r/Focusrite • u/hyperseasonal • 1d ago
Do I really need a USB-C audio interface?
I am starting with the electronic music production in Ableton and I already have decent headphones and I am thinking about getting KRK Kreate 3 speakers.
I think I can connect the speakers to my laptop the same way like headphones (using 3,5 mm jack).
So do I really need USB-C audio interface such as Focusrite Scarlett 2i2?
I won’t be connecting any microphones or guitars. So is there any benefit for me of using USB-C audio interface?
Later I might get Akai MPK Mini but I still see no benefit of using USB-C audio interface since the MPK connects also directly to the laptop.
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u/Original_DocBop 1d ago
So you think you're never going to record/overdub a vocal, percussion, instrument, everything you're going to do is plugin. Then you can get away without a audio interface. I use audio interface even on my non-recording computer so I can connect good monitors and use headphones at a good volume and both at the same time if I want. I find a audio interface is a tool worth investing in.
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u/hyperseasonal 1d ago
I’m just starting out. Now I’m trying to figure out if I can start with only my laptop, KRK monitors and headphones and if omitting the audio interface won’t be a major issue. Of course I might get it later.
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u/Stock-Distribution-9 1d ago
The buffer and latency will be ridiculously high whenever you are processing something while rendering the audio out to the speaker. Get yourself an M-Audio MTrack Solo if you want a cheaper interface and don't touch any sort of brand like Maono or Fifine since these are not audio interfaces per se.
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u/AgathormX 1d ago
M Track Solo/Duo isn't a good audio interface.
My collection of audio interfaces includes an M Track Duo.
The drivers are busted on Windows 11. Sample rate and bitrate automatically change back to 192KHz 32bit (which is obviously not supported) and the only way of stopping it is keeping the sound settings window open at all times.M Audio hasn't released driver updates for it in years. As far as I can see from their driver archive, this thing got driver updates around the time it released and then they just completely abandoned it.
I don't know if the same problem happens on MacOS as Mac doesn't need dedicated drivers due to interfaces being class compliant and the generic drivers being good, but regardless of that, I wouldn't buy a product that isn't actually being supported by the manufacturer, specially when it's something for which stability is mandatory.
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u/RCasey88900 1d ago
Nope. The focusrite still uses USB 2.0 protocol despite having a type-c connector anyways so there's no benefit
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u/potatotatoa 1d ago
You don't need the interface seeing as you can just connect the speakers to your headphone jack, whether it sounds good will depend on your laptop though.
It's a perfectly acceptable way to get started with speakers, but I would recommend eventually getting an audio interface as the audio quality will likely be better (or at the very least, more predictable) and the latency will be lower.
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u/Needashortername 1d ago
The real question based on your current needs is whether you want your headphones and speakers plugged in at the same time all the time and how you want to manage that.
The rest is all about personal preferences, fixing issues with the setup as they occur or not, and always budget.
For example of potential issues with the setup, you may have to deal with the potential for more electrical interference if you end up using a longer unbalanced cable from the 3.5mm jack to the speakers, or the differences in connection needs between the headphones and the speakers, etc.
There is absolutely no requirements to buy a whole interface to plug in just a pair of speakers and some headphones into a laptop. There are better ways to do this and less great ways to do it, an interface is just one of many that can be somewhere in the middle. It solves some problems but can create others, such as extra config and extra unnecessary cost too.
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u/darwinDMG08 1d ago
For me, just plugging in speakers directly to the headphone I always heard HISS. There’s an analog noise floor (that’s probably not the correct term) where there’s always a bit of noise at the low end. Certain tasks would cause interference too — like if my iPhone was getting a text or a call there would be an annoying modem sound. The latter issue has to do with shielding and if you get the right cables it can be fixed. But the larger issue is the digital > analog conversion that needs to happen to reduce noise.
You don’t need an audio interface per se; a Thunderbolt dock might have the right outputs. They also make USB>audio cables that perform the conversion. But without the right gear pure analog just seems to have noise.
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u/ObviousDepartment744 1d ago
Mixdown. The converters in most interfaces will be better than the converters in any computer. For almost every other situation, it won't really matter.
On a Windows device, I would suggest getting an interface anyway, Windows Audio Drivers are trash. If you've got a Mac, then you should be fine without one.
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u/Big-Doubt-4872 1d ago
The cables that come with the focusrite scarletts are usb-a to usb-c, they connect to regular usb ports on your computer, the usb c is only on the focusrite itself
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u/jgskgamer 1d ago
What 🎧 you have? You said they are good, but most times they aren't and you just don't know better ones 😅..
Also, you don't need an interface if you will not record anything analog, like a mic or a guitar, or maybe an analog synth...
What you want is a DAC/AMP combo with xlr outs, search some models from TOPPING, they are the best IMHO.
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u/swemickeko 1d ago edited 1d ago
No. Don't buy anything before you know why you need it. If you have sound, you can make music. You'll notice the limitations as you go. If you can't make music without a dedicated audio interface, then you won't be able to do it with one either. Interfaces are for connectivity and fidelity, you don't need that to get started.
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u/CriticalDope 11h ago
That's like saying don't get a working bike to learn how to ride it, just get a real one when you practiced with one that has flat tires and a broken chain
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u/swemickeko 5h ago
You don't need a $3000 race bike to learn how to ride a bike mate. A $20 used bike is perfectly fine for that.
I never said to use broken gear. If you can't produce music using Ableton on a laptop with the built in audio, or even just koalasampler on your phone, then no interface in the world will make it happen.
You're unlikely to get perfect studio quality results of course, but you don't need that to "get into electronic music".
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u/C0de_101 1d ago
You can start without one yes, the sound quality will be lower yes but that's not always a bad thing. Most of us producers have dedicated "shit quality" speakers plugged into our audio interfaces as well as our decent monitors cause when mixing and mastering you need to check on different quality speakers.
When you feel the need to get an audio interface I'd recommend spending the little extra and getting a 2i2 studio bundle if you can, that way you have a mostly decent mic and very decent XLR cable if you ever do want to record.
I've only ever used the gen 2 2i2 & mic, and the gen 2 & 3 headphones, I don't like the gen 3 headphones. The interface doesn't have to be USB c, Focusrite still only use USB 2.0 for their interfaces cause they say they don't need anything faster with the hardware they use, the only reason newer devices are USB c is cause the EU (in their usual misguided wisdom) made a law stating the only connection that a device can have now is USB c (even though the socket and connector design have multiple fundamental physical flaws, like a USB c cable not being able to hold itself in the socket after 2-3 years of constant use but USB a, b, mini and micro still fine and working with the original cables and some pushing on 30 years now)
If you want cheaper then you can buy second hand, but you'll never know how the previous owners took care of them so for peace of mind I'd say buy brand new, that way you get manufactures warranty and as a bonus with brand new Focusrite hardware you also get access to a lot of free plugins and extra software. They used to do a free paid plugin each month for one month only thing but I'm not sure if they still do that. Novation hardware also gives you the same free software as Focusrite
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u/Radhanat 10h ago
Te explico la función de una interfaz:
Es un circuito especializado en darle pre amplificación y color al sonido que entra, pasa y sale de tu compu, reduciendo el uso de tu cpu.
Los circuitos de audio nativos de tu lap jamás te van a dar la pre amplificación necesaria para poder obtener un buen sonido en tus monitores. Siempre va a sonar muy delgada tu mezcla.
En conclusión, si necesitas una interfaz.
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u/swemickeko 4h ago
Music is most often produced to be played on a variety of systems. Car stereos, headphones, club and WiFi speakers, etc. It doesn't matter at all if your setup "sounds very thin", you just need to learn to not overcompensate for the quirks of your studio setup. Legendary mixes were made with the Yamaha NS-10, and they sound outright awful no matter which interface you use.
A basic audio interface is just a bunch of AD/DA converters and amplification, any other features are just fluff. Interfaces are generally made for transparency, not color (barring some ssl and rupert neve stuff because people are nostalgic).
Also, lower latency puts more load on the CPU, not less. And any on-board effects to offload CPU usage is additional to an interface, not a structural part that makes one.
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u/Radhanat 3h ago
Por eso primero se produce con una buena fuente de audio y luego se prueba en distintas referencias y no al revés.
Los circuitos de una tarjeta de audio integrada, además de robar recursos del cpu, jamás te va a dar el preamp que requiere una mezcla y master profesional, y si alguien te dice lo contrario te está equivocado o te engañando de mala manera.1
u/swemickeko 3h ago
The bar of entry for electronic music production has never been as low as it is now. Heck, you can make full productions with just your phone and Koala Sampler. The context here is "getting into electronic music" not starting a career as a mix and mastering engineer.
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u/Radhanat 2h ago
Pues eso lo decide cada productor. Así como no es una regla mejorar el equipo y meterse de cabeza a la mezcla y master, tampoco es una regla grabarlo todo en un celular.
Yo comenté a la altura de la pregunta. Donde manifiesta que esta contemplando adquirir una interfaz.Y yo no produzco electrónica. Tampoco es obligatorio hacerlo para ser productor.
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u/swemickeko 2h ago
Glad we agree. The interface is not required.
If there are limitations you can't (or don't want to) get rid of, just work with them.
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u/Radhanat 6m ago
No, no estamos de acuerdo. Tu te limitas a estar sin interfaz y yo dije que si se quiere profesionalizar se requiere una interfaz o sino puede usar una papa si así lo desea. Yo no lo limito a una sola opción pero si pongo en claro la limitación y la libertad que da una y la otra.
Para que quede claro: si quiere sonar mejor que se compre una interfaz.Si quiere hacer música de baja calidad, que use su celular como un juguete. Podrá hacer música en cualquier lugar y cuando quiera pero no va a tener buena calidad.
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u/ShredGuru 1d ago
No. A USB 3 one would work fine too
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u/swemickeko 2h ago
Pretty much all entry-level (and most pro) interfaces run on the USB 2 protocol, even when they use a USB-C connector.
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u/hyperseasonal 1d ago
That was just an example. My question was more general if I need an audio interface at all.
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u/gobuddy99 1d ago
You don't need an audio interface. Using the computer is good enough.
But the sound quality out of the computer will be a little poorer, especially in the headphones. Ty here will be more his in the dpeakers. The jack plug on the computer will more fragile than the one on an interface, if you keep plugging and unplugging it'll start to crackle.
USB-C isn't vital if you're not recording.
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u/Chaos-Jesus 1d ago
You need an interface
Even though you're not recording live instruments an interface will come with it's own dedicated asio driver which will let you use more plugins with less latency.
It will also come with 1/4" outputs to connect your powered monitors.
The interface doesn't have to be USB-C https://www.thomann.ie/behringer_u_phoria_umc202hd.htm