The Computer Audio Interface Guide
This guide covers computer audio interfaces (sometimes referred to as "I/O"s or "breakout boxes") for PC or Mac. These provide audio input, output and additional features which improve upon any built-in audio jack. This guide does not cover internal PCI cards, just external connectors (USB, FireWire etc). See the bottom of this page for an intro to the terminology and trends.
(Sort by clicking a header. Filter by selecting a port. 238 interfaces match current criteria.)
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Model | Port | Mic Pres | Bit/Sample Rate | List Price | Shop New | Shop Used | Notes | Details | |
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Mackie | Digital X Bus X.400 | FireWire 400 | 24bit/192.0k |
Mackie Digital X Bus X.400 |
Professional large-format digital mixer with 92 inputs and 100 outputs (at 96kHz), FireWire requires an optional card, 24 busses, dual... |
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Mackie | d.2 | FireWire 400 | 1 | $779.00 | Shop New |
Mackie d.2 |
DJ VCA mixer with FireWire option. 2 stereo inputs, mic input, optical crossfader. |
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Mackie | Onyx 400F | FireWire 400 | 4 | 24bit/192.0k | $899.00 | Shop New |
Mackie Onyx 400F |
10 analog in (4 combo XLR/TRS, 6 TRS), 8 analog out (TRS), low-latency mixer, stand-alone operation, spdif i/o, word i/o, midi i/o, 64-... |
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Mackie | Onyx Satellite | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $520.00 | Shop New |
Mackie Onyx Satellite |
Dockable sytem with pull-out portable interface and base station, comes with Tracktion recording software. ("Coming soon" in 2006.) |
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Mackie | d.2 pro | FireWire 400 | 1 | $899.00 | Shop New |
Mackie d.2 pro |
DJ VCA mixer with 13x6 FireWire I/O. 2 stereo inputs, mic input, optical crossfader. Includes Tracktion 3 software. |
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Mackie | d.4 pro | FireWire 400 | 2 | $1149.00 | Shop New |
Mackie d.4 pro |
DJ VCA mixer with 14x8 FireWire I/O. 4 stereo inputs, 2 mic inputs, optical crossfader. Includes Tracktion 3 software. |
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Marian | UCON CX | USB 2 | 4 | 24bit/96.0k | $899.00 |
Marian UCON CX |
8 analog in (4 XLR/TRS combo, 4 TRS), 8 analog out (TRS), ADAT I/O, MIDI I/O, word in, headphone out, UCON mixer software. Works... |
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Metric Halo | Mobile I/O 2882 | FireWire 400 | 8 | 24bit/96.0k | $1495.00 |
Metric Halo Mobile I/O 2882 |
8 analog, ADAT, AES, S/PDIF I/O, compact laptop size, onboard multi-processor DSP, headphone out. |
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Metric Halo | Mobile I/O ULN-2 | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $1195.00 |
Metric Halo Mobile I/O ULN-2 |
2 analog, AES, S/PDIF I/O, analog inserts, compact laptop size, onboard DSP, headphone out. |
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Mindprint | DTC Dual Tube Channel | USB 1 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $2299.00 | Shop New |
Mindprint DTC Dual Tube Channel |
2 ch analog in (2 XLR/TRS combo line or 2 XLR mic), 2 analog out (2 XLR or 2 TRS), 2 inserts (2 TRS), 2 Haufe mic preamps, tube... |
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Mindprint | EN-VOICE MKII | USB 1 | 1 | 24bit/96.0k | $799.00 | Shop New |
Mindprint EN-VOICE MKII |
1 ch analog in (XLR mic or XLR line or TRS line or 1/4" instrument), 1 analog out (XLR or TRS), insert (2 TRS), tube mic preamp, tube... |
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Mindprint | Trio USB | USB 1 | 1 | 24bit/96.0k |
Mindprint Trio USB |
2 ch analog in (2 TRS line or 1 XLR mic or 1/4" instrument), 2 analog out (TRS plus 2-pair of mirrored RCA), insert (2 TRS), EQ, zero-... |
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MOTU | UltraLite | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $599.00 | Shop New |
MOTU UltraLite |
8 analog in (2 XLR/TRS combo, 6 TRS), 10 analog out (TRS), S/PDIF I/O, MIDI I/O, headphone out, more. Bus-powered off FireWire for... |
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MOTU | 828 mkII (FireWire) | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $795.00 | Shop New |
MOTU 828 mkII (FireWire) |
8 analog, ADAT and S/PDIF I/O, ADAT sync, word clock I/O, headphone out, adds the following to the original 828: 96k, SMPTE+MIDI i/o,... |
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MOTU | 828 | FireWire 400 | 2 | 24bit/48.0k | $795.00 |
MOTU 828 |
8 analog, ADAT and S/PDIF I/O, ADAT sync, headphone out. Comes with MOTU's AudioDesk software. Replaced by the 828mkII 5/2003. |
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MOTU | 896 | FireWire 400 | 8 | 24bit/96.0k | $1295.00 |
MOTU 896 |
8 analog, ADAT and AES I/O. Has ADAT sync, word clock I/O, headphone out, more. Comes with MOTU's AudioDesk software. Replaced by the... |
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MOTU | 8Pre | FireWire 400 | 8 | 24bit/96.0k | $595.00 | Shop New |
MOTU 8Pre |
8 analog in (Combo XLR/TRS), 2 analog out (TRS), ADAT I/O. Has phantom power, 20db pads, MIDI I/O, headphone out. Standalone... |
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MOTU | 896HD | FireWire 400 | 8 | 24bit/192.0k | $1295.00 | Shop New |
MOTU 896HD |
8 analog, ADAT and AES I/O. Has ADAT sync, word clock I/O, headphone out, more. Standalone functionality as mixer or mic preamp. Zero-... |
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MOTU | Traveler | FireWire 400 | 4 | 24bit/192.0k | $895.00 | Shop New |
MOTU Traveler |
8 analog in (4 XLR mic, 4 TRS), 8 analog out (TRS), 8 ch ADAT I/O, AES I/O and S/PDIF I/O. Has ADAT sync, word clock I/O, MIDI I/O,... |
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MOTU | 828 mkII (USB2.0) | USB 2 | 2 | 24bit/96.0k | $795.00 | Shop New |
MOTU 828 mkII (USB2.0) |
8 analog, ADAT and S/PDIF I/O, ADAT sync, word clock I/O, headphone out, adds the following to the original 828: 96k, SMPTE+MIDI i/o,... |
Details |