The Computer Audio Interface Guide
This guide covers computer audio interfaces (sometimes referred to as "I/O"s or "breakout boxes") for PC or Mac. These provide audio input, output and additional features which improve upon any built-in audio jack. This guide does not cover internal PCI cards, just external connectors (USB, FireWire etc). See the bottom of this page for an intro to the terminology and trends.
(Sort by clicking a header. Filter by selecting a port. 97 interfaces match current criteria. See all interfaces.)
Make | Model | Port | Mic Pres | Bit/Sample Rate | List Price | Shop New | Shop Used |
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MOTU | 828 mkIII | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/192.0k | $795.00 | Shop New |
MOTU 828 mkIII |
10 analog i/o, 16 ch ADAT i/o, S/PDIF i/o, word clock i/o, headphone out, MIDI i/o, SMPTE, built-in hardware-based effects. AudioDesk... |
Details | |
Mackie | Onyx 400F | FireWire 400 | 4 | 24bit/192.0k | $899.00 | Shop New |
Mackie Onyx 400F |
10 analog in (4 combo XLR/TRS, 6 TRS), 8 analog out (TRS), low-latency mixer, stand-alone operation, spdif i/o, word i/o, midi i/o, 64-... |
Details | |
Edirol | FA-101 | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/192.0k | $695.00 | Shop New |
Edirol FA-101 |
10-in/10-out (8 analog, 2 digital) at up to 96k, 6 channels at 192k, SPDIF optical i/o, MIDI, headphone out. Branded as "Edirol by... |
Details | |
Echo | AudioFire12 | FireWire 400 | 24bit/192.0k | $999.00 | Shop New |
Echo AudioFire12 |
12 analog in (TRS), 12 analog out (TRS), MIDI I/O, wordclock I/O, headphone out, comes with Mackie Tracktion software |
Details | ||
Hercules | 16/12 FW | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/192.0k | $899.00 | Shop New |
Hercules 16/12 FW |
12 analog inputs (2 XLR/TRS combo, 10 TRS), 8 analog outputs (TRS), 2 ch S/PDIF optical I/O (NOT 8 ch ADAT), 2 ch S/PDIF coax I/O, MIDI... |
Details | |
Alesis | MultiMix 12 FireWire | FireWire 400 | 4 | 24bit/48.0k | $699.00 | Shop New |
Alesis MultiMix 12 FireWire |
12 channel input (4 XLR mic pres OR 4 TRS; and 4 stereo TRS), 2 channel output (TRS), complete analog mixer, 3-band EQ, onboard effects... |
Details | |
Lynx | Aurora 16 |
USB 2 FireWire 400 |
24bit/192.0k | $3295.00 | Shop New |
Lynx Aurora 16 |
16 analog I/O on DB25 connectors, 16 AES digital I/O (DB25 breakout), MIDI I/O, wordclock I/O. Comes stock with an empty card slot,... |
Details | ||
Ego Systems (ESI) | Hexa-Fire | FireWire 400 | 8 | 24bit/192.0k | $999.00 |
Ego Systems Hexa-Fire |
16 channel i/o analog, 16 ch AES-EBU, SMPTE, headphone amp, S/PDIF coaxial digital I/O, MIDI. |
Details | ||
Alesis | MultiMix 16 FireWire | FireWire 400 | 8 | 24bit/48.0k | $799.00 | Shop New |
Alesis MultiMix 16 FireWire |
16 channel input (8 XLR mic pres OR 8 TRS; and 4 stereo TRS), 2 channel output (TRS), complete analog mixer, 3-band EQ, onboard effects... |
Details | |
Mackie | Onyx 1640 | FireWire 400 | 16 | 24bit/96.0k | $1650.00 | Shop New |
Mackie Onyx 1640 |
16 channel input, 2 channel output, complete analog mixer, 4 busses, 4-band EQ, headphone out. Mixer has 16 analog outs, but only two... |
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Mackie | Onyx 1620 | FireWire 400 | 8 | 24bit/96.0k | $999.00 | Shop New |
Mackie Onyx 1620 |
16 channel input, 2 channel output, complete analog mixer, 4-band EQ, headphone out. Mixer has 16 analog outs, but only two can come... |
Details | |
Yamaha | i88X |
FireWire 400 mLAN |
2 | 24bit/96.0k | $1295.00 | Shop New |
Yamaha i88X |
18-in (2 mic/line analog balanced, 6 line analog balanced, 8 ADAT, 2 SPDIF) 18-out (8 analog balanced, 8 ADAT, 2 SPDIF), ADAT, SPDIF. (... |
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CME | Matrix K FW | FireWire 400 | 1 | 24bit/192.0k | $225.00 | Shop New |
CME Matrix K FW |
2 analog in (1/8" mini or one XLR/TRS combo), 2 analog out (TRS), 2 headphone outs. Available August 2006. |
Details | |
CME | Matrix K USB |
USB 1 FireWire 400 |
1 | 24bit/192.0k | $189.00 | Shop New |
CME Matrix K USB |
2 analog in (1/8" mini or one XLR/TRS combo), 2 analog out (TRS), 2 headphone outs. Stock model is USB, optional $99 KF400E FireWire... |
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TC Electronic | Konnekt 8 | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/192.0k |
TC Electronic Konnekt 8 |
2 analog in (2 Combo XLR/TRS for mic/instrument, 2x 1/4" for line), 2 analog out (1/4"), S/PDIF i/o, MIDI i/o, 2 headphone out,... |
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Tascam | FireOne | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $399.00 | Shop New |
Tascam FireOne |
2 analog in (2 XLR/TRS combo, 1 instrument), 2 analog out (TRS), MIDI i/o, transport controls (works with many DAW apps), function keys... |
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M-Audio | FireWire Audiophile | FireWire 400 | 24bit/96.0k | $350.00 | Shop New |
M-Audio FireWire Audiophile |
2 analog in, 4 analog out, S/PDIF i/o, A/B switch for momentary switching between two monitor sources, assignable aux bus, MIDI,... |
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Terratec | Phase 24 FW | FireWire 400 | 24bit/192.0k |
Terratec Phase 24 FW |
2 analog inputs (1/4" TRS), 2 analog outputs (1/4" TRS), headphone output, S/PDIF I/O (on breakout cable), MIDI I/O (on breakout cable... |
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Terratec | Phase X24 FW |
FireWire 400 mLAN |
2 | 24bit/192.0k |
Terratec Phase X24 FW |
2 analog inputs (XLR/TRS combo), 4 analog outputs (1/4" TRS), 2 insert jacks (TRS insert unbalanced), headphone output, optical I/O,... |
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Metric Halo | Mobile I/O ULN-2 | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $1195.00 |
Metric Halo Mobile I/O ULN-2 |
2 analog, AES, S/PDIF I/O, analog inserts, compact laptop size, onboard DSP, headphone out. |
Details |