Well, I just had a harsh reminder of the flaky nature of USB audio the other day… The Scarlett glitched out, resulting in a few BSODs, after which I had to remove and reinstall the driver to get audio working at all again, and then reconfigure all applications, as they suddenly no longer recognized the interface. This brings us to our next common question.TL DR: the computer/audio interface communication is only a small part of the problem, and I’m not even sure PCIe is worth the effort, unless you need massive channel counts. If this is appealing to you, make sure to check carefully prior to purchase, because many budget-friendly USB interfaces don’t offer this expandability. This is helpful if you only occasionally need additional inputs, if you’ve got a friend with a second interface, or if you see a sale on a Behringer UMC1820 with 8 inputs. Related: Audio mixing 101: Everything you need to know to create your first track

Say you’ve got an interface you like with only two XLR inputs, but a S/PDIF connection, then you can use it as a master and link a second interface with a compatible S/PDIF connection, thus expanding your possible simultaneous XLR inputs without having to get rid of your original interface. One feature to consider if you suspect you’ll need more inputs down the line, but you’re trying to maximize your budget is an S/PDIF or ADAT input connection which allows you to link a second interface or mic pre-amp with S/PDIF or ADAT outputs, in a master/slave configuration.

Also, XLR microphones tend to be more oriented toward the enthusiast or professional market, so the frequency responses, directionality, and more, are likely better than USB counterparts. Initial voltage input from a microphone is usually too low for optimal recording, so an interface’s preamp provides gain to the signal that makes better use of the analog to digital converter’s range. Interfaces amplify low-level audio signals through a preamp. When you use an audio interface you can ensure fidelity of your instrument’s sound from start to finish. This is because you’ll run into fewer self-noise issues because the microphone doesn’t also house the power components, so you get less electric hum that the mic could register in the recording. You’ll generally get better sound quality out of an audio interface paired with an XLR mic than you would through a USB mic. An audio interface can improve audio quality because it gives you the ability to use XLR mics, rather than a standard USB mic.

Usb 2 vs usb 3 audio imnterfaces