Sound cards

A sound card — an audio interface — connects microphones, instruments and studio monitors to your computer with far better sound than its built-in audio. You need one to record vocals or guitar, to produce music and to livestream with clean sound. You do not need one just to DJ: controllers such as the DDJ-FLX4 have an audio interface built in.

How to choose:

• Inputs: count what you will record at the same time. The Focusrite Scarlett Solo and PreSonus AudioBox GO suit one voice or one instrument; two-input models such as the Scarlett 2i2 and Steinberg UR22C record a singer with a guitar; the Scarlett 4i4, Steinberg UR44 and PreSonus Studio 68c add more inputs and outputs.
• Phantom power: condenser microphones need +48 V phantom power from the interface.
• Outputs: a pair for your monitors and a headphone output with its own volume knob.
• Livestreaming: loopback sends your computer's sound together with your microphone into the stream; the 4th-generation Scarlett models and the Steinberg UR22C have it.
• Connection: check that the interface's USB port matches your computer.

Pair the interface with studio monitors and a microphone. Want to learn production in a real studio? Our music production course is taught on Ableton Live in the school's studio.