The Best Audio Interfaces of 2025: Universal Audio and More

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• The Best Audio Interface for Beginners

  

  Courtesy of Focusrite

  The Focusrite 2i2 interface is apt nan first interface that each of your favourite musicians and producers bought themselves. These reddish boxes person 2 microphone aliases instrumentality channels pinch 69 dB of gain, which is much than capable for moreover nan toughest-to-power mics, and they sound utterly decent successful astir situations.

  The USB-C creation makes it easy to brace pinch immoderate modern computers and ensures that it has ace debased latency, truthful you won't person problem lining up aggregate takes connected apical of each other. There are 2 analog outputs, too, should you want to re-amp thing aliases usage immoderate outboard gear. Pair this 24-bit, 192-kHz-capable interface pinch a inexpensive mic for illustration a Shure SM57 and a decent brace of over-ear headphones, and you tin make fundamentally immoderate grounds aliases podcast you want successful exceptional quality.

  Specs

  Connectivity	USB-C
  Microphone Inputs	2
  Instrument Inputs	2
  Headphone Outputs	1
  Analog Audio Outputs	2
  MIDI In/Out?	N/A
  ADAT In/Out?	N/A

• Best Audio Interface for Mac

  

  Courtesy of Universal Audio

  Universal Audio

  Apollo Twin X Duo (Gen 2)

  It costs astir a 1000 dollars much than nan Focusrite Scarlett and offers nan aforesaid magnitude of microphone channels, but that's for bully reason: Universal Audio interfaces are nan manufacture standard, and this circumstantial “two channel” interface really offers 4 statement outs, an instrumentality input, and optical inputs for expanding pinch different integer interfaces (like its fantabulous 4710d).

  The concealed condiment wrong Universal Audio (UAD) interfaces is their dual unison mic preamps, which usage DSP to recreate immoderate of nan astir celebrated circuits connected nan satellite pinch astonishing accuracy while lightening nan load connected your soul processor. When you bargain UAD interfaces, you're not simply buying a bully mic pre, you're buying a chameleon that tin imitate galore of nan astir celebrated audio devices ever without causing your laptop to drawback fire. The processing is lightning-fast acknowledgment to dual- aliases quad-core models, and these travel bundled pinch a wide assortment of free plugins and software, which are nice-to-have additions for a merchandise that costs this much.

  If you look difficult enough, you're apt to spot 1 of these well-made metallic interfaces connected nan desks aliases successful nan laptop bags of a shocking percent of your favourite musicians; they're really that good.

  Specs

  Connectivity	Thunderbolt 3
  Microphone Inputs	2
  Instrument Inputs	1
  Headphone Outputs	1
  Analog Audio Outputs	4
  MIDI In/Out?	N/A
  ADAT In/Out?	Yes (1)

• Best Interface for Larger Sessions

  

  Courtesy of Universal Audio

  Universal Audio

  Apollo X8p

  While open-source crusaders and techno-libertarians are applauding Universal Audio’s caller efforts to move distant from its “walled garden” attack to plug-ins, nan truth is that astir of nan bully ones still require nan beingness of an interface aliases a processor halfway to load up and tally successful your DAW of choice. As we mentioned successful nan write-up of nan Apollo Twin, above: “good” is simply a monolithic understatement erstwhile describing UAD's astir celebrated plug-ins.

  Its integer re-creations of optical operation autobus compressors, legendary reverbs, and warm, vibey portion machines are unmatched by immoderate different prosumer-level manufacturer, and nan truth that its hardware powers nan CPU-hungry algorithms that use nan magical high-end sheen to your operation makes nan pricey leap into nan UA beingness good worthy it.

  Direct monitoring connected nan 4 included XLR unison preamps is crystal clear, astir latency-free, and loaded pinch cleanable headroom for thing you plug into it. A wide array of inputs for illustration a brace of ADAT I/Os and 8 line-level 1/4" jacks tin grip sessions of each sizes, and nan UA Console app makes routing, monitoring, and plug-in guidance a breeze. If you spell to a awesome studio, this is nan astir communal interface you'll see, often pinch aggregate stacked together for moreover much channels, which you tin do pinch a azygous cablegram betwixt devices. —Pete Cottell

  Specs

  Connectivity	Thunderbolt 3
  Microphone Inputs	4
  Instrument Inputs	2
  Headphone Outputs	2
  Analog Audio Outputs	8
  MIDI In/Out?	N/A
  ADAT In/Out?	Yes (2)

• The Best Interface For Podcasts

  

  Courtesy of Solid State

  Solid State Logic is 1 of nan astir celebrated makers of workplace signaling desks—the type of point you mightiness dream of signaling done successful nan existent world successful London, New York, Atlanta, aliases LA. The marque modeled its ain legendary SSL4000 console to springiness you that spirit connected your mic preamps connected nan measurement successful (just property nan 4K button) connected nan apical of nan unit. Even without that mode engaged, these preamps sound cleanable and sparkling, and location are 4 analog outputs arsenic good as—great for synth nerds—MIDI successful and out. You tin moreover nonstop a awesome to it from different integer cogwheel via ADAT. Another logic to buy? The awesome bluish measurement knob connected nan front, which is 1 of nan astir satisfying successful nan business. Two headphone outputs make this a awesome interface for signaling podcasts; arsenic agelong arsenic you person a brace of headphone splitters, you tin usage this for up to 4 people.

  Specs

  Connectivity	USB-C
  Microphone Inputs	4
  Instrument Inputs	2
  Headphone Outputs	2
  Analog Audio Outputs	4
  MIDI In/Out?	Yes
  ADAT In/Out?	Yes (1)

• Best Budget Interface for Mobile iOS Rigs

  

  Courtesy of Arturia

  The sub-$300 USB interface marketplace is crowded arsenic ever, truthful it takes immoderate thoughtful flourishes for a instrumentality to guidelines out. We emotion nan Arturia MiniFuse 4 for its beefed-up connectivity, accessible design, and plug-and-play connectivity, which makes it an fantabulous prime for mobile producers who request elastic routing and easy powerfulness proviso options successful conscionable astir immoderate scenario.

  The MiniFuse 4 is bus-powered for illustration immoderate bully mobile USB-C interface; however, it besides includes its ain outer powerfulness proviso that powers astir tablets to which it’s connected, arsenic good arsenic immoderate devices connected to its 2 USB-A hub jacks. These are awesome for MIDI controllers, trigger pads, and conscionable astir immoderate different peripheral instrumentality you’ll usage while you’re dropping into a convention for an on-the-fly performance. —Pete Cottell

  Specs

  Connectivity	USB-C
  Microphone Inputs	2
  Instrument Inputs	2 (2 statement ins)
  Headphone Outputs	2
  Analog Audio Outputs	4
  MIDI In/Out?	Yes
  ADAT In/Out?	N/A

• Best Interface for Synth Nerds

  

  Photograph: Amazon

  It makes cleanable consciousness that nan first genuinely synth-forward audio interface is produced by a European purveyor pinch power voltage coursing done its veins. With respective blockbuster pieces of kit to their name, Arturia is simply a sanction you tin spot erstwhile it comes to each things related to synths–and now they’re a standout subordinate successful nan interface crippled pinch its AudioFuse 16rig (see our afloat reappraisal here).

  This 1U rack-mount interface is equipped pinch 16 1/4" statement level inputs connected nan back, which intends you nary longer request to put hundreds of dollars successful nonstop boxes to get a cleanable awesome from your synth, groove box, aliases sampler. Just plug it in, usage nan intuitive matrix router successful nan included package to way its awesome to whichever analog and/or integer output you spot fit, and you’re bully to go.

  The staggering magnitude of inputs is capable to excite most, but Arturia besides included each sorts of thoughtful bells and whistles that make nan 16rig an easy prime arsenic nan bosom and encephalon of your synth rig. Five-pin and USB MIDI I/O, a USB hub input, dual ADAT I/O, and DC-coupled outputs for CV connections to modular synths make this an all-in-one solution that’s yet to beryllium outgunned by moreover nan biggest names successful nan interface game. —Pete Cottell

  Specs

  Connectivity	USB-C
  Microphone Inputs	2
  Instrument Inputs	16 statement inputs
  Headphone Outputs	1
  Analog Audio Outputs	10
  MIDI In/Out?	Yes
  ADAT In/Out?	Yes (2)

• Best Interface for Drummers

  

  Photograph: Parker Hall

  I person utilized and loved my previous-generation Presonus Quantum interfaces to way drums for years, and nan only point that has maine wanting to upgrade is nan newer Quantum HD exemplary pinch automatic level-setting (see our afloat reappraisal here).

  You tin simply property a fastener connected nan interface and play away; nan interface will group nan microphone preamp to what it thinks is nan saccharine spot based connected your volume. As a drummer who is tired of moving backmost and distant from my kit to my table a cardinal times to do this nan old-fashioned way, I deliberation of this exertion arsenic thing short of a revelation.

  Pair nan 8 channels of mic preamps pinch Presonus' Studio One (my individual favourite signaling software) and you'll moreover beryllium capable to dial successful nan summation connected nan preamps from wrong nan software, arsenic good arsenic move connected phantom power, which is simply a bully touch. A USB-C relationship and accelerated processing mean that this interface has fundamentally zero latency, and nan onboard preamps are cleanable and clear, fresh for immoderate integer aliases analog ungraded you want to put successful beforehand aliases down them. Like nan larger UAD exemplary above, you tin stack these together utilizing USB-C, allowing you to person tons of channels erstwhile you request them.

  Presonus besides has a two-channel type that is cheaper but has nan aforesaid astonishing level-setting feature.

  Specs

  Connectivity	USB-C
  Microphone Inputs	8
  Instrument Inputs	2 (stereo)
  Headphone Outputs	2
  Analog Audio Outputs	10
  MIDI In/Out?	N/A
  ADAT In/Out?	Yes (4)

• The Coolest Portable Interface

  

  Photograph: Teenage Engineering

  Like astir Teenage Engineering gear, nan TX-6 (see our afloat reappraisal here) is stylish, quirky, expensive, and intolerable to put down erstwhile nan gestures required to run it are committed to musculus memory. A full of six stereo inputs successful a instrumentality nan size of a platform of playing cards is insane, and nan summation of features for illustration Bluetooth MIDI, built-in synth and drum engines, an aux send, a cue output, and a bevy of transmission portion parameters for illustration gain, EQ, and compression put comparably priced units that are 10 times its size to shame.

  With minuscule size comes awesome tradeoffs, truthful it whitethorn return immoderate other clip (and money) to get utilized to utilizing nan TX-6 to its fullest capacity, but erstwhile you do, nan thought of schlepping astir an inexpensive two-channel interface nan size of Infinite Jest becomes very unappealing. —Pete Cottell

  Specs

  Connectivity	USB-C
  Microphone Inputs	N/A
  Instrument Inputs	6
  Headphone Outputs	1
  Analog Audio Outputs	3
  MIDI In/Out?	N/A
  ADAT In/Out?	N/A