Originally Posted by rayc
Using a cloud lifter or other inline boost is doable but it's rare to find an interface these days that doesn't have sufficient preamp gain.

Another nonsense armchair expert video. I am not going to write a page pointing out all the ways it is crap.

I have tested 43 current USB and TB interfaces for a company that, unfortunately, I cannot name (it can be guessed but I cannot confirm). None of them have adequate gain for dynamic mics except M•Audio — and they actually do recommend using a Cloudlifter with dynamics.

The Mackie FxPro()v3 series is ok but theirs will choke on an SM7B. Interestingly, the current M•Audio AIR does not but only when used up close on a voice over goosed to 9.7 or so.

You'd be surprised what I find under the hood. Only Native Instruments and SSL admit to using the Cirrus Logic chip sets but nearly all the others do, too.

I'm hoping that I find a new generation of interfaces being announced when I go to Winter NAMM next month. Decent preamp gain and 32 bit float is what I want to see in the next generation. The current gen using the CL chips was introduced in 3rd Q 2019 though few shipped before 2020.

BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5