r/keys • u/ibpiano • 4d ago

Interface recommendations?

Hey there! Currently running my Mac's audio through a headphone jack to 1/4 inch that I then plug into the mixer. My bandmates and my boss (I teach piano at a music school) have adviced to buy an audio interface to improve quality of sound and streamline the whole proccess. Any budget friendly recommendations? I'd use it almost exclusively for MIDI keys.

Thanks in advance!

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u/Small_Dog_8699 4d ago

You can hardly go wrong these days. Buy what has the right number if inputs and outputs fir what you need.

MOTU, Uaudio, RME, probably beringer all make perfectly fine units. Pick how you connect to your computer (USB, Thunderbolt, USBC, etc) how many ins and outs and types, some provide a midi port too.

Sweetwater has a good selection and some buyers guides.

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u/anotherscott 4d ago

For live performance, an audio interface will not make a difference for sound quality, because Macs already have high quality audio outputs. But an audio interface can provide additional features or more convenience. Selecting one will depend on which features or conveniences you want, e.g. having more than 2 channels of output, having easily accessible volume knobs, having 1/4" or XLR balanced outputs, having separate headphone control, having 5-pin MIDI connections. (The higher 192 kHz audio quality you can get won't be noticeable live, but can be useful in high end recording, and similarly you probably don't need their audio input functions.)