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If you are in a hurry and want to just find out the best audio interface for FL Studio, I highly recommend the Focusrite Saffire Pro Audio Interface
The other day I was talking with a fellow producer and we were trying to determine the best audio interface for FL studios.
And this got me thinking…
As a producer and a huge fan of FL studios software, I want to make sure that I have the right equipment to go with it.
If this is your first time using FL Studio, then you know that it is kicking ass right now and is been used by some of the top producers in the industry right now.
But before you buy a professional audio interface for your setup, there are some things you need to consider.
In this article, we will be looking at what an audio interface is, why you should consider using FL studios, our top 5 best professional audio devices for Fruity Loops studio and things you need to consider before you make a purchase.
Related: Here is a massive guide on everything you need to know about the best audio interface
IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…
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M-Audio M-Track Plus |
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Presonus AudioBox |
What is an audio interface?
Simply put, an audio interface is an equipment that connects your audio equipment (such as your keyboard, microphones, studio monitors) to your computer.
So you can see them as the middleman which your sounds have to pass through before they get to your computer or workstation.
They can also be referred to as sound cards
Here are some advantages of using an audio interface when recording
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They provide phantom power which helps to amplify your mics when recording.
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They can be used to hook up your equipments to your DAW using MIDI IN/OUT
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They have XLR ports which you can use to connect your mics
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They help to convert analog information into digital which makes it super easy for your computer to recognize and then lay down in your songs
As a recording musician, getting a good and quality audio interface is one of the best purchases you can make today.
When you do so, you find out that your recording improves and you get things done in a faster and more efficient manner.
What are the advantages of FL Studio?
If you are a beginner or even an experienced music producer, then you know that FL Studio is one of the best music softwares in the market today.
According to this article here, it has been used by some big name producers such as 9th Wonder, Soulja Boy and Lex Luger.
But what are some of the advantages of using the software, especially for recording.
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It is very easy to use and has a newbie friendly interface
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There is a ton of information and online tutorial which makes it very easy for you to get help if you have an issue
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It runs on Mac and PC which gives you a wide range of options
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It is very cheap and affordable
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It is very flexible and as a DAW can be used basically for almost anything.
Things to consider before you make a purchase
1. What do you hope to achieve?
This is probably the most important thing you need to answer before you buy any audio interface.
If you simply want something that let’s you connect your equipments to your computer, then any cheap one will do.
But if you are considering recording and mixing vocals, then you need something that can handle this added task.
Basically you want something, that takes your analog sounds and transforms it into digital sound.
All the sound cards reviewed in this article are of high quality and sure to meet whatever audio quality you hope to achieve.
2. What is your budget?
When it comes to making a choice for an audio interface, you should be prepared to shell out some bucks to get a good product.
The simple truth is that while there are audio interfaces that cost thousands of dollars, you do not need them.
An audio interface that costs a couple hundred dollars will serve you fine.
3. How many inputs and outputs does it have?
Another thing you want to consider is the number of inputs and outputs that it has.
Why?
Because you want to make sure that it can comfortably accept as many of your equipment as possible.
Truth be told when starting out, you may not need to connect many equipment. But you also want to think ahead and plan for the future.
So basically you want something that comes with at least 4 inputs and output ports.
4. Is it USB or separate powered?
Finally you want to check how your audio device is powered?
When it comes to this issue, there are pros and cons for both
USB is usually a better choice if you are going for ease of use and simple connectivity, but the major problem it has is that you may experience driver issues which might cause crashing and lagging of your system
Separate power is a better option if you want to avoid driver issues, but it usually brings about wires and cables running around your studio
Our Top Pick for the Best Audio Interface For FL Studio
1. Focusrite Saffire Pro Audio Interface
This is probably one of the most common and popular audio interface especially for FL studio.
It has 8 inputs and 6 outputs and comes with 2 preamp mics which makes it very suitable for use with as many of your gear as you have.
It has a high quality 24 bit audio interface that gives a crisp and clear quality to your vocals
It has an ultra low DSP mixer that gives you added options on how your vocals sound while recording.
It has multiple options for connecting your gear which includes firewire or thunderbolt. This makes it very easy for you to connect your equipments to your audio interface and not worry about port types.
It comes with an Xcite+ software bundles which has a lot of free samples and royalty images that you can use to spice up your vocals
2. M-Audio M-Track Plus
This is a 2 channel USB audio interface that is ruggedly built and produces clear audio when used.
It is a 24 bit/ 96KHz audio resolution interface that makes it able to produce exceptional audio quality when recording vocals.
It comes in a solid metal chassis and a sleek design that ensures that it last for a long time without damage
It has 2 XLR inputs that come with phantom power which makes it ideal for recording instruments and vocals
It comes with Ableton Live and the Waves Bundle plugin which you can use to add that special touch to your mix.
3. PreSonus AudioBox Audio Interface
This is one of the cheapest audio interfaces for FL studio. But do not be deceived as this bad boy packs as much punch as the expensive ones.
It is a bus powered USB audio interface that produces clear audio when used for recording.
It is a 24 bit resolution device and has a sampling rate of 44.1 and 48KHz. This makes it ideal for recording vocals and instruments
It has 2 inputs and a high performance, low noise preamps that helps to reduce background noise when recording.
It has a unique analog monitoring with zero latency that helps you determine if your audio is too high and clipping.
It comes housed in a heavy duty steel casing with metal knobs that makes it very durable and does not easily damage.
It comes with a free download of Studio 1 DAW and 6 gig of third party resources for your use.
This is one audio interface that is compatible with all DAWs on both the PC and Mac.
4. Native Instruments Komplete Audio Interface
This audio interface made by the well known brand Native Instruments is one that makes recording vocals with FL studio a joy to behold.
It has low latency performance which means that you can comfortably use it with virtual instruments and effects.
It has high quality preamps that have their own gain controls for adjusting the volume of your vocals
It has a unique feature which enables direct monitoring for live and latency free recording.
It has a mono input switch which you can use for recording instruments such as guitars and keyboards.
It has a 48V phantom power which you can use on your condenser mics to amplify the volume.
5. Mackie Onyx USB Recording Interface
This is a simple audio interface that produces clear audio when used.
It has 2 boutique quality preamps that helps it produce awesome audio.
It has a high headroom design which reduces background noise giving you that sharp and clear quality you need
It has a unique feature that easily helps you convert analog to digital without any stress
It has zero latency recording which reduces all lagging and delays when used.
It has a unique and ergonomic design that makes it very pleasing and easy to handle.
Why FL Studio?
I have been using FL Studio since the late 1990s (when it was originally called Fruity Loops), and it truly has come a long way in terms of its capability.
If paired with the correct audio interface, FL Studio is in my opinion, the best Digital Audio Workstation.
Remember that this is just my opinion based on experience, and you may have better luck with another piece of recording software.
However, if you’re reading this article, you have more than likely already made that decision that FL Studio is your favorite recording software.
Benefits of Using an Audio Interface
- Puts less stress on the PC/sound card
- Converts analog signals to digital
- Allows for multiple connections to monitors, headphones and microphones
- Greatly improves the quality of sound recordings
- Produces a more accurate representation of sound
While you can get away with using the standard sound card included in your PC, I would not recommend it.
By investing a bit in a good quality audio interface, you are setting up your music production studio for success. The great part about newer audio interfaces is that the cost of entry is not very high.
How To Fix Fl Studio Audio Interface Setup
Here is a step by step guide showing you how to setup your audio interface with FL Studio.
Step 1:
Once you have installed the driver go to your computer’s Control Panel > Sound option. In the ‘Playback’ and ‘Recording’ tabs, make sure the Focusrite/Scarlett option is selected here as the default device. If it isn’t already, right click and select ‘Set as Default Device’.
Step 2:
Open FL Studio, open the options menu and go to the Audio Settings and set the device to Focusrite USB ASIO. You’ll also need to set playback tracking to either Hybrid or Mixer.
You can change the buffer size from the ASIO Control Panel, which you can open by clicking “Show ASIO Panel”
Step 3:
Go to the mixer window (View>Mixer) and click on the master channel. Make sure the output is set to Focusrite (in this case we are using Output 1 and 2).
To receive input from the microphone, go to an insert channel and select the input as the desired microphone/s:
Step 4:
With these settings you can then press Record and Play to record your audio which will appear as a waveform once recorded (note that the 3.2 count in is turned off, which prevents the initial count in):
You can then export this by going to File> Export and selecting the desired format. From here you’ll be asked to choose a name for the file as well as it’s location.
This will then bring up the rendering window where you can choose what you are exporting and other details:
When you are happy with the settings hit start to render.
Conclusion
As an Fl studio user recording your vocals at home, you want to make sure that you get an audio device that works well with your software and also delivers great sound quality.
With the information in this article, you can be sure of making the right choice.
If you have any tips or comments, leave them in the box below
All images were sourced from Amazon.com
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