interesting comments...thanks. from my checking it seems it depends on impedence of the headphones being used.? i just checked audioscience review which publishes extensive detailed test charts. maybe your phones match well with the phone out ? but others dont ? julian krause also has reviewed the 2i2 with detailed unbiased charts. i'll post the link after breakfast...!ol
best
om
Not really interested in his review, but maybe others are
My main 'phones are Sennheiser HD598, but I have a few other sets that all perform equally well.
BA...fyi. might be interesting to others. frankly i'm agnostic....lol. I don't care what people use. all interfaces are decent these days. anyhoo the tech changes rapidly. frankly my next interface will have 2 sets of speaker outs.
notice in the conclusion the comment about the headphone amp.
krause review 4th gen. ( notice his comments about gen 3...also see his previous review of gen 3.) once again he comments on the phone output. including test charts....it depends on the users phones.
happiness. om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 04/04/2405:43 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
While we're at it ... here's a video on what you might not know you are missing in an audio interface and why those who do know elect to purchase more expensive units.
I'm not sure if I can contribute much to this discussion other than to say my Tascam 208i is the hub of my audio system and has met all my needs for at least 9 years now; with zero problems across many OS updates including Win10 and Win11.
I regularly record bass, keys and drumpad with it. The firmware is stable, the software is robust, I can't detect any latency issues and it has all the ins and outs I need. It's also reasonably priced. In short, it's a mature and proven product.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
As I said upthread, RME is a great product. ive seen many positive reviews of the RME product range. They also roll their own drivers….AND KEEP THEM UPDATED ! which, in this age of obsolescence is very very laudable.
in fact having found a musos real interface needs in the past often in the past ive tried to point the muso to a higher end interface like RME DFT because i realised the muso might outgrow the cheaper interface. but often budget plays a part. thats life.
One of the reasons I started this thread was to hopefully help the person new to music production who often goes and buys any interface only to realise after a short while it doesnt meet their needs. Another reason I started this thread was to inform on the various market offerings out there and get recommendations and opinions from users like yourself.
In addition fyi , I have made suggestions to more than one interface manufacturer. Just one example is a lovely collegial exchange of ideas I had with a very nice product manager for a well known brand. in summation they loved the ideas of offering more i/o on their gear eg xtra phone and speaker outs plus higher gain range mic pre's also niceties like variable input impedences on mic pre's to address the fact that certain mics like to 'look into' certain impedences etc etc …plus 48v switches on each input. but it often came down to... 'the market might not bear added cost of such features'.
finally when ive tried to point a muso to 'really what they need' ie a high end interface often the same muso gets various contrary opinions pointing out that a less expensive interface will suffice. …c'est la vie.
happiness.
om
BT...thanks for your contribution.
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 04/04/2409:44 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Yes, the impedance of the headphones makes a difference in the volume. The lower the impedance, the greater the volume. It's interesting that some of the high-end headphone interfaces like my Grace m900 prefer higher impedance cans, which I use, sort-of. My Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro are 250 ohms, not at all high but high enough that some headphone amps won't give enough volume.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Here are some more higher end interfaces with videos. (as always if you need multiclient drivers check with the manufacturer as things are fast moving.)
1..antelope zen go..
as always very detailed test charts ... .and summation at the end.
Here's the web site….the company also has other interesting products that might tickle your fancy.
notice the interesting extra features of the 12 viz the 2. (see the video above.)
I'll add more interfaces for people to consider when I have time. I might be able to stretch my budget to a 12…lol.
as always caveats/ymmv/rent before buy is recommended blah blah.
happiness
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 04/04/2405:24 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
More interfaces. (IF YOU WANT MULTICLIENT CHECK WITH MANUFACTURER)
Note….if your looking to buy a new pc or use an existing pc for music production you might find these tips informative before going ahead and possibly getting problems…
one review of many…on their inexpensive fuse interfaces. (see website for further interesting interfaces in the range.)
(notice the wrap up comments…eg headphone power.).. see the arturia web site for more interfaces and products that might tickle your fancy.
happiness om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 04/06/2404:13 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Tascam interfaces. (to anyone new to music production tascam products have had a large impact on the creator market for many years. notice Bass Thumper's satisfaction re his interface upthread. I have also been a user of various tascam products at various times.) note..due to the extensive range of tascam products i would simply suggest the reader visit tascams web site….
see the net and you tube for reviews of the interface that tickles your fancy as well as videos.
happiness.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS RE BUYING A USB AUDIO INTERFACE.
(this is more aimed at users new to music production…. based on many years of buying interfaces for myself, and seeing typical mistakes made by others in buying etc etc.)
1..just because a friend is happy with an interface doesnt necessarily mean you will be. 2..there are so many differently configured pc's out there that what might work on one pc might not on another. 3..just because someone on the net says 'i'm happy with xyz' doesnt necessarily mean you will be particularly if you have different feature set needs. 4..if you're baffled why an interface doesnt work on your pc but does on someone's pc you know…it could be simply that your friend has a pc that's been specifically optimised for music production or custom built by a manufacturer for music production and tweaked or your friend isnt on the net whereas you are and thus your running special protection mechanisms that take pc resources away from the primary task of music production. There are many reasons… regarding buying or optimising an existing pc for music production have a leisurely read of this…
5.so youve been on one or more recording forums and are baffled by the many different usb audio interface recommendations. For example, start a thread on a forum… 'I'm a new user…what do you all recommend as a usb audio interface'....youll get a load of different answers and opinions from studios large and small…. thus its important to assess your OWN feature set needs which might be completely different from people recommending a product on the thread you started. 6..as i said in the highlighted thread above to save disappointment its imperative imho to try and test the interface via renting (very inexpensive) for a week or get a 30 day return. The gear shop I deal with has a no questions asked return/money back policy. 7..it's very important to do one's homework prior to purchase. and really research the many many interface offerings on the market versus your needs so you dont miss the best product for you…and i would suggest not to rush into a purchasing decision. The interface, and I can't stress this enough is 'THE HEART OF YOUR STUDIO', i.e. in the same way people take their time re-buying a house to live in…same goes for an interface so buying mistakes arent made. Another reason to 'try before buy'. 8..some people are swayed by user ratings. i suggest you do your own testing and research because your pc might be different in how its configured or they are using hot shot pc's that cost oodles versus your old clunker that might need optimising for music production. 9..A BIG FOCUS in your product search should be interface DRIVERS and their performance. just because someone on the net gushes about their interfaces drivers…maybe your system is different. you won't know till you test ON YOUR PC. 10..i can't stress enough that the combo of pc and interface deliver very low total latency. please read up carefully on the net about how to get a very low latency music production environment... and/or see my link in this post.
as you can see the purchasing decision re an interface should not be made without considering various factors. Finally, one's budget should be considered. as ive been in tech for many years I typically buy in the middle price range…as i'm always concerned about rapid changes in technology/obsolescence …just something to consider....also if i see price drops on a product...and its not a rule..but i will ponder if a new product version is coming out.
Now you might want to know where you might look at lots of different interfaces. There are many sites on the net that sell a plethora of devices where you can research devices with also interesting articles and/or blogs….eg…
and many others on the net….also try your local gear shop if you have one nearby.
I hope the above helps someone.
happiness.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 04/19/2408:07 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
i did it all wrong...lmao...i should have rented myself out over the years....lol... why are studio people this side of the pond interested in all things british...?
another poser why do usa women like our brit accent ? ...lol. just funning ya. when i was single i had some fun times in the states.
happiness.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 08/08/2402:44 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
POPULAR USB INTERFACES CHART OF MIC INPUT DYNAMIC RANGES.
done by Julian Krause.
might be of use to someone looking to buy an interface. (please page down the page about 6 posts for the chart. glad to see my audient evo is second in the list....not one problem with any music apps ive thrown at it.....see lots more posts by pageing down the page.)
hope this helps someone in the market for an interface.
happiness
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 09/27/2401:20 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
above includes audio quality examples also. i dont know if its multi client so check with ESI....web site. esi are used lots in europe. lots of different models. heres the uno specs.
as always do your own research/driver testing etc.
merry x.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 12/19/2407:34 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Did you know you can ask Andrew to make it possible for you (only the OP) to edit the first post in the thread, even years later? How about keeping the list in that first post, where you can update it? And perhaps add a statement of why you think this topic is important. If someone using BIAB and a DAW at the same time might think an audio interface must have a multi client ASIO driver, they should know that it is not necessary.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
users of various interfaces are also commenting in the thread so their comments might be usefull to potential buyers.. the idea was an open thread. this would be negated with one updateable post only by myself. i was trying to keep the whole shebang open to various users comment... includeing their comments re how they use multi client.
merry x.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
see link above for large list of features. all sorts of i/o on it plus their legendary big studio console mic pre's.
outside my budget...i'm still happy with my lower end audient evo interface.
as always ymmv do your own testing etc etc if interested.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 01/18/2507:59 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
upthread i mentioned Julian Krauses very interesting testing of various studio audio interfaces. another one ive come across that might be usefull is audio science review who use test and measurement gear on interfaces....eg....
ssl 2 mk2 interface tested (and a topping interface also..)
if one pages down after conclusion are various ASR site posts etc.
also fyi...they have a ton of other audio products they test.... includeing convertors etc etc.
hope this helps someone in the market for a new interface.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 03/24/2504:58 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with ANY version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-11 includes 1,100 styles!
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XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
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zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
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