Do I 'need' an audio interface on modern Macs?

Hi there
Don't think I've posted on here in nearly 10 years but I'd be really glad of some help.
I currently record on a 2003 eMac running 10.3.9 using Garageband 06. I record directly into the audio in via a tube preamp.
I am considering finally upgrading and am weighing up the relative merits of a Mac Mini or an iMac. I am clueless about the technological advances made since I last bought a computer and would appreciate some help. Clearly both those computers will be a quantum leap forward from my eMac.
So, specifically, would I need an audio interface with either of the above computers or is the internal soundcard and audio in sufficient? As stated, I don't currently use a USB or Firewire interface and use the eMacs internal soundcard.
I only record audio and don't use virtual instruments but we have an electronic drum kit knocking about so we may consider using it as a midi trigger at some point. We are an indiepop band so your usual guitar, bass, drums and vocals. I do not expect 'pro' quality as we are a DIY band, hence I've managed for so long with GB. However we've done singles on small indie labels and are releasing an album next year which I'm halfway through recording. I'd just like a bit more power to add some decent reverbs, compression etc to the recordings, but also need to consider how I get audio into the machine in future. I would like to get Logic so that takes some of my budget too. Our songs currently have a maximum of about 10 tracks of audio, I don't envisage going much further than that.
Hopefully that gives you my basic requirements, so any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot
Leon

The built-in audio-in should yield the same results i would imagine, i've used it before and it' s been fine. I guess the iMac's etc have a seperate audio-in still? I know they were stripped from the macbook's (bah!).
But obviously, you really should get an interface if you want to get serious, as not only will it give you better sound quality, but more control on the sound going in (Gain etc.).

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nomaan84 wrote:
but they are expensive and my price range is from 100 to 150 dollars
Oh I get that... we all have to work within what we can afford.. and you are not the only one who budgets like that for sure.. but here's the thing..
Note: What follows is just a personal opinion. based on my own personal experienes and those I have worked with here and elsewhere.
You are using a $1000-$2000+ Mac... an App worth $200+ plus extra for whatever 3rd party plugins you have bought.. extra bucks for a Midi controller...and yet you are only willing/able to spend $125+ on a combined Audio/Midi inteface?
It's kind of like buying a $100K Ferrari and then putting $50 tires on it..... and expecting to get the best or even just average performance from your car? It simply doesn't work that way in reality..... and trying to make such a low budget for an Audio / Midi interface.. will only lead to possible issues in the future....
There is a good reason why it tends to be the same audio/midi interfaces which are owned by people who also report issues with the current OS X version and/or Logic .. The cheaper products simply aren't so well supported or designed/developed as the more expensive ones... and so thats what happens...
Look at the current issues going on with Mavericks for example..
Mackie/M-Audio/Avid/Digidesign/Tascam are all having driver/hardware issues of one kind or another..to differing degrees..with various products they sell.. with little sign they are close to properly fixing things.. Focusrite are, at least, working hard with Apple to resolve their driver issues...but currently they are having some issues with certain products in their range too.. The cheapo Midi-USB2 cable type interfaces that sells for $20-$40 are all non starters/buggy as heck.. when used with ML/Mav and/or USB3 ports.. and most of these cheap products have the exact same issues every time OSX undergoes a major update! Sometimes they are fixed eventually and some times they aren't. In some cases the companies simply release a new replacement product leaving owners of the older versions.. left to their own devices.. (sic) and without any recourse or solution.. other than to buy a replacement or not being able to upgrade their Software/OS X
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I'd rather buy a used Motu (or one of the other brands out there that are known to be reliable) for a couple of hundred bucks or so.. on eBay than buy a new cheaper interface.... but of course the choice/decision is yours.

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Yes, you'll need some sort of audio interface to get a good signal back to your mixer.
The Scarlet 2i2 would work for you but you may find a few limitations. I use a MOTU Audio Express and it has the advantage of being a mixer as well, so I can mix in a backup signal from the onboard audio outs of my controller (Kurzweil PC3x) in case MainStage goes down (it happens on rare occasion). Firewire is my preference so the MOTU checks that box. I also like that I can connect my MIDI cables to the MOTU and have one cable going into the computer.
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I need an audio interface - PCI, Firewire or USB-2 - with a bunch of inputs and outputs (min. 6 in, 4 out), a couple of universal XLR/minijack input jacks with good pre-amps and, here's the clincher, separate level controls for headphones and monitor output.
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you might shop around for an M-audio Firewire 1814, which meets all of your requirements (225£). Or if you're looking for more of a mixer, check out the Tascam US-122; it's a mixer with USB connectivity to your mac.
As for functionality as reliability, i've only heard good things about the firebox and firepod, but they do seem a little outpriced per feature compared to the m-audio line. The thing that i admire (i don't own any yet - can't make up my mind) about the firewire 1814 is the dual headphones. couple that with it's inputs/outputs (go on and bus that mix directly to 2" tape, why don't you?) and you've got a powerful little box. That said, if the Presonus had dual headphones (their hoping you buy their headphone mixer, maybe), I'd put it on the top of my list.
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Why choose an audio interface over a mixer?

I know there are tons of question out there who are quite similar to mine, but yet none of 'em seem to be able to solve my question.
The main question I'm asking is: what's the difference between a mixer (either w/ or w/o built in audio interface) and an external audio interface?
But the answers to this exact question weren't sufficient because I ran into a practical problem, wich is as follows:
A friend of mine uses his Behringer XenyX 802 mixer as a way to input the signals his mic's send into GarageBand/Logic (kind of DAW is irrelevant). Now i've been wanting to set up my own little home studio myself and basically every tutorial/video out there says: "in order to record multiple instruments into your Mac, you need an audio interface." Now I don't get exactly why, because i've seen someone do it with a mixer. I assume that the mixer in question has a built in audio interface (since it has, amongst other features, phantom power), so it's not neccesary to have an audio interface, or is it?
Then I started searching the web for different audio-interfaces because I thought: "well they must know what they're talking about. So I guess I have to start looking for an interface." I found that a lot of interfaces <€100 have only 2 inputs, mostly an XLR input and a Jack/instrument input. One of the most popular beign the Avid Fast Track MK II USB interface. I happen to know that the Xenyx 802 has 2 XLR inputs AND 2 jack inputs and I can get my hands on one (2nd handed version) for about half the price of the Fast Track. I thought to myself: "why? Why do all those 'experts' who explain it in video's tell me to specifically get an interface?" this is because I found that the more input channels you want from an interface, the higher the price.
Can anyone help me explain why the Fast Trak MK II is twice as expensive as the Xenyx 802 while it offers half the amount of inputs?
Thanks

Cyclone13 wrote:
Thank you for your response, it helped quite a lot. Just to make sure if I understand correctly:
You can only record 2 instruments simultaneously at max using a mixer (on their own track, because I have seen it done before), but you would be able to record, say, 6 mic's at the same time if you had the proper interface (an interface with at least 6 inputs and outputs that is). Now the M-Audio has only two inputs I believe, and therefor I take it has a stereo output as well, so the maximum simultaneous recording for the fast track is 2, just as that of the Behringer?
Regarding the Mixer... The Behringer you posted is just a standard Mixer, it doesn't have USB output, in which case you have to use the Mac's audio system (the Line-Input) and run a cable from the Mixer's main or monitor outs into the Mac's Line input. Computers use inexpensive audio chips that do not provide the greatest sound.
I thought you were talking about this Behringer:
http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Xenyx-Q802USB-Audio-Mixer/dp/B008O517IC
It is a mixer and an audio interface rolled intro one.
The M-Audio is a true separate Audio Interface that provides it's own Inputs and Outputs, (Like the USB Behringer).
Regardless, all three, the Behringer stand alone mixer that uses the mac's audio, The Behringer with the built-in stereo USB audio interface and the M-Audio with USB interface are all stereo units. The USB audio interface will only show two inputs and a stereo out. The most you can record separately on either is 2 instruments.
Here is one step up:
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/audio-express
The MOTU unit has 4 analog inputs as well as a stereo digital input.
The next step is an interface like this with 8 Mic inputs. It would show up in Logic as 4 stereo pairs or 8 individual inputs. You could use 4 mics on a set of drums, 1 for guitar, bass direct, stereo input for keys and record everyone playing at the same time on 8 separate audio tracks giving you full control (in Logic) of the final mix. http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/8pre

Selecting an Audio Interface

Hi,
I recently purchased Logic Pro 9 on my 2011 13" Macbook Pro, and am in need of a new audio interface. I am using it to record with my band (using synthetic drums so I am usually recording one track at a time). We used to use Sonar Home Studio with an Alesis Multimix 8 USB 2.0, but felt we needed something with more power and options so we switched to Logic. Also, we had some problems with the Alesis with quality among other things. I need an audio interface that will give me good sound quality with at lease one XLR input, a guitar input, a MIDI input and an output or two, one of which that can be used for headphones while tracking vocals and such. I don't have a set price range but I do want something that will give us good audio quality and something that will work well with logic.
Any help and suggestions are much appreciated and please let me know if there is any more information you need from me.
Thanks!

Presonus makes good quality equipment and they're always wheeling & dealing with various music retailers (ie Sweetwater, Musicians Friend) to offer package deals with, say, an audio interface + heavy discount on Studio One Pro which is their relatively new DAW (btw, it is a nice app and has defaulted to my secondary after Logic).
I'd avoid M-Audio. I once owned their 2496 card which was worth every penny I paid: $15 + a six pack of Sam Adams to a friend moving out of state.
Can't really go wrong with Focusrite hardware but someone needs to get their plug-in developers to step up.
Good luck.

Do I 'need' an audio interface on modern Macs?

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