Digital Mixer Vs Audio Interface

The behringer xr18 is a digital mixer which features a 18 in 18 out usb audio interface.

Digital mixer vs audio interface. Mixers are often confused with audio interfaces however they do come with different features. Some audio interfaces also feature built in processing. It is simple and convenient. While a mixer is often compared and confused with an audio interface it serves a completely different and more complicated purpose.

An audio interface ai is a device for recording sound from two or more sources. If you want to record from a digital mixer you ll usually still need some kind of an audio interface although some digital mixers already have it built in. A mixer is designed to mix all the incoming signals together adding effects and other processing and sending them to one or more output channels. It s a completely different mixer than the other ones on this list for the simple fact that it doesn t provide any channel strips or analog controls.

Mixers offer more control over what gets sent to your computer. This gives you the maximum amount of control over the sounds that are being recorded into your computer. Sound enters the computer via usb. Just as with non mixer audio interfaces the more you pay for a mixer such as the 400 alesis multimix 16 usb 2 0 fx the more recording inputs and channels you get as well as more effects and.

An audio interface converts the analog signal into a digital one so that it can then be recorded by the music production software. A digital mixer can record multiple tracks at once using its multiple faders and you will not need any extra drivers as it is a one click source with a built in metronome. For total control and every sound component a mixer with a built in audio interface offers the best of both worlds. While a standalone audio interface is not designed to mimic an analog audio mixer in form practically every audio interface has mixing software that essentially gives you mixer like control over your inputs and outputs.

You ll need that to set up headphone mixes for artists to manage inputs and outputs and for other regular tasks. It s cheaper to buy an audio interface than a mixer of the same quality but you ll get more features with a mixer.