do i need to get a sound card for home studio computer

Mixers are especially useful for live performances and other situations where there is a need to modify the audio coming from multiple microphones and instruments (that are played simultaneously) to create a clear, solid mix. It has a set of dials and sliders, which serve as your volume faders, equalizers, and controllable built-in effects like reverb, delay, and chorus - typically for each individual line input. Mixers offer more control over what gets sent to your computer. While a mixer is often compared (and confused) with an audio interface, it serves a completely different and more complicated purpose. To get a better idea of what these devices can do for you, you can check out our article on the best audio interfaces for recording. But if you’re recording a conference with multiple panelists or a four-piece band, you’ll likely need a bigger audio interface with four or more input and output channels.Īside from multiple input channels, some interfaces also offer additional ports and displays. Should you decide that you need an audio interface, choosing one should factor in the type of recording you want to do.įor regular podcasting where you may have a co-host or an interviewee, or perhaps a recording session with one vocalist and one guitarist, a two-input audio interface is all you’ll need. They come in all shapes and sizes, with studio-quality ones being much bigger to accommodate more inputs. These devices have Thunderbolt or USB outputs that allow direct connection to your computer and even have built-in preamps so you can amplify your microphone’s audio signal to be strong enough for recording and mixing. Now, why can’t you just use a USB microphone and connect it directly to your computer, you may ask? An audio interface takes the sounds from your live audio sources and sends them to your computer for playback or recording - and unlike the built-in 3.5mm microphone jack or sound card on your computer, it actually preserves the quality of the sounds, which is essential if you want professional-sounding audio. To put it simply, an audio interface is a device that connects your microphone (and other sounds sources like musical instruments) to your computer.

Do i need to get a sound card for home studio computer