Which sound card is best for music production

It is simply indisputable that the best sound card for music production does make a huge difference. While the usually integrated card can work, it has too many drawbacks. That is why we put together this list of the 5 best options available on the current market for music producers, both novices and professionals.

Here are 5 of the current best audio interfaces we have carefully selected out of thousands available options. Each has its unique strengths and weaknesses.

There are many things to pay attention to when picking a dedicated sound card for music production. However, the most vital characteristic is always the audio quality, as it is the core feature that sets this product apart from regular ones.

From its excellent clarity to its next to zero latency, this gear is simply unbeatable in this particular department. The preamps also play a huge part in us declaring that the Focusrite Scarlett has the best audio quality. This external sound card received a huge upgrade in the form of two amazing mic preamps. Thanks to them and the new switchable Air mode, you get more open and brighter sounds. There are also the analog control protection circuits that the manufacturer wired into the input and output channels.

The main function of these circuits is to protect your home studio while you are recording music. If they are not there, a small power surge can destroy the basic soundcard. The biggest issue you will notice regarding this product is the fact that it utilizes a USB Type C cable. As this type of USB cable is a fairly recent development, it may not work with lots of older gears.

You can solve this problem with a converter. We also want to note that the Focusrite Scarlett can be a little flimsy. As a result, it is best if you can be extra careful while using it. Believe us; you do not want to drop this gear at any height.

If you are starting out on the path of becoming a music producer, we strongly recommend getting the Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface. After all, you can build your whole studio recording setup revolving around it with ease, avoiding the risk of having something not working. An audio interface is practically worthless if it cannot connect to the right hardware and software.

For this reason, it is incredibly vital that an audio card can connect with lots of things on its own. It is compatible with almost every single recording software there is, be it from Windows or Mac. This path has the lowest potential latency, infinitely approaching zero, thanks to the high-quality cables and powerful connectors. The setup of the inputs is also quite smart, as the manufacturer made use of the new 2x2 system.

There are 2 high-headroom instrument inputs that you can use for basses or electric guitars. If you want to connect with line-level sources, the 2 balanced line inputs will be especially useful. The most noticeable problem with this piece of gear is the lack of guidance for the accompanying software. As a result, it is a trial-and-error process to know which software is for which feature.

The only way to combat this issue is to manually go through every software and give them labels. Another issue is the fact that each software has a unique activation code, which you will be asked randomly. For this reason, you must find a way to store them and remember the storage location. Our advice is to make a document titled "PreSonus key" and search it each time you need. Due to its incredibly versatile compatibility and its complicated additional software, this USB sound card is only suitable for experienced users.

If you know what you are doing, you will draw out the true strength hidden inside it. Not all people starting on the path of becoming a music producer are loaded with money.

In fact, most of them need to cut all kinds of corners, as audio gears are among the most overpriced things. From audiophile resolution to seamless DAW integration, you will get a whole lot out of it for a uniquely affordable price. A unique thing that this audio home studio device offers is the capability to monitor your performance directly. You can experience your performance in real-time. As such, your recording will undoubtedly get better, as you can fix your mistakes almost immediately.

Helping out with the direct monitor function is the powerful phone's output. It helps tremendously in relaying your voice or instrument as clearly as possible. Your feedback will not have any outside interference, allowing you to fix the performance perfectly on the dot. The most obvious weakness that you can immediately see within this gear is that it does not have an XLR input.

If you are inexperienced, you would need to make do with instrument or RCA cables. Professionals, however, tend to have an XLR adapter lying around in their workshop; thus, this issue is irrelevant in such a case. The highly detailed audio quality, thoughtful upgrades, and long list of features make the Scarlett 2i2 a formidable option for new and experienced recording artists alike.

The preamps are quiet and transparent and the overall sound quality is great for the price. Each channel has its dedicated controls that are easy to access and tweak. This feature-packed unit punches above its weight and the incredulous value for money has prompted us to pick Behringer as our best budget option.

Overall, it is a fantastic option for musicians, producers, podcasters, and recording enthusiasts, especially if you are just starting out. Universal Audio has been in the game for 70 years and their superior design and technology is evident in the highly desirable Twin X Duo. The minimalist control panel sports a handful of buttons and a large dial. The side buttons allow you to toggle the phantom power, mute the monitors, and control the preamps. The real gem, however, is the UA Console software that has an intuitive UI and offers intricate control.

You can also check out the Apollo Twin X Quad if you need more processing power. From pro performance to power to exemplary preamps, it ranks as one of the best audio interface a producer or recording artist can aspire to own. The product includes a USB 2. Apart from the top shelf construction, it is highly versatile and reliable.

You have a USB 2. Performance-wise, the UR22 MK2 is as good, if not better, than its predecessor. The Class-A preamps are clean and musical. There is tough competition in this price bracket, but the MK2 emerges as a versatile unit with excellent performance and a rugged build. All this is thrown at you for a ridiculously low price tag. Based on value for money, the KA2 obliterates the competition. Additionally, you also have input selector controls and plus level on the tiny for easy access on the front panel.

It has Zippy USB 3. Advantages: You get clean recordings. It gives you balanced outputs. It has higher headphone headroom than other sound cards out there. Disadvantages: It tends to overheat. Product Tech Specifications: It comes with two microphone preamps. It also has bit or kHz AKM converters. It has a headphone amp for clear monitoring. When you purchase a sound card, you get the following: 1. Pro Tools First 2.

Bomb Factory plug-ins 3. Ableton Live Lite 4. Hybrid Keys 5. Komplete Start bundle. It also comes with the SSL Native software. The software includes Vocalstrip 2 and Drumstrip. You will also get 1. There are four line outputs. You can switch between two separate mixes on Headphone B output. Advantages: It is ideal for working from home or in a mobile studio. The audio interfaces of these sound cards do a good job when monitoring.

It can record up to bit or 96kHz level audio. It has dual preamplifiers. The amplifiers have combo inputs that allow you to record microphone and instrument-level audio. The internal analog inputs mixer lets you merge input and playback signals for monitoring that is latency free. You can use this sound card on different operating systems, such as Windows and Mac. You also get more than 6GB of third-party content. It comes with the complete Studio Magic Plug-in Suite.

Advantages: It is one of the most affordable options on our list. This is one of the best options for producers on a budget. It has two digitally controlled microphone preamps. There is analog, digital, and MIDI connectivity. It has a SteadyClock and femtosecond technology. It comes with the TotalMix FX which has a channel mixer with a bit internal resolution. Each channel has latency-free processing, which includes a 3-band EQ, low-cut filter, reverb, and echo. There is onboard metering with peak and RMS calculation.

This sound card comes with a mic stand thread on the bottom. Advantages: It is easy to set up. It is reliable, thanks to the solid converters and preamps. It works exceptionally well with the iPad. It gives you clean and sharp sounds. Disadvantages: The price of this sound card is much higher than some of the other items mentioned on our list. If you have a strict budget, then this one may not be for you.

It also has a JFET instrument input. It has class-leading conversion. It offers you ultra-low latency performance. It has front-panel headphone jacks. There are stereo monitor outputs. It is bus-powered over USB 2. It comes with a Smartgain automatic level-setting feature. It comes with loopback functionality. Advantages: It is highly affordable.