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Choosing an Audio Interface - Unit Specifications

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Summary

A comparison of the features and specifications of some popular and suggested audio interfaces.

Suggested units

There is a huge range of audio interfaces available for computers. This is a small selection of some representative, interesting and/or popular units. Inclusion in or exclusion from this list does not constitute a recommendation or otherwise of any kind.

Apogee ONE - product page
Minimal but high quality production and podcasting interface with built-in USB microphone. High quality conversion, with a single studio quality microphone/instrument input, or built-in microphone, and stereo headphone/monitor outputs. Bus powered, so an ideal portable solution for those looking for location audio capture from a single source, and who want Apogee sound quality without the usual accompanying price-tag! Apple Mac only. [Note - though high quality, the mono input and max 48kHz sampling rate makes ONE unsuitable for archiving.]	Computer connection	USB2
	Total inputs	1
	Mic inputs	1
	Outputs	2
	Digital I/O	No
	Headphone outputs	1
	Direct monitoring?	Yes (via Maestro control panel)
	Max sampling rate	48kHz
	Max bit depth	24 bit
	MIDI	No
	OS compatibility	Mac OSX 10.4 or later
	Guide price range	£175

Apogee Duet - product page
A high quality stereo interface. Reference quality conversion, with two studio quality microphone/instrument inputs. Bus powered, so again ideal portable solution for those looking for a neat no-compromise location audio capture device, and who have sufficient budget! Apple Mac only.	Computer connection	Firewire 400
	Total inputs	2
	Mic inputs	2
	Outputs	2
	Digital I/O	No
	Headphone outputs	1
	Direct monitoring?	Yes (via Maestro control panel)
	Max sampling rate	96kHz
	Max bit depth	24 bit
	MIDI	No
	OS compatibility	Mac OSX 10.4 or later
	Guide price range	£600

Apogee Ensemble - product page
Reference quality multichannel audio interface. Archive standard AD/DA conversion, with four studio quality microphone/instrument inputs and four further line level inputs. Multiple digital formats supported (ADAT, AES, S/PDIF). Optimised for use with Logic Pro, but compatible with all DAW applications on the Mac. Apple Mac only.	Computer connection	Firewire 400
	Total inputs	18
	Mic inputs	4
	Outputs	18 total 8xanalogue 8xADAT 2xAES/S/PDIF
	Digital I/O	Yes
	Headphone outputs	2
	Direct monitoring?	Yes (via Maestro control panel)
	Max sampling rate	192kHz
	Max bit depth	24 bit
	MIDI	Yes
	OS compatibility	Mac OSX 10.4 or later
	Guide price range	£1500

Prism Orpheus - product page
Reference quality multichannel audio interface suitable for recording, archiving, mastering or any critical digital audio use. Archive standard AD/DA conversion, with four studio quality microphone/instrument inputs and four further line level inputs. Built-in RIAA equalisation for direct turntable connection. Multiple digital formats supported (ADAT, AES, S/PDIF). A no-compromise solution from a highly respected manufacturer. Windows/Mac compatible.	Computer connection	Firewire 400
	Total inputs	16
	Mic inputs	4
	Outputs	16 total 8xanalogue TOSlink digital up to 8 ch ADAT
	Digital I/O	Yes
	Headphone outputs	2
	Direct monitoring?	Yes (via internal DSP + applet)
	Max sampling rate	192kHz
	Max bit depth	24 bit
	OS compatibility	Mac OSX 10.4+, Windows XP/Vista or later
	Guide price range	£3200

RME Fireface 800 - product page
Reference quality multichannel audio interface. Archive standard AD/DA conversion, with four studio quality microphone/instrument inputs and four further line level inputs. Multiple digital formats supported (ADAT, AES, S/PDIF). Windows/Mac compatible.	Computer connection	Firewire 800
	Total inputs	26
	Mic inputs	4
	Outputs	26
	Digital I/O	Yes
	Headphone outputs	1
	Direct monitoring?	Yes (via TotalMix control panel)
	Max sampling rate	192kHz
	Max bit depth	24 bit
	OS compatibility	Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OSX 10.3+
	Guide price range	£1000

Tascam US-100 - product page
Well built entry-level podcasting/home recording USB audio interface. Single microphone input (no phantom power) or stereo line leve input, which can also be RIAA switched to allow direct connection of a turntable to the interface for vinyl digitisation. Windows/Mac compatible	Computer connection	USB
	Total inputs	2 (line level or turntable)
	Mic inputs	1 (not phantom powered)
	Outputs	2
	Digital I/O	no
	Headphone outputs	1
	Direct monitoring?	Yes
	Max sampling rate	48kHz
	Max bit depth	16 bit
	OS compatibility	Mac & Windows
	Guide price range	£95

Edirol UA-101 - product page
Versatile and good value interface with multiple inputs and outputs via USB2. 2 mic/instrument/line ins and six further line level inputs switchable +4/-10dB. Limiter prevents input signal clipping. 8 separate outputs, plus dedicated stereo monitor output and front panel headphone out with direct hardware monitoring. Software for signal routing/monitor mixing included. Windows/Mac compatible	Computer connection	USB
	Total inputs	10
	Mic inputs	2
	Outputs	10
	Digital I/O	optical S/PDIF
	Headphone outputs	1
	Direct monitoring?	Yes
	Max sampling rate	192kHz
	Max bit depth	24-bit
	OS compatibility	Mac & Windows
	Guide price range	£360

MOTU 828 mk2 - product page
High quality multi-channel interface Powerful CueMix software mixer for signal routing independently of computer. Windows/Mac compatible	Computer connection	USB2
	Total inputs	20
	Mic inputs	2
	Outputs	18
	Digital I/O	ADAT & S/PDIF
	Headphone outputs	1
	Direct monitoring?	Yes - software via CueMix Console
	Max sampling rate	96kHz
	Max bit depth	24
	OS compatibility	Mac & Windows
	Guide price range	£600

E-mu Tracker Pre - product page
Good value USB interface offering a good range of connections,quality conversion and 192kHz sampling capability. Bus powered, or optional PSU Windows/Mac compatible	Computer connection	USB2
	Total inputs	2
	Mic inputs	2
	Outputs	2
	Digital I/O	No
	Headphone outputs	1
	Direct monitoring?	Yes - Hardware
	Max sampling rate	192kHz (Windows) /96kHz (Mac)
	Max bit depth	24
	OS compatibility	Windows & Mac
	Guide price range	£125-£150