Don't buy these audio interfaces. Get these instead.
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- This video goes over interfaces that I personally don't recommend which in turn will make the process of finding an interface much easier for you. I discuss many popular interfaces. Many I recommend. And some I don't. Interfaces as as the Behringer UM2, the Focusrite Solo, Focusrite 2i2, the MOTU M2, the M-Track Solo, the ID4 Mark 2, Presonus Audiobox Go, the Volt 276, the Volt 2, the SSL2, the Zoom M3, the Zoom F6, the AMS-22 and the Apollo Twin. I go over which ones I think are worth your money and I go over which ones I think might be worth passing up. I discuss budget interfaces, intermediate interfaces and pricier interfaces and talk about which ones imo are worth the money.
00:00 Introduction
00:16 The Behringer UM2
00:56 Focusrite Solo and Focusrite 2i2 discussion
2:48 The Audient EVO 4
4:41 The Audiobox Go
5:51 Shure MVI
6:23 Down to the wire
6:38 Zoom AMS-22
7:37 Narrowing it down further
7:50 The APOLLO TWIN - Розваги
The UAD money loop of buying a 500+ dollar interface that runs UAD plugins while they only give you enough plugins to get you hooked. Then you find yourself buying 1000+ in plugins to justify your purchase of a 500+ dollar interface to run those plugins.
Pinned.
Lmao
I did years ago. Spent $8000 on UAD plugs and PCI interfaces. But ever since I found out they were using sharc DSP chips I knew what the game was. Sharc are just x86 chips, and weak by any modern standards (of the last 15 years). A decade ago every year I would fill out their user survey comments section with "please just make the dsp's a dongle, I know the plugs can run native, stop limiting us to 3 plugins" (seriously when the neve 33609 can out we could only run 2 instances on a $800 card!!!!)
Its took years of Slate and Softube kicking their ass until they finally gave in and go native (with subscription of course). I moved on years ago I ain't falling for it again. RME interfaces last decades can't fault them or their business model.
my Uad Volt 1 cost like 100 bucks. what are you doing bro spending that money
@@escapegulag4317 it was 3 dsp cards and plugins , long before they made volt
when you're talking about focusrite and the camera won't focus right
So sorry! I have a shit camera. I have since made some camera upgrades based on feedback. ^_^
@@Dracomies all good, and the video is really helpful, I just had to
LFMAOOOOO
@@Dracomies If you would stop waving your hands around nervously, the camera would have a chance to focus. That nervous hand waving is also irritating to the viewers.
@@JohnShalamskas nuh uh, we all love him
I think i just had an aneurysm trying to look at audio intefaces shaking up and down violently out of focus.
For me it was the talking hands.
please take this as constructive criticism. I think the information is lost in the filming style. First, the waiving devices around hurts the viewers eyes. Maybe set up cameras and show the device on a table, slowly moving around it not fast. Pointing at the interface thing you're discussing. Like when you're pointing out the solo microphone controls monitors maybe shoot role showing an example or just show the devices as stationary and you turning the knob. Second, the framing doesn't use half the screen the right side. Also the blurry background combined with the waving hands and device is off putting. my two cents.
You are 100% right. I really need to get a better camera, better camera logistics, better video editing, better camera positioning and get my videos done right. Thank you the heads-up!
Drugs are bad for health.
It's a pity cos your content is interesting.
@@Dracomies A tripod and phone camera is perfect already! Having good audio is more important honestly, which your audio is already perfect.
Boohoo
You know what, I enjoy the less than perfect presentation. Reminds me of UA-cam's early years. Keep it up!
nice video! what mic are you using? and are there any post eq effects? if yes, how to make it sound so bassy and deep like yours? any good software recommendations?
What’s with the soft focused writing pad?
Sounds like he really needs to... Focus Rite
I have a NI Komplete Audio 6. My problem is that its headphone slot is somewhat faulty. If you push the jack all the way, it won't have sound, you have to pull it a little bit to have sound.
My other bigger problem with it is that i have to re-seat the USB slot every time i power the PC after a complete shutdown.
A cousin of mine gave me an ART USB Dual Pre 2-channel Audio Interface / Preamplifier. But i can't find a compatible DC power plug for it yet.
I'm curious to know if the ART ai doesn't have the re-seating problem i have with the NI ai?
Any help, appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Hi @noiJadisCailleach, bummer you're going thru those frustrations. It's happened to me in parallel ways on many devices over the years. To solve your problem in this case, the main trick is to determine your cost-benefit situation (not just in $) between repairing vs replacing it. so for starters double check whether your interface is covered under NI's warranty policy. If so, then take that route. If not, unfortunately it's extremely unlikely that any pro audio repair tech would fix it for a price significantly lower than what the NI interface costs new. BUT if you have a friend who is can service it, or if you are eager to try to see if you can open it up and fix it yourself ... then maybe it'd be worthwhile. but beyond all that, the cost-benefit is also about how urgent or essential your need to keep making music or audio content .... and whether that's worth fixing even more immediately. If you do decide to get a different interface, check out the steinberg UR44 or UR242, which IMO offer way better value v $ than the interface you have. but what really matters most is to have a working device that you can use to create whatever content you've been dreaming up. so try not to let the tech road block get in the way of that .... still working on that advice for myself; but seems to be the way ...
the first version of komplete 6 was solid
What do you recommend for a duo pc (second pc is a mini pc) its just to run my stream and recording. Only has an output audio port?
It depends - but all of these interfaces should work fine for both of your stations. What sort of budget are you looking at? Is the size of the interface an issue or is portability important. I will add one bit of advice. Avoid 'streamer based interfaces' or those interfaces with too many buttons. Many of those have too many moving parts and break or have issues, ie the Presonus I024 (bust), the Rodecaster Pro (some problems rolling in), GoXLR (no longer supported and is dead). So stick to a dedicated interface - and most of those should work fine for your setup.
ua-cam.com/video/N3vntwl3Utk/v-deo.htmlsi=0y_A6pr2Slx50Tav you wont find any better dualpc stream setup with optical audio transfer beteen both pc than this two rme
@@Dracomies The GoXLR support team has been reformed, albeit a smaller team. They did provide a beta software update on their official discord in Dec, It's nice to know that there is some form of support that has returned, so it is not fully dead which is nice.
@@Dracomiesyou have a recommendation on a cheap audio mixer? might want to connect a turntable and a keyboard
Having your subject matter in focus is rule #1.
I really do need to get a different camera.
I think, for now, not shaking the units so much while you're talking about them would help. I did like the information in the video, though, and it's cool that you can compare so many.
Disagree. Having good advice is rule #1. Pedant bullshit like focus, when I’m watching this vertically on mobile while reading comments, is basically worthless. I’m perfectly happy with the video.
It isn't pedant bullshit when the medium he's using is VIDEO, a VISUAL media. For fu*k's sake, always some idiot @@UliTroyo
I personally couldn't care less. I can hear him well and I like his presentation.
Whoa man! Just stumbled upon your microphone video and then this one and I must say I couldn't be more thankful to algo for recommending me your vid. It did help me just about when I needed it. Keep up the good work man 🙌
Hey man love your video, but I want to ask you. What interface do you recommend for a PC guy who is using it for FPS games? I have a sound blaster DAC and 250 ohms bear-dynamics headphones and a USB -C mic. Any recommendations for gamers?
Hi! You’re not going to be able to use your usb c mic with the audio interfaces. You have to use an XLR mic. If you want better audio quality than you are getting now without breaking the bank, you can go for the SE v7 or SE X1A paired with a scarlet 2i2 (mostly because you can easily find it on the second hand market and because it will be pretty easy to use thanks to all the tutorials out there)
Apogee duet uses single dial design and always worked pretty well, is this very different from that?
I've never tried the Duets but I heard they're very Mac specific.
Thank you for the insight. How do you feel about the Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre?
I don't have firsthand experience but my overall impression is that Claretts are great but for the price you definitely want to evaluate other options too. You might get what you're actually looking for at a cheaper price - or you might find something more premium if you pay a bit more - they're at a weird price point.
Ok, thank you. What would you recommend I take a look at?@@Dracomies
I have the previous version Clarett 4Pre USB interface. I record mostly drums with it, running it on Windows. Can't complain about it after over four years. And from what I read the + version is pretty much the same as mine with slightly improved audio quality.
I'd argue the MOTU M6 is better and it's a lot less money.
@@zdravkodimitrov thk you. Keep up the great work.
Hey what would you recommend for a Shure mv7x mic? My budget is around $150 usd give or take... I don't care about headphone or speaker output as I have an high end dac just something for the mic.
A Focusrite Solo will work well for you if you just have the one mic and don't need more inputs. Just make sure to get a 3rd or 4th generation Solo.
Bro one quick question about the Umc22, the interface have her own limitations regarding the amount of plugins we can use during recording? I ask because i have a really powerful computer and i can't run my complete vocal chain using the UMC22 in highspeed. Like i can't use autotune + compression + delay and reverb togheter without clicks. Even though my cpu is still only at 3%.
in that case i would just record with plugins off
@@demon3520that wasn't the question.
I wanted to get the apollo solo for my windows laptop which has a thunderbolt port. And i already am using some UA plugins. Im torn between the Apollo solo, Volt 476p and SSL 12. Do the preamps and converters of the solo outperform their volt lineups? SSL sounds so good in all youtube videos. They are all similarly priced here in India. Please help!
Hi. I've been using universal audio Apollo's for a very long time. Here's the good and bad. The good. Universal Audio makes excellent, high quality products. Their plugins are top of the line. All the converters on the apollo's and volt's are very good. no issues there. The Bad. My concern with the Apollo solo or volt is that it has limited processing power meaning you can only run so many plugins at a time, especially in unison. Just a thought. If you really like UAD plugins take look at their native ones ( UAD spark) They are same plugins however you don't need an apollo or volt to use them. If you need a good basic interface, presonus is good for the price.
@@jmsdeco thank you for the recommendation. I decided not to go for the apollo series, since they have multiple problems with windows. I'm super bummed about how they don't create simple drivers for windows. I know there are workarounds for making them work on windows, but that seems like a hassle.
I've found the volt 476 to be pretty reliable - good quality preamps and the built in compressor is something I just leave permanently on. Don't buy it expecting to run UA's plugins on it though - it's only the Apollo series that supports them. You can still run many of them natively in your DAW though, so hardly a drawback in my opinion (wait for a sale before buying though - those plugins can be super pricey!)
depends on your application, but i find my ssl12 to be more than what i need especially from a studio perspective. The sound quality is great. And for recording the talk back feature is great.
Go RME , Save yourself
Why doesn't anyone include or talk about the IK axe i/O one in these videos its like they exclude it completely. Is there any particular reason?
Probably because it's more guitar specific.
I don't know but I have zero issues with mine.
Hey, man, love the video! I've been on a crazy search for audio interface for my set up. I'm wanting to plug in my Roland JUNO-DS88 and plug in a microphone and guitar for content creation in the future. I don't know if that's enough information but to you think you could recommend one to me?
I have a Focusrite 2i4 2nd since a few years gen should I move to another new or keep it ? What could be the problem?, I use it to record an stereo synth and it work good
If it's working, why spend money on something similar. Now if you needed more mic inputs, or the unit quit working, then I would buy one.
I’ve been using an early Focusrite Scarlett for 10 years now. Works as good as it did the first day I got it. 1st Gen.
I really like the Universal Audio Volt series that includes the 1176 compressor with the wood looking side panels. Very good sounding interface.
Glad you love it! I'm a huge fan too! That vintage mode is sweet and subtle! :P
The wood is cool ... the compresor is ... poor.
The Apollo Twin starts at around 1000 Euros and comes with some decent Unison plugins for latency free tracking. I have an Apollo Arrow Thunderbolt version (was even cheaper) with a free plugin package and never bought any additional UA plugin - just added some 3rd party plugins for post production. Works great - no regret.
You're right! I remember the Arrow was the precursor to the current Apollo Solo USB. But yip I think where a lot of people can easily lose money is with the plugins, but you didn't fall in for that :D
Exactly, you don’t have to get caught up buying $1000 worth of plugins
I am a little confused. If im wanted to buy many plugin, and probably using it with live situation, which is a better option? Thanks.
RME Babyface.
Hello, friend, would the Irig HD 2 be a good option for Live Plugins? Or do you recommend anything else? specifically for Guitar. Thanks.
I used an old 0404usb until 2023.. Figured I ought to upgrade my P.C, so 'upgraded' everything. I didnt like the sound of the Scarletts. Tried ssl for a week but ended up returning it and getting a Motu m4. Seems ok for now.
I love MOTU stuff! Of the interfaces sub $200 it's easily my favorite of the bunch. It's the most intuitive and easy-to-use interface. It just works! :P
Your Motu is a really nice interface.
I use motu m4 as well, seems ok!
What was your reason for returning SSL? Do you like the M4 mic preamp sound better?
@@Kisenix I never returned the SSL.
My Motu M4 has emi issues through the screen in the front. I always have to point it away from stuff.
I feel that every interface in that form factor would have that. Because the front is not metal.
I've currently got the motu m2, would you say a better upgrade down the line be the ssl 12, volt 476, motu m6 or audient id4?
i'm currently using evo 4 and this video finally explained why i was getting such a nasty emi/dropout issues... 🤦♀
do you have any opinions on audient id14 mk2 or id24? or are there any alternatives i should check out in thst price bracket?
iD 14 mk2 user here! Totally recommended. It's just plug and forget. No EMI issues, super easy to use, REALLY low noise and the preamps are top-notch.
@@EduardoBerth do you use macos or windows? can you check/confirm if the volume up, down, mute keys on the keyboard work the iD series of interfaces??
@@yeowool404 Good question! I use MacOs. I can confirm that all hardware works just as advised.
@@EduardoBerth (just to clarify) you don't have to reach for the physical knob on the interface in order to change the output volume? (using the f10, f11, f12 keys)
@@yeowool404 Ow, sure! I mean. As long as the soundcard is the one in charge of the sound, you need to physically reach for the volume button for the monitors or the headphone. I understand that that is an expected behaviour.
I got my 3rd gen Scarlett 2i2 for $60 at a pawn shop. I feel like that's a perfect level. I see them all the time there so I pounced and everything sounds so much better than they did on my old interface
That's a fantastic deal of a steal! Great deal for sure!
What's wrong with Scarlett 1st & 2nd Gen..?
I agree - I've found them to be unstable and stop and start working somewhat randomly (though not usually while it's in use). It's also often packaged as a bundle with cheap components
It's not wrong but moreso they have made a quite few improvements on the 3rd and 4th gen, improvements worth paying a bit extra for.
@@Dracomies i have been using the Gen 1 since maybe 2015ish.. I've had to replace the usb cable but besides that I haven't had any issues.. maybe i just don't know what I'm missing.. but if its just about those air/vintage modes, that doesn't feel like something i would want to be baked into the raw tracks..
It's moreso the self noise of the interface and the gain range and dynamic range. Lots of incremental changes. Not totally totally game-changing but quite a noticeable difference in noise between Gen 1 and Gen 3. @@MreenalMams
Scarlet 2i2 gen 3 is great, had it for years and no issues. I know what level to have it on and where to have the level on my daw and everything sounds great. Each to their own opinion. I think it's the person using the interface as much as anything..
looking to get one of these to just run my presonus eris 3.5 and its subwoofer, do these audio interfaces provide different output audio quality to the speaker? If so which would u recommend for my use case?
Hey, was curious on opions! im currently picking between the motu m2 and Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD (under $200 with midi in/outs). Iv seen alot of people saying the motu m2 has alot of noise when using the monitoring but I really like it astheically. However if the $80 less id id have to pay for the UMC204HD isnt a major step down considering saving the money just going with that. I already have dac/amp (zen ifi stack) for everday use, so outside of monitoring I wont be using it for listening. My current plan is to just go with a shure sm57 and with the windscreen, so this might all be over kill but id rather future proof some. I know the UMC204HD wasnt directly mentioned but do you have experince with it and is it worth looking at over the motu m2?
This one is easy and not my typical 'it depends' answer, go for the MOTU M2.
@@Dracomies Much appricated! Im curious what your thought process is this on this one, just a much better all around product outta the motu m2 or is the 204HD just not very good? Is it just that the issues people have are QC and to get a replacement if you have the noise issues?
@@mdct77 So it’s a few things. So before I go on further please note that I do not have a Behringer UMC202HD or a UMC 204HD but spec-wise they are the same. If you watch this video here, you’ll see that the gain range of the UMC202HD is 51 decibels. The MOTU M2 is 60 DB. ua-cam.com/video/uy4NknWXZT0/v-deo.html This is important if you plan to use the interface with gain-hungry dynamic microphones, ie the Shure Sm7B. The dynamic range of the UMC204 HD is much lower than those on the MOTU M2 and the headphone outputs aren’t as good either. (Layman’s terms you get louder output from headphones like HD6xx on the MOTU M2) Another thing to consider is that (if you look at the UM2) the drivers are no longer supported by Behringer. Behringer has questionable quality control. So if we were to look down the line, which company do you think would support their drivers, Behringer or MOTU? That said -- I have gotten people who had great things to say about the UMC series - but personally I'd rather go for the MOTU M2 over anything Behringer.
What do you think about the IK Multimedia interfaces, that has good set of features for guitarists and also come with ToneX SE and Amplitube bundles?
I don't know anything about those interfaces. So I can't comment either way. I didn't get around to testing those ^_^
@@Dracomies fairly new one, the AXE IO ONE
Oh it's new. Interesting. Yip I don't know about it but I 'may' check it out in the future. :P @@mohitrahaman
I've just ordered the Behringer 204HD. For what I need (guitar and maybe mic - not simultaneously) it's perfect and has inserts for fx if needed. Cheap and low noise. Quite highly rated.
@@minkorrh I would like to have one of its big bro 404HD, for the sends and returns and 4 inputs; plus quality pre for the price. Julian Krause tested and praised it, but IK's ToneX bundle is quite tempting, within about similar price range of the two, but other hardware features are still unkown and untested as it's quite new.
I'm a huge RME fan and I really want to love the BabyFace Pro FS but I can't stand the arrangement of the inputs. They stick out on all sides, resembling some kind of medussa and making cable management a pain. I really wish RME would redesign it with all the IO on the back except maybe the headphones.
I'd kill for a partnership with RME and Zoom. Something with 32 bit float recording + RME Babyface preamps and capability + but Zoom's small size and simplicity.
I Had The BabyFace Pro FS As Well.. The BF Is Rock Solid But As You Mentioned I Didn't Like The Design/Layout And Arrangement Of The I/O So I Returned It Back To Sweetwater
What did you end up using in the end? What's your interface today@@mrrnrob
@@Dracomies UAD Apollo Solo OS Win 11
Get the UCXii - it's exactly that. Super happy w mine and yeah the octopus setup on the babyface needs a lot of room but it's still far better among the set here.
what do you recommend for a 4 channel mixer? something more practical and long term. can re cord drums
I have to ask since I'm on the market for a new audio interface. What's a "affordable" interface (if there is one) that has multiple stereo ins and outputs? I've been looking for something to use with stereo effects pedals/synthesizers and the scarlet solo does not give me that. Would be happy if you had any advice.
I actually like the evo for the same reason. I have an evo 8. Love the minimalist approach
I also use it with the iPhone and live streaming. The Evo series look awesome on camera. Besides the quality, when you are running a one band show, audio, video, content and you are the talent on screen, simplicity is very very much appreciated. I had to choose between Evo8 and ID14 (which is better). Smart gain won me over (it is supposed to be a gimmick), but it can come in handy. You can't always monitor when creating content.
Great video. Justifications make sense. Lot of information.
I understand it's off the cuff but pay attention to the speed of delivery/nervousness. It take away from a great advice video.
Any experience on Linux? what would you recommand?
Thank you so much. And yip, I tend to talk really really fast. I need to work on that. I also bought a new camera today since everyone complained the camera angles were bad :D
@@Dracomies I listened and IMO you don't talk too fast. But I couldn't watch... your new camera may help, but I couldn't watch because you were constantly moving and shaking the products.
Still, thanks for your planning and work on this!
Thank you for letting me know. I did finally get a new camera and a new shockmount! :D @@kencadby6586
Mackie Onyx Producer 2-2 USB Audio Interface works well under Linux. Be sure you install pavucontrol and open it before your recording software to set the input stream and lock the outputs and inputs. Its plug and play with newer kernels.
Hey, I have a question (Great video by the way): I noticed you didn't include the Arturia Minifuse. Do you think it isn't worth considering or did you just not have it on your radar?
what about the apogee symphony desktop on pc? is it endgame interface or is babyface better?
i am currently using the focusrite scarllet 2i2 4Th gen at the moment
I don't like Apogee for PC. But that's just me. They're better for Mac. I also think the price is a bit prohibitive
Symphony Desktop IS an endgame interface when you think about the overall quality (sound/drivers/looks/build). It really don't matter if it's on PC or Mac right now - I switch between the platforms all the time and it's good on both of them. It's much better sounding than Apollo Twin and Apollo X4 (my last interface before). I have also recently compared Symphony Desktop with Fireface UFX at my friends studio and RME sounded awful in comparison. New Babyface Pro FS should sound a little better than UFX, but I don't think that it's enough to take against Apogee.
Honestly I don't think the vast majority of people are going to care or be able to tell the difference. It's funny because Julian Krause (who knows a ton about interfaces) posed a challenge to everyone where he used an expensive audio interface with a $199 one and no one could tell the difference or could point out the expensive interface. Your microphone makes more of an impact than the audio interface. I truly honestly feel that diminishing returns hit pretty hard at a certain point, this interface being no exception. But if it makes you sleep better to spend more go for it of course :D But imo to say statements like oh this interface sounds much better than the Babyface Pro isn't something I agree with -- but I think 99.999% of us would agree that both sound amazing. UA-cam compression especially messes things up even further.@@noiseconnector
@@Dracomies It depends. I know that I don't have golden ears, but I have friends that pick different interfaces 10/10 in blind shootouts, but they also have a lot of engineering experience under their belt. People hardly know what to listen FOR.
My first interface was Lexicon Lambda and it's ancient history by now and when I switched to something higher it was night and day. Now something like Scarlett 4th gen sounds way better than everything even mid priced then. It's great time to be alive.
I worked for several in music shop and tried most of interfaces in last ten years and definitely agree that there's diminishing results when you go higher in price, but it can still sound different. Don't get me wrong - I think that RME are wonderful interfaces and in league of their own because of features, support and longevity, but they are not the best in sound quality. Just ok in their price range.
Still even people don't hear or care it's not a reason not to pursue for great sound. Don't matter if it's your performance, instrument, microphone, preamp, interface, monitors or room.
Guys, listen to this gentleman! He's honestly has a point, thank you Sir, for the knowledge 👍
Sir, I've subscribed. I watch the others video later 👍
I'm using the Duet 2, good price for second hand, powerful AD/DA
But that's also one button for everything🙃
Great video, Straight forward for the real user!
I think Boothjunkie liked that interface too. I think it favors Apple iirc.
@@yuzhuoma814 you can switch what that 'one button' does
Would you recommend buying axe i/o by ik multimedia for recording guitars?
Hey! I'm currently in the market for a more endgame interface (i currently use the audiobox 96 lol) and I have a macbook laptop. Out of the SSL2, MOTU M4, and UA VOLT, what would you recommend for Mac?
Any and all help is greatly apprecaited :)
Can't go wrong with either. They're all good.
thank you sir @@Dracomies
I am on PC got a 20y old RME Hammerfall card that is still supported and works like a charm
I believe you. RME has amazing support for drivers and keep supporting their products because they care. They make drivers even for older gear. They care.
rme is only brand that create theyr own drivers from scratch
amazing handwriting
I have a question is it possible to record while speakers (studio monitors) ar playing music ? My only goal is to record sound from speakers (studio monitors).... Universal audio Volt 1 interface are conected to windows 10 pc.... Or it just dosn't support it ?
Yes they could. But make sure not to put the microphone next to your speakers since they would have feedback.
Thanks for fast reply! :) I'm using speakers on stands and distance between microphone (Beyerdynamic m90 pro x) will be approximately ~ 1m or 39 inch. What are your thoughts on Volt 1 interface are it comparable in terms of sound quality while listening music and record music to Volt 176/276, SSL2, audient id4 mk2 ? Or it's internal parts are cheaper and it's not on this level ? @@Dracomies
Those are all good interfaces imo so you can't go wrong with any of those. The only real difference between the Volt 1 and Volt 176 is the fun compressor button. Volt 276 has 2 inputs and fun compressor button. I'd also add the MOTU M2 in there as well.@@KritTech
@@KritTech You will almost certainly get extra resonance from the speakers into the mic source. Even if not a squealing feedback issue. It's not recommended unless there is isolation. Any situation with recording and amplification in the same space usually utilizes distance, baffles, and more often than not gating to remove anything but the instrument/vocal source. UNLESS the room sound is desireable and the speakers are kept low/far enough to prevent hearing them in the mic.
This is why you see people playing/singing/performing in headphones more often than not if not using line input only.
I like my Motu M4 but I find it's headphone amp very lacking compared to my Apollo Twin on my Mac rig. Any recommendations?
RME all day.
Scarlett focusright 2ii2 4th gen is amazing. The 3rd gen was great. Ive never had an issue with them. 4th gen total step up though
It has some really nice quality of life improvements for sure! I like how XLR cables can come from the back.
Please do not make videos like this anymore: shaking hands, papers and interfaces up-close - it is not helpful at all and quite annoying. Didn't finish video...next...
What do you recommend above the Focusrite Scarlett 4 gen solo
Do you think evo 8 has the same emi issue? Is it possible it only was your unit?
No they will all have it. It's not an issue per say, they have plastic bodies so they don't have any resistance to EMI. If you need more EMI resistance you should get something with a metal body.
I don't have any issues at all with my EVO 8, it's also heavy and robust and delivers exceptional quality and reliability in my opinion (not an expert, but very good hearing and several high quality headphones to test besides spekaers/monitors). I even sometimes connect a Bluetooth receiver to two of the inputs (via channel splitter) and even a pocket FM-radio, with my mobile next to it and the WiFi router not more than 1 meter away, in a very busy street in a lower floor. It's nonsense at all. Bad video from this guy who doesn't even bring quality details on-camera. BAIT-CLICK video. Same crap everywhere. BUY IT if you want. The one-knob feature is good enough for me with high precision and reliable. It happened to me only once that I had ground-loop issues, but that could happen with EVERY OTHER INTERFACE. I just solved the ground loop issues by connecting my TV to antenna for it to get the ground to the computer itself, so it ended up being a problem with the computer itself, and it could happen with every other interface or audio equipment. It only happened to me when using a Mac Mini (with not ground-pin, just 2 pin mains due to low power consumption). Now I am using a MacBook Pro and I don't have any ground loop even if the power adapter has only 2-pin mains connector. I got it years ago when it launched on a deal from Amazon for about 130 €, very very low price, and I am amazed with it.
Don’t listen to this guy. He doesn’t provide any good reason for not buying the 2i2. That is lazy. The 2i2 has better converters than many professional interfaces. It has the Focusrite Red converters, better than the UA entry line. Only because it doesn’t have gimmicky preamps and tweaks. With the 2i2 if you want to upgrade you can because of those converters. Run a new preamp and compressor through the line input and you need to buy no new interface.
agree, he just said don’t buy the 2i2 buy these instead but never provide the reason why
There's just no reason TO buy it. As basic as it gets. Why not get something just as good but more options.
@@LTPottenger “it’s too basic, there are better options out there” is a reason, why didn’t just he explain it
@@marblesoda._.Wrong. The other options are just as good with way more features. Duh.
There is a video of a guy checking inside of the Scarlett and I remember it was far from impressing from his point of view
Dude, I don't know what UAD did to you but you are giving bad information here, I had an Apollo Twin mk2 since Windows 7, now have a Apollo x6 with Windows 10,
and in both cases ZERO issues, I say again ZERO issues with UAD Apollos and Windows PCs.
Also, when you buy an Apollo you get a suite of plugins that are enough for any type of production, you can buy more if you want to, but you definitely DON'T have to buy anything at all, they can run with no plugins whatsoever if you so wish, they are not required.
Again, I don't know what your beef is with UAD but your followers deserve to hear the truth.
2nd that.
3rd that!@@Fastvoice
"i dont like that" well dont buy the extra plugins that is running outside of your cpu then, it has nothing to do with the I/O of the interface that you initially was about to review... This whole video is stupid.
@@diskodogge7538 TRUE
hey, did anything come out what you could recommend since you released the video?
Minifuse is a good one and not featured in vid.
i wouldn't the m track audio as per the videos and reviews i have seen, all have a crazy jump in db from 9-10 slot on the volume control, there is also a very loud hissing sound on it,
the videos i have seen with the UM2 behringer are great so far no db jump barely any hissing i saw it with the mic i ordered which was the rode podmic.
curious to know your thoughts man.
I don't recommend the UM2 either, but if you ever want a really good interface, go for the UMC series from Behringer instead, best value for the money.
What is the name of the mic you use to record your videos?
need help! a buddy of mine said Babyface pro or Babyface pro FS is the best interface. whats the next best thing to the Babyface pro interface? that 500-1000 price range is a bit much for me rn lol.
Thank you for all the info, it really helps me make a decision on what to get next
Still running a Delta-44. It amazes me that it continues to work, given that it came out in the late 90s, and the newest driver is from 2012, for Windows 8.
I keep thinking some of this USB stuff is going to catch up to 1998 sometime, but it hasnt yet.
looking for a sound interface, should i buy 4th gen scarlett 2i2 or go for another interface for that budget range?
What's the main selling point for you getting 4th gen scarlett 2i2. If it's just the 69 DB of gain, you can go vocaster one for $69. If it's the other things you have to look at what you want. But what drew you to the 4th gen 2i2 to begin with?
As of today, only the MOTU M2 still is at $200 USD, like the Scarlet 2i2 4rd gen. But all the other with same or better specs are $300 or more. So in this situation, it's worth the Scarlet?
Great comparison. I've only used 2 interfaces, Mbox 2 with XP using Protools 7.3 and currently with Reaper on a Windows 7 machine, and a Presonus Audio Box USB96 on the Windows 10 computer. My criteria was for midi connectivity and mic/guitar/line input. All have separate volume knobs for headphones, line out (monitors) and line in (guitars etc). That has been a really useful feature. I have found the Mbox can be tweaked to compensate for latency (not bad for a 20 year old interface) while the Presonus cannot (at least to my efforts). I have recently acquired a second Mbox2 as I'm archiving older Protools files from an SSD with XP. The second hand market offers some cheap alternatives, and could be great for those using newish computers with older os and older daws. I would suggest researching what drivers the makers are offering before going this rout. Thanks for the post.
Yeah I've always been wary with Presonus interfaces. They're not known for doing great interfaces - at least I don't think so. I do hear nice things about their speakers though. But interfaces maybe aren't their jam. ie the blue Presonus Audiobox 96 (that had so many issues), the IO24 (kinda was a bust), the Audiobox Go (bested by other travel interfaces) etc.
Oh man, what a great video! I say “oh man” because I’m new to the world of microphone interfaces, and I just bought a PreSonus Studio 24c a week ago. It came with Studio One 6 Artist Edition, and it has very good reviews. I am just starting to use it and get familiar with it (and the software) but I read in one of your replies here that you don’t really like or recommend PreSonus in general. Have you had any interaction with this particular model? Any recommendations in general for newbies like me? 😂
Hey geat video! Whic interfaces or equipments do you recommend me getting if i want to record singing song covers?
Singing is out of my expertise ^_^
For the evo4 can I use the auto gain feature to set gains for individual tracks and master without making any gain adjustments or does ie does the evo4 obtain good sounding final mixes automatically?
If I'm using a new M3 macbook.. working 100% in the box (no recording - hardware) is any of this better than the dac in the computer?
If your only focus is for headphones, dedicated headphone amps would be better. But if you plan to record, then check out Julian Krause's video on interfaces with good headphone amps.
i recently acquired a presonus audiobox itwo what do you think about it?
I think if you got it you should work with it. But it's I think a bit outdated, I think 5 years - so there might be better alternatives to check out for a similar pricerange. But it depends on whether you paid full price or got a sick promotion.
I had it for 3 years and it was almost impossible to record electric guitars, especially with pedals; using amp plugins - a headache. In noise rank it is the almost at the bottom. Update your Universal control and Hub carefully: they are very "whimsical". But...
I just bought "a super low noise" SSL2 and ... it is worse. I don't know is it because of what it is or got a defected unit. Returning. That's why i am here :(
If you care i can update you soon. Meanwhile use what you have without too much stressing: you still can record at a lower levels and use plugins to improve the volume and sound. I did record quite a lot and the final things are not too bad (especially with many instruments playing and after sound-cleaning plugins). It was/is my first interface...we all do stupid things sometimes (most of the time ;) )
its sibling, the audiobox ione, was my first interface, and it spectacularly failed on me, the headphone amp had problems of not being balanced between left and right channels unless cranked to a high volume, it started outputting ground loop noise and RF interference on the same volume as my microphone in locations where my newer interface (UMC202HD) worked fine, and after some years of struggling through this the power circuitry just shorted out and rendered the lovely "The last USB device you connected malfunctioned" error in windows, enjoy your interface while it works I suppose
in addition, the ASIO drivers for it offer absolutely no volume control of any kind which made them impossible to use for music production because turning down the interface would introduce L/R imbalance, and system audio capture would also additionally scale against system master volume, which made doing any sort of recording or streaming work in OBS a nightmare, my UMC202HD has been heaven in comparison, with ASIO drivers that just fucking work and also obey system volume controls, no severe issues with L/R imbalance or noise, as well as system audio capture that stays in place properly
@@puella_meiberu hi!, I noticed that the L and R on the headphones only are unbalanced on low volume almost cero, and I don't know if the output of the interface is the problem but when I play something It makes a pop sound, like when You turn on a speaker, I purchased this interface because I was in a audio school and I asked some teachers about this interface and they told me it was good, but now, reading what you wrote makes me doubt xd
i got an audient evo years ago. going forward i must watch your videos before making a decision! love, love, love your content!!
Are you planning on running any audio test with some of them? Curious on travel interfaces
For travel interfaces I'd give it to either the F3 or the MVX2u.
Which one has better mic preamp sound? SSL or Motu?
I bought an Elgato Wave XLR and the live-monitoring is kind of a joke in comparison to my old GoXLR Mini.
I really miss hearing my post-processed audio in real time, so that I actually knew how my audio sounded as I was recording- instead of hearing the "raw" and "hissy" mic input.
Am I correct that "DSP processing" is what I'm looking for?
I also have an Wave XLR, but don't use it (and someday, if I'm not lazy, I try to sell it xD), cause I like the ID4 just so much better, the headphone preamp gives you much more volume, in terms of monitoring it's much cleaner, and it also has a mix button ^^
And if you want to have the Wave Link software, just buy a used Stream Deck Plus for addition, like I plan to do it if I find one, for a reasonable price 😉
Edit: Oh, and I can also recommend you the AVerMedia Nexus Mixer ^^
@@justyuriforever thank you!
I just went back to my GoXLR Mini, as it's perfect for my personal needs- and 10x better than the Wave XLR due to having actual hardware functions instead of software-only. Lol
great video! but now i gotta ask
what about Arturia interfaces? any opinions on those?
been laying my eyes on those bad boys for a bit, and im curious if they are worth it.
when it comes to the stuff i already own, i feel like i can trust arturia's products, but nobody talks about their interfaces
Fantastic interfaces - from what I hear. I have no personal experience with them. But lot of great things people have to say about them.
@@Dracomies thank you very much!
ill try to look for a review of someone who owns them and 500 interfaces like you dooo
cya around :)
are the scarlett focusrite solo 3rd /4th solos almost the same or is the 4th noticeably better?
4th gen 2i2 is much better than the 4th gen solo because it has a gain range of 69 DB. It's weird that the solo variants don't have that. But again the problem with the 4th gen 2i2 is that it's neck-in-neck with a lot of other fantastic audio interfaces. I'd say for the purposes of what's needed either would be fine between the 4th and 3rd gen solo, but it's the 2i2 where things go to the next level.
I took the plunge and got myself an SM7B based on a friend's recommendation.
Now, I'm diving into the world of audio interfaces for my setup and could really use your advice. I mainly use my gear for voice talent work and voiceovers, but I also like to dabble in recording for my singing hobbies.
Got any tips on choosing the right audio interface for me?
Imo as great as the SM7B is for podcasting and for streaming it's not a microphone I recommend for voiceacting and voiceover. Great explanation of it by a voiceactor here: ua-cam.com/video/LjzY7ACXzzQ/v-deo.html
@@Dracomies What interface is good for SM7B?
So what about the new Apollo X Usb windows only interface that's dedicated to windows
I would say that go for what you can afford, but also, don't cheap out at the same time, especially if you're starting off. A lot of these things here are great recommendations, especially comparing the Scarlett to other good interfaces within the same price range. The idea for the EVO devices is to help simply stuff, such as using the smart gain. If people prefer to use actual knobs to adjust gain, then go for something else. I'm still using my Audient iD44 MK1. I'm using it until it dies because it does the job, records well, drivers are good, and the preamps sound good. If and when it dies, I may just buy the MK2 or go for RME depending on my budget.
The recent Behringer rack units are supposed to have good audio performance and preamps, although does this mean the circuitry inside the cheaper smaller units like the UM2 is not the same / inferior?
I answered above, but depending on your needs....I have only to plug my electric guitar in and maybe a mic, but not at the same time. I ordered the Behringer 204HD. I _can_ use both inputs as guitar and mic at the same time but I don't need to. It has fx inputs at the rear also. Cheap and highly rated.
The UM2 should not be compared to anything else from Behringer, the UM2 was a fail.
Anything else from Behringer is absolutely something you should go for over anything else.
Most of Behringer's stuff comes with Midas Preamps and often alot more usefull features that most of the other brands doesn't even offer with their most expensive units.
So between presonus go and the kotankt one which one I should buy ...literally that is my budget...
I'd go with the M-Track Solo at that budget point.
Neither
kotankt
Among the Babyface, SSL & Volt which would you recommend considering the preamps, design & overall quality, functionality & practicality in a home studio setup.
(No issues with the price of any of these, I use a lot of SSL plugins and I'm planning to get their DAW/plugin controllers too but I really love the 1176 feature on volt. At the same time, everybody tells me that RME Babyface is the best in audio quality among these.)
Let me tell you, I have used almost all of these companies, 8/10 of these cheaper products are always faulty. Always.
I chose to save and Went UAD, Uad has some problem with windows, then I got the Baby face FS, and I FOUND PEACE!!! After 10 years, PEACE!! Then I got RME bigger ones, - more stacked peace.
@@jayantasarkar9671 so, for a home studio RME babyface is a good choice?
I use a presonus audio box go. It's my first ever audio interface, so i don't know any better. Looking for a high-quality alternative. What's the recommendation chat?
I use a sm-57 and Beats studio pro mainly for music on bandlab, and i have to crank it up to 10 to get the mic to sound good. Mainly, i prefer to keep it mobile. And im willing to explore options 😊
The one I got was Yamaha steinberg ur 12. I think it has the problem where there's one knob for all audio outputs, while inputs have their own knobs. Idk if noisy - I just needed to hook an xlr mic which I bought by mistake.
Straight to the point and no bs, like everyone here in YT should be. Huge thanks.
does the evo 16 have the same emi issues?
Great video - curious what you think about the Tascam 2x2 line (and the modern variations) - there are some other videos comparing interfaces and that one ranked pretty high in terms of its preamp quality.
(subjective) I feel like Tascam seems to always be a step behind Zoom. ie the Tascam DR40 were a step behind the Zoom H4/5/6 and the Tascam Portacapture wasn't as good as the Zoom F3 (subjective opinion I know) so I always view them as just kinda second-rate. Sorta like how Presonus is trying to match other interfaces but they're like 3rd, 4th place etc. But I have no firsthand experience. I did have the Tascam DR-40X and didn't like its preamps. The Tascam US 2X2 is a good price at $119 but honestly I'd rather just go with the Minifuse at that point or the Volt. Again too many other more interesting options imo. I firmly believe that cheap interfaces that are unpopular are unpopular for a reason// ie there's something more interesting to be bought with the same money.
@@Dracomies that’s interesting what you say about popularity, I tend to think the less popular they are, it is for a reason, but the reason is the companies aren’t spending a lot on marketing, and HOPEFULLY the money would instead be going into the products. Appreciate the comment though
Do you have any thoughts about an SM7B (w/ Cloudlifter) and a Focusrite Vocaster One?
I don't have firsthand experience with the Vocaster One. But I can at least comment on the SM7B and Cloudlifter. Imo definitely consider a different microphone if you can. There are microphones for a fraction of the price that give you great sound. That said a Cloudlifter isn't needed if you have some of the modern interfaces. ie at least 60 DB of gain. But seriously ask yourself why you want the SM7B. Because if it's just for gaming, UA-cam etc you might find other alternatives that work better for that. But if you want it because you want it, then yip you honestly don't need a Cloudlifter with it provided you go with some newer interfaces with 60 DB of gain.
@@Dracomies Thank you for a near-instantaneous response! I really appreciate your advice.
@Dracomies I am very interested. Which mic sound great for the fraction of the price? Surely not a sm58.
There's an SM7B Alternatives video I've made which you might like. @@Alex-bl8uh
@Dracomies ok I'll watch it 👍🏻
So is there any PORTABLE interface that you recommend? One that connects to an iPhone/iPad and doesn't require carrying around a separate power supply for it?
F3
What about the soundKraft signature 12MTK? I have that with a DBX286S Audio processor/preamp.
Don't have experience with it. But imo quite expensive at $600
Very nice review. I love the fact that you give your opinion instead of just rattling away the specs and ending with "choose whatever you want". I agree with most of your points, but I would like to add that Universal Audio does have a reputation for making top class plugins. I have tested their LA2A emulation (that they gave away for free months ago) against other LA2A emulations (IK Multimedia, Analog Obsession etc.) and the UAD definitely sounded the best on my vocals. While I won't be trading in my SSL2 any time soon, I might keep an eye out for UAD plugins on sale due to that. Anyways, hope to see you do more reviews in this vein.
Thank you for the kind words! Yeah my reviews are more blunt -- :P -- but I think it can help people save money. As for the UAD plugins I think they're great but I still think they cost a lot of money so the costs add up very quickly. It's like tattoos or Pringles, people don't just have 1.
I owned many audio interfaces throughout the years like many M audio and digi design models, and I’ve never been happy until i purchased the apogee duet 2, I’m enjoying it so much and i cannot be more happy. I think you should review this amazing piece.
I use a Nu-X N Live which I cannot fault. Any reason you didn't review this i/f?
got zoom h6 its ok but its noisy though with the xy mic I bought separately the h4 comes with it,, I only use 1 port so should have just gotten the h4, noise floor kind of kills the mood for me obsessively use audacity's denoiser, learned over time the noise is ok fills the spectrum in a way, also if I don't want noise just turn the volume down on the h6 and up on the synths, got the arturia minifuse 2 for my desk set up with the akg 120 mic
A good interface is the Focusrite 18i8 3rd Gen. You get an interface that takes care of 95% of input needs, and is one of the cheapest large input interfaces that is portable that is good quality. For about $200, I got an amazing quality used one (where it doesn't even look used).
While it's disappointing that there are only four XLR connections, you can also get a portable pre-amp and run in any additional mic connection needed via line out, and ADAT if you really need all those inputs. Perfect for most musicians that want to keep things simple while not being so limited.
Yep it's certainly good enough for everything needed for dang sure
@Dracomies
Excellent video, thank you!
I have the BOSS RC-600 looper and I also use it as an Audio Interface, but since I never used other ones I couldn't say if it in comparison is any good.
Could you be interested in doing such a comparison?
Would you recommend the Antelope Zen go thunderbolt for PC?
I don't know anything about the Antelope Zen so I can't comment.
I don't know much, but at least according to reddit, there has been a lot of complaints about Antelope in general, due to bad customer service, bad drivers, or bad software. On top of that, that could happen to anybody with any company.
I have ZenGo and ZenQ interfaces and I love them, they have some real character if not a bit quirky. PC drivers are solid, but Mac drivers aren't the best with newer silicon-style Macs. The intel-mac drivers work better, for now at least. What I love most about Antelope are the pre-amps, dynamic range, clocking, and the ports/expandability. The preamps have more noise floor than some, but the recordings you can make sound very analog. If you are looking for an analog sounding interface, if you know a bit about outboard gear, Antelopes plugins are really good. The good outweighs the bad. Very underrated company.
I loved my EVO 4 especially with promising features to beginners such as the Auto gain. Unfortunately, the EMI issues as you stated makes this extremely difficult to work with in small/compact setups.
Dawg not gonna lie, when you pulled out the note pad and started drawing up visual aids, I felt nostalgia, I’m thinking this is blues clue with your sketch book 👏😂 I wanna be a you as a UA-camr! Keep it up!! Your videos are soo cool and informative!! 🔥
What are your opinions on the Arturia Minifuse 2?
headphone pre's and hi fi madison doris. no problem to power really hard the power. mic pre test a clear as audio quiet say cleans 55dB significant difference ratio
Great breakdown vid 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Here's my interface experience... Started with Native Instruments KA6 Mk1in 2011 used it up through 2022 when I went from MBP to Mac Studio. The KA6 was built like a tank, I loved it and will use it for mobile situations. My next interface was the MOTU M4 (USB-C) used it from March 2022 til Feb 2023. The MOTU just never grew on me, it's a great value unit from a really good company; I have it sitting in its box and need to get around to selling it. My current interface is the Antelope Audio Zen Q (TB) purchased in March 2023, I wanted a desktop unit with a big knob, great convertors, along with belonging to an eco-system of other units that would allow me to expand. I couldn't be happier with it! The one thing I don't like is the afx2DAW software which I find clunky. A friend pointed me towards OmniBus software and I find it to be really solid, well laid out and intuitive. I see myself adding an expansion unit to my ZenQ and growing this way.
What is your opinion on Fiio K7?