In the simplest of forms, an audio interface (such as the Focusrite Scarlett) is really nothing more than a piece of equipment that connects your microphone (as well as any other instruments) directly to your production computer. With that out of the way, let’s move on to the nitty-gritty.

It’s also possible to have a mixer that doubles as an audio interface, allowing you to bring multitrack audio into your DAW with ease. You can use an audio interface as a rudimentary mixer, but any professional studio will separate the roles here. An audio interface, on the other hand, converts the analog signals into digital signals that your computer can understand. Audio Interface Vs Mixer: The Key DifferenceĪn audio mixer takes your multi-track recordings and combines them together to create one or more output signals. That’s why we put together this detailed guide.īelow, we break down the differences between audio interfaces and mixers, shining a light on what they each do best, where they are a little lacking, and which one you should consider taking advantage of most going forward. Trying to figure out which one is best for your home studio setup can be confusing as there are so many different options. This is especially true when it comes to recording technology.Īudio interfaces (such as the UAD Apollo Twin or Arrow) and mixers both manage multiple channels of audio with ease, but the actual goal of each is fundamentally different.

We break down the differences and help you decide.

Do you need a mixer if you have an interface?.

What can an audio interface do that a mixer can’t?.

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Mixer to audio interface to computer