Comparison Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen vs Steinberg UR22

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 The data transfer speed in this version reaches 20 Gbit/s. Recently, the v2 edition...has been replaced by the Thunderbolt v3 version (see the corresponding paragraph).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 audio frequency range supported by the device. Most often we are talking about the range of frequencies that a device can produce in an analog audio output signal.

In general, the wider the frequency range, the fuller the sound, the lower the likelihood that the audio interface will “cut off” the upper or lower frequencies. However, it must be taken into account that the human ear is capable of hearing sounds at frequencies from 16 to 22,000 Hz, and the upper limit decreases with age. So from a practical point of view, it makes no sense to provide a wider range in audio technology. And the impressive numbers found in high-end devices are rather a “side effect” of advanced electronic circuits and are given in the specifications mainly for advertising purposes. Also remember that the overall sound quality is affected by many other factors besides frequency range.

Connectors used to connect musical instruments (acoustic or bass guitars, keyboards, etc.). Most often they are made in the form of 6.35 mm Jack format sockets, but there are other options (see below). The audio signal from pickups has its own specific characteristics, so the instrument input typically features a higher input level and special impedance matching to ensure optimal sound quality.

— Jack (6.35 mm). Jack sockets (6.35 mm) are most widely used as instrument audio input. They are very large in size, thereby ensuring tighter contact, and support a balanced connection (for transmitting a high-quality signal without interference over fairly long wires). The number of Jack connectors (6.5 mm) usually corresponds to the number of tools that can be simultaneously connected to the device.

- XLR. A characteristic round connector, often combined with a Jack interface (6.5 mm). XLR is equipped with a locking lock and three contacts (there are other options in terms of quantity, but they are practically not found). The connector is used to transmit an analog signal through a balanced connection, which provides high immunity to interference - sufficient for professional use.

Input for connecting MIDI devices: keyboards, turntables and other controllers. The MIDI stream does not represent sound, but service information for virtual musical instruments. Therefore, data received via MIDI In is not processed by the device, but is simply transmitted to a computer, tablet or specialized equipment via USB type B, MIDI output or other similar connector.

Specialized output for transmitting MIDI commands. Found exclusively in audio interfaces that have a MIDI input. The corresponding signals represent a kind of “digital music notation”. The MIDI Out connector is used to transmit MIDI commands received by the input to an external device - most often a hardware sequencer or other specialized equipment.

The software included with your audio interface may vary depending on the make and model. The vast majority of it is represented by drivers, utilities for managing the device, software for recording and editing sound, virtual instruments or effects, and all kinds of plugins. It is advisable to clarify separately which specific software components are included in the audio interface package.

Supported operating systems ensure device compatibility with computers running different platforms. The following options are widespread in audio interfaces:

-Windows. The vast majority of audio interfaces provide drivers and software for compatibility with the popular Windows operating system. At the same time, it is important to clarify the supported OS versions - in modern realities, these are Windows 10 and Windows 11.

- macOS. Support for working with Apple computers and laptops that use the proprietary macOS platform.

- iOS. The ability to work with mobile applications for creating and processing sound, implemented when using Apple smartphones running the iOS operating system.

- iPadOS. In this version, the audio interfaces support work with Apple tablets running the proprietary iPadOS operating system.

- Android. Compatibility of the audio interface with mobile devices based on the popular Android platform. This involves using mobile versions of applications for creating and processing sound.

- Linux. Support for the Linux platform is less common among audio interfaces, and not all devices provide official drivers for this operating system.

—Chrome. The...device is compatible with laptops running the Chrome OS operating system. These are rarely found in common use, but they do occur.