Are you considering purchasing or upgrading your audio interface? You may be wondering, “Do Expensive Audio Interfaces Improve Sound Quality?” Let’s take a look at what makes a good audio interface and why some audio interfaces cost more than others.
Do Expensive Audio Interfaces Improve Sound Quality?
The price of an audio interface is determined by several different factors. The quality of the electronics used to build the audio interface play a role in the pricing. Things like the mic preamps and the AD and DA convertors will affect sound quality and pricing. Also, the number of inputs, outputs and headphone jacks will affect the pricing of an audio interface. Does the audio interface you are looking at have MIDI in and outputs? The more features the audio interface has the more money it can cost. The quality of the mic preamps and AD / DA converters will make the biggest difference in the sound quality and pricing. The audio interface is the heart of your studio.
What Does An Audio Interface Do?
An audio interface provides a connection point for all of your instruments, microphones, headphones, and studio monitors to your computer and DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software.
The audio interface will also provide you with a source of phantom power for your condenser microphones.
The audio interface will convert analog signal from your instruments and microphones to digital signal that your computer can work with and understand.
When the digital signal comes back out of your computer it gets converted back to an analog signal to be played back through your headphones and studio monitors.
An audio interface can also have MIDI input and Midi output so you can work with MIDI in your DAW software.
Why Do I Need An Audio Interface?
An audio interface is the easiest and most cost-effective way to connect all your instruments, microphones, MIDI gear, headphones, and studio monitors to your computer.
The audio interface will give you high quality preamps and AD (analog to digital) / DA (digital to analog) converters.
An audio interface will take the processing load off of your computer and help reduce latency and improve sound quality.
You can leave all your gear plugged into your audio interface so it’s always ready to play and record.
What Is The Difference Between A Cheap And Expensive Audio Interface?
Not all audio interfaces are created equal.
When we look at pricing for an audio interface you will notice that an audio interface built with one XLR input and one 1/4″ input will cost much less than an audio interface built with four XLR inputs and four 1/4″ inputs.
The number of outputs available on an audio interface will also affect the price of an audio interface.
This is simply because there are more electronic components needed to build the audio interface with more connection options.
Another thing that affects the cost of an audio interface is the quality of the electronic components being used to build the audio interface.
Does A Better Audio Interface Affect Sound Quality?
Yes, a better-quality audio interface will affect sound quality and here is why.
The quality of the electronic components used to build any electronic device will affect the quality of the final product.
Cheap electronics can add extra noise to any device used in audio production.
High quality electronic components should be used to build top quality audio gear.
The amount of noise level and the sound quality will be determined by the quality of the electronics used to build an audio interface.
Things That Affect Sound Quality
When we are recording our instruments and microphones it’s very important to get the cleanest and best sound possible.
We also want to make sure we are recording at a good level.
Not too quiet because you may be able to hear unwanted noise and not too loud because this causes clipping.
With that said, a good audio interface should provide you with clean signal, a low noise floor, 24bit / 192 kHz resolution, the ability to easily set your input gain levels, and provide good clean signal for monitoring with your headphones and studio monitors.
The most important thing you need to create a good mix is good recordings.
This is where the audio interface comes into play.
A good audio interface makes it easy to capture clean recordings that can be recorded in your DAW software.
In the recording process this is where the quality of the electronics, preamps, and AD/DA convertors used to build the audio interface will shine.
If you cannot capture a good clean signal, then your mixes will never sound great.
If you cannot monitor your mixes accurately then your mixes will never sound great.
What Makes An Audio Interface Good?
Here are some features that make an audio interface a good choice.
Quality Electronic Components
The electronic components used to build an audio interface will affect the sound quality of the audio interface.
The most critical components of an audio interface are the mic preamps and the AD / DA converters.
The audio interface is the heart of your studio so choose a well-made audio interface.
Amount Of Inputs
How many instruments, microphones, ADAT, mixers, MIDI gear do you need to connect in your studio.
A good audio interface will have enough inputs to connect all of your gear to handle your recording projects.
Led indicators on your inputs are nice to have because it gives you a visual indication if your input signal is too hot and clipping.
Phantom Power
An audio interface will provide you with phantom power for your condenser microphones.
Condenser microphones need 48v phantom power to operate properly.
The phantom power can be turned on and off at the audio interface and is fed to your condenser microphone through an XLR mic connection.
Amount Of Outputs
The outputs on an audio interface provide a place for you to connect your studio monitors.
Sometimes you may want to use more than one pair of studio monitors to check your mix.
The number of outputs on an audio interface is something to consider when making a purchase.
Headphone Connections
You will definitely want an audio interface with a headphone connection.
Some audio interfaces provide you with more than one headphone connection.
MIDI In / Out
MIDI input and output connections on your audio interface will give you more options for connecting MIDI to your computer.
I recommend an audio interface with a MIDI connection.
Some MIDI devices have a USB option and can be connected directly to your computer via USB.
Relevant Article: The Best Audio Interface For A Home Studio Be sure and check this article out.
Should I Upgrade My Audio Interface?
Perhaps you have outgrown your old audio interface and may need more connectivity options.
Do you need more inputs for your instruments, microphones, and MIDI gear?
Perhaps you want to start using more than one pair of studio monitors to monitor your mixes?
If you are unhappy with the quality of audio coming into your DAW it may be time to upgrade your audio interface.
It could be you have been using an older style mixer to connect your gear to your computer.
There are many reasons you may be considering upgrading your audio interface.
The good news is audio interfaces are more affordable today than ever and you should spend a little money and get yourself a good audio interface.
You will struggle to create good mixes if your raw recordings are not so great.
Mic placement and good clean audio signal with clean audio to digital conversion are the start to a great mix.
What Others Are Saying
| Direct Quote | Source |
|---|---|
| “If you want crystal-clear audio, you’ll need a high-quality audio interface. It requires good digital-analog conversion, though. You can then essentially use it as a DAC replacement.” | https://homestudioexpert.com/do-audio-interfaces-improve-sound-quality-7-facts/#:~:text=Audio%20interfaces%20do%20improve%20sound,t%20change%20the%20sound%20quality. |
| “A more expensive audio interface can improve sound quality by using higher quality microphone preamplifiers (mic preamps) and analog-digital (A/D) converters. There are several other factors that can affect sound, like microphones, speakers and listening environment, which also need to be considered.” | https://homestudiomagic.com/does-a-more-expensive-audio-interface-improve-sound-quality/ |
| “Audio interfaces do impact the quality of a recording. The quality of an audio interface is determined by the quality of converters and preamps built-in to the interface. Cheap interfaces can capture clear audio, but they don’t provide the warmth, depth, and high resolution audio that higher-end interfaces provide.” | https://www.orpheusaudioacademy.com/does-a-better-audio-interface-improve-sound-quality-should-you-upgrade/ |
| “Audio interfaces affect sound quality to some extent through amplification and conversion. However, all midrange interfaces have adequate circuitry to prevent distortion and quality loss. So, more expensive options don’t usually make a notable difference in sound quality except when recording music.” | https://playbutton.co/do-audio-interfaces-affect-sound-quality/ |
| “Your preamps and a/d converters do for sure. When it comes to making records experience will always beat out high end gear. I can take cheap mics and the most basic plugs with with protools and it’ll sound like anything on the radio. I keep seeing people asking about gear and sounding better instead of asking about micing technique and getting it correct from the source.” | https://www.quora.com/Does-a-high-quality-audio-interface-make-music-sound-better |
| “Yes, an audio interface can significantly improve sound quality. Especially with regards to recording. Audio interfaces allow you to record at a high sample rate and bit depth, which means you can record your music at a much higher resolution than normal. Audio interfaces also have physical components such as inputs, outputs, and preamps which also affect how well an audio signal is recorded and played back.” | https://chrissoundlab.com/does-an-audio-interface-improve-sound-quality/ |
| “Decent audio interfaces have much better conversion (especially A/D), and much more efficient drivers than the sound cards built into most motherboards.” | https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/2efio2/noob_question_should_an_audio_interface_improve/ |
| “A professional interface is a foundation for achieving a professional sound when recording instruments: guitar, bass, keys, and vocals for your tracks.” | https://tonetopics.com/different-audio-interfaces-make-a-difference/ |
| “Besides expanding your setup’s inputs and outputs, it also significantly improves your audio signals’ overall quality.” | https://www.becomesingers.com/studio-setups/does-audio-interface-affect-sound-quality |
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, more expensive audio interfaces will give you better sound.
In the audio world in most cases, you will get what you pay for.
The quality of electronics, the number of inputs and outputs, MIDI connections, LEDs, and the number of headphone connections will all affect pricing.
The audio interface is the heart of your home recording studio and will be key to creating great mixes.
Spend a little money and get the right audio interface for your studio.
If you like playing, writing, recording, and producing music you are in the right place.
I have lots of great articles to help you out.
Make yourself at home and check out some different articles and topics to help you move in the right direction.
Feel free to leave your questions and helpful comments below.
Yes, more expensive audio interfaces will give you better sound. The iRig Pro has the capability to help you record quality music on your computer or mobile device However, this particular audio interface is a good budget-friendly choice for musicians and other musicians out there who want to be heard. You can use it for home recording, podcasts and live performances, interviews, music videos and more!
The audio interface is the heart of your home recording studio. Spend a little money and get yourself a good one. I recommend getting one with MIDI connections, and plenty of inputs and outputs. I have an article you may find helpful if you are looking for a good starter audio interface: The Best Audio Interface For A Home Studio.
I do think it is very much a case of you get what you pay for, and although price does not necessarily mean better quality, it often is the case. If you buy cheap audio equipment, you mustn’t expect top quality, but if you pay top dollar, you should get high quality sound and equipment.
A good quality audio interface has cleaner and clearer recordings. Rather spend a bit more money, and get better quality sound from your audio equipment, than wasting your money. on poor quality equipment.
I agree and my experience has been you will almost always get what you pay for,
Wow, you certainly know your stuff, and there is a wealth of information on this website for anybody wanting to start a recording studio at home.
I definitely think that it is worth it not to skimp on the audio interface, as you say, this is the heart and soul of your recording studio. If you want to sound professional you need to buy the best you can afford and I think there are other areas of your studio you can go cheaper, but not the interfaces.
I also agree that the more outputs you have on the interface the better, as you never know what you will need to connect in the future.
The audio interface makes it so easy and convenient to connect all your gear to your computer, good converters for high quality audio, and all for a great price.
If you want to produce good quality audio it starts with the quality of sound you are able to capture to craft your recordings and mixes.
I have an article I wrote that will give you a good starting point for great audio interfaces: The Best Audio Interface For A Home Studio. Be sure and check it out!