Most electronic music producers who may occasionally want to record something and need to output to monitors will absolutely love this. Great for a first audio interface because of the amazing form factor, high-quality preamps and versatility for a bedroom producer.
If you need the cheapest audio interface available that is still reliable, then the UM2 is a great choice.
Need to record a full drum kit? Probably going to need more inputs. Of course, more can be useful depending on your needs. Most interfaces have at least 2 quarter-inch jack outputs to connect to studio monitors, and at least 2 inputs for either a microphone or direct line input. The number and type of inputs and outputs that an audio interface has will matter greatly in the decision-making process. Very fast, low latency and the most reliable (and expensive). PCIe – A different type of connector used on internal interfaces that connectors directly to your motherboard.
Firewire – An older Mac connector which historically had faster transfer speeds, but is less ideal than Thunderbolt.Thunderbolt – The second most common connector, favourable due to fast speed and compatibility with most Macs.USB – The most common form of interface connector, as it plugs directly into a USB 2.0 or 3.0 socket.There are many types of connectors that audio interfaces. What To Look ForĪudio interfaces can come with a variety of features, and depending on your needs, you need to know what to look for. There’s a lot of terminologies here, so if you get confused, make sure to check out our massive glossary of production terms. The issue is, the built-in sound card in most laptops and desktops isn’t ideal for recording instruments and vocals, or for playing sound through studio monitors.
If you’re just using headphones, chances are the built-in sound card that comes with your computer is all you need (unless it’s a high-impedance model, in which case an interface is necessary).
In fact, your computer actually has one built-in.
You might have heard you need an audio interface to produce music.