Connections are on space-saving combi XLRs with individual selector switches to select between line and instrument. It’s also one of the smallest audio interfaces on the market. Recommended for: The RME Babyface Pro FS improves a fan favorite with new features, better AD/DA converters and a great preamp. We tend to think of computers as instantaneous, but they’re not. what are the vertical values in your graph? This adds a whole lot of warmth and analog color to your recordings. The Audient iD4 is a step up from the popular Focusrite 2i2 (one of our favorite audio interfaces) and offers just about everything a serious beginner would need without burning a big hole in your pocket. The unit is pretty compact and the layout self-explanatory. Serious home studios and producers who want best-in-class audio quality and an exceptional range of classic preamps and compressors. mid-sized commercial studios, video post-production studios, mobile studios, live recording on a very wide range of modern computer hardware. The Clarett 2Pre USB is USB 2.0-only, although its connector is the small USB-C type, normally associated with newer standards. With that being said, we think that this interface is ideal for the musician/singer who wants a 2-in/2-out interface, with the versatility to be able to plug in both XLR or TRS via each input port. I have an ERM multiclock which will handle MIDI and clocking but I’m looking to upgrade my audio interface. Other Gear. Still a desktop-format 2-in/-6-out interface with 24-bit/192kHz capabilities, the Apollo Twin MkII would be almost indistinguishable from the original were it not now black rather than silver. If you hope to emulate true professionals, this software ecosystem is a must-have. Building on the success of the original Duet, while taking into consideration customer feedback, Apogee has set a new standard in A/D conversion for home and project studio with the Duet 2. With high-quality Onyx mic press, balanced analogue connectivity and operation up to 24-bit/192kHz, the bus-powered Onyx Producer is more than capable of getting clean signals in and out of your DAW. It will completely transform how you record. It’s nearly impossible to walk into any beginner studio and not find that familiar red box – Focusrite Scarlett – sitting somewhere on the desk. The Dim button lowers the monitor output level, the Mute switch kills it entirely, and the Mono button switches between stereo and mono output for playback system compatibility checking. If you’re in need of a portable audio interface then you’ll probably rule out any rack mountable models. Maestro will help you manage all of Duet’s capabilities and settings, including I/O level, source selection, muting, mic/instrument gain mode, assign MIDI function controls to the controller knob, assign meter display, and more. This line input mimics the input stage of a valve amplifier. All of this takes time, which contributes to the latency. The interface acts as a medium between your hardware and software. Let’s see whether it truly holds the crown. Latency has been reduced to an astounding 1.1ms round-trip*, allowing you to monitor through your DAW, plug-ins included, simplifying your workflow and leveraging the power of your Mac. It is also one of the most portable audio interfaces around. The audio interface will convert your digital audio signals back to analog signals on the way out of your computer. The Babyface Pro FS features a new SteadyClock FS circuit that has better, more accurate tracking with lower jitter. The I/O options are fantastic – you can hook up three pairs of monitors and four input sources at the back, including the aforementioned Onyx preamps. SoundJack is a low latency audio/video communication platform created by Dr Alexander Carôt. The unit provides 2 XLR/TRS combination inputs, an optical input, as well as 4 line outputs, making it decent for musicians who only need a few inputs for simultaneous recording. Overall, with all that being said, the RME Babyface Pro is ideal for those who want a portable audio interface, with a wider selection of inputs/outputs than the similarly sized Apogee Duet. If you’re looking for speed, the Thunderbolt protocol is currently the fastest option with data transfer rates up to 10 Gbps. In fact, of all the audio interfaces we’ve tested, Focusrite’s range performs the best on Windows. For those unaware, latency defines the time it takes for a signal to move from the computer to an external device (and vice-versa). whether you’re using USB 2.0 or Thunderbolt or MIDI input/output, etc. A standout feature for me is native iOS compatibility. In this case, the solution is to score an audio interface that has a zero latency monitoring system (also known as 'hardware monitoring') that will route the sound the microphone picks up and push it right out of the headphone output on the interface, completely dodging the converter and computer software. The best low latency audio interfaces offer fantastic opportunities to record high quality audio from several sources with minimal latency. Currently, the UAD library has over 100 plugins. If this is you, why not take a look at the product reviews for yourself, directly below. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Overall, Focusrite is an extremely reputable audio interface provider, known for creating quality interfaces. It helps prevent digital clipping by rounding off transient peaks before they hit the analog-to-digital converter. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Once up and running you’ve got a bunch of green and green/red LED indicators (signal level, MIDI input activity and USB connection), so you can see at a glance what’s going on. The Talk button activates the talkback mic (the tiny hole below the knob), which can be sent to the outputs of your choice for control room communication or quick recording of notes and cues. The performance is clean, reliable, and roomy, while the price is low enough to make it your first serious audio interface. It is one of the smallest audio interfaces on the market and sits comfortably on the tiniest of desks. Why exactly, well because Focusrite has been an industry-leading audio interface manufacturer for years on end, and their Scarlett range has been particularly successful. The Lowest Latency of any Audio Interface. There is a faint but audible hiss when you crank up the gain past the halfway mark. When you’re trying to figure out what you’re going to need from your audio interface, it’ll be worth thinking about what it is you’ll be using it for as well as what you’ll want your end product to be. It’s easily one of the best low latency audio interfaces on the market right now. Each has a manual green backlit switch to select a Hi Z instrument, and there’s a global backlit switch for 48V phantom power. Conversely, in order to hear audio stored on our computer or iOS device on something other than the built-in speakers, we also desire to convert the ones and zeros of the computer into something our speakers can play. AudioGraph 2. Installing new plugins isn’t intuitive, nor is it easy to get the software itself to work seamlessly without understanding some basic technical details. But despite the small size, it packs in a punch, featuring the same Class-A mic pre found in all of Audient’s high-end audio interfaces. The AIR 192|6 enables you to record up to 2 channels at once with its 2 dedicated XLR+¼” balanced combo inputs, and 2 all-new ¼” instrument inputs that have a specially designed gain and impedance stage to provide the most accurate representation of a guitar or bass plugged directly into the interface. 48V phantom power, meanwhile, is engaged globally via a single switch. While we didn’t experience any reliability issues, figuring out how everything works has a learning curve. If you use Logic Pro or Garageband, or like recording on the go, this should be your first choice. It is a great option for project studios. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface. Our other senses, especially sight and hearing, are much faster. The large knobs feel good to touch and the wine-colored front face is unmistakable on any studio desk. Recommended for: If you are looking for a cheap audio interface, this is easily one of the best low latency audio interfaces in 2020 you can buy. A USB 2 connection to connect to a Mac; a MIDI port; and a digital connection for iOS devices. We also wouldn’t recommend this for Windows users – the drivers are too wonky. Whilst it doesn’t feature the same in-built microphone that the Apogee One has. Even though it packs in studio-quality preamps, it is barely larger than a large smartphone. The decision on which one is right for you simply comes down to a combination of your budget and how you like to work. Speaking of meter display, Duet comes with LED I/O meters to help you monitor your levels for maximum effectiveness. 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