Hi, I need some help to choose the right audio interface for my QC.
First of all, yes, I need an AI because not only have I two studio monitors, but I also have a Luxman stereo amp that power 2 HIFI speaker plugged into my AI with an aux cable. In short, I can’t use my QC as THE interface.
I’ve been using a Scarlett 2i2 for a year with my QC and for 10 years with plug ins. I never had any issues with it, but I’ve heard these interface were bad and were coloring the sound. Also because I’m planning to soon add a subwoofer to my setup, this AI needs to go for one with more input in the back and possibly 2 headphone input as well.
As you can imagine, I can’t really try five different audio interfaces in a row, compare them and choose one so, the question is, which one will give me the most unfiltered, the best audio quality to render the QC at his best ?
I’m trying to stay under €500 is possible.
TLTR : which audio interface won’t ruin the sound of my Quad Cortex and give me the best audio rendering ? (under €500 lol)
I call BS on that one.
Audio interfaces have gotten so good over the past years that even a cheap one is nearly indistinguishable from a high end one when it comes to sound. So if you get a good budget one, like the Scarlett, you are fine.
But as always, sound is subjective and it matters what you hear. If I were you I would try out a high end one and directly compare it to your Scarlett. That’s the only way to really compare and make an informed decision.
I think 747 is fairly accurate with what he said…and to add to that I’ve had a fair amount of back and forth with interfaces over the last few yrs cheap and expensive… I’ve used UA behringer focusrite audient etc etc… But the one I settled for work flow and ins and outs and the fact it’s more desktop friendly is the m-audio 192/14 very clear mic pres and clean conversion great latency performance on my RTL tests I get around 3ms…And a good value interface around €300 It’s a very underrated interface that goes under the radar I sold my UA interface to go back to this m-audio 192/14 which I had before the UA…the UA didn’t feel like an upgrade atal… M-Audio 192/14. 8 ins and 4outs 2hp outs 2 dedicated inst ins 4 mic pres 2line ins… And if you buy online you have the time to test it out and if not happy you can return it happy hunting😁
Scarlett interfaces are pretty bad. The bus powered ones don’t have much power for the preamp itself, and they are cheaper pre’s that color/distort the sound to a degree whether you’re noticing it or not. They also are very prone to grounding issues because of being usb bus powered.
Ideally you should get an interface with its own separate power supply. Something like what the other user in here mentioned could be good. Once you get into the slightly higher tier than the garbage bus powered ones you should be pretty fine for recording the QC at a better quality.
This is all coming from experience with someone who has worked with mixing material from lots of artists using various interfaces on their own. I’ve shot out tons of these things.
I’ve used various usb powered interfaces for well over 10 years without ever encountering grounding issues while I know some who own UAD, Apollo und Neumann who struggle with it. But that’s obviously another topic.
Soundwise, I would bet you or anyone a lot of money you wouldn’t be able to tell different audio interfaces apart in a blind-test. If I had a lot of money and would bet…
You can absolutely see the way the waveform distorts (in a vocal track for example) that it most likely came from a bus powered interface that’s distorting the signal. It’s pretty easy to see and listen for. The big thing here is- don’t get the cheapest possible interface and then wonder why it doesn’t sound great.
There’s diminishing returns on audio gear for sure once you hit a certain price, but you’re absolutely in the low end with these 100 dollar bus powered interfaces that can barely power a preamp
RME Babyface Pro FS. Costs +700bucks. Bus powered. Works like a charm. Same with the Scarlett. But once again, different topic.
Also, any interface these days can easily power a preamp. And with the QC going in, it doesn’t even have to add much gain. So… I really don’t see the problem you are describing.
As I said, get a good budget one and you are good to go. Absolutely don’t go for a shitty 15 bucks one. But the Scarlett is a safe choice. Was used on some grammy award winning songs, wasn’t it?
Pay more if you want more, but don’t expect the sound to suddenly change drastically.
I mainly use a Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen at home and never had any problems whatsoever with grounding regardless of if I use it with my MacBook or my windows desktop computer even connected to an USB hub it works perfectly fine.
Hello again You have already said you are looking for ideas on a new interface and that you have a scarlet from focusrite and you’ve heard they may color the sound and then you ask what about the 8i6 from focusrite …it mite be worth checking somtin else out from a different manufacturer to see if you can hear a difference…
But the kicker is they all have there own color and will add there own sound one reason I suggested the 192/14 line ins are direct to the convertors leased amount of color… At the top of your budget you have Audient id44/ Motu M6 / Ssl 12/ Antelope Zen… Which I would say are better options…
Latency is a factor to take into consideration and if they have there own routing mixer and if they do, it can be a pain and adds latency… I’ve also found interfaces with just a basic driver without the mixer options generally run with less latency… Again check out julian Krause videos YouTube … Also somtin to think about is line ins/direct lines will give you the cleanist path direct to convertors and skip any preamp in the chain.
30yrs recording experience and I would skip the scarlett range of interface everytime I have ever needed a good budget interface… But that’s just my opinion…
Hi Mark. Lots of solid perspectives here. Having been a recording person for a very long time I have used and own a number of interfaces. None have been awful but I do prefer those with a Thunderbolt connection because of how Tb works internally compared to USB. However the UA Tb interfaces are outside your price range. I have a pair of Clarett 8 port interfaces and they sound great but have more latency with Logic than the UA units although they are fine with LUNA. In your price range I have students who have been very successful with the desktop interfaces from SSL. They also have excellent preamps. Re the subwoofer, I have no experience with any interface that has a subwoofer out. In my experience subs have always come either out of a power amp or a powered studio monitor will have a sub out on it. So I cannot help you in that regard
…it mite be worth checking somtin else out from a different manufacturer to see if you can hear a difference…