When it comes to small audio interfaces, there has never been more choice available to us. Whichever one you choose, you might be surprised by what you can squeeze out of one of the tiniest yet…

Is A Small Interface Right For Me?

The whole idea of people producing music at home has been around ever since the days of the open reel tape recorder, but this really came into its own in the 1980s with the cassette based Portastudio-style machines that gave us a mixer and recorder/player all in one box.

Fast forward to now, and most people working at home have access to unlimited track counts even with just a two (or even single) input interface. These devices have democratised record-making for newbies and multi-million selling artists alike, with quality that is unquestionably up to the job. If you only need to plugin in one or two sources, most of them on the market today will do your music justice whoever you are.

How Many Mics Do I Need?

Contrary to a lot of posts and forum noise on the subject, the simple truth is that anything can be recorded with just one or two mics - the only factor is whether this approach suits the aesthetic of the recording. If it’s a demo or a sketch of an idea, the message is king, but you might find that the music loves the immediacy of a simple approach even If you’re making the finished record.

It’s true to say that larger sources can benefit from more mics purely for even coverage, but even a drum kit can be recorded with one or two well placed mics- listen to any number of classic records from the 60s right up to Amy Winehouse’s Daptone recordings this century to hear for yourself. Certainly any matching pair of mics is great to have if you’re recording a solo instrument, but even then, there are ways you can add width to mono recordings which you can read about here in Ronan Macdonald’s article.

The great news is that if you have even just one mic and a single input interface, you can make a record.

Arturia Minifuse 1 and 2

Up until now, Arturia’s AudioFuse and its siblings have been available as two desktop models, plus an 8 input model taking the familiar 1U form. The new MiniFuse range has been developed to equip creators with an even more compact ‘cigar box’ design akin to the well known red and black offerings from other manufacturers. As it’s a new product I decided to use this interface and test its capabilities into the experiment.

The single input MiniFuse 1 kicks off the range which lets you connect anything with an XLR or jack on the end of it with a direct monitor button provided for zero-latency monitoring while tracking. The device connects via USB-C and also features a handy USB-A port so you get your computer’s one back from the interface, plus a slot for a security lock for public-facing events.

The MiniFuse 2’s expanded feature set sees 2 combi inputs, zero latency monitoring with direct/computer blend and mono input options added, plus MIDI I/O around the back. The MiniFuse 4 will be available next year which further expands upon the I/O count. All MiniFuse interfaces feature the now ubiquitous control app and loopback function for recording the software of your choice back into your DAW. Other tech specs include:

• 110dB Dynamic Range- lush dynamics that respond to every nuance of your voice, your performance, and your style.

• -129dB Equivalent Input Noise- crystal-clear sound with ultra low noise that rivals the biggest production houses and premium studios.

• 0,001% THD- virtually distortion-free performance regardless of signal level.

In the video you can hear how having just 1 input on the MiniFuse doesn’t mean you are restricted to a small production.

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s a demo, a record from the ground up, or overdubs at home, a small interface can get you all of the way there. With great audio quality and bag-friendly form factor, the MiniFuse 1 and its siblings will do you proud. Pricing is 99€/$ for the MiniFuse 1, with the MiniFuse 2 coming in at 149€/$. The forthcoming MiniFuse 4 is set to land in 2022 with price TBC. Head over to Arturia to find out more.