Choose an interface by how many microphones must record in the same take, rather than by its headline input total. An eight-preamp interface can give each microphone its own track when you need up to eight at once; an ADAT expansion path suits a setup that may grow. If hands-on mixing or direct multitrack recording matters more to your sessions, assess a mixer-recorder as a different workflow, with more space and setup involved.
If you want separate close, overhead or room-microphone tracks to balance after a take, count the microphone preamps you can use simultaneously. Focusrite, Audient and PreSonus each specify eight preamps on the interface models discussed below.
If today's microphone setup is modest but you expect it to grow, check whether an interface can accept a compatible ADAT preamp expander at your intended sample rate. Audient and PreSonus document expansion options for the models discussed here.
If you need mixer-style control, a larger input setup or direct multitrack recording, a mixer-recorder may fit your workflow. Zoom specifies these functions for the LiveTrak L-20; they are distinct from simply recording into a computer through an interface.
For home percussion recording, start with the microphones needed in one take. Then decide whether future expansion, the recording workflow or equipment compatibility is your next priority.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous microphones | Count the microphones needed in one take, including any overhead or room microphones, and compare that total with the stated microphone-preamp count. | If I want separate tracks for several percussion microphones, I need enough preamps to connect them at once. Around 36% of consumers put simultaneous microphone capacity first. |
| Future expansion | Check the interface's ADAT inputs, the compatible preamp expander and the channel count available at your intended sample rate. | If my microphone setup will grow, I want a way to add preamps without replacing the interface. Expandability is the primary concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Recording workflow | Decide whether you will record into a computer or need direct multitrack capture and mixer-style controls; check the USB channel configuration for computer recording. | When a session calls for hands-on control or recording directly to storage, the operating workflow shapes my choice. Around 21% of consumers prioritise that workflow. |
| Microphones and computer | Check each microphone's power instructions, how the interface switches 48 V phantom power, and the manufacturer's computer requirements. | If I use microphones with different power requirements, I need to connect them appropriately and run the interface with my computer. Those compatibility checks come first for around 14% of consumers. |
An overall input figure can include line and digital channels. For a take with several microphones, the number of usable microphone preamps is the more relevant limit.
Write down every microphone you plan to connect at once and match the list to the interface's preamp count. Count ADAT channels only if you also plan to use a compatible preamp expander.
That expansion also calls for a separate preamp, optical cabling and additional setup.
PreSonus states that Quantum HD 8 supports up to 16 ADAT optical input channels at up to 48 kHz. Focusrite documents the cited 16-channel ADAT I/O configuration for Scarlett 18i20 Dual ADAT mode at 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz.
Set your intended recording sample rate, then check the interface and expander specifications for the channel count available at that rate.
Microphone power requirements differ. Focusrite explains that condenser and active ribbon microphones need electrical power and advises caution with older ribbon microphones when applying phantom power.
Follow each microphone manufacturer's instructions before enabling 48 V, and check whether the interface switches phantom power individually or in groups.
Zoom's LiveTrak L-20 combines a mixer, multitrack recorder and USB interface. Its controls and direct recording functions serve a different workflow from a computer-centred interface.
Consider that format if you will use direct recording or hands-on mixing; otherwise, compare conventional multi-preamp interfaces against the microphones in your planned take.
A larger recording hub also takes more space and introduces a more involved operating workflow.
These examples illustrate different interface and mixer-recorder setups; the stated features apply to the named models, not every product from each brand.
The Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen is a multi-preamp interface for recording several microphones on separate tracks.
EVO 16 offers an eight-preamp interface route with a documented option to add an ADAT preamp expander.
Quantum HD 8 combines eight onboard preamps with an optical-input expansion path.
LiveTrak L-20 is a mixer-recorder that can also operate as a USB interface for larger sessions.
You need one usable microphone preamp for each microphone you want to record separately in the same take. List your planned close, overhead and room microphones before comparing preamp counts; a headline total of analogue and digital inputs does not answer that question by itself.
You can add channels through ADAT if the interface has a suitable optical input and you use a compatible preamp expander. Check both devices at your intended sample rate: PreSonus specifies up to 16 ADAT optical input channels at up to 48 kHz for Quantum HD 8, while Focusrite documents 16-channel ADAT I/O for Scarlett 18i20 Dual ADAT mode at 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz.
It depends on each microphone's power requirements: condenser microphones need power, while ordinary dynamic microphones do not require phantom power. Check the microphone instructions before switching on 48 V, particularly if an older ribbon microphone is connected; Focusrite advises caution in that situation.
For a purchase intended for use in Great Britain, check the product's safety information and applicable marking against GOV.UK guidance on electrical equipment and UKCA or CE marking. That Great Britain guidance should not be assumed to cover Northern Ireland, where product-marking arrangements need a separate check.