DAC
Characteristics of the built-in DAC - a digital-to-analog converter for converting digital audio into line-level analog audio, usually in stereo format.
— Bit depth. Bit size of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) used in the device. In this case, the meaning of this parameter is as follows: the bit depth of the DAC must be no lower than the bit depth of the audio signal with which the converter is planned to be used, otherwise the device will not be able to effectively cope with the conversion. As for specific values, the standard options in modern audio interfaces are
16 bit,
24 bit and
32 bit.
- Sampling frequency. The sampling rate of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) installed in the audio interface. Let us recall that such a converter is responsible for converting digital audio into an analog audio signal. The paragraph usually indicates the maximum value of the sampling frequency, for which one of the standard values corresponding to a certain sound quality is used (
48 kHz,
96 kHz,
192 kHz).
Line
The type of line input provided in the device. Uses the line input to feed audio from an external source to the audio interface.
The following types of connectors can be used for line input:
—
mini-Jack (3.5 mm). A socket for a standard mini-Jack plug (3.5 mm). The connector serves as an audio input for two stereo channels. It is designed primarily for portable electronics such as smartphones, pocket players, etc. In stationary devices, Jack (6.35 mm), XLR and RCA are more popular.
—
Jack (6.35 mm). A common audio connector for transmitting an analog signal. In design, this type of socket is as similar as possible to a mini-Jack (3.5 mm), but differs in size. Jack connector (6.5 mm) provides tight contact and is less susceptible to interference. It also supports a balanced connection - high-quality transmission of audio signals over fairly long wires with effective protection against interference.
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XLR. The XLR standard is considered professional - not only because of the high quality of signal transmission, but also because of its fairly large size and the presence of locks for securely securing the plugs. However, only one channel of audio can be transmitted over one cable, so XLR outputs are usually installed in pairs - based on stereo sound. Also note that these connectors can be combined with Jack sockets (6.35 mm). They also allow y
...ou to implement a connection in a balanced format with a high degree of noise immunity and the use of fairly long wires without affecting the frequency of the analog signal.
- RCA. Connector for coaxial cable with tulip type plug. The standard RCA input consists of two jacks - for stereo sound, left and right channel. One analog RCA connector can only transmit one channel of audio, so the number of such connectors corresponds to the number of channels supported by the device.MIDI in
Input for connecting MIDI devices: keyboards, turntables and other controllers. The MIDI stream does not represent sound, but service information for virtual musical instruments. Therefore, data received via
MIDI In is not processed by the device, but is simply transmitted to a computer, tablet or specialized equipment via USB type B, MIDI output or other similar connector.
MIDI out
Specialized output for transmitting MIDI commands. Found exclusively in audio interfaces that have a MIDI input. The corresponding signals represent a kind of “digital music notation”. The
MIDI Out connector is used to transmit MIDI commands received by the input to an external device - most often a hardware sequencer or other specialized equipment.
Front headphone output
There is
a headphone jack on the front panel of the device. This is convenient because the user can easily and quickly connect or disconnect headphones without having to fumble for the corresponding output on the back wall of the audio interface.
Software included
The software included with your audio interface may vary depending on the make and model. The vast majority of it is represented by drivers, utilities for managing the device, software for recording and editing sound, virtual instruments or effects, and all kinds of plugins. It is advisable to clarify separately which specific software components are included in the audio interface package.
ОС
Supported operating systems ensure device compatibility with computers running different platforms. The following options are widespread in audio interfaces:
-Windows. The vast majority of audio interfaces provide drivers and software for compatibility with the popular Windows operating system. At the same time, it is important to clarify the supported OS versions - in modern realities, these are Windows 10 and Windows 11.
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macOS. Support for working with Apple computers and laptops that use the proprietary macOS platform.
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iOS. The ability to work with mobile applications for creating and processing sound, implemented when using Apple smartphones running the iOS operating system.
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iPadOS. In this version, the audio interfaces support work with Apple tablets running the proprietary iPadOS operating system.
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Android. Compatibility of the audio interface with mobile devices based on the popular Android platform. This involves using mobile versions of applications for creating and processing sound.
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Linux. Support for the Linux platform is less common among audio interfaces, and not all devices provide official drivers for this operating system.
—Chrome. The device is compatible
...with laptops running the Chrome OS operating system. These are rarely found in common use, but they do occur.
