Thanks..solved the question I was asking myself. Is it change in voltage or change in current that creates sound waves?

Motu test was done with no load on the headphone output?

Motu m4 if on a budget. Motu 2024 828 if you need the I/O.

Extremely helpful - thank you! Which of the final three (at the end of the video) would you suggest for podcasting or streaming?

Impressive and honest analysis. You won a new sub.

Wow, great video!

I bought the Motu M4 primarily for the excellent levels display. Feeling pretty good about that after watching this 🤣 Why don't all interfaces have a display for gain levels?

I need one of these budget interfaces that's inputs will natively show up in my Mac's System Settings' Sound. Any of these that you don't need to open a DAW to listen to the input within the OS? I need to feed audio into Mac/Bootcamp Windows to show up low latency for a Visualizer to run video backdrops. Please help if any of you know of an interface who's inputs show up natively in the OS without a DAW?

to me the direct monitor issue is the Click

Wow... Tvm for hard working then many clear conclusions

The best interface review on KZfaq, you caught my attention and kept my attention!!! Rare air

Dude, software is cheaper on PC. Yeah you don't get logic, but there's all kinds of cheap/free options for not only DAW software, but plugins too, which you can't get on MAC. The only real reasons apple is better than PC, is that MAC handles audio better, instead of having to use ASIO, MAC does tend to be more stable, and for certain particular software you can't get on PC like Logic and currently Altiverb 8 is only available on MAC. There is also, for those in the industry, the convenience of having a MAC since most pro studios use that platform. But, unless you're already rolling in it from making money in the industry, or just loaded in general, there's no real reason not to just build a PC that's more than capable for almost all producers.

I have Audient id14 mk1. Should I upgrade to id14 mk2? Is it worth upgrading?

Ummmm......Mix Pre 3 ?

I miss the RME on the other tests.

Why didn't you make the comparison cart on your website a google sheet so people could do personal filters on it, rather than just one giant image?

Curious why you went for the Audient ID24 over the SSL2+. You said SSL 2 are some of your favourite preamps and you are getting the pure octo etc. and use the SSL2 outside the studio. So why recommend the ID24? I guess it's pretty close between them either way. Did you just pick the ID24 cos for the average user it might be a little better value with the direct line inputs and digital inputs? In that case would the SSL 12 be an option if you needed those two features?

Great! Thx!

I had been considering a touch screen for exactly what you're using it for. I think I'll stick to a non-touch monitor.

Hi Chris! I was just thinking of doing a similar experiment for my own curiousity when I found your video, and I think you did a great job! 400 conversions is way more than I would have had the patience for! The null test is the ultimate mythbuster. Anyone can claim to hear subjective differences in transients, frequency balance, etc, but if it doesn't show up in the null test, it probably doesn't exist. The only thing I would have also liked to see is a frequency spectum analyzer readout on the null test so we can see what that difference looks like.

Sir, I want to record my poetry professionally. Please tell me a microphone and audio interface that gives me professional quality. But my room is not sound proof. At night, the sound of a motorcycle and barking dogs comes in my room from outside. But I also want to do a professional recording. Please tell me. My budget is arround $350

You are 100% correct. I am a power company engineer. The conditioner wpill clean rf and spikes at many frequencies and you are on point if lightning hits the system a piwer conditioner can attenuate or stop the lightning surge

The UA Apollo series are the best IMO as they have a really cool “ARM” mode (Accelerated Realtime Monitoring) which is firmware/software DAW monitoring that sounds very close to real analog monitoring. They claim it’s near-zero latency, but in reality I believe it’s something around 1ms of latency. Whatever it actually is, it sounds perfect to me and it’s what I use professionally. The only drawback is that you have to use UA’s exclusive LUNA DAW on macOS.

Gran analisis!

I would like to use the touchscreen for plugin adjustments only. Imagine if the entire screen was taken up by the selected channels MAGNIFIED plugs.

Great round up --- must have taken a LOT of work. For 2025 I'd love to see the Arturia interfaces included. They are very full featured ,expandable and easy to use. No idea how they test though!

Suddenly the motu m4 with logic 11 has bad latency. And when I try to record acoustic guitar it’s just garbled noise ??? Never had a problem ever like this.

Strangely, the audio from your mic is tinny and crushed sounding. Why would I take advice on audio interfaces from you.

I've had three Focusrite scarletts. EVERYONE of them had a scratching sound when adjusting the volume. Lots of pops and clicks. NOT well built at all. So, I'm now looking for something better built.

I enjoyed your in deoth analysis up until you reached dynamic range. Then I almost lost my coffee. Btw, I was glad to see the favorable Audiend iD series units. Overall, good job!

Thank you. A lot of work must have gone in to this video.

Very useful videos. Thanks. Would you make a review about the Apogee Symphony Desktop please?

Great video 9/10. With time stamps would be 10/10 🎉

BTW, how you know that the SSL 12's combo inputs bypass those preamp circuits when switching to line source ??? There is no indication on their official website nor the PDF. And why the SSL 2 doesn't use the same design?

THE BEST REVIEW EVER! Audient is a freaking marvel, I sensed that all the time dut didn't have any prove. Absolutely best budget interfaces, and I had a lot from the best of them. For all other cases there ever was UAD for DSP processing and RME for entry level pro quality. But this we all knew all the time 😅

I want to be able to record 1 or 2 vocals, 1 guitar and one keyboard simultaneously. What do you recommend?

The SSLs are very impressive by your test results, however, I don’t see you testing the Phantom power voltage coming out of any of these interfaces. AKG P series condenser mics, for example, require 44-52 Volts to operate. Powered hubs that only use a 5V AC adaptor could not get but 26V out of my Presonus Audio Box 96. Switching to a powered hub that uses a 12V AC adaptor with 2.5 A out increased the phantom power to 46 volts at the male XLR connector being connected to an AKG P420. How do other interfaces do with only 5V input when Phantom power is required? I suspect that Presonus is not alone with this problem. Getting a device running on 5V to convert that to 48V seems like a steep mountain to climb. Please don’t presume that only guitar players singing through dynamic mics are buying audio interfaces. Take into account keyboard players singing into condenser microphones. Thank you!

Hey man - this is an amazing video! Quick question, if you wanted to upgrade from 2 fo 8 mic inputs, but didnt necessarily "need" 8 inputs, and could settle for 4 if it presented a good enough difference in audio quality.. what interface would you cboose... The Evo16 or SSL 12?

My interface cost me US$30, and I couldn't help but feel like it was lacking. The thing is, I like my recordings, but the social pressure to buy more expensive equipment is hard to ignore. Analyses like yours are refreshing amidst consumerism for its own sake.

Great Stuff! Any chance that you can do a similar video on neve 88m?

RME King

Which one of these record the audio and have a noise gate and compressor like the Tascam Portacapture X6?

I've had my MOTU M4 for a few years now and it's been a nightmare trying to get it to work properly from complicated firmware updates to faulty headphone jacks and static getting recorded onto takes. I took a chance after having my Apogee Duet for over a decade which never gave me an issue once. Now knowing these additional tests, I'm considering my purchase a total loss. Thank you for doing these tests.

It's probably the most valuable video on interfaces on yt. get past the garbage lol thanks dude

I run an external pre into my Antelope that has combo input jacks. I didn't know it's best to use a dedicated line-in. Those Antelope preamps are transparent so I'm unsure if using a dedicated line-in would make a difference. But I'll try it!

Great video! Very informative. I think I'm going to go with the behringer UMC series, now my only question is do I go with the UMC202HD or the cheaper UMC22 (both have Midas preamps so wonder if they have the same quality)

so, what the best one?

So.... Would M-audio air be about like a M-box mini?

So I use my MOTU powered from my laptop and I dont have this issue at all. Could be something related to how the interface was powered on your end?

This is the best audio interface comparison video / buyer's guide I've across on the internet. The only thing this is missing is a discussion about the reliability of the products. Despite being USB class compliant audio devices, all interfaces don't seem to be equally reliable in the real world. It's very difficult to test in this kind of a video but it might be valuable to mention as something that can affect your user experience depending on which box you end up buying.