I use Audient iD 24, and never regretted buying it. An amazing thing for the money, the golden point between cheap stuff and expensive DSP included devices.
exactly, iD24 is amazing and expandable. I have iD14 MKII and am very happy with it. There are some down sides I wish it was different (because of my situation) but overall iD24 and iD14 MKII are interfaces that you can use for a long time without ever needing to replace. The only thing you might need is to plug an 8 channel preamp to record drums... otherwise, nearly perfect interface
Having a scarlette, a volt 276, and a Apollo x twin quad, I will say the primary thing for me is the latency free vocal fx. All the other details and improvements to the interface like conversion are so minute i don’t even really notice them, personally. BUT. Being able to hear compression, eq, delay, and reverb while tracking makes me like my voice better, and therefore perform better. If you are someone that actually enjoys the sound of your own voice raw 😅 , then I feel like the budget ones are fine. I’m just a diva when it comes to my voice 🤣
That’s what I was wondering I have a quad but a friend wanted his own cheap setup so I suggested a scarlet but haven’t used in so long I couldn’t remember if it had latency issues or not
@Scarlett’s do have latency if you’re wanting to record with effects or plugins on your voice, and how much depends on what all you have going on in your project, your plugins, etc. it has a direct monitoring feature that avoids latency, but it is just the direct signal going in with no treatment. Apollos avoid that by processing the signal directly with their onboard dsp, allowing for latency free processing to an extent. And there is a huge library of plugins you can get for the Apollo too, which is pretty cool.
Yes, your comment is exactly what I was going to say. I used the Scarlett 18i20 for years. I upgraded to the Clarette for the better pre-amps. I had never used DSP plugins and just managed latency with direct monitoring. A few years ago, I was at a friends studio and he used DSP plug-ins with an Apollo interface. It completely changed the way we performed. I can't even imagine going back to using native plugins. DSP processors make my life so much easier. I'm sure better engineers can do everything I do even better on lesser hardware. But I don't want to have to spend my time there. I'd rather spend my time improving my vocal and instrument skills.
I have a Focusrite Clarett 8Pre usb-C and sounds just fine to me. Looking at getting a new PC then I will probably get an Apollo Thunderbolt. You're sounding great 👏🏼👏🏼🎤
same here, since I sold my goxlr mini a time ago to get a new audio-interface, heard the mk2 are what the first ones should've been and are worth it. but didn't find enough in-depth reviews to verify the claims, so i didn't get any interface yet before i've decided what i really want to get - want to be minimal and portable (wanna travel) as possible but wanna have enough knops and sliders to mix & master too. so its a inbetween of hybrids and 2 small devices that do their jobs they're supposed to do right.
I just upgraded from a Komplete Audio 2 to the SSL 2+ Mk2 and I can honestly say it's a MAJOR improvement, the quality is audibly way better and it's dead silent compared to the KA2. The SSL 2+ is definitely worth the higher price.
Really well explained, Sanjay! I've taken Audio Engineering courses and when you mentioned dynamic range I was thinking "uh oh, hope he explains it" and you did in an easy to follow way. For added perspective, the way we recorded in the analog days or early digital - the cheapest interface now would blow the older stuff out of the water in many measurable ways. For my home studio acoustic guitar, keyboard and VO noodling, my Scarlett 2i4 with its MIDI is good enough for most times.
I'm not saying that you don't have many subscribers, but this channel is proof that the best TH-camrs are not the ones with most followers. Your channel combines interesting comparisons, tips to get you motivated and great, simple explanations for terms and products that can seem like a jungle. You are the best music related TH-camr out there and you are helping so many people making the right decisions when creating your own studio and delivering entertaining and useful videos at the same time. This is no click bait channel, you can tell that you do this genuinely and want to help out. Thank you, Sanjay!
Thank you so much for the kind words. Honestly, I was having a bad day and was hesitant to check my comments in case some negativity made my day worse. And exactly the opposite happened. You made my day. I appreciate that you took the time to write to me. Have a great day!
@ Hello there! What I’m essentially saying is that Sanjay is one of the greatest TH-camrs out there and he is proof that the best ones are not the ones with most subscribers like Mr. Beast of PewDiePie. I would without a doubt exchange anyone on the top 10 most subscribed for him as I believe he is a true content creator. I apologize if that wasn’t clear to all.
This is a very detailed and helpful video. I got the mini fuse by Arturia because I just needed to record my vocals. Everything else is in the box so the budget interface was perfect for me
I was a huge cheapskate when I started recording. I never bought a single plug in that did not come with my DAW. Things got serious with my first interface, a MOTU 828. After, I mostly spent on a few decent mics. ( sm 57, beta 52, AKG 3000B, KSM137) . That was all I needed then. I recorded, mixed and mastered many projects with this gear. Then...one day I came into some money and got a million plug ins, a high end interface, outboard high end preamps and about 10,000 worth of microphones. When I listen and compare the early stuff with the new, I find no difference in the level of enjoyment based on how it sounds. The performance is always the most exciting thing. Work on making something great with what you have before buying something you think will get you there faster. Work on your skills and learn your limitations. Most of all...have fun!!
First time i learn producing music i use cheap usb stick soundcard😂, and then i borrow my friend's behringer umc, and happy with that. I'm dream having a good and popular device such as scarlet, volt, or even behringer but with budget limitation i can't buy it. So i bought device with my budget, and now i learn my skills limitation depending on my cheap device. 😊
I'm using the Audient iD44 MK2 - it has a very low noise floor, high quality pre-amps and AD/DA converters, multiple expansion ADAT and S/PDIF in/out ports with word clock, and an effects loop so effects pedals can be added in-line with your hardware recording.
I agree, probably better than scarlett. And I have a tone of experience with the 2i2 gen3 and the Solo gen 4 and I feel like the Volt just had much clearer nice preamps
Well stated. I think features are important considerations regardless of the price point. For example, my Behringer UMC204HD enables me to A/B between sends 1/2 & 3/4. This is useful, for example, to check headphone EQ profiles on 3/4 against the 1/2 signal on the mains. This is something I do to help with translation. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Volt series has headphone A/B monitoring. That is a feature on the Apollo, though. So, it's important to evaluate your workflow against the features offered by the interface you're considering. While I'm happy enough with the Behringer for the time being, I think an Apollo X4 is likely to be in my future. Being able to use plugins on the unit is compelling and saves me the expense of having to worry about hybrid setups with rack mount gear.
Great video with solid, clear explanations of the differences and advantages/disadvantages. Very useful! And re: differences, with the solo dry vocal, there was negligible difference (to me) between the Volt and the Twin, but in the full mix I thought the difference was significant (Twin>Volt).
I am using the Antelope ZenQ TB, and the UAD Volt 1, and I‘m happy with both of them! The Volt is used for connecting an iPad for the use of Turbosounds app, the ZenQ for my rare studio vocal recordings … Thanks, Sanjay, for this video …
Behringer UMC404HD. Just got it for Black Friday as an upgrade for my Arturia MiniFuse 1 for more inputs :) I don't hear an appreciable difference between the two
@@valium-fm7236 I was considering was the MiniFuse 4 but it's double the price :/ I'm happy with the purchase cause now I can finally toy with multi-mic recording for vocals :D I've already tried with normal speaking and noticed that the preamps are slightly warmer than the MiniFuse but I think I can work with it :)
Hey I’m only 2:21 in, but I’m wondering, how did you end up with the exact same takes recording into the two different interfaces? The wave forms are identical at least to my eye. I’ll carry on watching to see if this was done intentionally for some reason though.
Im currently using the Focusrite Scarlet 18i20 (I got while at Fullsail, and yes I graduated). I love it, and I also have the Slate Digital ML-1 Mic. I'm content with what i have
I didn't think the audible difference would be as noticeable to me as it was when I upgraded to an Apollo. I mean if someone would've said "hey G, this thing sounds a lot a better than your Focusrite and even your MOTU M4" I'd have laughed at them sarcastically like "sure it does." With no effects, just listening through the monitors or headphones simply sounds better. Things are clearer and have more presence out the gate. Considering what the better sound cards cost they should have a very noticeable, improved sound.
Very well explained, detailed, and easy for me to understand. You would make a great professor! Love your voice. We want a new album from you Sanjay C. Thanks for this excellent review.
Anybody used the Lewitt Connect 2 ? If so , what’s y’all’s take on it and where does it fall in line in regards to being an “ok buy “ to being a “ great buy “ for the features ? I hear it has a built in gate , compressor , and auto gain too 🤔
Been using the Connect 2. Excellent clarity with a lot of plug in features in the preamp. The sound output is clean and good. Have the Motu also. The Connect 2 is a gr8 step forward by Lewiit. The biggest disadvantage is the absence of a power off switch which makes it being on as long as your cpu is on. Lewiitt acknowledged this as an issue which cannot be solved in this version.
Been using a Apollo Twin MKII for both Windows and Mac and absolutely love it, fair warning to those who plan to buy one with Thunderbolt connection it's very finicky on Windows very hard to get drivers to work and should only be bought with intent to use on MacOS. (USB version doesn't have this issue) so if you plan to use both OS save the headache and reconsider not getting Thunderbolt. will be upgrading to a x4 sometime in the future hope this helps!
I'm still using my MK 2 Apollo Twin. Was going to upgrade to the Gen 2 version. But review's have been mixed to say the least. Still on the fence! Great video as always.
I have the motu m4 and the behringer umc404 hd. I absolutely love my UMC404 over my motu m4. The M4 is too clean sounding for me. The UMC 404 has a slightly more gritty and warm( which I personally like)
this is a great video i didnt know i needed! thank you. i didnt know all those features of the apollo, the price makes a lot of sense now. im still budget, and most likely stay that way, but that latency and on-board processing are great features! 🤔
Nicely explained. I'm using the Aturia Minifuse 2 with Beyerdynamic DT 880's. I used to use the 'Reason Balance' interface which is now discontinued in both hardware and driver updates (no Win 11 support) The Arturia is definitely louder in the headphone monitors. The input latency is roughly the same at about 11ms at a buffer size of 256 samples. Unless I went platinum and had residual moneys to flaunt; I can't see why a budget interface such as the Minifuse wouldn't suffice for literally 99% of the noodlings out there. Also it's very cheap if you only want 2 inputs such as a guitar and a mic. Almost half the price of the UI stuff. Look into the other features however because different DACs come with different software deals and that can also make a big difference in value if you have comparable hardware grunt.
I have several nice interfaces now but the Propeller head Balance interface is still my favorite interface of all time. It had a genius design and the built in tuner and clip safe was way ahead of it's time.
Apollo Solo was a great "best of both worlds" pick for me. I wanted the great latency and the mic pre but I'm only recording myself usually (and only use VST's) so spending 500 dollars instead of 1000 was a great choice for me. Thanks for the video..didn't realize the next generations had those new features
RME UFX+ user here. Plus a RME UC connected by Toslink to add inputs. The latter interface is 15 years old. Still going and still supported. RME = Transparent and probably best driver support in the industry.
Hello, Sanjay, I have a Lynx Aurora. It's an expensive interface, very fragile (our first one went dead after 1 month, the CPU died). Now we have a new one, drivers are shaky on Windows 10, meaning they disappear when the PC goes to sleep, and the unit needs a full restart for the drivers to appear again. The NControl software is solid but you can't resize properly horizontal. The sound is great though, I mean it's amazing, I can hear details that other interfaces won't give you, with this unit.
The Volt could be used as a Preamp without being hooked up to the computer. Currently running into my SP-404 Mk2 then into Push 3. The Volt 476 preamps sound thin to me, but someone else may prefer that.
I’ve been looking for a vid like this lol - you just read minds! Can you please make a video (or a video series) about your favorite komplete expansions /librarys of all time? I know that when a new komplete version comes out you review the new instruments but you never dive in too much… please make a komplete overview❤
I got the Volt 2 a couple of months ago (have more expensive interfaces too) and really like it. It comes with a great plugin bundle as well! I run lots of native UA plugins in my sessions no problem. I track electric guitars with amp sims just fine with no perceivable latency. And even tracking vocals with some effects is a non-issue. Studio One really has this solved with low latency monitoring. Not one client has complained or even noticed. I've never had an Apollo and have always been able to record just fine with my Focusrite Clarett . Even full band live tracking with A list studio musicians.
Just bought MOTU 2i2. Perfect for my needs which are purely recreational. I was previously using my Roland Fantom as a workaround to a dedicated interface.
I have a Scarlet Solo 4th gen for my guitar and bass when using Cubase. The only thing im wondering is if something like the Apollo would give me even better latency while keeping sample rate up even if not using UAD plugins.
Great vid. The Unison capability should not be glossed over. It has not only provided more headroom in recording, but has enhanced the selection of color palettes to work with pre vs post. Worth the price of admission for me.
I use MotU Interfaces for more than 20 years now. I was always happy with the amount of I/O they provide, even the smaller ones in a 9.5"-Format have additional Line ins and outs or even ADAT-Connections. Currently in the studio i have the new 828 running and I am super happy with it. For live Work (Measurement and Playback if no Dante Connection is available) I still have an older UltraLite for years. These are built like tanks and are super reliable.
Excellent video! You covered most of the aspects really well! Just a small correction. The Thunderbolt interface was not chosen primarily for the audio latency. In fact there are USB interfaces that will give you better latency. It was primarily chosen because of bandwidth for DSP processing and for the ability to daisy chain. It was actually not uncommon with the old FireWire satellites to run out of bandwidth when too many plugins were running. Modern USB protocols are fine in terms of bandwidth though, but they still don’t allow for daisy chaining. The area where Apollos shine in terms of latency is when you monitor through onboard DSP. That’s where they have others beaten. In terms of actual round trip latency they are not spectacular. I personally use an X4 (gen 1). Upgraded from the original Twin Mk1. I really love tracking and monitoring through DSP plugins in the Console. It’s the killer feature for me and I really miss it when working with other interfaces. For mixing the DSP is not as necessary today. But my 12 chips do provide an additional 25% of computing power on top of my M1 Pro, so it’s not irrelevant. But most importantly a lot of really good plugins are still not available on DSP.
I have used an Audient ID14 (MK1) for about 10 years. For the amount of recording I do and the type of recording that I do, it probably is all that I need. I don't actually produce anything for professional or public ears, mainly backing tracks for myself to play along to on other instruments. The Audient ID14 was recommended to my by the music store that I generally use for this type of equipment, I'm not sure that spending loads of money is going to improve anything for me. I would probably have to upgrade many more facets of my studio equipment to really notice any difference. Great video and interesting topic, things to keep in mind.
RME Fireface UC. It's been running just fine for over 12 years. Secondary machine with an Audient id4 mkII. The RME has the I/O I need built in. Can't say I'd buy an interface for onboard DSP, though I'll give it to UAD for being able to stack units. Then again, if it's a professional outfit, I might be using good external converters as well, lightpiped or MADI'ed in to an RME interface most probably. I mainly mix a lot of dialogue. The number one aspect for me is reliability, and RME gives me all the flexiblity I'd ever want too. The Apollo stuff seems pretty neat, so it's just the question of features/reliability match my needs. The budget friendly options are pretty spectacular these days. Can't say I'd ever recommend Apollos to anyone not making money with this, or RME for that matter. Those are 24/7 tools that you stuff in your rack and then almost forget they exist. I need six outputs for 5.1 mixing and headphones, and the Fireface UC gave me that with complete reliability for drivers and support. Worth the money. But I chose the Audient id4 (2 i/o) for the secondary machine as a simple stereo backup and as a fun option to have clean I/O at a great price. It's reliable so far, and I couldn't be happier. That machine is mainly just for surfing, some games and office stuff. My SM58 on a mic stand is likely overkill for Discord calls :) .
Regarding expandability: If you are using a Mac, the Core Audio system which is built in to the computer’s OS has the option of creating an “aggregate device,” meaning you can take any number of audio sources connected to the computer and combine them into a single audio interface. Logic definitely recognizes these aggregate devices, I’m not sure about other DAWs, and I have no idea if the Windows OS has this functionality. In this case the price tag on the interface doesn’t matter, the Mac is capable of chaining together any audio interfaces. I have used this a lot in my studio: I typically use a Tascam 4 channel interface for most tracking, and the output of that interface is connected to my monitors, but when I have a project that requires more channels I will bring in a Soundcraft mixer with USB outputs and run it alongside the Tascam as an aggregate device.
I use a RME UCX II. Blistering fast drivers, long driver support, thanks to it’s FPGA architecture you can get new functionality, ultra clean preamps, great software mixer with EQ and dynamics, ultra low latency and rock solid german engineering. Thanks for asking.
Can u suggest best interface for streaming ? what i need is XLR and instrument input , and i need a DSP with gate ,eq , compressor, would be great that there is output for studio monitors.
I have an old x4 and just got a new Apollo 8 Gen 2 how do I get the best monitoring. I want to use the x4 as a monitoring station but I want the Gen 2 sound and monitoring. So will I hear the Gen 2 if my monitoring is the x4 ?? ?
Apollo mkii .. Only recording vocals. Recently, the output on the Apollo went out and I am monitoring through my Pioneer ddj sr😅.. Found the dac is decent enough. Actually did three songs.. for release in the UK... Mastered in Africa and Jamaica. Wanted Symphony desktop orRME baby face, New Apollo or should I go budget?
I've had the Volt76 4 track and a UAD Apollo Solo. They are close but it is pretty easy for me to hear a difference in the recording. If you are a good engineer/mixer the difference is pretty negligible. On the connectivity/expandability issue people should remember that many things can be recorded in mono and just processed with stereo effects and the extra $100 it costs to get Volt or other budget interfaces, I love my Arturia minifuse 4, with more connections also usually means you can record more tracks at once, too. I haven't done it but there are videos online that show how you can use 'ASIO for All' to use multiple 2 track interfaces on one computer to record 2 tracks at a time each if you are worried about expandability. Another budget option for bands and multitrack set ups since laptops and phones can both record and are not that expensive anymore is to just have every musician recording their own performance with separate interfaces and then combining those tracks together for mixdown in a single computer.
I used to have the Focusrite 2/2 and upgraded to a MOTU and the difference was pretty great. The Motu sounded open and not muffled. More 3d. The Focusrite was closer to using the mic input on my computer. I think as you get to higher price, you get less conversion quality and more bells and whistles. There is a point of less return unless its features you want.
I love the exact tests and statements like "Thunderbolt has super low latency". Googled, some people report about 3.4ms in / 2ms out (at 64 samples). Checked my old RME USB 2 interface: 1.58 / 2.48 - shoiuld I upgrade to go from ~ 5ms to ~ 5.5ms? ;) I guess the real zero-latency is in RME the direct monitoring and with Apollo using the DSP without running through the Thunderbolt and the DAW. Apart from that: great video - like always.
Happy holidays to you too! You'll need an X version to get those features (gen 1 or 2). If you have one, then update your UAD software and you should have access.
Hi Sanjay, Thank you for this video. But there is a mistake: The Apollo Twin X Gen2 does not have a dynamic ragen of 192 dB. That would be impossible even in theory because 24 bit allows for a max. dynamic range of 144 dB. According to its manual, the Apollo has a dynamic range of 123 dB on the mic input (Line: 122 dB, Hi-Z: 121 dB). It does perform better on the output side (129 dB), but that doesn't affect your recording quality. So, compared to the Volt 2, the difference is about 10 dB. For a more significant improvement, you'd have to get a Neumann MT 48 with a dynamic range of 136 dB on the A/D-side. So maybe that would have been a better point of comparison.
Id14 mark ii user here, and the biggest and most valuable feature when going from different interfaces is the way it works with your pc! Some audio interfaces have terrible compatibility issues, causing you to use higher buffer speeds while recording. That's a big reason people love the more expensive interfaces. I love my audient, but even while using a 14700k with 32gb of ddr5 ram I still can not record below 64 without artifacts being present 😢
So, I'd say the interfaces compatibility and the usability of the lower buffer sizes are incredibly important. Always sucks hearing people say they have to record using really high buffer rates due to faulty/bad interface buffers
I use a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 when mixing at home I got secondhand for free and a Scarlett 18i20 when recording in my studio. I’ve never had an issue with either and don’t plan on upgrading them until they die!
I use a ur22c from steinberg. I am happy with it it does the job. The only problem i have is that it peaks very easily and it doesnt sound "loud" enough
I started out with the iD44 Mkii when it first launched and recently upgraded to the UFX III as I needed a larger i/o and more modular design. There were tons of reasons for the upgrade, but dsp natively was one of the main reasons, alongside many other features I was in dire need of in my interface game. Needed it to run surround, so that is the reason for onboard dsp alongside larger i/o including Madi as well.
What is your view on Interfaces for Live Music? I was thinking to get the Volt 4 for Live Music, you can connect it to an USB powerblock and it looks easy to put it in a backpack.
I’m still using my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd Generation that was brand new for $80 from the Mercari app & I am using it with the AKG C14 mic & it sounds good with my silver KRK Rokit monitors so I have no complaints
Hello , I have audient id14 and I wanna record my both keyboard audio in the same time but my audient don’t have a lot of port for doing this , so my question is “ if I use digital mixer It’s fix my problem or I need to find new audio interface with extra port ?
They've started offering native as the writing was on the wall - modern machines are simply so powerful that external dsp is no longer necessary. That said, they do make lovely plugins...
I play live with an Arturia Minifuse 4 and an Audient Evo8. I still don't know which one to choose... Nowadays, electronic for audio is high quality and low cost. I don't see reasons for me to spend more.
Ok so i used to have the Ssl2 for less than a year, then upgrade to apolo twin x, and then returned and went Back to my SSL2 in less than 2 weeks, the audio difference was not worthy, and for the price, I can buy a high-end cpu to avoid latency when recording, which is usually 5 milliseconds with my vocal chain on, you won’t notice latency under the 17-18 milliseconds so I don’t recommend using it. A bigger difference to the sound is buying a better mic or a better set of speakers/headphones, that’s were you will found a bigger difference
I'm team high' low budget. I have the previous gen. Apollo Twin X and a Volt 476P. Volt is perfect for VO and podcast type stuff and the Apollo is great for the on-board DSP, which I mainly use for tracking vocals and guitar. (I NEED my Unison plugins for vocals!) Both are great, but if I was on a budget, Volt 1000%. Especially with so many native plugins now.
Hey Sanjay, were you using the Apollo Gen 2 with a MAC or WIN? I've heard that it doesn't really work on WIN. Really eyeing on it for the features said in the video. Would greatly appreciate a reply
focusrite 2i2 4th gen outplays them both if u don't need the apollo live effects right on the interface, nowadays u can achieve same sound with ITB vst plugins
I’ve got a MOTU2048 which has a good amount of ins and outs for recording which is nice, and an NI Komplete 6 (mk1) for portability. But honestly, both sound fine!
I am using Antelope Orion 32, RME Fireface, Arturia 16rig and SSL Big Six (although this is more of a mixer than an interface per se). It all depends what you need from the interface. Even the low end stuff is sufficient nowdays, if you are not after DSP and honestly, you can record an album with 200 quid interface. That being said, I multitrack a lot and have lots of hardware (thus Arturia 16 rig), and always found RME to be solid as a rock - Antelope was a hard swap but it worked out for me.
What interface do you currently use? And are you happy with it?
I use Volt 276. and i love it
I use a Scarlett 2i2, perfect for me as a bedroom musician recording voice and guitar
NEVE 88M
Im saving up to buy the focusrite Scarlett or the volt 2!
Arturia minifuse 1 and I am very happy for what it has been offering for such a low price with amazing quality build and sound too
📣 Correction: Apollo Gen 2 Dynamic Range is 129 dB
That 192 db scared me 😅
Just a friendly reminder to pin this for everyone. Great vid as always Sanjay. Hope you're having a nice day.
I use Audient iD 24, and never regretted buying it. An amazing thing for the money, the golden point between cheap stuff and expensive DSP included devices.
Agreed.
exactly, iD24 is amazing and expandable. I have iD14 MKII and am very happy with it. There are some down sides I wish it was different (because of my situation) but overall iD24 and iD14 MKII are interfaces that you can use for a long time without ever needing to replace. The only thing you might need is to plug an 8 channel preamp to record drums... otherwise, nearly perfect interface
Revelator presonus got dsp .100 $ of audio interface
@ Absolutely agree
@@TheFab_ I think presonus interfaces are underrated; I used one when working in tv production and it was a very good thing.
Having a scarlette, a volt 276, and a Apollo x twin quad, I will say the primary thing for me is the latency free vocal fx. All the other details and improvements to the interface like conversion are so minute i don’t even really notice them, personally.
BUT. Being able to hear compression, eq, delay, and reverb while tracking makes me like my voice better, and therefore perform better.
If you are someone that actually enjoys the sound of your own voice raw 😅 , then I feel like the budget ones are fine. I’m just a diva when it comes to my voice 🤣
Thanks for sharing!
That’s what I was wondering I have a quad but a friend wanted his own cheap setup so I suggested a scarlet but haven’t used in so long I couldn’t remember if it had latency issues or not
@Scarlett’s do have latency if you’re wanting to record with effects or plugins on your voice, and how much depends on what all you have going on in your project, your plugins, etc. it has a direct monitoring feature that avoids latency, but it is just the direct signal going in with no treatment. Apollos avoid that by processing the signal directly with their onboard dsp, allowing for latency free processing to an extent. And there is a huge library of plugins you can get for the Apollo too, which is pretty cool.
Yes, your comment is exactly what I was going to say. I used the Scarlett 18i20 for years. I upgraded to the Clarette for the better pre-amps. I had never used DSP plugins and just managed latency with direct monitoring. A few years ago, I was at a friends studio and he used DSP plug-ins with an Apollo interface. It completely changed the way we performed. I can't even imagine going back to using native plugins. DSP processors make my life so much easier. I'm sure better engineers can do everything I do even better on lesser hardware. But I don't want to have to spend my time there. I'd rather spend my time improving my vocal and instrument skills.
I have a Focusrite Clarett 8Pre usb-C and sounds just fine to me. Looking at getting a new PC then I will probably get an Apollo Thunderbolt. You're sounding great 👏🏼👏🏼🎤
they also have usb
Apparently the clarett is better than the Apollo that’s why I stuck with mine
Anxiously waiting for the SSL 2 Mk2 and SSL 2+ Mk2 review.
I wonder how good they are in comparison to the Volt and Audient interfaces....
same here, since I sold my goxlr mini a time ago to get a new audio-interface, heard the mk2 are what the first ones should've been and are worth it. but didn't find enough in-depth reviews to verify the claims, so i didn't get any interface yet before i've decided what i really want to get - want to be minimal and portable (wanna travel) as possible but wanna have enough knops and sliders to mix & master too.
so its a inbetween of hybrids and 2 small devices that do their jobs they're supposed to do right.
I just upgraded from a Komplete Audio 2 to the SSL 2+ Mk2 and I can honestly say it's a MAJOR improvement, the quality is audibly way better and it's dead silent compared to the KA2. The SSL 2+ is definitely worth the higher price.
Really well explained, Sanjay! I've taken Audio Engineering courses and when you mentioned dynamic range I was thinking "uh oh, hope he explains it" and you did in an easy to follow way.
For added perspective, the way we recorded in the analog days or early digital - the cheapest interface now would blow the older stuff out of the water in many measurable ways.
For my home studio acoustic guitar, keyboard and VO noodling, my Scarlett 2i4 with its MIDI is good enough for most times.
I'm not saying that you don't have many subscribers, but this channel is proof that the best TH-camrs are not the ones with most followers. Your channel combines interesting comparisons, tips to get you motivated and great, simple explanations for terms and products that can seem like a jungle. You are the best music related TH-camr out there and you are helping so many people making the right decisions when creating your own studio and delivering entertaining and useful videos at the same time. This is no click bait channel, you can tell that you do this genuinely and want to help out. Thank you, Sanjay!
Thank you so much for the kind words. Honestly, I was having a bad day and was hesitant to check my comments in case some negativity made my day worse. And exactly the opposite happened. You made my day. I appreciate that you took the time to write to me. Have a great day!
@ I’m glad to help! Keep up the good work, Sanjay and don’t forget to take care of yourself!❤️
He has half a million subs what are you talking about
@ Hello there! What I’m essentially saying is that Sanjay is one of the greatest TH-camrs out there and he is proof that the best ones are not the ones with most subscribers like Mr. Beast of PewDiePie.
I would without a doubt exchange anyone on the top 10 most subscribed for him as I believe he is a true content creator. I apologize if that wasn’t clear to all.
This is a very detailed and helpful video. I got the mini fuse by Arturia because I just needed to record my vocals. Everything else is in the box so the budget interface was perfect for me
Nice!
I was a huge cheapskate when I started recording. I never bought a single plug in that did not come with my DAW. Things got serious with my first interface, a MOTU 828. After, I mostly spent on a few decent mics. ( sm 57, beta 52, AKG 3000B, KSM137) . That was all I needed then. I recorded, mixed and mastered many projects with this gear. Then...one day I came into some money and got a million plug ins, a high end interface, outboard high end preamps and about 10,000 worth of microphones. When I listen and compare the early stuff with the new, I find no difference in the level of enjoyment based on how it sounds. The performance is always the most exciting thing. Work on making something great with what you have before buying something you think will get you there faster. Work on your skills and learn your limitations. Most of all...have fun!!
First time i learn producing music i use cheap usb stick soundcard😂, and then i borrow my friend's behringer umc, and happy with that. I'm dream having a good and popular device such as scarlet, volt, or even behringer but with budget limitation i can't buy it. So i bought device with my budget, and now i learn my skills limitation depending on my cheap device. 😊
Hey man that new gen 828 is a beast! In comparison to the last gen Apollo x8 it’s up there. So wouldn’t count them out of anything.
I had the Motu M2 when it 1st came out and after 3 years got the M4. Still running with it and rocking away!
So nice to hear new music from you in this video :)
True, but they were covers.
I’m a singer/songwriter and I’m using the apogee duet 3 because of the pristine A/D converters !
Do you use any outboard gear with the duet? If so how is it?
@ for now no outboard gear just my laptop shure-sm 27 condenser mic and apogee’s duet 3 interface
@@anthonyw1152 Thank you... Got my eye on that
i dont even have an audio interface man but i like watching your vids
I appreciate that!
hahahh i love it
I'm using the Audient iD44 MK2 - it has a very low noise floor, high quality pre-amps and AD/DA converters, multiple expansion ADAT and S/PDIF in/out ports with word clock, and an effects loop so effects pedals can be added in-line with your hardware recording.
Loving my Arturia Minifuse 4. The input and outputs on the back have been great. Though I was deciding between the UAD Volt and the SSL for a while.
I have the volt 1. I think it’s absolutely awesome for singing vocals. I love the vintage effect. IMO a 10/10 for recording home studios.
I agree, probably better than scarlett. And I have a tone of experience with the 2i2 gen3 and the Solo gen 4 and I feel like the Volt just had much clearer nice preamps
Well stated. I think features are important considerations regardless of the price point. For example, my Behringer UMC204HD enables me to A/B between sends 1/2 & 3/4. This is useful, for example, to check headphone EQ profiles on 3/4 against the 1/2 signal on the mains. This is something I do to help with translation. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Volt series has headphone A/B monitoring. That is a feature on the Apollo, though. So, it's important to evaluate your workflow against the features offered by the interface you're considering. While I'm happy enough with the Behringer for the time being, I think an Apollo X4 is likely to be in my future. Being able to use plugins on the unit is compelling and saves me the expense of having to worry about hybrid setups with rack mount gear.
Great video with solid, clear explanations of the differences and advantages/disadvantages. Very useful!
And re: differences, with the solo dry vocal, there was negligible difference (to me) between the Volt and the Twin, but in the full mix I thought the difference was significant (Twin>Volt).
Thanks so much! Glad you found it useful. And the mix had the exact settings for processing applied on both!
I am using the Antelope ZenQ TB, and the UAD Volt 1, and I‘m happy with both of them! The Volt is used for connecting an iPad for the use of Turbosounds app, the ZenQ for my rare studio vocal recordings …
Thanks, Sanjay, for this video …
Very happy with my umc404hd. I've had it for 3 years now.
me too
Me too! No issues at all
Excellent Video Sanjay🥇
Behringer UMC404HD. Just got it for Black Friday as an upgrade for my Arturia MiniFuse 1 for more inputs :) I don't hear an appreciable difference between the two
Love em or hate em, Behringer make quality affordable gear.
@@valium-fm7236 I was considering was the MiniFuse 4 but it's double the price :/ I'm happy with the purchase cause now I can finally toy with multi-mic recording for vocals :D
I've already tried with normal speaking and noticed that the preamps are slightly warmer than the MiniFuse but I think I can work with it :)
I just purchased the same device from this website and can’t wait for it to be delivered ))
Hey I’m only 2:21 in, but I’m wondering, how did you end up with the exact same takes recording into the two different interfaces? The wave forms are identical at least to my eye.
I’ll carry on watching to see if this was done intentionally for some reason though.
This is a brilliant episode - thanks
What's that adorable microphone on your sweater?
Hollyland Lark M2
Im currently using the Focusrite Scarlet 18i20 (I got while at Fullsail, and yes I graduated). I love it, and I also have the Slate Digital ML-1 Mic. I'm content with what i have
How do you like the Slate ML-1 on vocals?
Awesome video. Love your vocals and cover of PG's In Your Eyes!!!
Thank you so much !
UAD Apollo USB version, had it over 5 years, love it.
Just bought my twin last weekend
Nice review Sanjay!!
I didn't think the audible difference would be as noticeable to me as it was when I upgraded to an Apollo. I mean if someone would've said "hey G, this thing sounds a lot a better than your Focusrite and even your MOTU M4" I'd have laughed at them sarcastically like "sure it does." With no effects, just listening through the monitors or headphones simply sounds better. Things are clearer and have more presence out the gate. Considering what the better sound cards cost they should have a very noticeable, improved sound.
Very well explained, detailed, and easy for me to understand. You would make a great professor! Love your voice. We want a new album from you Sanjay C. Thanks for this excellent review.
Anybody used the Lewitt Connect 2 ? If so , what’s y’all’s take on it and where does it fall in line in regards to being an “ok buy “ to being a “ great buy “ for the features ? I hear it has a built in gate , compressor , and auto gain too 🤔
Been using the Connect 2. Excellent clarity with a lot of plug in features in the preamp. The sound output is clean and good. Have the Motu also. The Connect 2 is a gr8 step forward by Lewiit. The biggest disadvantage is the absence of a power off switch which makes it being on as long as your cpu is on. Lewiitt acknowledged this as an issue which cannot be solved in this version.
Been using a Apollo Twin MKII for both Windows and Mac and absolutely love it, fair warning to those who plan to buy one with Thunderbolt connection it's very finicky on Windows very hard to get drivers to work and should only be bought with intent to use on MacOS. (USB version doesn't have this issue) so if you plan to use both OS save the headache and reconsider not getting Thunderbolt. will be upgrading to a x4 sometime in the future hope this helps!
Sanjay still doing work!!
Thanks man!
Also have you ever reviewed Musio 1? What do you think about it?
I haven't tried Musio...have you?
@ I have not.
Trying to find someone who has to see if it’s good or not.
Meaning I haven’t found someone who I trust.
If you do try it out, let me know
I'm still using my MK 2 Apollo Twin. Was going to upgrade to the Gen 2 version. But review's have been mixed to say the least. Still on the fence! Great video as always.
Thanks Damien!
I have the motu m4 and the behringer umc404 hd. I absolutely love my UMC404 over my motu m4. The M4 is too clean sounding for me. The UMC 404 has a slightly more gritty and warm( which I personally like)
this is a great video i didnt know i needed! thank you. i didnt know all those features of the apollo, the price makes a lot of sense now. im still budget, and most likely stay that way, but that latency and on-board processing are great features! 🤔
came at the perfect time! i am in the market
I’m still using the original RME babyface and it’s still rock solid and sounds amazing!
Can never lose with RME but the $$$
Nicely explained. I'm using the Aturia Minifuse 2 with Beyerdynamic DT 880's. I used to use the 'Reason Balance' interface which is now discontinued in both hardware and driver updates (no Win 11 support) The Arturia is definitely louder in the headphone monitors. The input latency is roughly the same at about 11ms at a buffer size of 256 samples. Unless I went platinum and had residual moneys to flaunt; I can't see why a budget interface such as the Minifuse wouldn't suffice for literally 99% of the noodlings out there. Also it's very cheap if you only want 2 inputs such as a guitar and a mic. Almost half the price of the UI stuff. Look into the other features however because different DACs come with different software deals and that can also make a big difference in value if you have comparable hardware grunt.
I have several nice interfaces now but the Propeller head Balance interface is still my favorite interface of all time. It had a genius design and the built in tuner and clip safe was way ahead of it's time.
Apollo Solo was a great "best of both worlds" pick for me. I wanted the great latency and the mic pre but I'm only recording myself usually (and only use VST's) so spending 500 dollars instead of 1000 was a great choice for me. Thanks for the video..didn't realize the next generations had those new features
RME UFX+ user here.
Plus a RME UC connected by Toslink to add inputs. The latter interface is 15 years old. Still going and still supported.
RME = Transparent and probably best driver support in the industry.
Hello, Sanjay, I have a Lynx Aurora. It's an expensive interface, very fragile (our first one went dead after 1 month, the CPU died). Now we have a new one, drivers are shaky on Windows 10, meaning they disappear when the PC goes to sleep, and the unit needs a full restart for the drivers to appear again. The NControl software is solid but you can't resize properly horizontal. The sound is great though, I mean it's amazing, I can hear details that other interfaces won't give you, with this unit.
The Volt could be used as a Preamp without being hooked up to the computer. Currently running into my SP-404 Mk2 then into Push 3. The Volt 476 preamps sound thin to me, but someone else may prefer that.
Nice tip!
Sanjay, have you used the Motu ultralite mk 5. The latency is supposed to be the lowest.
I’ve been looking for a vid like this lol - you just read minds! Can you please make a video (or a video series) about your favorite komplete expansions /librarys of all time? I know that when a new komplete version comes out you review the new instruments but you never dive in too much… please make a komplete overview❤
Sure...I'll look into making that
@@SanjayC thx lol
I need an audio interface for playing a VST for live performances…Any suggestions?
Great video and great voice. Upgraded from a Scarlett 2i2 to an Apollo Twin X… lets see if I can learn this thing
I got the Volt 2 a couple of months ago (have more expensive interfaces too) and really like it. It comes with a great plugin bundle as well! I run lots of native UA plugins in my sessions no problem. I track electric guitars with amp sims just fine with no perceivable latency. And even tracking vocals with some effects is a non-issue. Studio One really has this solved with low latency monitoring. Not one client has complained or even noticed.
I've never had an Apollo and have always been able to record just fine with my Focusrite Clarett . Even full band live tracking with A list studio musicians.
Just bought MOTU 2i2. Perfect for my needs which are purely recreational. I was previously using my Roland Fantom as a workaround to a dedicated interface.
I have a Scarlet Solo 4th gen for my guitar and bass when using Cubase. The only thing im wondering is if something like the Apollo would give me even better latency while keeping sample rate up even if not using UAD plugins.
Great vid. The Unison capability should not be glossed over. It has not only provided more headroom in recording, but has enhanced the selection of color palettes to work with pre vs post. Worth the price of admission for me.
Mt48 vs apollo gen2 sound quality ?
I use MotU Interfaces for more than 20 years now. I was always happy with the amount of I/O they provide, even the smaller ones in a 9.5"-Format have additional Line ins and outs or even ADAT-Connections. Currently in the studio i have the new 828 running and I am super happy with it. For live Work (Measurement and Playback if no Dante Connection is available) I still have an older UltraLite for years. These are built like tanks and are super reliable.
Can You make a video between apollo interface vs RME audio interface. Please.
Excellent video! You covered most of the aspects really well!
Just a small correction. The Thunderbolt interface was not chosen primarily for the audio latency. In fact there are USB interfaces that will give you better latency. It was primarily chosen because of bandwidth for DSP processing and for the ability to daisy chain. It was actually not uncommon with the old FireWire satellites to run out of bandwidth when too many plugins were running. Modern USB protocols are fine in terms of bandwidth though, but they still don’t allow for daisy chaining.
The area where Apollos shine in terms of latency is when you monitor through onboard DSP. That’s where they have others beaten. In terms of actual round trip latency they are not spectacular.
I personally use an X4 (gen 1). Upgraded from the original Twin Mk1. I really love tracking and monitoring through DSP plugins in the Console. It’s the killer feature for me and I really miss it when working with other interfaces.
For mixing the DSP is not as necessary today. But my 12 chips do provide an additional 25% of computing power on top of my M1 Pro, so it’s not irrelevant. But most importantly a lot of really good plugins are still not available on DSP.
I have used an Audient ID14 (MK1) for about 10 years. For the amount of recording I do and the type of recording that I do, it probably is all that I need. I don't actually produce anything for professional or public ears, mainly backing tracks for myself to play along to on other instruments. The Audient ID14 was recommended to my by the music store that I generally use for this type of equipment, I'm not sure that spending loads of money is going to improve anything for me. I would probably have to upgrade many more facets of my studio equipment to really notice any difference. Great video and interesting topic, things to keep in mind.
It gave me chills when you started singing like that. Haha 🔥🔥🔥
RME Fireface UC. It's been running just fine for over 12 years. Secondary machine with an Audient id4 mkII. The RME has the I/O I need built in. Can't say I'd buy an interface for onboard DSP, though I'll give it to UAD for being able to stack units. Then again, if it's a professional outfit, I might be using good external converters as well, lightpiped or MADI'ed in to an RME interface most probably.
I mainly mix a lot of dialogue. The number one aspect for me is reliability, and RME gives me all the flexiblity I'd ever want too. The Apollo stuff seems pretty neat, so it's just the question of features/reliability match my needs. The budget friendly options are pretty spectacular these days. Can't say I'd ever recommend Apollos to anyone not making money with this, or RME for that matter. Those are 24/7 tools that you stuff in your rack and then almost forget they exist. I need six outputs for 5.1 mixing and headphones, and the Fireface UC gave me that with complete reliability for drivers and support. Worth the money.
But I chose the Audient id4 (2 i/o) for the secondary machine as a simple stereo backup and as a fun option to have clean I/O at a great price. It's reliable so far, and I couldn't be happier. That machine is mainly just for surfing, some games and office stuff. My SM58 on a mic stand is likely overkill for Discord calls :) .
Regarding expandability: If you are using a Mac, the Core Audio system which is built in to the computer’s OS has the option of creating an “aggregate device,” meaning you can take any number of audio sources connected to the computer and combine them into a single audio interface. Logic definitely recognizes these aggregate devices, I’m not sure about other DAWs, and I have no idea if the Windows OS has this functionality. In this case the price tag on the interface doesn’t matter, the Mac is capable of chaining together any audio interfaces. I have used this a lot in my studio: I typically use a Tascam 4 channel interface for most tracking, and the output of that interface is connected to my monitors, but when I have a project that requires more channels I will bring in a Soundcraft mixer with USB outputs and run it alongside the Tascam as an aggregate device.
I do this as well. And other DAWs also recognize the aggregate devices. I use Ableton Live with it. Great tip!
I use a RME UCX II. Blistering fast drivers, long driver support, thanks to it’s FPGA architecture you can get new functionality, ultra clean preamps, great software mixer with EQ and dynamics, ultra low latency and rock solid german engineering.
Thanks for asking.
RME babyface here....love it!!
Probably one of the best ones for it's price range, ever.
Just what I was looking for, thanks now I can get my volt 2 lol
LOL! Yup!
Can u suggest best interface for streaming ? what i need is XLR and instrument input , and i need a DSP with gate ,eq , compressor, would be great that there is output for studio monitors.
I have an old x4 and just got a new Apollo 8 Gen 2 how do I get the best monitoring. I want to use the x4 as a monitoring station but I want the Gen 2 sound and monitoring. So will I hear the Gen 2 if my monitoring is the x4 ?? ?
I use the Komplete Audio 6 interface from Native Instruments and I am very happy with it.

Great information.. i got the volt 176.. very happy with it..
Apollo mkii .. Only recording vocals. Recently, the output on the Apollo went out and I am monitoring through my Pioneer ddj sr😅.. Found the dac is decent enough. Actually did three songs.. for release in the UK... Mastered in Africa and Jamaica. Wanted Symphony desktop orRME baby face, New Apollo or should I go budget?
I’m using the interface in my Tascam model 16. I think it sounds great but I don’t know any different.
Keep rocking man!
WHat are your thoughts on this new Focals?
Cheers and greetings to Fam!
I've had the Volt76 4 track and a UAD Apollo Solo. They are close but it is pretty easy for me to hear a difference in the recording. If you are a good engineer/mixer the difference is pretty negligible. On the connectivity/expandability issue people should remember that many things can be recorded in mono and just processed with stereo effects and the extra $100 it costs to get Volt or other budget interfaces, I love my Arturia minifuse 4, with more connections also usually means you can record more tracks at once, too. I haven't done it but there are videos online that show how you can use 'ASIO for All' to use multiple 2 track interfaces on one computer to record 2 tracks at a time each if you are worried about expandability. Another budget option for bands and multitrack set ups since laptops and phones can both record and are not that expensive anymore is to just have every musician recording their own performance with separate interfaces and then combining those tracks together for mixdown in a single computer.
I used to have the Focusrite 2/2 and upgraded to a MOTU and the difference was pretty great. The Motu sounded open and not muffled. More 3d. The Focusrite was closer to using the mic input on my computer. I think as you get to higher price, you get less conversion quality and more bells and whistles. There is a point of less return unless its features you want.
I love the exact tests and statements like "Thunderbolt has super low latency". Googled, some people report about 3.4ms in / 2ms out (at 64 samples). Checked my old RME USB 2 interface: 1.58 / 2.48 - shoiuld I upgrade to go from ~ 5ms to ~ 5.5ms? ;)
I guess the real zero-latency is in RME the direct monitoring and with Apollo using the DSP without running through the Thunderbolt and the DAW.
Apart from that: great video - like always.
I'm fortunate enough to have an Apollo x4, suits my needs perfectly now and will continue to do so for quite some time.
Apollo 8 quad and a twin. How would I get the sonar feather on these? Thanks for all the videos and recording advice. Happy Holidays
Happy holidays to you too! You'll need an X version to get those features (gen 1 or 2). If you have one, then update your UAD software and you should have access.
Hi Sanjay, Thank you for this video. But there is a mistake: The Apollo Twin X Gen2 does not have a dynamic ragen of 192 dB. That would be impossible even in theory because 24 bit allows for a max. dynamic range of 144 dB. According to its manual, the Apollo has a dynamic range of 123 dB on the mic input (Line: 122 dB, Hi-Z: 121 dB). It does perform better on the output side (129 dB), but that doesn't affect your recording quality. So, compared to the Volt 2, the difference is about 10 dB. For a more significant improvement, you'd have to get a Neumann MT 48 with a dynamic range of 136 dB on the A/D-side. So maybe that would have been a better point of comparison.
Id14 mark ii user here, and the biggest and most valuable feature when going from different interfaces is the way it works with your pc! Some audio interfaces have terrible compatibility issues, causing you to use higher buffer speeds while recording. That's a big reason people love the more expensive interfaces. I love my audient, but even while using a 14700k with 32gb of ddr5 ram I still can not record below 64 without artifacts being present 😢
So, I'd say the interfaces compatibility and the usability of the lower buffer sizes are incredibly important. Always sucks hearing people say they have to record using really high buffer rates due to faulty/bad interface buffers
Great video Sanjay C! I use audient id4 which sounds cool as well
I use a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 when mixing at home I got secondhand for free and a Scarlett 18i20 when recording in my studio. I’ve never had an issue with either and don’t plan on upgrading them until they die!
Sir, can you suggest which studio monitors are best in 8 inch speakers please?
I use a ur22c from steinberg. I am happy with it it does the job. The only problem i have is that it peaks very easily and it doesnt sound "loud" enough
I started out with the iD44 Mkii when it first launched and recently upgraded to the UFX III as I needed a larger i/o and more modular design. There were tons of reasons for the upgrade, but dsp natively was one of the main reasons, alongside many other features I was in dire need of in my interface game. Needed it to run surround, so that is the reason for onboard dsp alongside larger i/o including Madi as well.
What is your view on Interfaces for Live Music? I was thinking to get the Volt 4 for Live Music, you can connect it to an USB powerblock and it looks easy to put it in a backpack.
Hello Sir
my only purpose to Get an Innerface is to connect monitors
so, will a cheap 24bit/96Hz interface do it?
I’m still using my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd Generation that was brand new for $80 from the Mercari app & I am using it with the AKG C14 mic & it sounds good with my silver KRK Rokit monitors so I have no complaints
... so, is it the Apollo Gen 2 or the Neumann MT 48 U ? What is your choice - Sanjay, and what is your choice - everyone?
I need to test them side by side...haven't done that yet
Hello , I have audient id14 and I wanna record my both keyboard audio in the same time but my audient don’t have a lot of port for doing this , so my question is “ if I use digital mixer It’s fix my problem or I need to find new audio interface with extra port ?
They've started offering native as the writing was on the wall - modern machines are simply so powerful that external dsp is no longer necessary. That said, they do make lovely plugins...
I play live with an Arturia Minifuse 4 and an Audient Evo8. I still don't know which one to choose... Nowadays, electronic for audio is high quality and low cost. I don't see reasons for me to spend more.
We're living in a good time!
@SanjayC For audio, fully agreed. For some other things (wars) I am worried
Fantastic vocal sound.
do audio interfaces matter for the sound of Virtual instruments?
Ok so i used to have the Ssl2 for less than a year, then upgrade to apolo twin x, and then returned and went Back to my SSL2 in less than 2 weeks, the audio difference was not worthy, and for the price, I can buy a high-end cpu to avoid latency when recording, which is usually 5 milliseconds with my vocal chain on, you won’t notice latency under the 17-18 milliseconds so I don’t recommend using it. A bigger difference to the sound is buying a better mic or a better set of speakers/headphones, that’s were you will found a bigger difference
Everything plays a part...thanks for sharing
I'm team high' low budget. I have the previous gen. Apollo Twin X and a Volt 476P. Volt is perfect for VO and podcast type stuff and the Apollo is great for the on-board DSP, which I mainly use for tracking vocals and guitar. (I NEED my Unison plugins for vocals!) Both are great, but if I was on a budget, Volt 1000%. Especially with so many native plugins now.
Hey Sanjay, were you using the Apollo Gen 2 with a MAC or WIN? I've heard that it doesn't really work on WIN. Really eyeing on it for the features said in the video. Would greatly appreciate a reply
focusrite 2i2 4th gen outplays them both if u don't need the apollo live effects right on the interface, nowadays u can achieve same sound with ITB vst plugins
I’ve got a MOTU2048 which has a good amount of ins and outs for recording which is nice, and an NI Komplete 6 (mk1) for portability.
But honestly, both sound fine!
Yeah, and ask a listener and they won't be able to tell the difference!
@ nope! I’d say it’s a 1% change that is only majorly important at the very top level… that’s my opinion. ❤️
How do you have 2 interfaced hooked up at once? Can you use 2 and have them both at the same time
I commented before finishing the video so nvm
I am using Antelope Orion 32, RME Fireface, Arturia 16rig and SSL Big Six (although this is more of a mixer than an interface per se). It all depends what you need from the interface. Even the low end stuff is sufficient nowdays, if you are not after DSP and honestly, you can record an album with 200 quid interface. That being said, I multitrack a lot and have lots of hardware (thus Arturia 16 rig), and always found RME to be solid as a rock - Antelope was a hard swap but it worked out for me.