Irig 1 Garageband Mac
Irig 2 Garageband Macbook Pro

In this article today, I’m going to show you the two best interfaces for Garageband users, as well as offer an explanation of all their usual functions, including what those confusing specifications actually mean.

The best audio interface for beginners to Garageband is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which is definitely the most suggested as well.

The second best audio interface for Garagageband, in my opinion, is the iRig Pro I/O, which is not only for guitars but also for microphones.

The first one has more than one port/channel, which means you can use it for a microphone as well as another instrument at the same time. The iRig Pro I/O is more for taking on the road.

I had purchased Garageband ios for my iPad Air 2 along with an iRig 2, allowing me to connect a guitar. It initially work but I have not used it for several months. Only thing that has changed is I did an IOS update(9.2)? Something has changed where it Garageband no longer seems to function with iRig 2. Amplitube works with iRig 2, but not. How to connect #GarageBand to #Edrum with #Irig MidiGarageBand iOS application:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/garageband/id408709785. How do I connect an iRig Pro audio interface from my MacBook Pro and use GarageBand to record audio from a band's audio system microphones? I know I need to connect the iRig Pro via USB on the MAC and XLR or 1/4 TSR adapter to the band's audio system. Haven't been able to test it.

What Is An Audio Interface And What Does It Do?

In layman’s terms, an audio interface is the piece of equipment that – through the conversion of analog to digital information – allows us to hook up all of our musical gear to our computer.

An audio interface turns regular sound into a form of information that the computer can process, and it can also turn digital information into a sound capable of being heard by the human ear.

It acts literally as an interface between the sound and the computer. Or, in other words, it’s as if the audio interface is translating the soundwaves into a language the computer can understand.

The vast majority of computers out there come with an in-built digital audio interface that translates digital information into sound. This is called a soundcard, and an audio interface is like an external soundcard.

This is what allows the computer to play music through iTunes and other music playing platforms.

Before diving into my favorite interfaces for Garageband, let’s talk about the differences between Analog and Digital soundwaves, which will help illuminate why they’re important as well as guide you in your purchase of the right product.

Understanding Audio Interfaces – Analog Versus Digital

The primary difference between Analog and Digital is that Analog recording is a continuous wave format recorded by some kind of electrical or mechanical equipment.

Digital recordings are recordings that are broke up into data packages processable by a computer.

Why Do I Need An Audio Interface?

Music producers and musicians, and more generally, people who work with sound a lot, will eventually come to a point where they need a higher-quality device to increase the quality of the computer’s sound.

Moreover, to record external instruments and other sounds, an audio interface is essential.

A quality audio interface is crucial for music producers, musicians, and audio engineers because the average soundcard in a computer simply doesn’t cut it.

An audio interface is important because it not only performs the crucial function of translating sounds so the computer can actually play it back in a manner audible to the human ear but also to increase the possibilities when it comes to our set-up.

For instance, with more outputs and inputs, we can greatly increase just how much can be done in our home recording studio.

As I mentioned above, we’re going to explain the specifications and functions of the average audio interface, as well as some of the confusing terminology.

1) Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

One of my greatest pet peeves when it comes to buying products is how it’s actually built. Many products nowadays seem like they’re not built to last because they’re often made out of cheap plastic.

However, with Focusrite products, they’re always well-built and they seem as though attention and consideration have gone into their product’s construction.

I have a Focusrite Saffire 6USB which is the exact same way. The 6USB is made entirely of hard metal and it has lasted me for a little over a decade. It still works, by the way.

What Comes With The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

In terms of what comes in the box with it, you get the USB-C to USB-A Cable.
You also get Pro Tools one, which includes hundreds of different instruments as well as loops.
Ableton Live. Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation, that like Pro Tools and other DAWs, comes with effects, instruments, sequencers, arpeggiators, etc.

The difference between Ableton Live and other DAWs is that it’s meant for live performances and can be synchronized with lighting systems and so on. I’ve never used it before but I’ve heard it’s great for performers.

Soft tube, which are plug-ins created by Focusrite, including reverb, delay, and distortion.
Focusrite’s Red Plug-in Suite, which includes an EQ as well as a compressor.

And that’s about it.

All of the other stuff that you can get is downloadable from Focusrite on their website.

As I mentioned above, Focusrite’s products are typically very-well built. In this case, it’s made out of a red aluminum housing, and then the front and back of it are made out of plastic.

The knobs and the dials have a very sturdy feel to them, so you don’t have to worry about them falling off or breaking within just a few weeks, months, or even years, as long as you’re careful with it.

Moreover, the buttons have a tactile feel to them. In other words, when you’ve pushed the button, it actually clicks and you know that you’ve pressed it and there’s no confusion as to whether it’s turned on or not.

On the front of the machine, it has two separate channels with the XLR Jack as well as the 1/4 inch input.

An XLR input and output are connectors that are meant for professional audio recording equipment. They typically have between three and seven prongs on them.

They’re known for being “balanced,” and not as susceptible to signal interference. Many cameras and microphones employ an XLR cable.

In comparison to a regular jack connection, which is usually unbalanced, the cables are a single prong, for instance, a headphone ‘jack.’

The “Gain” dial flashes red when you’ve turned the gain up too much. If you’re using too much, the interface lets you know. When it’s clipping, it turns red, and when it’s green, it stays a nice soft Green color.

They also have the “Instrument” button which allows you to switch from the line-level and the instrument level whenever you’re using a 1/4 input jack.

Before continuing, let’s unpack the difference between Instrument and Line Level.

Instrument Level refers to any signal that is created by an instrument, but it’s most commonly used to describe the signals coming from a bass guitar or a guitar.

The power of an Instrument’s signal is typically lower than the signal generated by a microphone.

To increase the strength of the signal up to line level, a preamp is typically needed.

Line Level, on the other hand, describes what are the highest level signals. It is the signal that flows through the recording system after it’s passed through the preamplifier stage, but before the amplifier which gives power to the speakers.

I also emailed Focusrite about it and here was their response:

The Scarlett 2i2 also has the “Air” button, which is a new feature that wasn’t on my old 6USB. The “Air” button is a higher-end circuit that’s commonly a part of their higher-end products.

According to Focusrite’s page, the “Air” button emulate certain characteristics of an analog recording.

Their website explains the “Air” function in a very confusing way, but essentially, its purpose is to mimic a classic analog-style recording which has more “air and clarity.”

I also reached out to Focusrite and asked them what the button does and how it works, and here’s what they said.

It also comes with the 48V Phantom Power button to turn it on and off, in addition to the Direct Monitoring button.

The idea behind Phantom Power is to send power to

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