We’re no strangers to audio interfaces, and today in our specific search, we wanted to find some Mac OS only models to take into consideration for your recording studio. The only difference (and advantage many may claim) is that Mac audio interfaces can be hooked up to your studio in a few different ways aside from USB — FireWire and Thunderbolt. The advantage? Faster data processing, less latency, and at times, better audio quality in general.
- Apr 27, 2021 With the arrival of macOS Big Sur 11.3, it is now possible to use a HomePod stereo pair as your Mac's system audio output. This article explains how to set up two HomePod speakers as a.
- 2-ch Headphone Amplifier with Stereo Unbalanced Analog Outputs, Digital Input via USB, TOSlink, and S/PDIF Coax, and Support for 44.1kHz-384kHz PCM and 64X-256X DSD Audio - Mac/PC $ 545.00 Or $23.00 /month § with.
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Guidelines to the best Mac audio interface
Audio interfaces don’t have to be tricky to shop for. In our experience, the biggest concern (aside from of course budget) is how many ins and outs you’ll actually need, as well as the audio resolution. Nowadays in this day and age, we do not recommend you go any lower than 192 kHz and 24-bit! We don’t care what anybody else says. If you are investing in an entirely new audio interface or it’s your first one, keep up with the times. Be strict on this.
There are a variety of commercial and open source MP3 encoders available for Mac OS X, including the open source “LAME” (LameLib) MP3 software. MP3 can be played on many CD players, car stereos, flash MP3 players and iPod.
With that being said, just any audio interface that says it goes up to 192 kHz isn’t the same as others. For example an audio interface under $300 won’t be the same as a higher-end RME interface that goes for nearly a grand, even though they both record with 192 kHz. You can have the same audio resolution but different types of ways in which it processes your audio signals. This is either with the mic preamps themselves or the processing built-in to the interface’s skeleton. This is why you’ll see many interfaces start to hike up in price even though they have the same resolution — the inner parts are higher quality and more expensive, and whether or not it ‘sounds’ better will totally be up to you.
Aside from quality and how interfaces sound, we lastly want you to keep in mind what inputs and outputs you actually need. There are some out there 16×16 or even higher, but if you don’t need those, don’t get it! We have gotten by with just a 4×4 or even 2×2 before; however, it will really just depend on your intended use and what type of music or sound you record.
The best audio interfaces for Mac
Universal Audio Apollo Twin MK2
Mac Os Download
- Audio resolution: 24-bit/192 kHz
- 2×6 Thunderbolt audio interface
- LUNA Recording System
- DUO or QUAD Core Processing
- Unison technology
- Built-in talk back mic
- Monitor remote functions and monitor controls (Mute, Mono, DIM, and ALT)
- Two (2) mic/line preamps (premium Unison)
- One (1) front-panel instrument input (Hi-Z)
- Two (2) line outputs
- Up to 8 channels of additional digital inputs
- Two (2) analog monitor outputs (digitally controlled)
Here’s one of our favorite picks as the best audio interface for Mac. We have a Thunderbolt-only connection here with some brilliant audio resolution and core processing. In our opinion more than enough ins and outs, especially at a good number of channels and mic-preamps for your recordings. A built-in talk back mic is useful if you record others, otherwise what really stands out here is the way they process their sound. Their Luna recording system is a technology of theirs that increases the speed of recording through DSP-powered plug-ins with zero latency, and also offers some real time monitoring. We love the Apollo Twin Mk2 for Macs simply because of the quality of sound.
You can also look into the Universal Audio Arrow for a bit less features but at a cheaper price. The audio quality there is beautiful, too. We can’t get enough of UA’s sound.
RME Fireface UCX
- 36-channel USB and FireWire interface
- Audio resolution: Up to 192 kHz
- Up to 18 channels of recording and playback
- Low Latency mastering grade converters
- Two (2) mic preamps
- TotalMix FX (UFX DSP engine)
- Eight (8) x Analog input/outputs
- Two (2) x XLR/TRS Mic/Inst/Line
- Two (2) x Line/Instrument Input
- One (1) x SPDIF and One (1) x ADAT in/out
- Two (2) x MIDI hook ups
- Compatible with iPad
Up next as another one of our favorite choices as the best Mac audio interface, we have a heavy hitter by a brand RME that is synonymous with higher-end and more professional-geared studios. They have quite a few other options so we recommend checking out their interface lines but this is one of our favorites for Mac. It’s compatible with both FireWire and USB, and offers up to 18 channels of playback and recording.
The converters are beautiful which is what you’re really paying for — the resolution is nice but what’s inside is best. Add in some FX DSP engine, two mic preamps and tons of ins/outs as you can see in the list above, and we have another great pick with the RME Fireface UCX as the best audio interface for Mac computers.
MOTU Track16
- 16 x 14 Desktop Interface
- Audio resolution: Up to 192 kHz
- Connect via FireWire (Bus-powered) or USB 2.0
- Two (2) mic inputs (individual preamps)
- Two (2) Hi-Z instrument inputs
- Two (2) pairs of line inputs
- Four (4) analog outs
- MIDI I/O
- Two (2) headphone jacks
- Analog trim (digitally controlled)
- Balanced line inputs and main outputs
- Digital optical I/O
- Adjustable 48V phantom power and -20 dB pad
- Built-in instrument tuner
Let’s talk about a Mac OS audio interface that packs a powerful punch in a small package. Connecting via FireWire, the Track16 uses a clever way of being able to hook up so many ins and outs to a small little interface. You connect a variety of cables into a universal I/O connection they have there at the front of the interface.
Combine this with some Onboard DSP, latency-free effects and processors and some nice hands-on control on the unit itself, and we have a great interface for Mac in the MOTU Track16 to keep in mind if you wanted something a bit more smaller in size and less in price.
Apogee Duet
- 2×4 audio interface
- Audio resolution: Up to 192kHz / 24-bit
- AD/DA conversion
- Two (2) analog ins (mic preamps for each)
- Four (4) analog outs (2 balanced 1/4″ and 1/4″ stereo headphone)
- MIDI connection
- Top panel high resolution display (OLED)
- Two (2) assignable top panel control touch pads
Let’s continue to talk about something more simple yet still focusing on the most important part of a Mac audio interface — audio quality! We couldn’t count how many times we’ve had the Duet recommended to many, especially those in a smaller home recording studio. We have the essential insouts here, with a nifty OLED display at the top (we use the metering more than we thought we would), and of course, some pristine AD/DA conversion. The audio quality of Apogee Duet‘s are famous now.
You can also look into their their Apogee Symphony if you want even more in/out.
Solid State Logic SSL2
- 2-In / 2-Out USB-C Audio Interface
- Two (2) Solid-Sate Logic microphone preamps
- Legacy 4K effect option for each channel
- On-board monitor mix control
- Balanced monitor ins
- SSL production pack bundle included
- USB 2.0 bus-powered
We got a chance to try this baby out and in fact, we purchased on just a few months ago. It isn’t necessarily an audio interface strictly for Mac but we have a feeling these thing is going to be listed in a lot of our audio interface guides in the future. The audio quality of this is just amazing — and combine this with their “4K Legacy” button they have for each mic channel (it’s a preset effect that puts some warmth on the audio channel — great for vocals or guitars), we have some beautiful capturing here. Yes, one of the best Mac audio interfaces even though the Solid State Logic SSL2 is only USB.
Be sure to read our SSL 2 audio interface review for some more information.
Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 Mk2
- Audio resolution: Up to 192 kHz / 24-bit
- 6×6 USB audio interface
- Four (4) analog ins/outs
- Two (2) digital ins/outs
- Two (2) headphone out
- MIDI in/out
- Digital stereo input and output (S/PDIF / RCA) (lossless signal transmission)
We’ll end our guide with another USB only audio interface but we really like recommending this to many if it fits their budget and needs. Native Instruments puts a different spin to their gear and is only worth buying if you’re in need of a ton of FX and sounds. The processing on this interface is also great and the insouts will be most for many.
What you’re really buying here are the sounds however. You have multiple GB of sounds, FX, and software. Ableton Live Lite 10, their trial version of Traktor, and more. Don’t get this unless you need all the software, but we did want to end our article on the best Mac audio interfaces with this option in the Komplete 6 Mk2 just in case.
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Ever since Apple abandoned the Mac speaker game when it stopped selling the stereo Pro Speakers in 2004, my Macs have never quite been the same. Sure, there are plenty of decent third-party options, but for those of us waiting for a modern update to Apple’s greatest stereo speakers, it seemed like we’d be waiting forever.
When Apple released the HomePod mini last year, I thought my prayers had finally been answered. Unlike the original HomePod, which was expensive and not at all fit for a desk, the mini is small enough to fit under a monitor or an iMac, and affordable enough to buy in pairs. They even resembled Apple Pro Speakers.
Michael Simon/IDG
Stereos Mac Os X
There was just one inexplicable problem: the Mac’s system audio didn’t support stereo pairing, the mini’s best feature. While the Home app lets you link two HomePods as a stereo pair, Apple always allowed system sound to output to a single HomePod. Frustratingly and confusingly, it would only allow a stereo pair to work with certain apps, such as Music or TV, but wouldn’t let you select it from the volume control in the menu bar. It was possible to get it done using the Audio MIDI app, but that ‘s a workaround and not a solution. When macOS 11 launched without support for AirPlay to a stereo HomePod pair, I had basically given up hope.
With macOS 11.3, there’s finally an easy way to set up a stereo HomePod pair to play system-wide audio on your Mac. Now your Mac will finally recognize a HomePod stereo pair in the Sound preferences so everything plays through it, no matter the source. But while that solves one problem that we never should have had in the first place, it doesn’t fix everything that ails audio on the Mac.
All work and no AirPlay
AirPlay is a simple and elegant solution for playing audio from an Apple TV or iPhone, but when it comes to a Mac, it’s not nearly as pleasant of an experience. While macOS Big Sur 11.3 fixes the stereo issue, buying a pair of HomePod mini speakers and hooking them up to your Mac is still nowhere near as seamless as it is with a pair of AirPods. It’s bad enough that Apple took months to properly deliver its own wireless audio system to the Mac, but Apple also is seemingly ignoring major issues that sully the experience.
For one, there’s a delay. Depending on the app and numerous other issues, it can be as long as two seconds, so if you’re watching a movie or video, playing audio through the HomePod is not ideal. I’ve tried to use Airfoil 5 to fix it, but the delay is so sporadic and inconsistent that I need to constantly fiddle with the sliders to the point where it’s just not worth trying most of the time. (And even more confounding: sometimes the sound syncs perfectly fine without any adjustments.)
IDG
Even when the sound does sync, AirPlay on the Mac just isn’t reliable, with the sound inexplicably cutting out at times. I’ve tried restarting, unpairing, and quitting apps—and most recently, keeping tabs on my memory usage—but the problem persists. Like the lag, it’s random enough where I can’t quite put my finger on what’s causing it, and it doesn’t matter if I’m using AirPlay in an app or the main system. And don’t get me started on my Mac actually recognizing my HomePod mini speakers as the default sound output on my Mac.
What’s most frustrating is that AirPlay isn’t a bad system—it’s just bad on the Mac. Between the playback issues and the various apps fighting each other for control, I’m ready to give up. A pair of HomePod speakers should be the ultimate audio system for an iMac or MacBook, but instead, it only demonstrates how much Apple has stopped caring about audio on the Mac.
Inside out
The 24-inch iMac that released last week could have broken new ground for audio on the Mac. With macOS big Sur 11.3 launching as the default OS, Apple could have spotlighted AirPlay 2 and stereo pairing with a special-edition HomePod mini in matching iMac colors.
But that’s not where Apple’s attention is now. Sure, Apple has put “a six-speaker sound system that producesa massive sound stage with strong, articulate bass and crystal-clear mids and highs” inside the iMac, but it’s still just an internal speaker system, and that’s not what gamers, movie buffs, and music lovers want. They want external stereo speakers, and Apple makes it extremely difficult to find a pair that works well. We don’t want a HomePod inside our Mac, we want a pair of speakers outside it that works seamlessly, looks great, and amplifies the audio experience.
Stereos Mac Os Download
Apple Pro Speakers were included with the Power Mac G4 Cube and were a $59 indispensable accessory for the G4 iMac. The only option for the iMac is a pair of white HomePod minis that aren’t even offered at checkout. And since Apple put the 3.5mm jack on the side of the iMac, you can’t even hook up a pair of wired speakers without it looking terrible. I was looking forward to macOS 11.3 as the solution to my Mac’s audio woes. Instead, I’m only reminded that Apple just doesn’t care.