Audio Interface vs Mixer; Which one do you need?

Last updated on December 31st, 2023 at 06:01 pm

Recording music at home has never been easier, all you need are a couple of simple components that you plug into your computer and you are ready to go.

But this doesn’t mean that any hardware you use will get the job done effectively.

It all comes down to the needs and preferences that you may have.

In this post I will talk about the difference between Audio Interfaces and Mixers to try and give you a better understanding of which one might be best for you, as well as tell you why using your PC’s built-in sound card might not be a good idea, which way to go if you’re a podcaster, and more.

Audio Interface vs Mixer

An Audio Interface let’s you record all the inputs it has available onto separate tracks in your DAW or Recording Software, while a mixer is designed to mix the incoming signals on the board itself and then send them to one or more output channels.

Let’s go into a bit more detail, shall we?

What is an Audio Interface and what does it do?

An Audio Interface connects to your PC via either a USB-, Thunderbolt- or a Fire-Wire cable and converts the audio from any analog device connected to it into digital and vice versa.

Any equipment that does such a thing could be considered an audio interface, such as USB microphones (they have a built-in audio interface), your computer’s sound card, a mixer that features a built-in audio interface, and even some preamps.

Now let’s take a closer look at some of the characteristics of an audio interface and then why you may want one:

Inputs, Preamps and Channel count:

The analog inputs on an Audio Interface are the ones that are sent to the PC via USB, Fire-Wire or Thunderbolt as separate tracks.

These would be the Mic or XLR, Line (low impedance, such as synthesizers) and Instrument (high impedance, such as guitars) inputs.

The Mic inputs are generally on the front and feature a “preamp“, which is designed to increase the level of the signal to a point where it can be recorded properly called “Line Level” and it’s controlled with the Gain knob, which will allow you to set the overall recording level of that input.

Preamps also supply Phantom Power which is used to power condenser microphones, and they also manage the signal-noise better to yield a cleaner recording.

If at all possible, get an audio interface with good preamps, like the Apollo Twin MKII or the Audient iD14.

Lastly, in regards to channel count, an audio interface marketed as having 16 inputs doesn’t necessarily mean that it has 16 analog inputs since digital ones, such as S/PDIF and ADAT are also considered.

If you want an Interface that can record 8 different tracks simultaneously, get one that has a total of 8 analog inputs.

Some Audio Interfaces are also made with the intention of recording specific instruments, like guitars, and there are others that have an onboard DSP chip to process effects, amp sims, etc. directly on the interface itself without adding any latency.

Why get an Audio Interface?

Generally speaking, I recommend most home recording enthusiasts to go for an audio interface with a couple XLR microphones instead of a Mixer or even a USB microphone, and here’s why:

Great sound quality for the price

Audio Interfaces are designed to produce the highest audio quality possible. Of course, this depends on the quality of the preamps and the analog to digital conversion of the interface, but generally speaking, they are the best option when taking price into account.

Upgradeability

Some audio interfaces such as the ones with ADAT ports on the back, let you increase the channel count by 8 or even 16 by connecting an external preamp.

This means that at first you can get just the audio interface, which may only have two inputs, and this way you don’t spend as much, but once you’re ready to upgrade you don’t need to get a new interface, just an external preamp with ADAT connectivity.

Portability

Audio interfaces are small and light, generally speaking, and some of them can even the BUS powered, although you may need to connect it to the outlet for it to be able to generate phantom power.

But the point is that you can take your laptop and audio interface on the road and record without needing to connect it directly to the power outlet.

Ease of Use

An audio interface is super easy to use, simply install the required drivers, connect it and that’s it, there’s not a lot buttons and knobs everywhere that you need to learn to use, just the gain- and volume knobs.

On a mixer, that’s a different story (more on this in a second).

Learn more about what Audio Interfaces there are here:

• Best Audio Interfaces under $300
• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 vs Behringer UMC204HD (most affordable ones)
• Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 vs Behringer UMC404HD (also affordable and provide more inputs)

What is a Mixer and what does it do?

Also known as Mixing Board, Mixing Console, or Sound Board, a mixer is a very versatile component that can be used from live shows to studio recordings.

At its very core, a mixer takes audio signals and mixes them together, sending them to one or more Output channels.

The audio comes in through the different input channels where you can adjust the volume, apply EQ, add different effects and create a monitor feed for the band members, and then that entire mix gets sent to the speakers, or PC in some cases.

Note: Mixers also come with preamps, instrument- and line-level inputs, as well as phantom power, just like audio interfaces.

The Channel strip (Set of controls per channel)

At first, a Mixer might appear intimidating and confusing because it has a lot of knobs and faders, but the good news is that these controls are divided into simple groups that are quite easy to understand;

Every channel has a complete set of controls to itself, which is called a channel strip, like Gain, Compression, EQ, AUX Sends, Volume Faders, etc.

If you know what the controls for one channel do, then you know how the controls for every other channel work, and therefore learning to use one channel strip equates to learning how the entire board works.

Mixers with a built-in USB Audio Interface

Most mixers don’t usually allow you to record straight to your PC and require the use of an additional audio interface.

However, there are plenty of mixers available that feature a built-in USB interface and this means that you can record straight to the recording software/DAW on your PC using a mixer instead of needing a separate audio interface.

It is worth noting, however, that just because the mixer has a built-in audio interface doesn’t mean that it can record every input to a separate track in the DAW since most affordable mixers, say in the $200 range, will only let you record the stereo out to the PC.

This means that all the tracks coming into the mixer will be summed/mixed to one stereo file and, in this case, you won’t have any control over the individual tracks once they reach the DAW.

On the other hand, Mixers that are capable of Multitrack recording will let you record every individual input as a separate track to the recording software but, of course, this comes at a much higher price tag.

How can you tell if a Mixer can record Multi-tracks?

Some mixers are already labeled as being able to handle multitracks, like the Soundcraft Signature MTK 12, but in most cases, you are going to need to look at the “USB Connectivity” or “Audio Interface” description of the mixer;

If it says 14-in/2-out, then this means that it will take those 14 inputs but sum them to a stereo file (2 out= Right+Left).

If it says 14-in/12-out, or 14-in/14-out, then it means that it is able to record those inputs separately.

Just as a reference, mixers under $300 usually are not capable of multitrack recording.

Do I need a Mixer for Home Recording?

You don’t NEED a mixer for recording in your home studio, but they usually have a higher input count than audio interfaces and this will allow you to record entire bands more easily.

Additionally, some modern mixers allow you to record multitracks directly to an SD card, which is something no Audio Interface can do, which is fantastic for recording live shows and also serves as a safety measure since you generally can record to a PC and to the SD track simultaneously, this way you don’t run the risk of losing the files.

Lastly, mixers let you set up different headphone mixes for every musician, which just makes the recording experience better, and you can add effects directly from the mixer without introducing any latency.

Why get a mixer

Like I just mentioned, you don’t really need a mixer for home recording, although in some cases it might be more beneficial, but they just cost a lot more than an audio interface and I generally don’t that it’s worth it for more people.

However, mixing live music is a completely different story.

Mixing Live music

Mixers are the only way you can really mix music live, no audio interface on earth could do this, and this is probably the biggest reason for getting one.

You only need to ask yourself if you also want to be able to record your band at the same time, and if that’s the case, if you’re OK with just recording the stereo out or if you’d prefer being able to record the entire multitrack.

There are even some mixers that allow you to record the entire session as separate tracks to an SD card, so you don’t even need to take a laptop with you to the gig to record the multitracks (check the article I linked earlier about mixers with multitrack capabilities).

You like the “hands on” approach

Mixers are definitely more hands on than an audio interface, and you can even mix on them depending on how you have everything set up and the mixer you’re using, but that’s basically how some great engineers do it on their SSL consoles (those cost as much as a house though).

But you could get something like the Soundcraft Signature MTK Series and use those to mix in your studio, which is a much more fun experience than having to click around with your mouse.

Which one is right for Recording at Home?

Get an Audio Interface, hands down, and there are many reasons for this;

Audio interfaces are more affordable for the simple fact that they don’t come with all the features a mixer does, plus you generally record one track at a time when recording by yourself, maybe two.

Additionally, when you record audio, you usually want to get the cleanest- most unprocessed signal possible, which means that applying EQ, Compression, or any other processing on the way in doesn’t often make sense since you want to be able to process the original, un-processed audio track in the DAW.

So, I would say that in the vast majority of cases, go with an Audio Interface.

If you’re a podcaster, consider a Mixer over an Audio Interface

One huge advantage a mixer has over an Audio Interface is that it’s better for streaming audio, and the reason for this is that with an audio interface you would need to rely on software to mix the audio before streaming it.

As we all know, software can crash and if you are streaming a podcast to a live audience, something could happen where you would need to reboot the entire system… NOT IDEAL!

With a mixer you can simply mix the audio right there on the board and THEN send it to the computer to be streamed.

This is a much better -and safer- way of doing things.

Can you connect directly to the 3.5mm microphone jack on the Sound Card?

If you’re just starting out or don’t have the budget to get an audio interface, then absolutely! However, your PC’s soundcard isn’t designed to record top-notch audio quality and will introduce noise and latency.

Read more about the differences between an Audio Interface and a regular sound card here.

Conclusion

Choosing the right equipment isn’t easy, especially considering that there are simply too many options to choose from.

Why choose an Audio Interface over a USB Mixer that can do multi-track recordings?

Well, the first and most important reason is price; Mixers that can record multi-tracks are expensive, very expensive, in fact.

I would only recommend you get one of those mixers if you are absolutely certain that you will be taking advantage of all of its functionality.

For anyone who is starting out, or who likes to record on their own in their home studio, a simple Audio Interface with 2 or 4 inputs should be enough.

If, however, you need to stream a podcast with lots of guests, mix music at live events, etc. then a mixer might be a better alternative.

But in most cases, go with an Audio Interface.

I hope this information was helpful!

Have a wonderful day!

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