Interfaces: my choices, basics, advice
My choices:
I picked up an RME Fireface 400. It’s actually a brilliant deal and I have no idea why more people don’t jump on these. Here’s why I picked it.
Yes, this is an old interface. Yes, it runs on FireWire 400. But get this - RME has made this interface compatible with Apple Silicon via adapters from Apple. Seriously. A 2007 audio interface is working flawlessly on Apple Silicon from 2022.
This is my favorite interface I’ve owned. If you have the need for TotalMix, you’ll love it. If you don’t have the need for it, you’ll probably hate it or find it too complex. I love it — I leave the interface in my rack and use it as a big mixing desk for all of my audio in and out. It interfaces with the Rosetta 200 as well as my outboard preamps and monitoring. Excellent device.
In the past, I’ve used all sorts of stuff. I enjoyed the Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56. It gave me a bunch of inputs, plus I had another batch of ins and outs available via a Presonus Digimax FS connected via SPDIF. But there were weird routing settings that made things pretty irritating sometimes. I vastly prefer TotalMix. But still, the Liquid Channel emulations are very cool. There are a few useful ones in there and they can really enhance the sound of your recordings. Focusrite made a standalone Liquid Channel unit ages ago — I’d pick it up, if they weren’t still pricey and loaded with analog hardware that goes bad and is hard to get fixed.
I used to use the MOTU Ultralite AVB when I travelled more but I no longer recommend any MOTU equipment due to their company’s complete refusal to service their own hardware or to enable others to repair their devices. I lost my entire investment on the Ultralite after just a few years of ownership because MOTU would neither repair my unit nor provide schematics or parts to third-party repair technicians. Completely unacceptable behavior from a professional audio manufacturer.
In the past I’ve used Apogee stuff like the Duet and the One, an RME Babyface, and various budget Focusrite options. Even a low-end UMC from Behringer. Most of these are completely fine and will get the job done with no issues.
What actually is an interface?
An interface is a single box containing line and mic preamps, digital to analog converters, analog to digital converters, and usually a headphone amp or output volume control. FYI: The typical order for what matters to sound quality goes in this order.
The analogy to me is: an interface is to a microphone what a camera body is to a lens. The interface/camera body will generally do a pretty decent job capturing whatever the mic/lens puts into it — the models are differentiated by features, ease of use, etc rather than actual discernible content/final product differences.
Sound Source > Room and Mic Placement > Mic > Preamp > (way further down) Converters
For the record, I can’t detect an audible difference between different converters I’ve tried EXCEPT for the Rosetta 200 in certain situations. When isolating the converters, I can’t tell the difference between an ODAC vs. Behringer UMC. I may be able to hear an R2R vs. a really bad converter on a motherboard or something, but I haven’t had the chance to test that out yet.
Buying Advice
I’ve formerly recommended the MOTU M2 and M4. They’re great but you have to purchase with the understanding that these units aren’t repairable. The new Audient EVO has some very promising auto-gain preamps. Another option is the Audient iD4. Heard very good things about these. Same with the Focusrite Clarett series. An upward move would be the UA Apollo or anything from RME. There are lots of “decent but quite suitable” options like the Behringer UMC series, Focusrite Solo and 2I2. To that end, I’ve made extensive use of a $4 pawnshop spray-painted Yamaha Audiogram which has made itself surprisingly handy with my iPad and a USB adapter.