{"id":1774284,"date":"2022-09-02T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&#038;p=1774284"},"modified":"2023-01-26T17:44:27","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T17:44:27","slug":"how-does-an-audio-interface-work","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/how-does-an-audio-interface-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does an Audio Interface Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Perhaps the most important component of any computer-based recording setup is the one right at the beginning: the digital audio interface. It\u2019s the piece of hardware that converts your analog microphone and instrument signals into digital format and transmits the signals to your computer, where you can record and edit them in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/digital-audio-workstation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DAW<\/a>. The DAW then outputs the processed digital audio back to the audio interface, which converts digital into analog so you can monitor the sound through headphones or speakers.<br><br>Understanding how an audio interface functions will help you record with good, clean, strong signals, yielding professional results.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#2271b1\"><li><strong><a href=\"#But-doesn-t-my-computer-already-do-that\">But doesn\u2019t my computer already do that?<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Analog-to-digital-digital-to-analog\">Analog-to-digital, digital-to-analog<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Looking-at-your-audio-interface\">Looking at your audio interface<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Follow-the-signal\">Follow the signal<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Audio-interface-drivers\">Audio interface drivers<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Advanced-features-of-an-audio-interface\">Advanced features of an audio interface<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Audio-interface-optimization\">Audio interface optimization<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"But-doesn-t-my-computer-already-do-that\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">But doesn&#8217;t my computer already do that?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Out of the box, a computer or device such as a phone or tablet has connections, wired or wireless, for a microphone, headphones, or speakers. There is already circuitry on board your device for converting input and output signals. There are also expansion \u201csound cards.\u201d But neither provide professional-quality audio. Furthermore, your computer\u2019s on-board audio may be liable to electromagnetic interference that can cause unwanted noises in your recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some consumer microphones have a built-in USB audio interface, but you can only reliably connect one of those to a computer at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to record multiple microphones and channels of audio at once, such as if you are recording a band or a drum kit, an audio interface is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An audio interface provides all the connections you need, processes multiple channels, and greatly improves the audio quality for recording and playback. It\u2019s crucial and essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button flat s blue\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Analog-to-digital-digital-to-analog\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Analog-to-digital, digital-to-analog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At its most basic, a digital audio interface has two components: on input, the Analog-to-digital Converter (ADC), and on output, the Digital-to-analog Converter (DAC).<br><br>Most audio interfaces also integrate an analog signal path, sending microphone signals through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/preamplifier\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">preamplifier<\/a> to bring up the signal level within a proper range to enable the best analog-to-digital conversion with the strongest, clearest signal and the least noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Analog-to-digital-conversion\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Analog-to-digital conversion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A microphone picks up acoustic sound waves and converts them into an analog electrical signal. (Engineers refer to a device converting one form of energy into another form as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/transducer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transducer<\/a>.) An electric guitar picks up the vibrations of the guitar\u2019s strings and converts them into an analog electrical signal as well. You feed these signals into the audio interface, which carries out <strong>analog-to-digital conversion<\/strong>, or <strong>ADC<\/strong> for short. The audio interface receives the analog waveforms coming from the preamp and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/sample\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">samples<\/a> them, converting them into digital ones and zeroes. The digital signals are then transmitted through a <strong>USB<\/strong> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/c1225--Thunderbolt_Cables\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Thunderbolt <\/a>cable to the computer or device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Digital-to-analog-conversion\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Digital-to-analog conversion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As you record and mix, the output from your DAW is sent back to your audio interface to be converted from digital back to analog so you can hear it in high fidelity. That\u2019s the <strong>digital-to-analog conversion<\/strong>, or <strong>DAC<\/strong>. The digital signal is sent to the audio interface\u2019s headphone amplifier, the line output for speakers, or both. If your audio interface has multiple outputs, you can configure multiple returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to delve into the technical details of how analog audio is converted to the digital domain, check out this Sweetwater inSync article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/what-is-a-digital-to-analog-converter-and-how-does-it-work\/\" class=\"relatedcontent_link\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-related-content\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_block\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/digital_to_analog_converter.jpg);background-size:cover;background-position:center\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_overlay_content\"><\/div><div class=\"relatedcontent-text relatedcontent_content\"><p class=\"relatedcontent_title\" style=\"color:#fff\">What Is a Digital-to-Analog Converter and How Does It Work?<\/p><p class=\"relatedcontent_subhead\" style=\"color:#fff;border:none\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button flat s blue\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Looking-at-your-audio-interface\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Looking at your audio interface<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s have a look at the inputs, the controls, and the outputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Audio-Interface-Inputs-and-Outputs\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Audio Interface Inputs and Outputs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Audio interfaces have inputs for microphones and line-level signals. You will see a combination of XLR, 1\/4&#8243; phone plug, and in some cases 1\/8&#8243; mini-plug, RCA, or optical input connections as well. Some audio interfaces provide two input channels, while some provide many more.<br><br>Most audio interfaces contain a headphone amplifier so you can monitor your recording and mixes in high fidelity. Some models may provide multiple headphone outputs.<br><br>Depending on the make and model, audio interfaces may provide one stereo pair of line outputs for monitor speakers or may provide many outputs for multiple headphones, pairs of monitors, or for surround-sound mixing, external summing, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/re-amp\/\">re-<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/re-amp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">amping<\/a>, and outboard effects processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Audio-interface-IO-102.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1008\" height=\"312\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Audio-interface-IO-102.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1774316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Audio-interface-IO-102.jpg 1008w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Audio-interface-IO-102-300x93.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Audio-interface-IO-102-768x238.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Front and rear panels of the PreSonus Studio 1810c multi-channel audio interface showing inputs, outputs and controls<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Audio-Interface-Controls-and-Software\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Audio Interface Controls and Software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most audio interfaces have knobs and buttons dedicated to different parameters. Some audio interfaces are designed with one master knob that performs multiple functions depending on the selection of toggle buttons. Controls on the front panel will let you make adjustments for each channel, including selecting microphone or line-level input, enabling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/phantom-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">48V phantom power<\/a>, and, most importantly, adjusting input gain. You may see a knob for adjusting the balance of input monitoring and playback monitoring and for adjusting the main output level and the headphone output level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next to each input gain knob, most audio interfaces will have at least an LED that will light up red to indicate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/clipping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clipping <\/a>(distortion) of the input signal. Some interfaces will have a light that changes color from green to yellow to red, indicating signal strength, and some will have a multi-stage <strong>VU meter.<\/strong> This is to help you set the optimum level for recording each source.<br><br>Most audio interfaces also provide a proprietary <strong>control app<\/strong> that runs on your computer or device and provides additional settings and controls. An app may provide a more detailed VU meter display for each channel and a control for adjusting input monitoring. For audio interfaces with multiple outputs, the control app is used to set up different signal routing configurations within the audio interface and independently of your DAW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Focusrite-Control-App.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"932\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Focusrite-Control-App.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1774318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Focusrite-Control-App.png 932w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Focusrite-Control-App-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Focusrite-Control-App-768x547.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>The Focusrite Control app showing an example of signal routing for an audio interface with 18 inputs and 20 outputs<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Wired-Connection-and-Cables\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Wired Connection and Cables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s worth pointing out that a professional audio interface will transmit digital audio to the host computer or device over a wired connection, because wires are necessary for the highest audio quality and minimal latency. Some audio interfaces for a computer can use a control app running on a phone or tablet using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but this is only for adjusting the controls on the audio interface, and not for transmitting the audio itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, audio interfaces designed for recording on a phone or tablet may come with proprietary cables for plugging into the device using a USB-C or Apple Lightning connector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/iRigStreamPro_detail1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/iRigStreamPro_detail1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1774297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/iRigStreamPro_detail1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/iRigStreamPro_detail1-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/iRigStreamPro_detail1-768x521.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>The IK Multimedia iRig Stream Pro provides cables for connecting to hosts using USB-A, USB-C and Apple Lightning, for use on Mac or PC, iPhone, iPad or Android. The iRig can be battery powered.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Power\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Smaller audio interfaces will get their electrical power over the USB or Thunderbolt cable (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/bus-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bus-powered<\/a>), while larger ones come with an external power supply. Some small audio interfaces for phones and tablets can even be battery-powered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Word-Clock\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Word Clock<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When digital audio signals are sent between devices, the groups of digital bits, called words, need to be precisely synchronized. This is done by means of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/understanding-digital-clocking-for-audio\/#What-is-word-clock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">word clock<\/a>. One device is configured to provide a master clock signal that other devices follow. An audio interface can either provide the clock signal or receive it from an external source. With most audio interfaces, the interface and the host computer automatically negotiate and set up this master clock. For more elaborate signal chains, some audio interfaces can set up a word clock connection with an outboard device over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/understanding-digital-clocking-for-audio\/#Digital-connections-glossary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ADAT, S\/PDIF, AES\/EBU, MADI, or BNC cables<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/understanding-digital-clocking-for-audio\/\" class=\"relatedcontent_link\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-related-content\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_block\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/Understanding-Digital-Clocking-featured-image.png);background-size:cover;background-position:center\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_overlay_content\"><\/div><div class=\"relatedcontent-text relatedcontent_content\"><p class=\"relatedcontent_title\" style=\"color:#fff\">Understanding Digital Clocking for Audio<\/p><p class=\"relatedcontent_subhead\" style=\"color:#fff;border:none\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button flat s blue\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Follow-the-signal\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Follow the signal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s connect a microphone to your audio interface\u2019s Channel 1 input and a pair of headphones to the headphone output and follow the signal.<br><br>You can connect a professional microphone to your audio interface by an XLR cable. If it\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/what-is-a-condenser-microphone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">condenser microphone<\/a>, you will need to enable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/phantom-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">48V phantom power<\/a> on that channel, usually via a front-panel switch. The microphone input goes to an analog preamplifier within the audio interface. You can adjust the input gain so the preamp produces a clear, strong high-fidelity signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Quick Tips: Phantom Power\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O3OUzm-hatc?wmode=transparent&amp;rel=0&amp;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With your headphones or speakers, you can monitor the analog audio signal after it passes the preamp but before it goes to the computer. This is called <strong>input monitoring<\/strong>. You can also monitor the digital signal coming back through your computer and DAW, which will enable you to hear the signal processing and effects and listen to the entire mix. This is called <strong>playback monitoring<\/strong>. Depending on your computer\u2019s processing of the signal chain, playback monitoring will introduce some <strong>latency<\/strong>, or lag time between the input and the sound coming back through the system. Most audio interfaces will let you set a blend between the input and the playback, so you can hear what you are playing or singing clearly and accurately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button flat s blue\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Audio-interface-drivers\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Audio interface drivers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To connect to a computer, an audio interface requires a piece of software called a <strong>driver<\/strong>. Depending on the make and model of audio interface and the host operating system (such as macOS or Windows), it may only require a generic driver built into the operating system (we call such a device \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/class-compliant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">class-compliant<\/a>\u201d) or it may require a custom driver provided by the audio interface\u2019s manufacturer.<br><br>If the manufacturer provides a control app for configuring and routing signals in the audio interface, the app will usually also install the correct driver. The app will also be used to upgrade the <strong>firmware<\/strong> of your audio interface when the manufacturer makes a new version available.<br><br>On your computer, you configure your operating system and your DAW to use the correct driver to communicate with the audio interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/computer-audio-basics-for-home-studios\/#Audio-interfaces-and-sound-cards\" class=\"relatedcontent_link\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-related-content\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_block\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2021\/02\/Computer-Audio-Basics-Featured-Image.png);background-size:cover;background-position:center\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_overlay_content\"><\/div><div class=\"relatedcontent-text relatedcontent_content\"><p class=\"relatedcontent_title\" style=\"color:#fff\">Computer Audio Basics for Home Studios: Learn how to configure an audio interface on Mac or PC<\/p><p class=\"relatedcontent_subhead\" style=\"color:#fff;border:none\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button flat s blue\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Advanced-features-of-an-audio-interface\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Advanced features of an audio interface<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some audio interfaces provide advanced features. Here are common examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"DSP-plug-ins\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">DSP plug-ins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some audio interfaces also provide <strong>digital signal processing<\/strong>, or <strong>DSP<\/strong>, which can run proprietary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/types-of-plug-ins-every-studio-needs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">plug-ins<\/a> not on the host computer, but rather on the audio interface itself. This gives you additional processing power. You can call up these plug-ins within your DAW just like regular plug-ins, but the advantage is that because the audio interface\u2019s CPU is doing the heavy lifting, these proprietary plug-ins don\u2019t tax your computer\u2019s resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Loopback\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Loopback<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These days podcasters, gamers, and streamers need to route audio to and from multiple apps at the same time. For example, you may need to blend your mic and other input signals with the audio output from an app on your computer and then send the blended signal back to the DAW. This is called <strong>loopback<\/strong>. Many new audio interfaces have loopback functions built into the unit\u2019s routing capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"MIDI\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">MIDI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some audio interfaces also provide a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/insync\/midi\/\">MIDI<\/a>-to-USB interface, enabling you to connect synthesizers and other gear over 5-pin DIN cables. The MIDI data is sent through the USB or Thunderbolt cable together with the channels of digital audio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Expandability\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Expandability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An audio interface, as we\u2019ve explained above, has digital-to-analog converters but also line inputs and microphone inputs with preamp. Some audio interfaces give you an option for expansion. For example, an audio interface that has four built-in audio inputs and mic preamps might have an optical digital ADAT or S\/PDIF input to which you can connect a second outboard audio interface that provides eight additional analog mic preamps on their own channels. The digital signal from the second audio interface is synchronized with the primary audio interface and passed along to the computer, giving you more channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button flat s blue\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Audio-interface-optimization\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Audio interface optimization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting an audio interface to perform well with a host computer requires making modifications to your computer operating system\u2019s preferences and configuration. We call this <strong>optimization<\/strong>. Sweetwater has <strong>Optimization Guides<\/strong> for specific versions of macOS and Windows. Follow the instructions and you will optimize your computer for maximum audio performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/mac-pc-optimization\/\" class=\"relatedcontent_link\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-related-content\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_block\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2022\/09\/mac_pc_header.jpg);background-size:cover;background-position:center\"><div class=\"relatedcontent_overlay_content\"><\/div><div class=\"relatedcontent-text relatedcontent_content\"><p class=\"relatedcontent_title\" style=\"color:#fff\">Mac\/PC Optimization Guides<\/p><p class=\"relatedcontent_subhead\" style=\"color:#fff;border:none\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button flat s blue\">Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1774295,"template":"","categories":[142726],"tags":[],"storecat":[143167,143171,143310,142918,142935,142927,143195],"itemids":[],"manufacturers":[202712],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this guide, we will explain how an audio interface connects your microphones and instruments to your computer. 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