If you are using a DAW like Pro Tools Logic Pro or Studio One, the chances are that you will need to get an interface to enable you to get audio, analog or digital in and out of your chosen DAW.
A lot of people ask us to comment or compare the sound of various interfaces. The reality as we showed on our technical testing of a handful of interfaces is that there is very little difference in the sound of most interfaces on the market. The key features to look at with an interface are the number and type of inputs and outputs. consider how many analog inputs and outputs you need. Do you need digital I/O? If so AES or SPDIF? Do you need Audio over IP? If so Dante, Ravenna or AVB?
Next, consider how you want your interface to communicate with your computer? USB 2, USB 3, Thunderbolt, DigiLink and so on.
With our reviews, we give you the chance to see and hear what they can do before you consider buying them.
To help, we have consolidated 30 of our most recent DAW interface reviews in this article to enable you to see the differences between them and see how they could fit into your workflow. If you are considering a new interface, for your studio then check out these reviews...
In this double header video review for Production Expert, Dan & James thoroughly test a couple of Focusrite's new USB Clarett audio interfaces. In this review, we test the Clarett 2Pre and 8Pre. Watch the video to discover what we think about these interfaces and to hear both interfaces in action in a short full band recording session.
In this video review for Production Expert, Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new ML-32D from Tascam. A 32 channel Line Level I/O to Dante converter. James shows you around the unit, explains the connectivity and how he is using the ML-32D in his studio set up and then goes on to let you hear the unit in a short track featuring full drum kit, bass and lead guitar.
It was a little under 2 years ago, back in April 2016 that James first reviewed the Focusrite Red 4Pre and to say he was impressed and loved it would be an understatement. Little did he know then that the Red range would grow to include the Red 8Pre, reviewed in May 2017 and now the new Red 16Line the latest in the Focusrite Pro Red range.
Pro Tools Expert post-production specialist, Alan Sallabank takes a look at using 2 PreSonus Quantum interfaces together with Pro Tools HD Standalone software on a Windows Pro Tools computer. See how he got on...
In this video review for Production Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the Tascam iXR portable USB audio and MIDI interface for Windows, Mac OS and iOS.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey shows us around the new AT2035 Studio bundle from Audio Technica and Audient. This package features everything you need to get working on your next hit song. Just add creativity.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Discrete 8 audio interface from Antelope Audio.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Quantum Thunderbolt-2 audio and MIDI interface from PreSonus.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor, James Ivey takes a look at the new Antelope Audio Goliath HD USB 3, Thunderbolt and Pro Tools HD equipped audio interface.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Tascam MiniStudio Creator USB audio interface for PC and Mac OS. The MiNiStudio is a new take on the audio interface aimed at the new wave of podcasters, internet broadcasters and anyone making audio for video.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look and listen to the new AudioFuse audio and midi interface from new comers to the interface market Arturia. The AudioFuse is a small but mighty USB interface packing plenty of stunning sounding I/O into its very small and compact size making it the perfect interface for those on the go.
In this video review, Pro Tools Expert Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new updated version of the Antelope Audio Zen Studio Plus USB and Thunderbolt audio interface in a real world recording example using a full drum kit, bass, acoustic and electrics guitars. James shows off the stunning sonic quality of this small yet mighty portable audio interface.
The Focusrite Red 4Pre launched in March 2016 and I did 3 separate reviews on it. In this review I cover the similarities and differences between the Red 4 and Red 8Pre and also share how I am using it in my everyday work.
In this review for Pro Tools Expert Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at some of the latest features in the new Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII.
In this world first review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Antelope Audio Orion32HD. The Orion32HD is a USB3 and Mini Digilink enabled interface allowing Pro Tools HDX, HD Native and HD Thunderbolt Native users access to 32 channels of A/D conversion.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey joins Richard Rogers from Workstation Pros to take a look at running some of the Thunderbolt interfaces from Focusrite on Windows 10.
In this video, Pro Tools Expert Technical Editor James Ivey teams up with Rich Rogers of Workstation Pros to test the Universal Audio Apollo range of audio interfaces running on Windows connected via Thunderbolt 2.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new Zen Tour USB and Thunderbolt interface from Antelope Audio. The Zen Tour is a compact portable high quality interface with built in effects giving you 4 guitar or DI inputs, 4 stunning quality mic pre amps and up to 16 I/O via 2 ADAT optical connections.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, James Ivey takes a look at the new USB audio interface from British manufacturer, Audient. The iD4 is a small yet mighty audio interface housing one of Audient's stunning ASP mic pres and an amazing sounding JFET instrument DI.
In this video review Dan Cooper & James Ivey from Pro Tools Expert take a look at three of the second generation USB Scarlett audio Interfaces by Focusrite.
In this video (part 3 of 3) James Ivey from Pro Tools Expert takes a final look at the Focusrite Red 4Pre as a Dante interface. James shows how he configured the Dante Virtual Soundcard, RedNet Control, Dante Controller and Focusrite Control to route audio around his Mac Pro system.
In part 4 of this multi Part review Julian gives his thoughts on the AX32:
In part 3 of this review Julian Looks at the Dante functionality of the AX32 by combining it with Pro Tools, Dante Virtual Soundcard and a Klang Quelle headphone amplifier and running through some simple examples.
In this video James Ivey from Pro Tools Expert takes a close look at the PreSonus Studio 192 USB 3.0 audio interface. During a drum recording session James tries the Studio 192's 8 XMAX mic preamps recording a full drum kit and shows off some of the control features of the Studio 192 and the PreSonus Universal Control software application for both Mac OS and iOS.
In the first of a multi-part review, Julian takes a look at the AX32 Converter System from Digital Audio Denmark. This very classy hardware offers modular analogue and digital I/O of the highest quality along optional Dante audio networking, HDX connectivity and DSD and DXD operation.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert, James Ivey takes another look at the new Red 4 Pre by Focusrite.
In this video James Ivey from Pro Tools Expert takes a look at the Orion Studio, a 1U rack USB and Thunderbolt audio interface from Antelope.
In this video for Pro Tools Expert James takes a look at the new Focusrite Red 4 Pre Thunderbolt, Digilink and Dante audio interface. In his usual style James put this interface through it's paces.
In all our discussions in the past on audio over IP we have identified the need for some simple units that just had a mic preamp and a headphones amp. Our friends at Aspen Media pointed out the DELEC NIO-02024 and its little brother the DELEC DIO which we have covered on the site. Since then we have wanted to review both units to see if they would meet the requirements for adding a simple mic preamp and headphone in a voiceover booth with nothing more than an Ethernet connection.
In all our discussions in the past on audio over IP we have identified the need for some simple units that just had a mic preamp and a headphones amp. Our friends at Aspen Media pointed out the DELEC NIO-02024 and its little brother the DELEC DIO which we have covered on the site. Since then we have wanted to review both units to see if they would meet the requirements for adding a simple mic preamp and headphone in a voiceover booth with nothing more than an Ethernet connection.
Want More Interface Reviews? We Have Them...
This is the 30 most recent reviews we have on the Production Expert site for interfaces. We have over 50 reviews on the site and so if you want to find more interface reviews then check out our reviews pages for more interface reviews.