Next, the signal gets sent to the interface’s analog-to-digital (“A/D”) converter, which changes it into equivalent digital audio data - a stream of ones and zeroes that travel through the USB or Thunderbolt cable into your computer. (The quality of both the microphone and preamp have a significant impact on how good a recording sounds.) From there, it goes into the interface’s built-in mic preamplifier, which boosts the low-level mic signal up to a hotter line level - something that’s necessary for recording. The mic converts the physical vibration of air into an equivalent (i.e., “analog”) electrical signal, which travels down the connecting cable into the interface’s mic input.

For example, let’s say you connect a microphone and record yourself singing. Connecting and Converting AudioĪn audio interface acts as the front end of your computer recording system. Note that you can use a USB 2.0 interface on computers equipped with the newer USB 3.0 format because USB is backward compatible. Steinberg audio interfaces use the USB 2.0 connectivity format, which is supported by virtually all computers. Most interfaces work with both Mac ® and Windows systems many are also compatible with Apple ® iOS devices, although that usually requires an additional adapter. Modern audio interfaces connect to your desktop or laptop computer via a USB or Thunderbolt port (some older ones use different ports, such as PCI, PCIe or Ethernet). The more you understand about how interfaces work, and the kinds of features they offer, the better positioned you’ll be to make an informed buying decision.

They also typically provide metering and other important features. Such devices offer the connectors you need to plug in microphones and instruments for recording as well as speakers and headphones for listening. But despite all the functionality that such software provides, its sound depends heavily on a piece of external hardware called an audio interface.

Today’s computer-based digital audio workstation (DAW) software gives you more recording and music production power than a studio full of hardware from the pre-digital days.

Best virtual audio interface