To get sound in and out of your laptop, pc, mac, tablet so that you can process and edit it you need something that turns the sound into a digital signal and back again. Is an audio interface the same as a sound card?Įssentially yes, a sound card and an audio interface do the same basic job. So you can get an XLR-USB cable to connect a mic up to your computer, and also guitar-USB, line out to USB etc etc. They work on their own and don’t need any other equipment. There are other USB audio adapters that fit into this category. It may just be a recording mic or it may also have a headphone output too and be a complete input and output device. This means you simply plug the mic’s USB lead into a USB port and it will work. In fact, if you are confused you may find our article on a USB Microphone vs Audio Interface useful.Įffectively a USB microphone is a mic that contains an audio interface. But there are lots of other devices that are effectively “audio interfaces” too. Aha, this is such a common question and a source of much confusion! You tend to think of an audio interface as a box with various inputs for mics, instruments etc and outputs for speakers and headphones.

Whats my sound card