An external audio interface (also known as an external sound card) essentially replaces the internal sound card or chip that comes built into your computer, tablet or phone as standard. By hooking up an external audio interface you can easily give the recording quality a professional boost.
PC Sound Cards
The terms sound card and audio interface are interchangeable since they basically mean the same thing. The only difference is that a sound card can be installed in a computer by connecting it to the motherboard, while an audio interface is essentially an external sound card that can be set up on your desk.
External Audio Interfaces
External audio interfaces improve on the quality of the sound chip of most computers since they're usually made from higher quality components and come fitted with inputs and outputs designed for studio microphones and studio monitors. You can even get USB microphones that come with their own built-in audio interface so they can be directly connected to a computer via USB without the need for an audio interface. In most cases, this gear doesn't even need a driver to be installed before you can use it. You can also get other forms, like internal sound cards which can be installed in a desktop computer. But most beginners and even many professional prefer to use external audio interfaces.
USB Audio Interfaces
Most audio interfaces can simply be hooked up to a computer or laptop via USB, and while more and more interfaces come fitted with USB-C ports, they'll usually include a USB-A cable so you can still connect it up to a computer fitted with a USB-A port. Depending on the make and model, a driver might need to be installed so that the interface can be recognised by the computer as an audio input and output, but these are usually installed in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About External Audio Interfaces
How do you set up an audio interface?
An external audio interface is simply connected up to a computer using a USB cable. If your computer is fitted with a Thunderbolt port, you could also opt for a faster connection and get a Thunderbolt audio interface. Before you can get started, you might need to install a driver so that your computer can recognise the interface as an audio input and output, but this will only take a few minutes. Then you can connect your monitor speakers or headphones up to the interface, and you'll probably already notice that the sound is improved - which is exactly what you want if you're going to be mixing recordings. Now for the inputs: almost every audio interface will have one or more microphone inputs and sometimes one or more line inputs (for audio equipment) and Hi-Z inputs for instruments like an electric guitar, so you can record directly to recording software. Some interfaces will come with a DAW included, and if not, you could download the free programme Audacity, or browse through other DAW software to find something that gives you everything you want.
What's the best external audio interface?
The answer to this question will always be subjective since the 'best' external audio interface will always be the one that gives you exactly what you want. If you're just getting an interface to improve the sound quality of your computer or device, then you can pick up a good interface for around £20 that will do the job for you. If you want to record vocals and instruments with professional sound, then it's better to pay a little more money for a higher spec audio interface. Since there are lot of models to choose from, it's worth considering how many microphone inputs and instrument inputs you'll need, as well as analogue outputs, since most interfaces have two, for connecting up a pair of studio monitors. So, the best sound card for you will be the one that offers all of the functions you need, the perfect number of inputs and outputs, and the perfect level of sound quality for what you want to do.
What kind of sound card does my computer have?
Every computer is fitted with a sound chip as standard, and the quality of these chips is usually not all that great. If you're just watching YouTube or Netflix on your computer, then the sound quality won't necessarily matter that much, but if you want higher quality sound for listening to music or recording your own music then the internal sound chip probably won't offer the quality you're after. Plugging in an audio interface (for listening and recording) or a DAC (for just listening to music) takes over the job of the sound chip and immediately improves the quality. If you want to know exactly what kind of sound chip your computer has and find out what options you have, you can look it up in the specifications on the manufacturer's website.
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