Ginger Audio - Do You Need an Audio Interface?

Do You Need an Audio Interface?

We explore the uses of a dedicated audio interface, and provide you with the information you need to decide whether you need one or not

Photo of a Universal Audio Volt audio interface

Music producers, content creators, and anyone who participates in online meetings know the value of a microphone and speakers (or headphones) connected to a computer. You may wonder whether it’s time to invest in or update your audio interface, microphone, or both. Let’s take a look at the options and how you can take advantage of the features of audio interfaces and USB microphones.

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An illustration of headphones and a laptop

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What Does an Interface Do?

Audio interfaces convert microphone and instrument signals into digital signals that programs on your computer can use. They also route audio from your computer to your headphones and/or studio monitors. Interfaces connect to a computer using USB, Thunderbolt, Firewire, or Ethernet cables. Prices range from under $100 to several thousand dollars, and even the most affordable models provide excellent sound quality and essential features.

Audio interfaces integrate your computer to devices outside of the computer, like mics, and monitors, but they do not route audio from apps running on your computer. Some interfaces include software control panels with “loopback” features that allow a certain amount of inter-application audio routing. For instance, for live streaming, you may wish to mix microphone signals with audio from a browser and send a mix of that audio into ZOOM, OBS, or another browser. An audio interface or USB mic will get your voice or other audio sources into the computer, but once inside, you will need an application to route, mix, and process the audio.

Ginger Audio’s CASTER application provides all the routing, mixing, and processing features that used to require a combination of outboard hardware mixers and sophisticated audio routing software. CASTER simplifies the routing and mixing of digital audio signals inside the computer, but users may still require an audio interface to connect microphones and headphones to the computer. If this is your use case, stick around for more information on this software.

USB microphones work like a very simple audio interface. The microphone connects directly via USB to your computer and the computer sees the device as an audio source and sometimes also as a headphone output. USB microphones do not provide the flexibility of an audio interface but offer a great solution for the simplest setups.

Can You get by with a USB Mic Instead of an Audio Interface?

If you are a gamer or if you attend ZOOM meetings where headphones and a microphone are needed, you can probably get by without a dedicated audio interface. A USB mic with a built-in headphone jack or headphones with an integrated boom microphone might be just right for you.

Image of a Blue Yeti USB microphone and JBL Quantum One USB headphones

The Blue Yeti USB mic (left) integrates a versatile microphone with headphone output. JBL’s Quantum One USB gaming headphones (right) include support for 3-D audio, noise and echo cancellation, and a detachable microphone.

USB Microphone Solutions

There are many excellent USB microphones on the market. There are some excellent choices from Audio-Technica, Blue, MXL, Rode, Shure, and many others. Most microphones are geared towards broadcasters and gamers, while some also cater to singers.

USB headsets with built-in microphones are available from Audio-Technica, Bose, Corsair, Jabra, JBL, and Plantronics, among others.

So, Do you Need an Audio Interface?

If you produce multimedia content or host guests on your stream, an audio interface can facilitate multiple microphones and headphone feeds.
If you are a music producer, an audio interface is a necessity for recording vocals and instruments and for controlling studio monitors and headphones.

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Image of Vocaster Two audio interface and RODE Pro II mixer

Focusrite’s affordable Vocaster two (left) provides the right features for a podcast host, songwriter, or audiobook narrator, while the Rodecaster Pro II (right( provides a full solution for any studio requiring multiple microphones, headphones, and even remote recording abilities.

Image of Universal Audio Apollo X4 audio interface

Professional music producers can take advantage of the professional features of an interface like the Apollo x4 interface. Multiple microphones and instruments can be connected and processed with onboard professional effects and artist cue mixes, complete with talkback, can be routed with this interface.

Features of an Audio Interface

If you only use one microphone and on pair of headphones with your setup, you might not need an audio interface. However, if you want to use one or more microphones and need to control speakers and headphone monitor mixes, an audio interface is needed. Here are some key features of a dedicated audio interface:

Compatible with any XLR microphone, including dynamic, condenser, shotgun, lavalier, etc.
Accepts more than one microphone at a time for interviews and collaboration
Facilitates recording guitars, bass, keyboards, DJ systems, as well as microphones
Provides physical volume control for headphones and/or speakers
Superior headphone audio quality compared to built-in laptop or USB microphone audio outputs
Provides physical mic inputs and monitor outputs when using an audio control app, like CASTER

Choosing an Interface

Consider these questions when selecting an interface:

^What kind of connection does my computer provide (USB, Thunderbolt, Ethernet)?
How many microphones, instruments, or other audio sources will I use at once?
Do I need to control the volume of one or more sets of headphones and speakers?

Additional considerations for music producers and professional studio setups:

Do I need separate headphone feeds and talkback for an artist in another room?
Do I want onboard DSP for plugins, like those from UAD or Antelope Audio?
Do I want to record at high sample rates (96kHz or above)?
Will I need more mic/instrument inputs soon?
Do I need additional features like MIDI, digital connections, or reamping outputs?

Image of a woman sat smiling at a desk with a microphone

Deity manufactures professional-grade XLR, USB, and wireless microphones for broadcast, podcast, and post-production. (VO-7U USB mic with boom pictured)

Software Solution

Many gamers and streamers simply need a way to merge a microphone and audio from multiple applications on their computer into a single stream. GroundControl CASTER is just the application for this task. CASTER allows you to quickly and easily route audio to and from browsers, applications, and audio devices connected to your Mac. The app includes voice-processing plugins and even a soundboard to fire off sound effects in real-time.

Mac users can quickly plug in a USB mic and headphones, route some audio, and immediately start streaming or recording. Any audio interfaces, USB microphones, built-in audio inputs and outputs, and all computer applications will all integrate with CASTER.

Screenshot of Ginger Audio CASTER virtual audio mixer application

CASTER (shown above) allows the routing of audio from multiple applications, USB microphones, and audio interfaces. Built-in plugins process and clean up mic signals, and a soundboard allows real-time playing of sound effects and custom audio samples. Audio mixes can be streamed to any app, recorded to a folder on the computer, and monitored live via the computer’s built-in audio output or any connected audio interface.

Entry-Level Interfaces

These interfaces offer basic features with excellent sound quality, usually providing one or two inputs and support for one pair of monitors and headphones. Notable brands include Focusrite, Audient, PreSonus, SSL, and Behringer.

Behringer U-Phoria UM2/UM202 ($59 - $99): Mic and one instrument inputs with volume control for headphones and one pair of speakers.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ($180): Two inputs for mic, line, or instruments, great-sounding mic preamps, headphone output, and speaker level control for one pair of speakers.

Beyond Entry Level but Affordable

These interfaces add features like multiple inputs, cue mixes, onboard DSP, and higher-quality electronics. Brands include UAD, PreSonus, and MOTU.

Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 ($499): Eight mic/line inputs and two instrument inputs, digital I/O, dual headphone control with talkback, and speaker control.
UAD Apollo Twin MKII ($899): Two mic/line inputs and one guitar/bass DI input, onboard DSP, classic plugins, cue mix and talkback for artists, and expandable inputs and outputs.
PreSonus Quantum HD8 ($999): Eight mic/line inputs, 16 digital inputs, 10 analog and 16 digital outputs, two headphone outputs, and bundled software.

Pro Sound and Features

These interfaces offer professional-quality converters and features, suitable for high-end studio recording with any DAW. Brands include Avid, Apogee, Lynx, and Prism Sound.

RME Fireface UCX ($1699): Superior audio quality, two mic and six line inputs, eight outputs, digital I/O, word clock connections, MIDI, and latency-free effects for tracking.
MOTU 8pre ES ($1195): Eight mic preamps, 16 additional digital inputs, eight analog and 16 digital outputs, onboard DSP mixer, digital I/O, USB, Thunderbolt, and AVB (Ethernet) support.
SoundDevices MixPre 6 II ($1150): 4 high-quality mic inputs and 2 line inputs with headphone outputs. Standalone multtrack field recorder with SD recording with battery operation or use as USB audio interface. Supports timecode operation for camera syncing.

About the author

Adam Kagan is a music producer, mixer and engineer with over two decades of experience in the industry. He’s worked on Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling records with artists across a range of styles and genres.