An audio interface converts the analog signal captured by a microphone into a digital signal. It is a necessary tool for any professional-level audio recording setup, even when you’re working from home. In fact, it is listed among the essential items for podcasting along with items like noise-cancelling headphones and essential microphone accessories, like mic stands and cables.

While a computer’s sound card can create basic recordings when connected to a computer microphone, an audio interface will help you capture sound much more cleanly and accurately because it gives you more control over the sound levels being recorded.

The sound you capture can then be mixed to optimal levels on a tablet, laptop or desktop computer when you import the recorded files to music and audio editing software. As you gain experience working with sound files and editing software, you will begin to see how invaluable an audio interface really is.

When deciding on the best audio interface for you, anticipate the number of inputs you’ll need. If you are working solo on a project like a vlog or podcast, you don’t have to worry much about having multiple inputs. However, if you are recording a band, it would be beneficial to look at a USB mixer that can handle multiple inputs.

When setting your space up for recording, there are also pieces of equipment that can come in handy for tracking the quality of each track. Studio monitors give you the ability to play rough and final mixes as you go. And it is good to have a range of microphones on hand since mics vary greatly in how they capture sound. Condenser microphones, for example, offer a very different recording from dynamic microphones.

Finally, you will also want to anticipate how you will connect your audio interface to your recording equipment. A USB audio interface, one of the most popular designs, easily connects to most computers, offering plug-and-play simplicity and compatibility with a wide range of music and audio editing software.