allows for low-latency monitoring and tracking. Thunderbolt interfaces tend to be more expensive but provide fast performance when recording lots of tracks or using plugins.
Latency Considerations
Latency refers to the delay between the time audio enters an audio interface and when it comes out the speakers or headphones. Lower latency allows for more real-time monitoring and less delay, which is especially important for recording and live performance. There are two main factors that affect audio interface latency:
Buffer size is one of the most important factors affecting latency. The buffer is a small amount of memory that temporarily stores the audio before sending it to the computer. Larger buffers = more latency, smaller buffers = lower latency. However, too small of a buffer can cause glitches and errors. The optimal buffer size balances latency and stability. Many audio interfaces allow you to adjust the buffer size in their control panel software. See this article for details.
Sample rate, which refers to how many samples per second are used to digitize the audio, also impacts latency. Higher sample rates = lower latency. 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz are common, some pro interfaces go up to 192 kHz. Just keep in mind that higher sample rates take up more computing resources.
Budget Options
There are several affordable audio interface options under $100 for those on a tight budget:
The Behringer U-Phoria UM2 ($39) is one of the cheapest options. It’s simple but provides 2 inputs and outputs.
The Presonus Audiobox iOne ($99) only has one input but is sturdy with decent sound quality.
The M-Audio M-Track Solo ($99) is another basic single input interface but has quality comparable to more expensive options.
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo ($109) is a popular choice and provides great quality for the price.
The Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1 ($99) bundles software with the interface for extra value.