Comparison Arturia MiniFuse 4 vs Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 MKII

The number of input and output channels that the audio interface is equipped with. See below for more details on each type.

— Input channels. Input (in) channels on audio interfaces designate the number of different audio signals a device can accept for recording overnight. Their number plays a decisive role in multi-channel sound recording, connecting several instruments or vocals at the same time. When choosing an audio interface, consider not only the number of input channels, but also the types of connectors (see “Inputs”).

— Output channels. Output channels output (out) is the number of audio signals that can be sent to other devices or equipment for playback. The outputs of the audio interface can be used to connect to amplifiers, monitors, speaker systems, headphones, etc. A large number of output channels will come in handy when creating sound mixes, multi-channel recording or multitasking in a studio environment. For simpler tasks, it is enough to have from 2 to 4 output channels. When choosing an audio interface, consider not only the number of output channels, but also the types of connectors (see “Outputs”).

Connection interfaces that the audio interface is equipped with.

- USB A. Connection via standard USB port. Until recently, this was the most popular interface for external peripherals, found in almost all PCs and laptops. Nowadays, it is often replaced by a USB type C port (see the corresponding paragraph). Most USB A audio interfaces draw power directly from the PC or other host device.

- USB type B. The connector has a characteristic square shape, noticeably different from the well-known rectangular USB A ports. In audio interfaces, it is used to transmit signals from external sources to a computer for recording and processing.

- USB type C. A peripheral connector with a symmetrical contact group, which often replaces full-size USB ports on board modern PCs and laptops. Many new models of audio interfaces are being made for this interface. An exception to the rule is individual instances for Thunderbolt. For them, it is Thunderbolt that is indicated, and not USB type C.

- Thunderbolt v2. Initially, Thunderbolt is a universal connector used primarily in Apple computer equipment. On board audio interfaces it is used as a general peripheral connector (similar to USB). This uses the miniDisplayPort hardware port. The data transfer speed in this version reaches 20 Gbit/s. Recently, the v2 edition...has been replaced by the Thunderbolt v3 version (see the corresponding paragraph).

- Thunderbolt v3. A universal interface that is found mainly in Apple technology. In audio interfaces it is used as a general peripheral connector (similar to USB). Specifically, Thunderbolt v3 provides data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps and uses a USB type C hardware connector (as opposed to earlier versions based on miniDisplayPort).

- Lightning. A connector used exclusively in Apple portable electronics (since 2012). Accordingly, audio interfaces with such a port are aimed at ease of connection to iPhones and iPads. Note that today there has been a transition from proprietary Lightning to the common USB type C - the latest generations of Apple gadgets are produced with just such a peripheral connection connector.

- mini-USB. A smaller version of the full-size USB interface, created for portable equipment. It is found very rarely in audio interfaces.

- FireWire. Universal connector, also known as IEEE 1394 or i-Link. In terms of functionality, it is analogous to USB, and in some characteristics it even surpasses it. However, FireWare is much less common. Used to connect to computers and some types of specialized audio equipment.

— Dante Dante connectors are used to connect audio interfaces to a network to transmit audio digitally. In this case, a standard Ethernet port (RJ-45) is used for physical access to the network.

The number of preamplifiers in the design of an audio interface, designed to work with a weak signal - which directly comes from a microphone, pickup, etc. Each preamp corresponds to one low-level input channel. For example, if an audio interface has four preamps, it can simultaneously process signals from four microphones or other devices connected to those preamps. Professional studio audio interfaces are often equipped with a large number of preamps to provide flexibility and the ability to record from a large number of sources simultaneously.

Digital audio input for both stereo and multi-channel audio. The connector is RCA, but this input should not be confused with RCA inputs (see the corresponding paragraph). The coaxial interface uses a fundamentally different signal format - all audio channels are transmitted through one connector, and even a special (shielded) cable must be used for such transmission. Compared to optical interface fiber (see above), this cable is more susceptible to electromagnetic interference, but less sensitive to damage.

A connector for transmitting audio signals in digital form, allowing you to work with both stereo and multi-channel audio. It uses RCA as an interface, but this output should not be confused with RCA outputs (see the corresponding paragraph). The coaxial interface uses a fundamentally different signal format - all audio channels are transmitted through one connector. In addition, for such transmission you need to use a special shielded cable. Compared to fiber optics, such a cable is more susceptible to electromagnetic interference, but less sensitive to damage.

Output connectors for connecting monitor speakers or headphones. Connecting monitors to the output of an audio interface allows musicians, sound designers, or sound engineers to monitor audio quality in real time. In audio interfaces, monitor outputs can be made in various formats, but most often there are various combinations of RCA, XLR and Jack connectors (6.35 mm), less often - the classic mini-Jack (3.5 mm).

Audio interfaces designed for recording podcasts and conducting live broadcasts on the Internet (streams). They are supposed to connect streamer and podcasting equipment such as microphones and headphones, and the functions in such models include fine sound adjustments, adjusting the balance between different audio sources, etc.

The Loopback function allows you to combine the signal from connected microphones, instruments and other line-level sources with background music, audio tracks and other sounds played on the connected equipment (usually a computer). Loopback will come in handy when recording virtual instruments, podcasts, streaming, etc.

Number and type of USB ports in the device. Most often, audio interfaces contain full-size USB A connectors, and their number can vary from 1 to 3 pcs. Such ports are being replaced in modern models by more compact USB type C, which allows the plug to be inserted in either direction. Somewhat less commonly, audio interfaces can be equipped with USB B ports, while desktop models can be equipped with microUSB connectors.