Do I Need An Audio Interface For Podcasting

An Audio Interface is necessary for some microphones but not for others, but the bigger question is should you use it nonetheless.

Whether or not you need audio interfaces for the podcasts depends solely on the type of microphones in your setup. You do not need an audio interface for podcasting with USB mics but you will need it if you are working with a condenser microphone with XLR output. 

However, whether or not you should use an audio interface even when the setup can work without it is a different story. We will get to that in a minute but let’s first look at the microphones that require audio interfaces as a bare minimum.

Microphones That Require Audio Interfaces

The job of an audio interface is to convert analog signals coming from the microphones or musical instruments into digital ones, so they can be read and edited by the computer. So, these devices are a must-have for microphones that do not have a built-in analog-to-digital converter.

Pretty much all the microphones with an XLR connection fall into this category. Be it condenser or dynamic microphones as long as it has an XLR connector, it requires an audio interface to work.

Why Doesn’t A USB Microphone Need an Audio Interface? 

A USB mic does not need an audio interface because it has an analog-to-digital converter built into it. It is a small component that gets the job done, but the results are not as good as you get with a dedicated audio interface. In fact, it is one of the reasons why USB mics cannot compete with their XLR microphones when it comes to high-quality audio.

It must be mentioned that there is also no way to connect a USB microphone with an audio interface. The inputs in audio interfaces are not designed to be compatible with USB cables and connectors.

How Does An Audio Interface Impact Audio Quality?

While the fundamental role of an audio interface is to convert analog sound to digital signals, it is not the only thing that they do. Modern audio interfaces have come a long way and offer features that play an instrumental role in high-quality audio recording. These include but are not limited to the following:

1. Multiple Inputs

A single microphone is never enough for podcasts. It is impractical for multiple people to use a single microphone but even if they somehow manage, the post-production will be a crisis. Thus, you need a device that can accommodate multiple microphones. In theory, multiple USB microphones can also be connected to a computer, but it is not quite the same.

See, you can connect multiple usb mics with a computer but you will never get the complete spectrum of benefits. The best part of using multiple microphones is that they record each speaker on a separate track, ensuring a higher audio quality and easier post-production. Connecting multiple usb mics only addresses the impracticality part because it does not record on separate tracks, at least not truly. You can use software support, but again, it is not the same.

2. Gain Control

Almost all modern microphones, be it USB or XLR, come with a gain control knob. It can be tweaked to boost the audio signal to ensure every frequency gets captured. However, the feature on microphones is pretty limited, and sometimes you need to boost the signal from another device, which is where audio interfaces come in.

You can provide additional gain to the signal via an audio interface, especially when they have high impedance. Even the best microphones, such as Shure SM7B need that boost to cover the entire spectrum of frequencies. The gain control knob is right next to the input of a microphone on the audio interface. 

It is especially important because you will have different guests on your podcast with different voice types. The gain control feature of the audio interface will ensure none of the guests go unheard by the audience, even when they speak at the faintest volume.

3. Real Time Sound Monitoring

Modern USB mics offer real time sound monitoring via a 3.5mm headphone jack and it is a useful feature. The problem is it is not exactly “real-time” monitoring because of the delay produced by the built-in analog-to-digital converters. Such a feature is practically useless in budget usb microphones because their latency is too high. It not only makes the feature moot but also distracts your focus.

So, you will have to get an audio interface if you really want to monitor the audio in real time. You will not get any latency and almost any type of headphone, including with USB, ¼ inch, or XLR connector can be connected. The volume knob for the headphone output is separate and does not affect the other inputs.

Furthermore, the analog audio signal can also be monitored via the audio interface. You can connect the studio monitor to the analog outputs of the audio interface, to hear the recorded track in the most raw form. Although it is not something you would do a lot as a podcaster, having a good feature in your setup is never a downside.

4. Phantom Power

A condenser microphone requires external power to ensure it works properly which can be supplied via an external audio interface. One of the three pins in the XLR cable can deliver the power to keep the electret in the condenser microphone charged. There is a separate switch on these devices which can be switched on and off depending on the type of microphones you use. You can turn it off while using a dynamic mic and on with condenser microphones.

5. Passive Attenuation Device

If things get heated up or become too excited the speakers start to speak in loud volumes and sometimes it is loud enough to distort the audio. Using an audio interface will help you solve it too. You can switch the Passive Attenuation Device or PAD within the audio interfaces to clip all the overly loud frequencies. It will ensure good sound quality without much background noise.

6. USB Output

Most audio interfaces have USB output and can be plugged directly into laptops or desktops. Most modern devices offer a USB-C connection, which is even better because they can be connected to a smartphone or tablet as well. You do not have to carry your computer or laptop with you to record a podcast somewhere far from your usual podcast setup.

That said, there are not many devices with lighting connectors, which may make things a little difficult for old Apple users. However, they can even use third-party accessories to work around it.

Conclusion

Modern audio interfaces offer more features than mere conversion of analog signals, which play an instrumental role in producing professional-grade audio. So, if your microphone is compatible with an audio interface, it is best to use it with it to get excellent sound quality for your podcasts.

Frequently Asked Questions