How to select an audio jack

Choosing a suitable audio interface is important, there are many factors to consider, such as the number of input and output interfaces, interface type, how to connect with the computer and so on. This Boke Audio Buying Guide will help you make your choice. If you have any questions during the purchase process, please feel free to call our hotline 4006-197-192 to our experienced sales engineers.

What is the audio interface

The audio interface is the device that connects the microphone and other recording equipment to the computer. The most basic function is to convert the analog signal into digital audio information to the computer through USB, FireWire and PCI / PCIe card slot. On the contrary it can also be computer output digital audio into analog signals, so you through the speakers and headphones to hear the sound of computer output. Most of the audio interface with one or more words, you can adjust the input and output levels, and some with S / PDIF or ADAT digital interface.

Why use audio jacks

Compared to the computer's onboard sound card, external audio interface has many advantages. In fact, the onboard sound card is also an audio interface, but in the sound quality and interface are a lot worse, not as the first choice for recording work. Most of the computer onboard sound card only has a pair of consumer level stereo line level input, a headphone output and a pair of stereo line level output. Sound quality will be subject to electromagnetic interference, radio interference, input and output at the same time there are digital jitter and great digital delay. In addition it is very few channels, only two input channels, want to record a complete set of drums completely impossible. The onboard sound card is only suitable for a pair of Hi-Fi speakers to play through the loss of encoded digital audio, want to record, monitor high-quality audio, can only rely on reliable professional audio interface.

How to match the interface

Select the audio interface has two points to give priority to: how to connect with the first computer, the second need to input and output interface. On the second point, the number of interfaces, the type depends entirely on the object you often record. The number of interfaces is available in a wide range of formats, from the two-channel desktop interface to the hundreds of channels to record the super interface system everything.

If you only record their own songs, with two input channels of the sound card is enough, many sound cards have more than two words put the channel. Plan to use a condenser microphone recording to buy a phantom powered sound card, intended to record guitar or keyboard to buy a musical instrument input that is high-impedance input sound card, intended to external processor, headphone amplifier and monitor the headset will have to buy a linear level input and output interface The sound card.

If you just get started, then do not consider the digital input and output interface. If you are a veteran and often do road shows, it is best to buy a digital interface with a sound card, you will find it very easy to use. Digital interface can expand the number of channels of sound cards, such as many sound cards have S / PDIF input interface, some high-quality single / dual channel external speaker will also provide S / PDIF output, two-phase match can save you a Two precious passages. And the sound card can provide 8-channel ADAT fiber interface, if coupled with the relevant then put, allows you to instantly expand access to an 8-channel ADAT speaker access capacity, there are so many channels have enough to record a small band.

Connection to computer

The life cycle of a technology in the audio field will not be too long. In the computer-related field, the current standard means to be phased out. The following interfaces are currently considered to be current standards: USB, FireWire, PCIe. Most computers have a USB 2.0 interface, only the old Apple computer will be with FireWire interface. These two transmission protocols can provide an average 480Mbps transfer rate, in the case of properly set up at the same time can record 64 audio tracks. There is also an audio interface that still uses the USB 1.1 interface, although the speed is unpleasant, but enough for one or two tracks to use.

FireWire relative to the advantages of USB is more stable transmission, multi-track recording more reliable. The disadvantage is the use of FireWire sound card than the use of USB less, comes with FireWire interface computer is also less. If your computer does not support FireWire, you have to install a FireWire card.

The advantages of USB 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1 are the sound card that uses this interface, and USB can be powered by the bus. Many sound cards are using USB interface, which will be able to remove the external power supply, which is the use of laptop mobile recording is very convenient. There are a few PC Express sound cards and PCMCIA sound card, especially designed for notebook computers.

PCIe (PCI Express) is the third standard audio interface form, it is an internal interface, that can only be inserted in the computer motherboard, can not be used directly on the laptop. Due to the direct connection to the computer motherboard, this audio interface can skip the data conversion processing caused by the delay and bandwidth constraints. PCIe audio interface is designed to deal with a large number of real-time exchange of data in a professional studio, but correspondingly more expensive than USB and FireWire sound card. Even so, there are still some inexpensive PCIe interface cards that provide entry-level user options.