{"id":161397,"date":"2022-11-28T07:47:53","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T13:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=161397"},"modified":"2022-11-28T07:47:54","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T13:47:54","slug":"best-audio-interfaces-bonus-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/best-audio-interfaces-bonus-video\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 Best Audio Interfaces of 2022 + Bonus Video"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When choosing an audio interface, you can choose by what’s new or price point, but the best way is to refine why<\/em> you want such an interface.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How do you choose an audio interface? You can define your choice by what’s new, which is what we’re doing here. You can restrict your selection on price or brand, but the best way is to figure out why<\/em> you want such an interface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, If you’re moving into multi-instrument recording, then the choice is more apparent as you’ll need several more inputs and some onboard DSP to lessen the load on your computer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or, if you’re running a podcast<\/a> or streaming<\/a>, you need to justify your spending and understand if your chosen interface allows some loopback function to use your system audio. However, you may only need a couple of inputs and are just looking for the best microphone performance<\/a>. All those avenues are here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever you need, take our information as part of your research. We’ll try to highlight what makes these new interfaces worth your consideration. Running a whole load of specs doesn’t translate on a medium like this, but we will “spec up” when we feel the need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Apogee Duet 3 – $649<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The Apogee Duet 3: A highly desirable slab of tech with connections to virtual FX. Image via Apogee<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 2007, Apogee made its first personal and portable audio interface, Duet. It reflected when music recording had largely exited big recording rooms and gone home to feed the productions made inside computers\u2014they<\/em> didn’t need natural room acoustics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Duet 3 is an apparent evolution of the original unit with its beautiful Gorilla glass-slated minimal design\u2014it almost feels like a piece of audiophile gear. The look is part of the allure, but Apogee has the technical chops to back it up\u2014they’ve been in the conversion game for over thirty years, which counts for something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the specs<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duet 3 has onboard hardware DSP, allowing for low latency with the optional virtual channel strip Symphony ECS plugin. Apogee has brought along engineer, mixer, and producer Bob Clearmountain to “tune” the strip. But, more importantly, to relieve him of some of his presets. So, plug in and instantly start sounding like Toto, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen (among other superstars).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other than the ECS strip, Duet 3 will gain you entry into their plugin world, now available on rent\u2013to\u2013own or project\u2013to\u2013project basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duet 3 is $649 (the ECS channel strip is only $49.50 when bought simultaneously). To smarten up the break-out cable, there’s also now a Duet Dock Duet. It’s an extra $149 but will tidy up that ugly bunch of break-out cables users seems to hate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duet 3 has sex appeal but perhaps is limited by its IO. However, if the basic 2×4 arrangement is all you need, then with Duet 3, you have the cool factor. The real strength lies in Apogee plugin FX, and there’s a fourteen-day free trial<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n