What is an Audio Interface — Do I Need One?

Simply put, an audio interface gives you professional audio connections to record and play back audio with your computer — but there's a lot more to it than that. Join Sweetwater's Mitch Gallagher for a crash course on what an audio interface is, whether you need one or not, and more. After the video, click the link above to shop audio interfaces at Sweetwater!

0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Why Not Just Use The Computers Mic & Headphones
1:13 - Characteristics Of An Audio Interface
2:23 - Headphones, Input, and Output Jacks
4:03 - Latency
4:54 - MIDI Connections
5:30 - Thanks For Watching!

#Sweetwater

[dhchoi]

My English is really poor, really bad. But funny thing is.. Everytime I see this gentleman's demo, I almost understand what he is saying. I can hear him. It's his English ? or his explanation ? I don't know. But all i can say is he's great

[BenScooter]

These Sweetwater videos are top notch! Well-produced, featuring someone with an in-depth knowledge of the product(s) related to the subject matter, and the ability to explain what are often quite technical audio engineering concepts in a clear and concise manner that can easily be understood. No doubt that anyone will walk out of Sweetwater considerably more informed than when they walked in.

[ludens]

I like this guy, he's good at explaining audio interfaces in detail without making it confusing.

[themaggot]

A while ago I got a Behringer UMC22 and I didn't realize how much I needed an audio interface. Recently I upgraded to an SSL2+ and I couldn't be happier. Such an awesome tool for home recording and even practicing at home.

[shipsahoy]

Mitch, your gear dissertations are excellent !
Good job man😎

[GJones]

I thoroughly appreciated the sound quality of this video.

[Awwethome]

This was absolutely fantastic, great explanation guys!

[Mr_A_Mia]

i love all these FYI and tutorial videos Sweetwater's been doing. thanks ya'll

[DjAmber_D]

WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE!?!?!?!? You've just blown my mind. I actually found out earlier today that the usual TRS 1/4" jacks you use to connect hardware instruments / FX units to your mixer / audio interface etc don't actually send stereo information!!! They just balance the signal with a second stereo image of the audio signal.

It's taken me the vast majority of the day to process this, as well as checking all the cables I own in my studio, and discovering I have had a MONO TS Cable plugged into one of my Mackie studio monitors for about 5 years, which means there's a big chance most my music I've released recently is going to have some level of stereo imbalance haha @Sweetwater I love you so much... Thank you for this informative video, but also I wish you hadn't told me all this new info, because this is going to get expensive. Oh well... Christmas is overrated anyway - I'll just record the family a Christmas song for their presents this year, I'm sure they will be just as excited as me about zero latency recording and near lossless audio quality! Cheers mate. Love from me and my ever growing synth collection... Amber x

[buckyflex]

This video should be used as an educational tool & be studied by any & all content creators in the how-to, diy, unboxing, review, information, explanation & similar genres and regarded as the quintessential example of what a perfectly executed video looks like. As far as explainer vids go this is pure excellence and ought to be considered the standard to which they hope to achieve. People click on these vids in search of specific information and complete explanations nothing more. This is how it's done.

[dennism]

I like the fact that the one in front of Mitch is the exact one I have. Easy peasy and sounds great.

[Ace-jslj]

The sound quality of this video says a lot, im gonna have to buy one!

[michael-dytz]

Interface converts analog to digital and changes analog signal to a bunch of numbers so your computer can read it and convert the numbers into the music you played on your guitar, piano or voice.

[booheccrahysb]

He does not move his left arm the entire video.

[davidlalremruata]

This is really very good, quite easy to understand 👍

[NoDebut]

Thank you for this, I think I needed this like 25 years ago, but better late than never :) <3

[XXLARGEJAMS]

You can make tracks that have a hell of a lot more punch and a broader spectrum of full range of lows mids and highs for pennies on the dollar.the old PCI sound blaster cards are excellent along with a decent analog mixer.you just need male stereo 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch individual out Y adapter to plug in to the line in jack on the PCI card.

[dylanhurst]

cool vid I had to watch for music tech

[davidlalremruata]

Latency - time taken for raw signal to be processed by the gears so it comes out as sound on the monitoring equipments.

[sonicvisy]

thank you.ive been trying to answer this particular sooo basic question 4 a while.
keep on tellin it like it is, im hearin you mitch🎧 makin sense, common sense.NOW🤔 RECORD ONTO LAPTOP?
only need 2 track digi record.wave editor?
can i avoid daw