Do you need an audio interface for output sound?

Question

I am new to sound producing and have been reading about audio interfaces and how important they are. I have been considering buying a USB interface that will connect to my computer. My question is: Are they only used for input sound eg. microphones, or do you also use them for monitoring output sound? Or if I am monitoring through headphones, do I simply plug the headphones into my computer?


Thank you.

Answer 1

Both. The quality will be better than most PC audio, and have the connections and signal levels/impedances for active pro amplifiers or monitors, and for pro/prosumer headphones.



If you are monitoring what you are recording live, you need to monitor from the interface. Many have a mix out you can listen to.



Some also have MIDI interfaces.

Answer 2

An audio interface is basically just a generic term for a device that provides audio input and output capabilities to your computer (though internal ones are often referred to as sound cards). You can't record or play back sound without one, but your computer probably already has a low-end one that isn't suitable for recording built in.



So with that said, it would be possible to record using one recording interface and then play it back through the interface built into your computer, but if you're monitoring while you're recording, you'll probably need to do it all through one interface (the one built into your computer would probably create too much latency for monitoring anyway).

Answer 3

I think yes