Today every one is a creator. And with the amount of adapters, lenses and apps built specifically for smartphone filmmaking today it’s easy to capture pro grade video and audio from that little square screen in your pocket. Not every adapter is the same however, which is why we’ve put together this list of our favorite Best Smartphone Audio Interfaces and Adapters to fit any scenario.
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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IK Multimedia iRig 2 Portable... | $49.99 $39.99 | View on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Donner USB Audio Interface,... | $79.99 | View on Amazon | |
| 3 |
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LeadJoy VX2 AimBox Keyboard... | $49.99 | View on Amazon | |
| 4 |
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Bovee Tune2air WMA1000 -... | 2,805 Reviews | $84.99 | View on Amazon |
| 5 |
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IK Multimedia iRig Pre 2 mic... | $59.99 $49.99 | View on Amazon | |
| 6 |
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Mackie Onyx Artist 1-2 USB... | 20 Reviews | View on Amazon | |
| 7 |
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INVERY Airdual Bluetooth 5.0... | $79.99 $70.99 | View on Amazon | |
| 8 |
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Add an Amp Amplifier Adapter... | $53.95 | View on Amazon | |
| 9 |
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Douk Audio U2 XMOS XU208... | $59.99 | View on Amazon | |
| 10 |
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PreSonus Studio 24c 2x2 Audio... | $179.99 | View on Amazon |
TOP-Reted 5 Best Smartphone Audio Interfaces and Adapters
1. Best Interface For The Price – Focusrite AMS-ITRACK-Pocket
Simple to use and straight to the point. The iTrack Pocket is a portable, high quality stereo microphone and guitar input that lets you create and share videos using your iPhone.
Designed for singer-songwriters, iTrack Pocket lets you easily apply mastering effects and share directly to YouTube. It holds your iPhone at the perfect angle for recording and then captures your performance using a stereo microphone that eclipses the quality of your iPhone mic and a dedicated guitar input with built-in amp simulation.
2. Best Interface For The Professional – Roland Go: Mixer Pro
The Roland Go:Mixer Pro packs a complete mixer into a handheld device, and it interfaces with your iPhone, Android phone – or anything else. The thing sounds really good. The mic pre and mix circuitry is transparent and barely any self noise is detectable on recordings, making it a perfect fit for professionals looking for studio quality sound.
3. Best Interface for Portability – Rode SC6-L
The Rode Microphones SC6-L Mobile Interface for iOS Devices and Compatible Microphones is a simple input/output breakout box designed for Apple iOS devices. Inspired by the original SC6 with a 3.5mm TRRS jack, the SC6-L uses a Lightning Connector to connect directly to Apple iOS devices. – With two TRRS inputs and one stereo headphone output, users can enable/disable direct monitoring, alter the gain boost, and choose between summed stereo and dual-mono.
4. Best Interface for Android- Saramonic SmartRig+ UC 2-Track
2 independent channels allow you to connect and control gain on multiple microphones or guitars at the same time. The interface also features 3 types of input to accommodate any set up: two XLR mic inputs, two 1/4″ (6.35mm) guitar inputs, and two 1/8″ (3.5mm) jack inputs for connecting any instrument or microphone. Features a USB Type-C Output Connector allowing you to attach an XLR microphone or 6.3mm guitar directly to your lighting connected USB-C device.
5. Best All Around Interface – IK Multimedia iRig PRO I/O
Not having hardwires coming out of this thing and just jacks allows for super versatility. And that means using the same output for Android and iOS. iRig Pro I/O features 24-bit A/D and D/A converters, and a 96kHz sample rate for professional quality audio on the go. When using a studio microphone, iRig Pro I/O can supply 48V of phantom power to the XLR jack for your active condensers. Plus, you can dial in the perfect and precise amount of gain with the new marked gain control knob. Made for iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC and Android devices.
If you’re interested in smartphone 3D audio recording, make sure to check out some of our tutorials below. Thanks for listening!
Buying Guide For Audio Interfaces and Adapters
Compatibility
It’s important to choose an interface or adapter that is compatible with your smartphone’s operating system (e.g. iOS or Android). Make sure to check the product specifications before making your purchase.
Input and output types
Consider the types of inputs and outputs you need for your setup. Do you need XLR inputs for microphones, 1/4″ inputs for instruments, or digital inputs for MIDI devices? Make sure the interface or adapter you choose has the necessary inputs and outputs for your setup.
Number of inputs and outputs
Consider how many inputs and outputs you need. Do you need a single input for a microphone, or multiple inputs for a full band setup? Similarly, do you need multiple outputs for sending audio to different sources, or just a single output for monitoring?
Sample rate and bit depth
Sample rate and bit depth determine the quality of the audio recording. Higher sample rates and bit depths will result in higher quality recordings, but can also require more processing power from your smartphone. Make sure the interface or adapter you choose supports the sample rate and bit depth you need.
Portability
Consider how portable you need your interface or adapter to be. If you plan to use it on the go, you may want a smaller, more portable device. If you plan to use it in a fixed location, a larger device may be more appropriate.
Price
Audio interfaces and adapters for smartphones can range in price from under $50 to several hundred dollars. Consider your budget and what features are most important to you before making your purchase.
Brand and reputation
It’s important to choose an interface or adapter from a reputable brand with a track record of producing high-quality products. Read reviews and do your research to ensure you’re getting a reliable and durable product.
How to Use An Audio Interface With Your Smartphone?
Using an audio interface with your smartphone can greatly enhance the audio quality of your recordings or livestreams. Here are the steps to follow:
- Choose an audio interface that is compatible with your smartphone. Some interfaces come with specific cables and adapters for different types of smartphones, while others may require additional accessories.
- Download and install any necessary drivers or software for your audio interface. Check the manufacturer’s website for instructions on how to do this.
- Connect your audio interface to your smartphone using the appropriate cable or adapter. For example, if your audio interface has a USB port, you may need to use a USB-C to USB adapter for newer smartphones.
- If your audio interface has its own power source, make sure it is plugged in or has fresh batteries.
- Open your recording or livestreaming app on your smartphone and go to its audio settings. Choose the audio interface as your input device.
- Test the audio input to make sure it is working properly. Speak or play an instrument into your microphone and check the audio levels in your app.
- Once you have confirmed that your audio interface is working properly, you can begin recording or livestreaming with higher quality audio.
Remember to disconnect your audio interface from your smartphone after use and store it in a safe place to prevent damage.
FAQs
Do I need an audio interface?
Whether you need an audio interface or not depends on your specific needs and goals.
If you’re just recording casual voice memos or using your smartphone’s built-in microphone for occasional videos or livestreams, you probably don’t need an audio interface. However, if you’re looking to improve the quality of your recordings or livestreams, or you’re a professional musician or podcaster, an audio interface can greatly enhance your audio quality.
Does audio interface improve sound quality?
Yes, an audio interface can improve sound quality by providing better hardware components than the built-in sound card in your computer or mobile device.
Built-in sound cards in computers and mobile devices are often designed to be inexpensive and compact, which can limit their ability to produce high-quality audio. An audio interface, on the other hand, is specifically designed to handle high-quality audio, and typically has better quality preamps, converters, and other hardware components that can provide a cleaner, more accurate sound.
How to connect audio interface to computer?
- Turn off your computer and audio interface before making any connections.
- Connect one end of a USB, Firewire, or Thunderbolt cable (depending on the type of interface) to the port on the audio interface, and the other end to an available USB, Firewire, or Thunderbolt port on your computer.
- If your audio interface requires external power, plug it in and turn it on.
- Turn on your computer.
- Once your computer has started up, it should recognize the audio interface and automatically install any necessary drivers. If it doesn’t automatically install the drivers, you can download them from the manufacturer’s website.
- Open your audio recording software and select the audio interface as the input and output device in the software’s audio settings.
- Adjust the audio settings in your software as needed, such as sample rate and buffer size.
- Test the audio input and output to ensure that everything is working correctly.
- Start recording or playing audio through your audio interface.
How to connect PS4 to audio interface?
- Choose an audio interface that has the necessary inputs to connect your PS4. Most audio interfaces have 1/4″ or XLR inputs, while the PS4’s audio output is usually a digital optical audio output or a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- If your audio interface has a digital optical audio input, you can use a digital optical audio cable to connect the PS4’s digital optical audio output to the audio interface. Alternatively, if your audio interface has a 3.5mm input, you can use a 3.5mm audio cable to connect the PS4’s headphone jack to the audio interface.
- Connect the audio interface to your computer using a USB cable. This will allow you to use your computer to record and monitor the audio from your PS4.
- Configure your audio interface settings to ensure that the audio input from the PS4 is selected as the input device.
- Open your audio recording software and set the audio interface as the input and output device.
- Test the audio input to ensure that it is working properly.
- Start recording or streaming audio from your PS4 through the audio interface.
Can you use a mixer as an audio interface?
Yes, many mixers can be used as an audio interface. However, not all mixers have built-in audio interfaces, so you’ll need to check the specifications of your specific mixer to determine if it can be used as an audio interface.
Can you use two audio interfaces at once?
Yes, it is possible to use two audio interfaces at once, but it can be a bit tricky and may require some additional setup.
There are a few different ways you can use multiple audio interfaces at the same time:
- Aggregate Device: On Mac computers, you can create an “Aggregate Device” that combines multiple audio interfaces into a single virtual device. This allows you to use both interfaces as a single input/output device in your recording software.
- ASIO4ALL: On Windows computers, you can use a free software called ASIO4ALL to combine multiple audio interfaces into a single input/output device.
- Use two different applications: You can use one audio interface for input and the other for output, or use one interface for one application and the other for a different application.
- Use a mixer: You can connect both audio interfaces to a mixer, which can act as a central hub for routing audio between the two interfaces.
Read more:
- Best Microphone For Youtube Videos: Top Brands Review 2023
- Best Iphone Microphone 2023: Top Brands Review
Conclusion
choosing the right audio interface or adapter is an essential step in setting up a professional-quality audio recording or production studio. With so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which one to choose. By considering the factors mentioned in this article, such as compatibility, input and output types, sample rate and bit depth, portability, price, and brand reputation, you can narrow down your options and make an informed decision.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, investing in a high-quality audio interface or adapter can help you achieve the best sound quality possible and take your audio recordings and productions to the next level.
From One Ear To Another,
Anthony Mattana
Founder, Hooke Audio
Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
