The Purpose of an audio interface

[RWDD]

I've searched everywhere around this forum for the answer of this question but...
why is it exactly that i need an audio interface for production?
Is it just for recording at a 24bit/96khz quality?
If so does it really matter what interface i get if i am not using it for sampling vinyl or recording audio from a mic?

[abZ]

If you aren't using it to record then the #1 reason would be more accurate monitoring. Built in sound cards just sound horrible. It is more apparent with better monitors / headphones. If you don't have good monitors or headphones I would hook that up before you hook up your sound box.

[ninjadog]

Yeah sound quality, and also better latency with midi controllers. Multiple ins/outs. Different audio jack connections. The difference is built in soundcards is the same as taking public transit, it will take you where you want to go, but your limited. Audio interface is like having some sort of car, be it a cube van or sports car, it will take you where you want to go with ease, you just need to pick the one that fits your needs. Like a bedroom producers needs would be different from someone who records instruments. At any rate if you want some sort of a respectable rig you'll need an interface. If your happy enough making beats on a gaming console you might be happy with the built in sound card.

[yamaz]

Indeed, you dont need it but now that I have one it enables me to DJ with ableton, better monitoring for production and also works well as a recording unit or input device when friends want to plug shit in. Not essential but worth the money.

[Recessive Trait]

so, an audio interface would be useful if one was using a laptop? i've been contemplating getting a laptop over a desktop for my next machine.

is the audio interface essentially a soundcard? would i need a soundcard as well?

is that box that ni was selling with a free synth an audio interface, and if so, what was it called?

[abZ]

so, an audio interface would be useful if one was using a laptop? i've been contemplating getting a laptop over a desktop for my next machine.

is the audio interface essentially a soundcard? would i need a soundcard as well?

is that box that ni was selling with a free synth an audio interface, and if so, what was it called?

Using a laptop you are probably going to want to get a nice usb joint. Something small that you can stick in the bag when you go. I have Audio Kontrol 1 which actually I use for my desktop setup but it would be ace for a mobile set up too. I guess that was the point. I figure if I upgrade to a full on recording set up then I can still find use for the AK1. The built in sound will vary from computer to computer. My lappy is a 350 dollar job I wouldn't dare try to write music using the built in. It sound real bassy and rolled off top end. I am sure if you speant the cheese on a high end gaming computer the sound would at least be passable.

[iambullet]

Well, I wasn't in the clear what an audio interface was myself, too. My mate always kept saying I need one, so I bought one (Tascam US-144MKII).

To answer your questions: Yes, an audio interface is a soundcard. My Tascam one works over USB and you install a dedicated driver for it. From then on, a new sound device appears in the programms. The sound is fed over USB to the device and the speakers/amp are plugged to the interface. Apart from that, most of the interfaces have a MIDI IN to record from MIDI devices and some have mic in to record from a microphone or line or whatever.

To my surprise, I was told plugging your keyboard by USB into your PC ist just as good if not better than plugging it into the audio interface. I was a bit shocked, wasn't it told my latency would be better if I used the interface? Yes, it would but the problem is not the MIDI (MIDI is a very simple thing, sending notes is virtually latency free). The problem with latency is the computer processing audio and THIS is what the audio interface does - and quite fast that is. With my US-144MKII I have like 12ms latency on the lowest setting.

Summary: An audio interface is a soundcard that's very fast at processing audio, so you have a low latency. You don't need a audio/MIDI interface as using your keyboard over USB is perfectly fine.

[setspeed]

Well, I wasn't in the clear what an audio interface was myself, too. My mate always kept saying I need one, so I bought one (Tascam US-144MKII).

To answer your questions: Yes, an audio interface is a soundcard. My Tascam one works over USB and you install a dedicated driver for it. From then on, a new sound device appears in the programms. The sound is fed over USB to the device and the speakers/amp are plugged to the interface. Apart from that, most of the interfaces have a MIDI IN to record from MIDI devices and some have mic in to record from a microphone or line or whatever.

To my surprise, I was told plugging your keyboard by USB into your PC ist just as good if not better than plugging it into the audio interface. I was a bit shocked, wasn't it told my latency would be better if I used the interface? Yes, it would but the problem is not the MIDI (MIDI is a very simple thing, sending notes is virtually latency free). The problem with latency is the computer processing audio and THIS is what the audio interface does - and quite fast that is. With my US-144MKII I have like 12ms latency on the lowest setting.

Summary: An audio interface is a soundcard that's very fast at processing audio, so you have a low latency. You don't need a audio/MIDI interface as using your keyboard over USB is perfectly fine.

MIDI latency certainly can be an issue, but it's been pretty much eradicated since the move to USB cables which is obviously a much faster protocol. Certainly hasn't bothered me since about 2006

Recently did some A/Bing with the headphone output of my Macbook (which really doesn't sound too bad) and a Novation X-Station MIDI Keyboard/Soundcard/Synth all in one job. The soundcard was really noticeably better quality, especially in the low-mids range. It's not perfect and sometimes seems to introduce slight aliasing with pure tones below about 100Hz but in general was quite an improvement

[Lman]

i work on a laptop and ive jst upgraded to krk rp6's theyve yet to come so i carnt give any more info but i also bought a novation nio 2 4 to go with it after numerous reviews were saying an interface would get more bang for your buck, watch this space.

[tripaddict]

roland edirol is pretty cool too and cheap

[creeptown]

so, an audio interface would be useful if one was using a laptop? i've been contemplating getting a laptop over a desktop for my next machine.

is the audio interface essentially a soundcard? would i need a soundcard as well?

is that box that ni was selling with a free synth an audio interface, and if so, what was it called?

I have a laptop with an audio kontrol 1 audio interface. Basically i just use it to connect my Krk rokit8s to the computer because there isnt really any other way to connect them to a laptop. Inbuilt sound card is a useless piece of trash. Mate personally, i wouldnt really buy a laptop if you want to start producing on it get a dessktop computer as they are easier to upgrade and really are much stronger computers.

That box is the Audio Kontrol 1 i dont recommend it if you are going to buy a new computer with windows 7 on it because there are lots of compatibility issues, and wont be sorted until NI realise a driver update.

[s3f]

alright I'm gonna revive this thread, no need to open up a new one I reckon. I was wondering what kind of data is transferred via the USB port? Is it output to the PC only (i.e. for mics) or also input from PC into the interface? Would I need to have an extra connection via the TRS outputs of the PC?

[mks]

alright I'm gonna revive this thread, no need to open up a new one I reckon. I was wondering what kind of data is transferred via the USB port? Is it output to the PC only (i.e. for mics) or also input from PC into the interface? Would I need to have an extra connection via the TRS outputs of the PC?

The data would be audio and midi (if the soundcard in question has midi ports) going both ways to the computer and soundcard. Connections would be for sound going in to the soundcard and for sound coming out of the soundcard. Does that answer your question?

EZ

[s3f]

yeah thanks mate, that's what I wanted to know

[gnome]

I don't know if this has been said. But when I bought my Novation Nio y laptop couldn't power it. Either make sure your laptop has enough power if you are buying a usb powered card. Or buy a powered USB hub.