Socket-limited choir editors
You mainly edit existing recordings at a laptop or compact desk and want headphone and speaker connections without reserving another wall socket for the interface.
Who is this for?
Editors who also record rehearsals
You edit choir material but may later record a stereo microphone pair or two sources at once, making two microphone-capable inputs important.
Shared-monitoring editors
You review edits with another listener and need to decide whether speaker monitoring, one headphone output or two headphone outputs fit the session.
What matters when choosing?
For editing existing files, check USB power and listening connections first. If recording a stereo choir pair is part of the plan, count microphone-capable inputs before choosing an interface.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding another mains device | Confirm that the exact interface is USB bus-powered and that your computer has a suitable connection with adequate power. | With few free sockets, I want the interface to run from my computer rather than occupy another outlet; around 42% of consumers put avoiding an extra mains-powered device first. |
| Keeping two-source recording possible | Count microphone-capable inputs, not just total inputs; check microphone connections and phantom-power requirements for your chosen microphones. | If I might record a stereo choir pair or two rehearsal sources, one microphone input would limit that plan. Keeping two-source recording possible comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Monitoring edits together | Look for the headphone and separate monitor outputs you will use; for simultaneous headphone listening, check whether there are two headphone outputs. | When another listener joins an edit review, I need a way for us to hear it without repeatedly changing connections; around 25% of consumers prioritise monitoring for review. |
| Connection compatibility | Check the supplied USB cable, computer compatibility and headphone socket size against your existing equipment. | I need the interface to connect to my computer and headphones before a session starts. Avoiding a connection or USB-power mismatch is the primary concern for around 8% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming “2-in/2-out” means two microphone inputs
Focusrite documents one XLR microphone input and a separate line/instrument input on the Scarlett Solo 4th Gen. That is different from the two microphone-capable paths documented for the Audient EVO 4 and MOTU M2.
If you plan to record a stereo microphone pair, check the exact input connectors and preamps rather than relying on the total input count.
-
Assuming USB power works equally well from every port
Bus power avoids a dedicated interface adaptor only when the computer connection can supply enough power. Focusrite warns that some computer USB ports may provide insufficient power for the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen in higher-power situations.
Check the power and computer-connection guidance for the exact interface you intend to use before depending on it for a session.
-
Overlooking the headphone connector
The Scarlett Solo 4th Gen has a 6.35 mm headphone socket, so headphones with a 3.5 mm plug will not connect directly.
Compare the interface socket with your headphone plug before buying.
A suitable 6.35 mm-to-3.5 mm TRS adaptor may be another accessory to carry with your editing kit.
-
Planning shared review around one headphone output
One output may serve solo editing, but it does not give two listeners separate headphone connections. Solid State Logic specifies two front-panel headphone outputs on the SSL 2 MKII.
If two people regularly review on headphones at once, check for two outputs or plan a compatible headphone-distribution setup.
Relevant brands for reference
Audient
Audient describes the EVO 4 as a USB 2.0 bus-powered interface with two EVO microphone preamps, speaker outputs and a headphone output.
- Two analogue input channels can accommodate a basic two-source recording setup.
- Two input channels do not provide separate tracks for a larger multichannel choir-microphone setup.
Focusrite
The Scarlett Solo 4th Gen offers a compact route for editing existing files with headphone and separate speaker outputs.
- Focusrite documents a 6.35 mm headphone output and separate left and right speaker outputs.
- Its single XLR microphone input cannot directly accommodate a two-microphone stereo choir pair.
MOTU
MOTU specifies the USB bus-powered M2 with two XLR/TRS combo inputs, monitor outputs and a headphone output.
- Its two mic/line/guitar input paths allow two compatible sources to be connected at once.
- It remains a two-analogue-input interface, not a way to record numerous choir microphones separately.
Solid State Logic
Solid State Logic describes the USB-powered SSL 2 MKII with two preamps, balanced monitor outputs and two front-panel headphone outputs.
- Two headphone outputs can accommodate an editor and a second listener checking the same session.
- Confirm that its two-input arrangement and computer compatibility meet the recording and editing work you actually plan.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Common questions
Do I need two microphone inputs just to edit choir recordings?
No: editing files already recorded does not itself require two microphone inputs. If you may later record a stereo pair, check for two microphone-capable paths; Audient specifies two EVO 4 mic preamps and MOTU specifies two M2 combo inputs, while Focusrite documents one XLR microphone input on the Scarlett Solo 4th Gen.
Will a USB-powered interface free up a wall socket?
An explicitly bus-powered interface can run without its own dedicated mains adaptor if its computer connection supplies adequate power. Check the exact model’s requirements: Focusrite warns that some computer USB ports may not provide enough power for the Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen in higher-power situations.
Can I plug in headphones with a 3.5 mm connector?
That depends on the interface socket. Focusrite specifies a 6.35 mm TRS headphone socket on the Scarlett Solo 4th Gen and advises using a suitable adaptor for headphones with a 3.5 mm TRS plug; check the connector on the exact model you choose.
What product-safety information should I check?
Check the product and accessory information for the exact equipment supplied, particularly if a mains adaptor is included. In guidance dated 25 March 2025, the Office for Product Safety & Standards says the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 set requirements for in-scope electrical equipment before it is placed on the Great Britain market; that general rule does not establish which requirements apply to a particular USB interface or accessory.