Connection
Connection interfaces that the audio interface is equipped with.
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USB A. Connection via standard USB port. Until recently, this was the most popular interface for external peripherals, found in almost all PCs and laptops. Nowadays, it is often replaced by a USB type C port (see the corresponding paragraph). Most USB A audio interfaces draw power directly from the PC or other host device.
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USB type B. The connector has a characteristic square shape, noticeably different from the well-known rectangular USB A ports. In audio interfaces, it is used to transmit signals from external sources to a computer for recording and processing.
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USB type C. A peripheral connector with a symmetrical contact group, which often replaces full-size USB ports on board modern PCs and laptops. Many new models of audio interfaces are being made for this interface. An exception to the rule is individual instances for Thunderbolt. For them, it is Thunderbolt that is indicated, and not USB type C.
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Thunderbolt v2. Initially, Thunderbolt is a universal connector used primarily in Apple computer equipment. On board audio interfaces it is used as a general peripheral connector (similar to USB). This uses the miniDisplayPort hardware port. The data transfer speed in this version reaches 20 Gbit/s. Recently, the v2 edition has been rep
...laced by the Thunderbolt v3 version (see the corresponding paragraph).
- Thunderbolt v3. A universal interface that is found mainly in Apple technology. In audio interfaces it is used as a general peripheral connector (similar to USB). Specifically, Thunderbolt v3 provides data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps and uses a USB type C hardware connector (as opposed to earlier versions based on miniDisplayPort).
- Lightning. A connector used exclusively in Apple portable electronics (since 2012). Accordingly, audio interfaces with such a port are aimed at ease of connection to iPhones and iPads. Note that today there has been a transition from proprietary Lightning to the common USB type C - the latest generations of Apple gadgets are produced with just such a peripheral connection connector.
- mini-USB. A smaller version of the full-size USB interface, created for portable equipment. It is found very rarely in audio interfaces.
- FireWire. Universal connector, also known as IEEE 1394 or i-Link. In terms of functionality, it is analogous to USB, and in some characteristics it even surpasses it. However, FireWare is much less common. Used to connect to computers and some types of specialized audio equipment.
— Dante Dante connectors are used to connect audio interfaces to a network to transmit audio digitally. In this case, a standard Ethernet port (RJ-45) is used for physical access to the network.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.
USB
Number and type of USB ports in the device. Most often, audio interfaces contain full-size USB A connectors, and their number can vary from 1 to 3 pcs. Such ports are being replaced in modern models by more compact USB type C, which allows the plug to be inserted in either direction. Somewhat less commonly, audio interfaces can be equipped with USB B ports, while desktop models can be equipped with microUSB connectors.
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.
