CHEAP vs EXPENSIVE Interfaces 🤔 WORTH IT?

[@SanjayC]

What interface do you currently use? And are you happy with it?

[@amanthathemiya2672]

I use Volt 276. and i love it

[@lorenzorossi7468]

I use a Scarlett 2i2, perfect for me as a bedroom musician recording voice and guitar

[@newman2374]

NEVE 88M

[@xakcisx]

Im saving up to buy the focusrite Scarlett or the volt 2!

[@abhishekrao6017]

Arturia minifuse 1 and I am very happy for what it has been offering for such a low price with amazing quality build and sound too

[@SanjayC]

📣 Correction: Apollo Gen 2 Dynamic Range is 129 dB

[@ErmirMusic]

That 192 db scared me 😅

[@StoriesOfSolitude]

Having a scarlette, a volt 276, and a Apollo x twin quad, I will say the primary thing for me is the latency free vocal fx. All the other details and improvements to the interface like conversion are so minute i don’t even really notice them, personally. BUT. Being able to hear compression, eq, delay, and reverb while tracking makes me like my voice better, and therefore perform better. If you are someone that actually enjoys the sound of your own voice raw 😅 , then I feel like the budget ones are fine. I’m just a diva when it comes to my voice 🤣

[@SanjayC]

Thanks for sharing!

[@boutstaxx]

That’s what I was wondering I have a quad but a friend wanted his own cheap setup so I suggested a scarlet but haven’t used in so long I couldn’t remember if it had latency issues or not

[@StoriesOfSolitude]

@Scarlett’s do have latency if you’re wanting to record with effects or plugins on your voice, and how much depends on what all you have going on in your project, your plugins, etc. it has a direct monitoring feature that avoids latency, but it is just the direct signal going in with no treatment. Apollos avoid that by processing the signal directly with their onboard dsp, allowing for latency free processing to an extent. And there is a huge library of plugins you can get for the Apollo too, which is pretty cool.

[@VinnieDangerous]

This is a very detailed and helpful video. I got the mini fuse by Arturia because I just needed to record my vocals. Everything else is in the box so the budget interface was perfect for me

[@SanjayC]

Nice!

[@tomas_zamba]

Anxiously waiting for the SSL 2 Mk2 and SSL 2+ Mk2 review. I wonder how good they are in comparison to the Volt and Audient interfaces....

[@KreuzSync]

same here, since I sold my goxlr mini a time ago to get a new audio-interface, heard the mk2 are what the first ones should've been and are worth it. but didn't find enough in-depth reviews to verify the claims, so i didn't get any interface yet before i've decided what i really want to get - want to be minimal and portable (wanna travel) as possible but wanna have enough knops and sliders to mix & master too. so its a inbetween of hybrids and 2 small devices that do their jobs they're supposed to do right.

[@AlainNLDB]

I just upgraded from a Komplete Audio 2 to the SSL 2+ Mk2 and I can honestly say it's a MAJOR improvement, the quality is audibly way better and it's dead silent compared to the KA2. The SSL 2+ is definitely worth the higher price.

[@Divuar]

I use Audient iD 24, and never regretted buying it. An amazing thing for the money, the golden point between cheap stuff and expensive DSP included devices.

[@36th_Ghost]

i use audient id4 and beyerdynamic dt 990 pro, very happy with it

[@StephanieSante]

Agreed.

[@raphabmroque]

exactly, iD24 is amazing and expandable. I have iD14 MKII and am very happy with it. There are some down sides I wish it was different (because of my situation) but overall iD24 and iD14 MKII are interfaces that you can use for a long time without ever needing to replace. The only thing you might need is to plug an 8 channel preamp to record drums... otherwise, nearly perfect interface

[@TheFab_]

Revelator presonus got dsp .100 $ of audio interface

[@Divuar]

@ Absolutely agree

[@AceeSoul]

I have a Focusrite Clarett 8Pre usb-C and sounds just fine to me. Looking at getting a new PC then I will probably get an Apollo Thunderbolt. You're sounding great 👏🏼👏🏼🎤

[@EJohnDanton]

Really well explained, Sanjay! I've taken Audio Engineering courses and when you mentioned dynamic range I was thinking "uh oh, hope he explains it" and you did in an easy to follow way. For added perspective, the way we recorded in the analog days or early digital - the cheapest interface now would blow the older stuff out of the water in many measurable ways. For my home studio acoustic guitar, keyboard and VO noodling, my Scarlett 2i4 with its MIDI is good enough for most times.

[@100produziert]

So nice to hear new music from you in this video :)

[@jonkthompson]

I had the Motu M2 when it 1st came out and after 3 years got the M4. Still running with it and rocking away!

[@SethAustin86]

I have the volt 1. I think it’s absolutely awesome for singing vocals. I love the vintage effect. IMO a 10/10 for recording home studios.

[@3jahel7]

I agree, probably better than scarlett. And I have a tone of experience with the 2i2 gen3 and the Solo gen 4 and I feel like the Volt just had much clearer nice preamps

[@djellisdee]

I'm using the Audient iD44 MK2 - it has a very low noise floor, high quality pre-amps and AD/DA converters, multiple expansion ADAT and S/PDIF in/out ports with word clock, and an effects loop so effects pedals can be added in-line with your hardware recording.

[@anthonyw1152]

I’m a singer/songwriter and I’m using the apogee duet 3 because of the pristine A/D converters !

[@queball2263]

Do you use any outboard gear with the duet? If so how is it?

[@anthonyw1152]

@ for now no outboard gear just my laptop shure-sm 27 condenser mic and apogee’s duet 3 interface

[@queball2263]

@@anthonyw1152 Thank you... Got my eye on that

[@geekmastermind]

Great video with solid, clear explanations of the differences and advantages/disadvantages. Very useful! And re: differences, with the solo dry vocal, there was negligible difference (to me) between the Volt and the Twin, but in the full mix I thought the difference was significant (Twin>Volt).

[@SanjayC]

Thanks so much! Glad you found it useful. And the mix had the exact settings for processing applied on both!

[@Wavvy_ag]

i dont even have an audio interface man but i like watching your vids

[@SanjayC]

I appreciate that!

[@vewilli]

I am using the Antelope ZenQ TB, and the UAD Volt 1, and I‘m happy with both of them! The Volt is used for connecting an iPad for the use of Turbosounds app, the ZenQ for my rare studio vocal recordings … Thanks, Sanjay, for this video …

[@JarardKenneth]

Im currently using the Focusrite Scarlet 18i20 (I got while at Fullsail, and yes I graduated). I love it, and I also have the Slate Digital ML-1 Mic. I'm content with what i have

[@SanjayC]

How do you like the Slate ML-1 on vocals?

[@Sashik]

What's that adorable microphone on your sweater?

[@SanjayC]

Hollyland Lark M2

[@JaredAlexanderStevenson]

Sanjay still doing work!! Thanks man! Also have you ever reviewed Musio 1? What do you think about it?

[@SanjayC]

I haven't tried Musio...have you?

[@JaredAlexanderStevenson]

@ I have not. Trying to find someone who has to see if it’s good or not.

[@JaredAlexanderStevenson]

Meaning I haven’t found someone who I trust. If you do try it out, let me know

[@MIXBYMALACHI]

Excellent Video Sanjay🥇

[@CPCforever]

This is a brilliant episode - thanks

[@3rdPersonProductions]

Nice review Sanjay!!

[@yesmanasia123]

Awesome video. Love your vocals and cover of PG's In Your Eyes!!!

[@SanjayC]

Thank you so much !

[@MrCosmicVictory]

this is a great video i didnt know i needed! thank you. i didnt know all those features of the apollo, the price makes a lot of sense now. im still budget, and most likely stay that way, but that latency and on-board processing are great features! 🤔

[@OmniAPM]

Been using a Apollo Twin MKII for both Windows and Mac and absolutely love it, fair warning to those who plan to buy one with Thunderbolt connection it's very finicky on Windows very hard to get drivers to work and should only be bought with intent to use on MacOS. (USB version doesn't have this issue) so if you plan to use both OS save the headache and reconsider not getting Thunderbolt. will be upgrading to a x4 sometime in the future hope this helps!

[@Windiguana]

Very happy with my umc404hd. I've had it for 3 years now.

[@barrystevens3550]

me too

[@dazzarg5]

Me too! No issues at all

[@TraneFrancks]

Well stated. I think features are important considerations regardless of the price point. For example, my Behringer UMC204HD enables me to A/B between sends 1/2 & 3/4. This is useful, for example, to check headphone EQ profiles on 3/4 against the 1/2 signal on the mains. This is something I do to help with translation. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Volt series has headphone A/B monitoring. That is a feature on the Apollo, though. So, it's important to evaluate your workflow against the features offered by the interface you're considering. While I'm happy enough with the Behringer for the time being, I think an Apollo X4 is likely to be in my future. Being able to use plugins on the unit is compelling and saves me the expense of having to worry about hybrid setups with rack mount gear.

[@geebee44]

I didn't think the audible difference would be as noticeable to me as it was when I upgraded to an Apollo. I mean if someone would've said "hey G, this thing sounds a lot a better than your Focusrite and even your MOTU M4" I'd have laughed at them sarcastically like "sure it does." With no effects, just listening through the monitors or headphones simply sounds better. Things are clearer and have more presence out the gate. Considering what the better sound cards cost they should have a very noticeable, improved sound.

[@margaretchristo6859]

Very well explained, detailed, and easy for me to understand. You would make a great professor! Love your voice. We want a new album from you Sanjay C. Thanks for this excellent review.

[@damienowens242]

I'm still using my MK 2 Apollo Twin. Was going to upgrade to the Gen 2 version. But review's have been mixed to say the least. Still on the fence! Great video as always.

[@SanjayC]

Thanks Damien!

[@erikmerced6329]

It gave me chills when you started singing like that. Haha 🔥🔥🔥

[@XY01Mu]

Recently upgraded from Focusrite 6i6 to Arturia Audiofuse Studio. The audiofuse control center software is infinitely better than focusrite's imo. Deeper into the Arturia ecosystem I go lol.

[@perrykeshahwalker5321]

I have the motu m4 and the behringer umc404 hd. I absolutely love my UMC404 over my motu m4. The M4 is too clean sounding for me. The UMC 404 has a slightly more gritty and warm( which I personally like)

[@rokosbasilisk2894]

Nicely explained. I'm using the Aturia Minifuse 2 with Beyerdynamic DT 880's. I used to use the 'Reason Balance' interface which is now discontinued in both hardware and driver updates (no Win 11 support) The Arturia is definitely louder in the headphone monitors. The input latency is roughly the same at about 11ms at a buffer size of 256 samples. Unless I went platinum and had residual moneys to flaunt; I can't see why a budget interface such as the Minifuse wouldn't suffice for literally 99% of the noodlings out there. Also it's very cheap if you only want 2 inputs such as a guitar and a mic. Almost half the price of the UI stuff. Look into the other features however because different DACs come with different software deals and that can also make a big difference in value if you have comparable hardware grunt.

[@juicerox]

I have several nice interfaces now but the Propeller head Balance interface is still my favorite interface of all time. It had a genius design and the built in tuner and clip safe was way ahead of it's time.

[@SamTRajkumar]

Great video Sanjay C! I use audient id4 which sounds cool as well

[@joelrene1559]

Sanjay, have you used the Motu ultralite mk 5. The latency is supposed to be the lowest.

[@alanlee9943]

Loving my Arturia Minifuse 4. The input and outputs on the back have been great. Though I was deciding between the UAD Volt and the SSL for a while.

[@johnnydohe6506]

UAD Apollo USB version, had it over 5 years, love it.

[@Toad92873]

Great information.. i got the volt 176.. very happy with it..

[@bill4510]

Fantastic vocal sound.

[@th3goldenlady]

I’ve been looking for a vid like this lol - you just read minds! Can you please make a video (or a video series) about your favorite komplete expansions /librarys of all time? I know that when a new komplete version comes out you review the new instruments but you never dive in too much… please make a komplete overview❤

[@SanjayC]

Sure...I'll look into making that

[@th3goldenlady]

@@SanjayC thx lol

[@MasterOneMusic]

Keep rocking man! WHat are your thoughts on this new Focals? Cheers and greetings to Fam!

[@matthamilton1321]

Just bought MOTU 2i2. Perfect for my needs which are purely recreational. I was previously using my Roland Fantom as a workaround to a dedicated interface.

[@marksteinemann4063]

I use MotU Interfaces for more than 20 years now. I was always happy with the amount of I/O they provide, even the smaller ones in a 9.5"-Format have additional Line ins and outs or even ADAT-Connections. Currently in the studio i have the new 828 running and I am super happy with it. For live Work (Measurement and Playback if no Dante Connection is available) I still have an older UltraLite for years. These are built like tanks and are super reliable.

[@azadamedia2206]

Great vid. The Unison capability should not be glossed over. It has not only provided more headroom in recording, but has enhanced the selection of color palettes to work with pre vs post. Worth the price of admission for me.

[@GlasierXplor]

Behringer UMC404HD. Just got it for Black Friday as an upgrade for my Arturia MiniFuse 1 for more inputs :) I don't hear an appreciable difference between the two

[@valium-fm7236]

Love em or hate em, Behringer make quality affordable gear.

[@GlasierXplor]

​​@@valium-fm7236 I was considering was the MiniFuse 4 but it's double the price :/ I'm happy with the purchase cause now I can finally toy with multi-mic recording for vocals :D I've already tried with normal speaking and noticed that the preamps are slightly warmer than the MiniFuse but I think I can work with it :)

[@henrikpetersson3463]

Excellent video! You covered most of the aspects really well! Just a small correction. The Thunderbolt interface was not chosen primarily for the audio latency. In fact there are USB interfaces that will give you better latency. It was primarily chosen because of bandwidth for DSP processing and for the ability to daisy chain. It was actually not uncommon with the old FireWire satellites to run out of bandwidth when too many plugins were running. Modern USB protocols are fine in terms of bandwidth though, but they still don’t allow for daisy chaining. The area where Apollos shine in terms of latency is when you monitor through onboard DSP. That’s where they have others beaten. In terms of actual round trip latency they are not spectacular. I personally use an X4 (gen 1). Upgraded from the original Twin Mk1. I really love tracking and monitoring through DSP plugins in the Console. It’s the killer feature for me and I really miss it when working with other interfaces. For mixing the DSP is not as necessary today. But my 12 chips do provide an additional 25% of computing power on top of my M1 Pro, so it’s not irrelevant. But most importantly a lot of really good plugins are still not available on DSP.

[@TheOneMonk]

RME UFX+ user here. Plus a RME UC connected by Toslink to add inputs. The latter interface is 15 years old. Still going and still supported. RME = Transparent and probably best driver support in the industry.

[@ivanclarke]

I have used an Audient ID14 (MK1) for about 10 years. For the amount of recording I do and the type of recording that I do, it probably is all that I need. I don't actually produce anything for professional or public ears, mainly backing tracks for myself to play along to on other instruments. The Audient ID14 was recommended to my by the music store that I generally use for this type of equipment, I'm not sure that spending loads of money is going to improve anything for me. I would probably have to upgrade many more facets of my studio equipment to really notice any difference. Great video and interesting topic, things to keep in mind.

[@progressmusic24]

Apollo Solo was a great "best of both worlds" pick for me. I wanted the great latency and the mic pre but I'm only recording myself usually (and only use VST's) so spending 500 dollars instead of 1000 was a great choice for me. Thanks for the video..didn't realize the next generations had those new features

[@nashlib]

Apogee Duet 3. Super happy thus far.

[@cdauterive1]

Apollo 8 quad and a twin. How would I get the sonar feather on these? Thanks for all the videos and recording advice. Happy Holidays

[@SanjayC]

Happy holidays to you too! You'll need an X version to get those features (gen 1 or 2). If you have one, then update your UAD software and you should have access.

[@DarrenHale]

I’m still using the original RME babyface and it’s still rock solid and sounds amazing!

[@dpixvid]

Can never lose with RME but the $$$

[@laharofficial]

I use a 2019 Quad-core Apollo Twin mk2!

[@JoshFryer]

I'm team high' low budget. I have the previous gen. Apollo Twin X and a Volt 476P. Volt is perfect for VO and podcast type stuff and the Apollo is great for the on-board DSP, which I mainly use for tracking vocals and guitar. (I NEED my Unison plugins for vocals!) Both are great, but if I was on a budget, Volt 1000%. Especially with so many native plugins now.

[@NoamAlmog-dz9zv]

I'm fortunate enough to have an Apollo x4, suits my needs perfectly now and will continue to do so for quite some time.

[@callmemainey]

Hey I’m only 2:21 in, but I’m wondering, how did you end up with the exact same takes recording into the two different interfaces? The wave forms are identical at least to my eye. I’ll carry on watching to see if this was done intentionally for some reason though.

[@abtrapp]

I love the exact tests and statements like "Thunderbolt has super low latency". Googled, some people report about 3.4ms in / 2ms out (at 64 samples). Checked my old RME USB 2 interface: 1.58 / 2.48 - shoiuld I upgrade to go from ~ 5ms to ~ 5.5ms? ;) I guess the real zero-latency is in RME the direct monitoring and with Apollo using the DSP without running through the Thunderbolt and the DAW. Apart from that: great video - like always.

[@ernestwilliams6616]

The Volt could be used as a Preamp without being hooked up to the computer. Currently running into my SP-404 Mk2 then into Push 3. The Volt 476 preamps sound thin to me, but someone else may prefer that.

[@SanjayC]

Nice tip!

[@John-stim]

Still using for portable setup my old Zoom UAC-2, and it still is top tier device. 😊

[@heatnationwpb]

I'm wearing decent headphones and they sound more similar than I ever would've thought they would (or could)! Honestly, I still use an inexpensive M-audio Air desktop (x's 4+ years I think), mostly because I absolutely love the design & comfort. At my skill level it is actually pretty sweet though honestly. For guitar and vocals I ended up selling my Scarlett to a friend, because someone gifted me an M-audio & I much prefered the sound. Just me.

[@АлександрПетраков-ь1ц]

Two years ago, I purchased a RME Fireface UCX II audio interface. I use it in conjunction with the RME ADI-2 DAC Pro FS It's an amazing device and I'm very happy with this purchase: incredible amount of settings and menu options, very clear and detailed sound, excellent compatibility with Shure SM7B microphone, absolute reliability and of course the great and terrible TotalMix FX - all this and much more was definitely worth every cent of the money spent

[@SanjayC]

I've heard a lot of good things about RME

[@АлександрПетраков-ь1ц]

@@SanjayC I think all or most of these reviews are not hype or adverts No, I'm not going to claim that RME is the best company in audio and their products are superior to all others Of course they aren't. In my experience, they are one of the good and decent solutions. There are others Apogee, Lynx, Universal Audio, Neumann ect. You in your review gave a great example of such a good buying option

[@FatNorthernBigot]

There are some cheap audio interfaces with optical expansion. Either way, it's a great time for home recording. I started in the 90s and A/D conversion sounded pretty rough 🤣

[@WillWorth]

They've started offering native as the writing was on the wall - modern machines are simply so powerful that external dsp is no longer necessary. That said, they do make lovely plugins...

[@SchulleHBS]

I use a RME UCX and it‘s fantastic. Stable and very low Latency at all. Only the Headphone Output is not so good for High Impedance Headphones.

[@DadRockAndGuitars]

I got the Volt 2 a couple of months ago (have more expensive interfaces too) and really like it. It comes with a great plugin bundle as well! I run lots of native UA plugins in my sessions no problem. I track electric guitars with amp sims just fine with no perceivable latency. And even tracking vocals with some effects is a non-issue. Studio One really has this solved with low latency monitoring. Not one client has complained or even noticed. I've never had an Apollo and have always been able to record just fine with my Focusrite Clarett . Even full band live tracking with A list studio musicians.

[@Skykingsound]

I used to have the Focusrite 2/2 and upgraded to a MOTU and the difference was pretty great. The Motu sounded open and not muffled. More 3d. The Focusrite was closer to using the mic input on my computer. I think as you get to higher price, you get less conversion quality and more bells and whistles. There is a point of less return unless its features you want.

[@tkelong3569]

The Apollo Unison pres make aLLL the difference. This is what allows you to obtain a pro level sound. Of course skill level is truly the limiting factor.

[@DERAILENTERTAINMENT1]

Apollo mkii .. Only recording vocals. Recently, the output on the Apollo went out and I am monitoring through my Pioneer ddj sr😅.. Found the dac is decent enough. Actually did three songs.. for release in the UK... Mastered in Africa and Jamaica. Wanted Symphony desktop orRME baby face, New Apollo or should I go budget?

[@damelos4039]

I use a Focusrite 4i4, 4th gen. Does it all and no complaints. I produce dance music. No reason for me to "upgrade". I think the subtleties are "invisible" to 80% of people and 100% invisible for the target listening audience. Use the Sonarworks software to get the profiles and different listening environments. No reason to spend SO much more $$$. I agree with solid headphones, monitors and mixing skills (remember there's software for THAT too.) I agree if you are running a studio, you'll need features.

[@rundajulesproductions7735]

I've had the Volt76 4 track and a UAD Apollo Solo. They are close but it is pretty easy for me to hear a difference in the recording. If you are a good engineer/mixer the difference is pretty negligible. On the connectivity/expandability issue people should remember that many things can be recorded in mono and just processed with stereo effects and the extra $100 it costs to get Volt or other budget interfaces, I love my Arturia minifuse 4, with more connections also usually means you can record more tracks at once, too. I haven't done it but there are videos online that show how you can use 'ASIO for All' to use multiple 2 track interfaces on one computer to record 2 tracks at a time each if you are worried about expandability. Another budget option for bands and multitrack set ups since laptops and phones can both record and are not that expensive anymore is to just have every musician recording their own performance with separate interfaces and then combining those tracks together for mixdown in a single computer.

[@1KriticalShoota]

Just what I was looking for, thanks now I can get my volt 2 lol

[@SanjayC]

LOL! Yup!

[@IanBoccio]

Regarding expandability: If you are using a Mac, the Core Audio system which is built in to the computer’s OS has the option of creating an “aggregate device,” meaning you can take any number of audio sources connected to the computer and combine them into a single audio interface. Logic definitely recognizes these aggregate devices, I’m not sure about other DAWs, and I have no idea if the Windows OS has this functionality. In this case the price tag on the interface doesn’t matter, the Mac is capable of chaining together any audio interfaces. I have used this a lot in my studio: I typically use a Tascam 4 channel interface for most tracking, and the output of that interface is connected to my monitors, but when I have a project that requires more channels I will bring in a Soundcraft mixer with USB outputs and run it alongside the Tascam as an aggregate device.

[@SanjayC]

I do this as well. And other DAWs also recognize the aggregate devices. I use Ableton Live with it. Great tip!

[@KevyMUZAK]

My main interface is the MOTU M2 2x2 usb-c and I also have a Scarlett 2i 4 ( that I got when I attended Full Sail University)

[@JaKunaMusic]

Audient ID14 MK2. I do not do recordings so to me there are literally no differences in sound quality with other ones.

[@SanjayC]

haha

[@zehekofficial]

Ok so i used to have the Ssl2 for less than a year, then upgrade to apolo twin x, and then returned and went Back to my SSL2 in less than 2 weeks, the audio difference was not worthy, and for the price, I can buy a high-end cpu to avoid latency when recording, which is usually 5 milliseconds with my vocal chain on, you won’t notice latency under the 17-18 milliseconds so I don’t recommend using it. A bigger difference to the sound is buying a better mic or a better set of speakers/headphones, that’s were you will found a bigger difference

[@SanjayC]

Everything plays a part...thanks for sharing

[@christianlandstrom]

SSL 2+, happy with it :)

[@rymbre]

Hey Sanjay, were you using the Apollo Gen 2 with a MAC or WIN? I've heard that it doesn't really work on WIN. Really eyeing on it for the features said in the video. Would greatly appreciate a reply

[@davidboudreau4054]

I have both an Axe I/O One for my Cigar Box guitar, and a Presonus revelator IO 24 for my midi inputs. Both work well for my needs which are very basic right now.

[@BeatsBangcomtv]

Currently using an Apogee Element 24. A sleeper piece of gear with amazing sound quality.

[@PierreBurnaugh]

I only really needed to power my JBL 305P MK2's and Sony MD7506 headphones. I'm all "in the box" and don't record any outboard gear or mics (which I may do in the future though). So, I've had the bare bones, Volt One for over a year and it does great. All three of these are the least expensive, foot in the door at what they do. But for my purposes, serve me well, for now. I have wondered though how the basic straight through sound compared to the Apollo's. This was a great comparison and answered that question. Your videos are always helpful and I became aware of the Volts by watching.

[@officialdiomer]

As someone who used to have the same exact setup as you and now has outboard gear, don’t do it and just focus on making great music because it’s a deep rabbit hole! maybe think about outboard gear if you become a millionaire or super successful with your music!

[@cameronpritchard626]

I’ve got a MOTU2048 which has a good amount of ins and outs for recording which is nice, and an NI Komplete 6 (mk1) for portability. But honestly, both sound fine!

[@SanjayC]

Yeah, and ask a listener and they won't be able to tell the difference!

[@cameronpritchard626]

@ nope! I’d say it’s a 1% change that is only majorly important at the very top level… that’s my opinion. ❤️

[@alexsonic-image3414]

Zoom Livetrak L-20. Good pre's. Have a WA73 for fancy vocals. Great live band capture board, lots of flexibility. Records on flash.

[@BengtSkogvall]

I hear a huge difference in the recording of your voice. The Apollo sounds so much better than the Volt. I use an RME interface in my studio.

[@jeffagoddard]

Silly to debate tech spaces, IMO. The Apollo “system” with UA Console and Unison enabled plugins is just a better workflow than the cheaper interfaces. The productivity on my Apollo x4 is awesome. Little things like 4 cue mixes, and 2 independent headphone outputs, helps me every day. I route system audio, DAW, hardware synths, video sources - all through UA Console. I would need a big analog console to replace the digital UA Console - big expense.

[@ClaesWegener]

I love that Gabriel song. And your version is fresh and interesting. Is it possible to hear the final song mix anywhere? ❤

[@ZyrixDeinhardt]

I’m using the interface in my Tascam model 16. I think it sounds great but I don’t know any different.

[@FussellFilms23]

I am between interfaces at the moment, when I have the money I am going to get the Motu M4 4-In / 4-Out USB Audio Interface.

[@sternradiowest5923]

Hi Sanjay, Thank you for this video. But there is a mistake: The Apollo Twin X Gen2 does not have a dynamic ragen of 192 dB. That would be impossible even in theory because 24 bit allows for a max. dynamic range of 144 dB. According to its manual, the Apollo has a dynamic range of 123 dB on the mic input (Line: 122 dB, Hi-Z: 121 dB). It does perform better on the output side (129 dB), but that doesn't affect your recording quality. So, compared to the Volt 2, the difference is about 10 dB. For a more significant improvement, you'd have to get a Neumann MT 48 with a dynamic range of 136 dB on the A/D-side. So maybe that would have been a better point of comparison.

[@tonybeatbutcher]

What is your view on Interfaces for Live Music? I was thinking to get the Volt 4 for Live Music, you can connect it to an USB powerblock and it looks easy to put it in a backpack.

[@SterlingJergens]

I used a focusrite 4i4 for a while, after issues I got a UA volt 4769 and I can definitely hear a difference between the two

[@cookbeats74]

Hi, hope you doing well. These sound really amazing. I hardly can tell the sound difference between them both. But can I ask you do us another comparison but this time with "SPL Mark One" audio interface against these two. Your help will be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance 🙏

[@spustatu]

I'm using an Apollo Solo that I got pre-owned off Ebay for about $350. I feel like it was an extremely good value. I bought it because it had been several years since I last did any audio engineering of any kind, a long time since I last really used my ears critically, so I just wanted something I knew I could trust. Maybe that's dumb, I don't know. But I've put the time in to regain my critical listening and can hear the more subtle differences between different kit a lot better now. It just took the edge off my anxiety when getting back into the game and that was worth every penny for me.

[@brokenhero6828]

I just got one too. Hopefully a great upgrade over a 3rd gen focusrite 2i2

[@BF-up5xw]

Well done. This is a great video that goes beyond just reviewing gear or demo-ing gear and actually gets across the criteria for choosing an audio interface. I started music production a few years ago and had the good fortune to choose the Focusrite 4i4 3rd Gen. I didn't need it's extra features at the time, but I do now. At the time I was mostly composing in the box, with occasional audio recording (vocals and guitar). Now I entirely record audio through hardware, including midi-controlled synths; and I haven't had to buy a new interface. Yes, I could benefit from an even better audio interface in terms of low noise, dynamic range and the number of inputs. But I don't need to; which has allowed me to improve other gear that I was using to improve the sound. It's really tough to parse all of the features and contrasts between different audio gear; especially at the start when you don't know what to look for. A video like this one is incredibly helpful. I was completely clueless back then and just got lucky when I decided to go with something that some composers I knew were using. In general, my advice would be: it is better to have something to make music with than nothing; but, where you can, buy just a little above the specifications that you need today in order to save money longterm. Then, instead of replacing what you have, you can improve other aspects of the signal chain, recording environment or monitoring equipment.

[@henryroh7665]

Hello thank you always for the nice review!! Just a quick question with the new Apollo. The dynamic range of 192db is something I never heard of. May I ask if the dynamic range is really 192? Or maybe it is 129db? The highest ad dynamic range db I ever saw was around 145 from Antelope Amari, and maybe I am not aware,, but 192db of dynamic range seems so unreal to me..If 192db is the spec from UA, that is such a crazy spec though!:)

[@Hammerman48]

Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 mark 3 and very happy with it.

[@bboymac84]

Yea the DSP isn’t really a factor now that we have Max M3 computers now🤷🏾‍♂️😁

[@vpitts728]

I’m using Motu M2. I like it.

[@DJIronChef]

Using the Kontakt Komplete 6 with a cheap DBX preamp. Works great.

[@jdosupreme4185]

Damn I thought I was doing something with the volt 276 😂😂😂 guess I gotta step my game up lol