Working backward …

Every USB 2 interface introduced since 2020 is far superior to any FireWire interface, last built in 2012. The current ones are all using CL chipsets marketed under many different brand names with 192/24 or better performance with near zero RTL (round trip latency). Brand really doesn’t matter (shhhhh… don’t tell the marketing departments but it doesn’t) so buy on the feature sets. I regularly tear interfaces apart to see what’s under the hood for (oops, there’s an NDA). The ones I’ve kept are the Zoom UAC-232 (2 channel 32 bit float under $200), and an M•Audio AIR 192|14, my daily workhorse.

The AT 2020 is pretty good. Not as sensitive to sibilance as that NT1. I have no love for microphones that require a de-esser plug on all vocal tracks. Zillions of folks making great vocal tracks without external mic preamps. I have some but use them only with my ribbon mics on acoustic upright bass.


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