AndrewChapmanCreative Breaks Down Beginner Audio Interfaces

In a fresh episode of You Don’t Deserve a Recording Studio, AndrewChapmanCreative kicks things off with a mission: rank budget-friendly audio interfaces. We’re talking about those interfaces that promise multi-million-dollar studio quality for less than $500. With a playful nod to the hyperbolic claims made by manufacturers, he sets the stage for a real showdown of features versus reality. Right from the start, he lets viewers in on a little secret: only a few of these interfaces are going to deliver the goods. Spoiler alert served.

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, Andrew lays out the tier structure framework in true laid-back fashion. At the top sits ‘god tier’, the pinnacle of interface performance—think of it as the synth to end all synths in your rig. Below that, we have ‘excellent for the price’ because let’s face it, the price-to-fun ratio is king. Moving down, there’s ‘good enough’ for those who just want to get by without ruffling too many feathers. ‘Meh’ is next, capturing those pieces of gear that don’t quite inspire but don’t offend either. Bringing up the rear is ‘don’t do it, Nathan,’ a humorous jab at interfaces so lackluster they’d make you rethink your life choices. Andrew’s humor sets the pace, hinting that he’s about to drop some truth bombs on what’s passable and what’s phenomenal.

Up first in the gauntlet is the Audient Evo series. Andrew frames these interfaces as more suited for streamers rather than recording aficionados. Though they’re portable and can sync with iPhones, Andrew dismisses them with a ‘meh’. He likens their preamps to a benign tumor—present, but not life-changing. The conversion? Equally, ‘meh.’ For seasoned pros who’ve been gain staging since cassette tapes were a thing, features like auto-gain hold little allure. Andrew lays out his thoughts with his signature blend of blunt honesty and wit, leaving no doubt that the Evo won’t top his charts.

When it comes to the Antelope Audio Zen Go, Andrew is torn yet impressed. While throwing some shade at Antelope’s reliance on DSP—a trick he feels is dated—the Zen Go still earns an ‘excellent for the price’ nod. Andrew walks us through the vintage appeal of when DSP was fresh, nodding to Apollo’s old days when it was a game changer. But today, in a world of uber-computers, onboard DSP feels like yesterday’s news. Despite his reservations, he praises the Zen Go for its stellar conversion, quality that may well be best-in-class. Preamps are somewhat better than the Evo but won’t beat others in this roundup. Yet, for its price, the Zen Go delivers in spades, converting even skeptics with nuance and clarity.