Audio Interface vs. Mixer: Which Is Right for My Studio?

When you’re just starting out, it’s not uncommon to feel completely confused about the best way to handle getting audio in and out of your computer — should you get a standalone audio interface, or should you get a mixer with a built-in audio interface? A big cause of confusion is the sheer variety of options available, with countless variations of interfaces and mixers aimed at all sorts of applications. Because your audio interface or mixer is a foundational piece of your audio workflow, we’d like to compare and contrast audio interfaces and mixers to help clarify your path forward.

What Are We Talking About Anyway?What Do You Need to Accomplish?Standalone Audio InterfacesMixers with a Built-in Audio InterfaceThings to Look for in Your Mixer or InterfacePhantom PowerStereo & Mono ChannelsTypes of InputsHow It’s PoweredLoopback Audio for StreamingFaders May Not Control Your Software

What Are We Talking About Anyway?

We’re going to be comparing standalone audio interfaces — like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, Universal Audio Apollo Twin X, and Audient iD14 MKII — to audio mixers that feature a built-in audio interface — like the PreSonus StudioLive AR8c, Yamaha AG06 Mk2, and Zoom LiveTrak L-8. All serve as audio input/output devices for your computer, allowing you to record with microphones, instruments, and line-level audio devices, and they offer more connectivity and better audio quality than your computer’s stock audio hardware can provide. When we’re talking about standalone audio interfaces, we’re referring to any audio interface that offers audio inputs and outputs and level controls but not much else hardware-wise. When we’re referring to audio interface mixers, we’re talking about an audio mixer that has a built-in audio interface for your computer and that can also function as a standalone mixer without connecting to a computer. Within each category, you’ll find a huge range of options, from ultra-simple solutions with only an input or two to pro-level options with dozens of inputs, built-in audio processing, and other advanced features. As you’re starting out, don’t focus too much on product-specific features just yet — now is the time to determine whether you’d be better off with a standalone audio interface or with a mixer that has a built-in audio interface.

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What Do You Need to Accomplish?

Instead of poring over dozens of different interfaces and trying to figure out how each would fit into your studio, start by really focusing on what you need to accomplish. Are you going to be mainly recording bands and solo musicians? Are you setting up a streaming studio with audio and video? Are you recording podcasts — sometimes on your own and sometimes with guests? Would you prefer to handle signal routing and processing via software, or would you prefer to have dedicated hardware controls for managing your signals? In any case, if you anticipate how many mics you’ll need to plug in, how many monitoring outputs you need for headphones, whether or not you’ll need loopback audio for streaming, and other considerations, then you’ll be able to start narrowing down audio interfaces. But even after that, the question remains: should you get a standalone audio interface or a mixer with a built-in interface?

Standalone Audio Interfaces

While a standalone audio interface is not designed to mimic an analog audio mixer in form, practically every audio interface has mixing software that essentially gives you mixer-like control over your inputs and outputs. You’ll need that to set up headphone mixes for artists, to manage inputs and outputs, and for other regular tasks. Some audio interfaces also feature built-in processing that allows you to add EQ, compression, or reverb to individual channels, again from within the mixing software. In other words, many standalone audio interfaces give you mixer-like control over your signals — you just need to access a software control panel to do it. There are a smaller number of audio interfaces, however, that let you add effects directly from the interface itself. A great example is the Universal Audio Volt 276, which lets you add and shape 1176-style compression to your audio signal by simply pressing a few buttons.

Whether that’s convenient or not is up to you and your workflow — if you’re a producer recording vocal takes in DAW software, then accessing a separate window to manage your audio chain may feel much more efficient than it would for a streamer who’s also trying to manage their capture card and streaming software at the same time.

Another consideration is simply the form factor — standalone audio interfaces, like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, take up less space than comparable mixers with built-in interfaces. While they can stay on your desktop, a standalone audio interface can just as easily be positioned out of sight or in an equipment rack. This makes standalone audio interfaces the more portable option, as well — something to consider if you plan to record outside of your studio. The Neve 88M is a fantastic choice for getting coveted Neve sound no matter where you go!

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Mixers with a Built-in Audio Interface

A big benefit of working with a hardware mixer is the immediate, hands-on control. Need to turn up a channel in your headphone mix? The Yamaha MG16XU 16-channel mixer lets you simply reach out and turn up the corresponding Aux control — no need to open up a software control panel. Want to apply some EQ and compression to polish your sound on the way in? With the TASCAM Model 16, there are instantly accessible controls for those on the board itself — no loading up plug-ins or accessing a separate effects menu. This makes mixers with interfaces especially useful for broadcast-style applications like podcasting and streaming. In these cases, you have enough to focus on without keeping track of another control panel on your computer — if you need to tweak your audio, then just reach out and do it. The Zoom LiveTrak L-8 is particularly well-suited for these kinds of applications due to having six onboard pads that make it even easier to cue music, sound effects, and much more.

One thing that is very important to keep in mind as you’re searching is that not all mixers with audio interfaces offer full multichannel audio recording. That means that you could have a mixer with a dozen physical inputs or more, but it will only send the main stereo mix to your computer — not the individual channels. This can be convenient for streaming and podcasting, but it is definitely not what you want for multitracking your band (you’ll want full control over each individual channel in your DAW unless you’re going for the sound of a rough demo). So, when you’re looking at mixers with built-in audio interfaces, keep an eye on whether or not you’ll have full multitracking capability. The Solid State Logic BiG SiX is a major favorite here at Sweetwater precisely due to the multitracking flexibility it provides, as well as its impeccable sound quality.

Lastly, while we’re primarily focused on studio recording, it’s worth noting that some contemporary digital mixers have features that make them equally adept for the stage as well as the studio. For example, the Allen & Heath Qu-16 Chrome Edition deftly handles concerts, conferences, public panels, and even TV productions thanks to its Automatic Mic Mixer mode that auto-balances up to 16 mic inputs at a time! And its Qu-Pad app lets you remotely control the mixer right from your iPad so you can walk around the venue and tweak the sound as needed.

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Things to Look for in Your Mixer or Interface

Whichever you feel fits your workflow best — a standalone audio interface or a mixer with a built-in interface — there are some common things you’ll want to look out for before deciding on a purchase.

Phantom Power

If you want to be able to use any type of microphone (including condenser mics and active dynamic microphones), then you’ll need to make sure your interface or mixer has phantom power. It’s a common feature, but some interfaces may only offer phantom power on one or two inputs. Anticipate what types of mics you’ll be using, and make sure you’ll have phantom power available for any that need it (external phantom power supplies are available but less convenient). Also, please note that some products turn phantom power on or off for all their inputs simultaneously. If you have any ribbon mics that you’d like to use in conjunction with condensers, then it may be beneficial to select an interface/mixer that allows you to turn phantom power on/off for individual channels. For a more in-depth look at phantom power, check out the article below.

What is Phantom Power and why do I need it?

Stereo & Mono Channels

When you’re looking at the number of channels a mixer offers, it’s common for manufacturers to conflate the number of mono and stereo inputs. In other words, a 12-channel mixer may actually only offer two mono channels with microphone inputs and five more stereo channels with stereo line-level inputs for each. These inputs are useful for keyboards, drum machines, and media players but not for plugging in individual mics. The best way to understand what you can actually hook up to an audio interface or mixer is to take a good look at the front and back panels to see for yourself what types of connections you have to work with.

Types of Inputs

On audio interfaces and mixers, you’ll generally see professional XLR inputs for microphones, but line-level inputs and outputs can be on balanced TRS jacks, unbalanced TS jacks, or unbalanced RCA jacks. Your outputs for your monitor speakers may offer any of these. The important thing to know is that there’s nothing wrong with using an adapter plug or an adapter cable to make things work (like, for instance, to connect your interface’s 1/4-inch line-level outputs to the XLR line-level inputs on your studio monitors). As long as you’re matching mic-level outputs to mic-level inputs and line-level outputs to line-level inputs, there’s nothing wrong with using adapters if you need to.

How It’s Powered

If you need true portability with your recording rig, then you’ll want to get an audio interface that can be bus powered via USB, eliminating the need to connect to wall power. Many audio interfaces that support bus power will also include a power supply, so you can use whichever makes sense at the time. Even if you’re not roaming the city and recording all day, you may appreciate the convenience if you need to shift your setup location on a regular basis.

Loopback Audio for Streaming

This mostly applies to streamers using Macs, as Windows has features to help set up loopback audio. “Loopback” simply means routing your computer’s audio back to your interface or mixer, combining it with your input sources like microphones, and then rerouting that mix back to your computer for your streaming software. It’s relatively simple to achieve with some creative cabling, but some mixers, like the Yamaha AG06 Mk2, offer built-in loopback capability to make this easy. So, if you’re going to be livestreaming, then keep the need for loopback audio in mind.

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Faders May Not Control Your Software

It’s worth mentioning this, as it’s something we’re often asked about at Sweetwater. A mixer with a built-in audio interface generally will not control any software functions, such as controlling faders in your DAW. That would fall in the category of a control surface with a built-in audio interface, which is outside the scope of this article. If you’re interested in learning more about those, then check out our article below.

Control Surface Buying Guide

Audio Interface or Mixer? Sweetwater Has Both!

We can highlight the differences between standalone audio interfaces and mixers with built-in interfaces, but we can’t tell you which is the better solution without digging into how you want to work. Choosing your audio interface plays a huge role in how your studio functions and evolves, and we’d love to help you make an informed decision. You can call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer anytime at (800) 222-4700 for expert advice to help you brainstorm your path forward — we’re all avid musicians and recordists, after all!
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