Difference between audio interface and audio mixer

Audio Interface

Audio Interface is a kind of hardware that mixes and improves the audibility features of  a computer. It allows the user to record and playback audio from a computer. Through the audio interface, the recorded audio signals can be transferred to the computer so that the post-processing work can be accomplished.

An audio interface converts an analog signal into a digital signal. It allows connecting things like microphones and guitar cables to a computer and record via USB. Basic recordings can be recorded with any modern computer, laptop, or tablet. It recreates the recorded audio interface a more accurate representation of the sounds. Best when it used to record music and podcasts, and in video post-production for recording songs and sound ideas.

Audio Mixer

The audio mixer is crafted to combine multiple audio sources into one stereo stream. It is the process by which multiple sounds are combined into one or more channels. It’s the technique through volume level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are enhanced. Mixers have equalizers and volume stabilizers for each and every input channel, creating maximum control over every sound that goes into the computer.

Control over the track

Audio Mixer with Audio Interface

With a standalone mixer with no USB, the output needs the support of an audio interface, when you create, record clean music signal & mix it. A 2-channel interface and want to record more than two audio sources than one way to achieve this would be to need a small mixing console.

Best for Live Performance

For any live performance whether it is any stage performance or podcasting, easier to set up a USB mixer than an audio interface for live streaming. An appropriate audio mixer is should have the features like –

• preamplifiers with a good signal/noise ratio
• an effective Equalizer.
• about 10-12 channels
• 4 aux outputs and
• integrated effects.

Another reason for avoiding audio interface during live streaming, the software can crash and at the time of streaming a podcast to a live audience, can’t go for it.

For recording

For pure recording on a computer,  a good quality audio interface with the appropriate inputs is appropriate. Audio Interface connects to PC via either a USB-, Thunderbolt- or a Fire-Wire cable and takes the analog signal that’s coming from the microphone and perfectly converts it into a digital signal so that the computer can record it to the DAW.

Controls

The audio mixer has more hardware controls built-in. Whereas, the audio interface depends upon software to apply effects, etc.

Portability

Mixers usually occupy a considerable amount of space, whereas many basic audio interfaces are very portable.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it’s considerably understood that for the live streaming mixer over an Audio Interface is better. When the search is for perfect recording options, rely upon the software to mix the audio before streaming it the audio interface is a must with the mixer. Probably in the simplest way we the PT team have given you what is the basic difference between an audio interface and an audio mixer.