What is an audio interface? An audio interface is a piece of hardware that converts analog sound to digital signal for your computer to process. It's math and science, people!

The full-blossoming of modern technology has enabled us to build super fast and powerful computers that arguably rival any setup found in today's professional recording studios. However, some folks might wonder why one would need a separate piece of hardware to process audio when there’s a built-in sound card and microphone on your computer and tablet. It’s a perfectly valid question to ask, but it has to do with what you want to accomplish.

For instance, creating a rough demo on an old dusty machine running Windows 98 seems like a possible feat (don’t quote us), but what happens if you need to record two separate guitar tracks at the same time, or listen to yourself as you play? What’s more, there isn’t a 1/4 inch guitar input on your computer, which means you can’t plug your guitar directly into your computer and take advantage of awarding-winning guitar amp-and-effects software like BIAS FX 2 and BIAS AMP 2 (wink, wink).

What about using a 3.5mm to 1/4 inch adapter, you ask? Well, that’s strongly advised against for the sake of avoiding running into latency issues, which also stem from having the wrong setup or a guitar audio interface with an incompatible/outdated driver.

The other reason why you need a guitar interface is simply because they’re equipped with an ASIO driver that provides low-latency, which is absolutely crucial when it comes to recording and audio in general. Check this article to know more about ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output).

Using an audio interface is simple. You can plug your guitar directly into it, but keep in mind you’ll just have the very dry sound of your guitar. Luckily, once plugged in, you’ll be able to use guitar effects processing software to create the unique sound you want.

Guitar computer interfaces can greatly improve the quality of your guitar sound on your computer. Every time you record your guitar on your computer, the audio interface will produce accurate an representation of your sound, which you can then tweak using various guitar effects.

If you’re currently using an older guitar audio interface, then you may want to consider upgrading. Modern guitar audio interfaces will have better latency and sound quality. On top of that, today’s audio interfaces are a much better value than ever before.

Do I Need an Expensive Guitar Audio Interface?

Are expensive guitar interfaces better than cheap? Most of the time, yes. There are several reasons, and it’s not necessarily that they sound better than cheaper alternatives. Expensive audio interfaces can have better converters, more detailed sound, better processing, and more. But there are cheaper audio interfaces that can outperform their more expensive cousins. The trick is learning what to look for, and researching for the best option for you.

Should I Upgrade My Audio Interface?

If you’re currently using an older guitar audio interface, then you may want to consider upgrading. Modern guitar audio interfaces will have better latency and sound quality. On top of that, today’s audio interfaces are a much better value than ever before.

To answer this question, first you need to ask yourself how you plan to record. Do you plan on recording your band where multiple instruments are involved or just yourself with a guitar? How and what you want to record usually determine the type of audio interface you need. If you simply just want to record a couple guitar tracks through BIAS FX 2 on your home setup, a guitar computer interface with two guitar inputs (XLR combos) will serve you very well.

Looking for a great starting place on your guitar interface journey? We recommend checking out the Focusrite 2i2, PreSonus AudioBox and Apogee Duet.