Sound Cards

There are various types of sound cards that cater to different needs:

Internal Sound Cards: These are installed directly into the motherboard of a computer via a PCI or PCIe slot. They are primarily aimed at users who want to improve the sound quality on their desktop without needing external equipment.

External Sound Cards (Audio Interfaces): These connect via USB, Thunderbolt, or FireWire. They are the ideal choice for professional sound recordists and producers, as they offer more inputs and outputs, better sound quality, and greater flexibility for connecting equipment.

Usage and Needs

Home Studio

For a home studio, your needs may be relatively simple, requiring basic input and output functions. Look for a sound card with 2 to 4 inputs, which includes phantom power for condenser microphones and good-quality preamps. Small, portable external sound cards like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or PreSonus AudioBox are excellent choices.

Professional Studio

For professional use, the demands are higher. You’ll need more inputs and outputs, support for digital protocols such as ADAT and SPDIF, and the ability to connect multiple instruments and microphones simultaneously. In this case, the quality of the preamps and A/D and D/A converters is crucial. Reliable and powerful sound cards like the Universal Audio Apollo Twin or RME Babyface Pro are recommended.

Podcasting and Voice Recording

If your main focus is podcasting or voice recording, a sound card with 1-2 good inputs and support for condenser microphones will be sufficient. It’s important to have clean preamps with low noise for clear recordings. External sound cards such as the Audient iD4 or the Zoom H6 (for portable solutions) are great options.

The converters in your sound card are another crucial factor in the quality of your recordings. There are two different types of converters:

Analog to Digital Converters (A/D): This type of converter "reads" the analog signal coming from your preamp and converts it into a digital format, which your computer can understand and feed into your recording software. It’s a key component in your recording chain.

Digital to Analog Converters (D/A): The opposite of the A/D converter. It takes the digital signal and converts it back into analog, which is then sent to your speakers or headphones. While this conversion does not directly affect your recordings, it influences playback quality and what you hear during production.

Sound can be recorded in various ways, so it's important to find the right number and type of inputs you'll need. Recording instruments or vocals through microphones requires an XLR connection. These carry analog signals and are easily recognizable as they are the largest input typically found on a sound card. You can connect instruments directly to the sound card and create sounds using plug-ins if the card has ¼" Jack inputs. Sound cards also have TRS outputs for connecting headphones and speakers, allowing you to hear what you are recording.

Note: If you are a singer or songwriter, a small sound card with a few inputs for overdubbing might suit you best.

If you plan to record a five-member band playing live, you'll need a mix of inputs, with enough microphone inputs just for the drums.

Let’s take a look at the types of inputs found on sound cards and the purpose of each one.

Jack: These inputs are used for guitars, basses, keyboards, synthesizers, and external audio equipment. Stereo sound sources like a synthesizer will need two Jack inputs, one for the left and one for the right channel. The outputs are used for connecting studio monitors and various analog processors.

XLR: Balanced microphone inputs. The XLR inputs on sound cards connect the microphone to the preamp, which amplifies the signal to usable levels.

Combo Jack/XLR Inputs: Sound cards often feature combo Jack/XLR inputs, allowing you to connect different sources without needing to access the back of the card.

S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface): This is the main input/output for any digital source. Whether you are dealing with external digital effects units, a sound box, or a keyboard arranger, the digital input saves you from any noise that an analog input could introduce into the signal. S/PDIF comes in two different types: coaxial and optical. Be sure to make the correct connection when dealing with S/PDIF setups!

MIDI: Used for connecting peripheral devices that control software on your computer. For example, a MIDI keyboard can be connected to play software-based instruments on your computer. While newer MIDI devices have USB connections that allow direct connection to your computer, some devices still only offer MIDI connections.

ADAT: An optical connection that allows you to transfer digital audio from device to device. It can carry up to 8 channels at 48 kHz / 24-bit.

Latency in sound cards refers to the delay that occurs from the moment a signal (e.g., an instrument or voice) is input into the sound card until the moment that signal is reproduced by the computer or speakers. It is the time it takes for the analog signal to be converted to digital, processed by the software, and converted back to analog for output.

Low latency is desirable in situations like live recordings or when playing musical instruments in real-time through the computer, as high latency can cause synchronization issues.

Latency is influenced by several factors, such as:

• The quality of the sound card.
• Buffer size (larger buffer increases latency, while smaller buffer reduces it).
• The speed of the computer and processor.
• The software and drivers used.

The goal is to minimize latency as much as possible to achieve the best possible response during recording and playback.

Pro Studio

Metric Halo

Known for its high sound quality, exceptional A/D and D/A converters, and the reliability of its devices. Products like the ULN-8 and LIO-8 offer top-notch performance and are especially popular in professional recording and music production studios. The brand is also known for long-term support and upgradeability, making it a solid choice for professionals seeking premium quality.

See all the Metric Halo products here

Motu

One of the most recognized brands in the field of professional sound cards, particularly with models like the UltraLite, 828es, and 16A. The company offers excellent solutions for pro and home studios, with products known for their stability, low latency, and flexible connectivity. MOTU also provides powerful control software and extensive integration with other audio and MIDI systems, making it ideal for producers, sound engineers, and musicians.

See all the Motu products here

Universal Audio (UA)

Known for its top-tier Apollo series sound cards, offering exceptional sound quality and built-in UAD digital processors.

See all the Universal Audio products here

Antelope Audio

Renowned for its high-quality build, outstanding A/D and D/A converters, and unique clocking capabilities. The company specializes in solutions aimed at pro studios where sound quality and reliability are essential. Models such as the Orion Studio, Zen Tour, and Discrete 8/4 are highly sought after for their performance, extensive analog and digital connectivity options, and built-in FPGA FX processors that offer real-time processing. Antelope Audio sound cards are considered a premium choice for professional producers and sound engineers seeking top quality.

See all the Antelope Audio products here

RME

Famed for its reliability, low latency, and high-quality preamps and converters. Cards like the Fireface and Babyface are top choices.

See all the RME products here

Focusrite (Pro)

The Red and Clarett series offer professional solutions with excellent preamps and stable performance.

See all the Focusrite products here

Apogee

Known for its top-notch A/D and D/A conversion solutions, Apogee offers sound cards like the Symphony and Duet for professional producers.

See all the Apogee products here

Native Instruments

Highly renowned for its DJ products, plug-ins, and Komplete sound libraries, but also offers an affordable sound card. The Komplete Audio interface features 2 microphone inputs, MIDI compatibility, and 4 analog outputs.

See all the Native Instruments products here

Home Studio

Focusrite (Scarlett series)

Very popular for home studios due to its combination of affordability, ease of use, and good sound quality. The Scarlett series is one of the most accessible and reliable options.

See all the Focusrite products here

PreSonus

Popular and reliable, primarily for home studios and semi-professional environments. Series like AudioBox and Studio are known for their good sound quality and affordable price, making them very popular for personal and small studios. For pro studios, PreSonus offers advanced solutions like the Quantum series (with Thunderbolt connectivity for ultra-low latency). It is better known for its Studio One DAW and affordable solutions.

See all the Presonus products here

Behringer

Cards like the UMC22 and UMC404HD offer good solutions for beginners and users on a limited budget.

See all the Behringer products here

Audient

The iD series is known for its high-quality preamps and excellent sound quality, making it great for home studios.

See all the Behringer products here

Steinberg

The UR series is very popular with home studio users, featuring built-in Yamaha preamps and strong stability.

See all the Steinberg products here

M-Audio

A company focused on producing sound cards for beginners. The M-Track series comes with Ableton Live DAW and AIR Creative Collection FX, a popular plug-in series. At 192 kHz / 24-bit, you get excellent recording quality at an affordable price.

See all the M-Audio products here

In an ideal world, we would all want to have the best and largest sound card available for our studio. Unfortunately, high-quality equipment can easily range in the thousands €, without offering the leaps in quality that one might expect.

Generally, across various price ranges, the more money you spend, the higher the quality of the product you’ll receive. However, there is a fine line between better sound and the number of inputs. That’s why it’s important to consider how many inputs you’ll realistically need. If you're a solo musician recording one source at a time, it might be better to avoid large sound cards with numerous inputs and instead invest in one with fewer, but higher-quality inputs and converters. Most sound cards allow you to expand the inputs anyway, so you can grow your recording setup when you're ready.

The best sound card for you is the one that offers everything you need within your budget. Choosing the right one for you may seem overwhelming at first, but by carefully considering your requirements, you can narrow down your options effectively.

If you need any assistance in selecting the right sound card, one of our expert consultants can discuss your needs with you and guide you. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and love music just as much as you do.

AthensProAudio Team ©