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Comparisons / Audio interfaces

Streaming audio interfaces compared

Compare nine current audio interfaces and production mixers, plus one its maker has discontinued, by microphone inputs, monitoring, gain and routing. Start with how many microphones and headphone mixes you need.

Updated October 13, 2026 · 10 models

RØDE RØDECaster Duo has 2 XLR microphone inputs; Elgato Wave XLR MK.2 has 1 XLR microphone input. Count the voices you need at once. RØDE RØDECaster Duo gives up to 76 dB of gain and Elgato Wave XLR MK.2 up to 80 dB. A microphone like the Shure SM7B needs more than 60 dB.

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SpecsElgato Wave XLR MK.2
Check price on Amazon ↗
Elgato Wave XLR Pro
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Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen
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RØDE Streamer X
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RØDE RØDECaster Duo
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Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen
View at Focusrite ↗
RØDE RØDECaster Pro II
View at RØDE ↗
PreSonus Revelator io24
View at PreSonus ↗
TC-Helicon GoXLR MINI
View at TC-Helicon ↗
Behringer U-PHORIA UM2
View at Behringer ↗
Connection
Inputs1 XLR microphone2 XLR; 3.5 mm stereo line2 microphone preamps; 2 line/instrument inputsXLR/TRS mic or instrument; 3.5 mm TRRS headset; RODE Series IV wireless; RODE USB microphone support; HDMI audio2 mic/instrument/line combo inputs; 1 TRRS headset I/O; RODE USB microphone support; RODE Series IV wireless (up to two transmitters, built-in receiver)1 XLR microphone preamp; 1 instrument input; 1 line input4 mic/instrument/line combo inputs; Bluetooth audio2 XLR microphone preamps with 48 V phantom power; Instrument input1 XLR microphone input (Midas preamp), or a 3.5 mm headset microphone; Stereo line in (3.5 mm); Optical input for a PlayStation or Xbox1 XLR/TRS combo microphone or line input (XENYX preamp); 1 1/4-inch instrument input
Outputs3.5 mm headphone; USB-C host2 headphones; 3.5 mm stereo line; USB host; USB aux2 line outputs; 1 headphone output3.5 mm TRRS headset; 1/4-inch headphone; USB2 headphone outputs; Balanced monitor outputs; USB interfaces2 line outputs; 1 headphone output4 headphone outputs; 2 balanced line outputs; USB interfacesMain outputs (1/4-inch TRS); Headphone outputHeadphone output (3.5 mm); Stereo line out (3.5 mm), a copy of the stream mix; Several USB audio devices on the computerHeadphone output; 2 RCA line outputs
Preamp gain (dB)8080697676577660Not confirmedNot confirmed
Supplies 48 V phantom powerYesYesYesYesYesYesNot confirmedYesNoYes
Direct monitorYesYesYesYesYesNot confirmedNot confirmedNot confirmedNot confirmedYes
LoopbackYesNot confirmedYesNot confirmedYesYesNot confirmedYesNot confirmedNot confirmed
Mix-minusNot confirmedNot confirmedNot confirmedYesAvailable on both USB interfacesNot confirmedAvailable on both USB interfacesNot confirmedNot confirmedNot confirmed
Connector3-pin XLR; USB-C; 3.5 mm headphoneUSB-C; XLR; 3.5 mm TRS; 6.3 mm TRSUSB-C host; 2 XLR mic; 2 1/4-inch line/instrument; 2 1/4-inch line out; 1 1/4-inch headphoneHDMI 2.0 input; HDMI 2.0 passthrough; 2 USB-C; XLR/TRS combo; 3.5 mm TRRS headset; 1/4-inch headphone2 XLR/TRS combo; 3.5 mm TRRS headset; 2 USB-C data; Dedicated USB-C power; Ethernet; 2 1/4-inch headphone; 2 1/4-inch balanced line outUSB-C host4 XLR/TRS combo inputs; USB-C; Dedicated USB-C power; EthernetUSB-C; XLR microphone inputs; 1/4-inch TRS main outputs; Headphone output; 5-pin MIDI in and outUSB 2.0 Type-B; XLR microphone input; 3.5 mm headset microphone input; 3.5 mm line in; 3.5 mm line out; 3.5 mm headphone output; Optical (Toslink) inputUSB Type-B; XLR/TRS combo input; 1/4-inch TRS instrument input; 1/4-inch stereo headphone output; 2 RCA line outputs
Data connectionUSB 2.0USB 2.0 High-Speed host; USB 2.0 Full-Speed auxUSB 2.0Not confirmedNot confirmedUSB 2.0Not confirmedUSB 2.0USB 2.0USB 1.1
Software
Works withWindows 11+; macOS 14.2+Windows 11+; macOS 14.2+Windows on Intel, AMD or ARM64; macOS on Intel or Apple siliconWindows 10 version 1803+; macOS 11+ for RODECaster app; macOS 12+ for UNIFYWindows 10 version 1803+; Windows 11; macOS 10.15+Windows on Intel, AMD or Arm64; macOS on Apple silicon or IntelmacOS 10.15 or later; Windows 10 version 1803 or later; Windows 11Not confirmedWindows 7, 8, 10 or 11; No macOS support; No official Linux supportMac OS X; Windows XP or later
In the box
Included partsWave XLR MK.2; USB-C to USB-C cable, 150 cm; Quick Start GuideUSB-C cable (150 cm); Quick Start GuideScarlett 2i2 4th Gen; 1 m USB-C to USB-A cableStreamer X; SC27 USB-C cable; Power adapterRODECaster Duo; Power adapter; SC27 USB-C to USB-C cableScarlett Solo audio interface; 1 m USB-C to USB-A cableRØDECaster Pro II; Power adaptor; USB-C to USB-C cableRevelator io24 USB audio interface; 1 m USB-C to USB-A cable; Quick Start Guide; PreSonus Health, Safety and Compliance Guide; Warranty/registration cardGoXLR MINI; USB cableNot confirmed
Before you choose it
Still soldYesYesYesYesYesYesYesDiscontinued by its maker; shops may still have stockYesYes
Main checkIts single microphone preamp suits one XLR speaker. Choose an interface with two independent mic inputs when two people need separate gain controls.Plug your streaming computer into the main USB socket. Keep the second USB socket for the other device, and set up what each one hears separately.Loopback alone does not remove a guest’s voice from their return. Build a separate mix-minus route before using remote guests, or choose a mixer with that routing available.Set capture output separately from the display passthrough mode. Configure the audio returns before going live so HDMI audio and computer loopback do not reach OBS twice.Assign the stream, headphones and guest return explicitly. Exclude the guest’s own voice from their return, then record a call to check the mix before going live.One microphone at a time. Its 57 dB of gain is short of the more than 60 dB Shure asks for the SM7B, so that microphone would need an inline booster here.It runs from its own 30 W USB-C power adaptor, not from the computer. Set the stream, headphone and guest mixes before going live; each USB interface offers a mix-minus return.Its 60 dB of gain falls just short of the more than 60 dB Shure asks for the SM7B, so that microphone would need an inline booster. The stream mix and effects are set in PreSonus’s software.Windows only: TC-Helicon states no macOS support. Its phantom power is +24 V, not 48 V, so check a condenser microphone’s requirement first, and plug it into a USB 2.0 port.One microphone input, 48 kHz at most, over USB 1.1. Behringer states no gain figure and no loopback, so a low-output microphone such as the SM7B is not confirmed to have enough gain here.

On the makers’ own sites:

Choose by the job

One XLR microphone

A one-input interface does the job for one microphone if it has enough gain and, for a condenser, 48 V phantom power. Count the microphone inputs on the box, not the software channels.

Two local voices

Scarlett 2i2, Wave XLR Pro and RØDECaster Duo each take two microphones, in different ways. Check who gets headphones and which channel each voice records to.

Microphone plus HDMI

Streamer X is a capture card and an audio interface in one. That saves a box, but it still needs the right USB port and HDMI setup for each job.

Guest return without echo

Mix-minus means the guest hears everything except their own voice. Check which output does that; loopback alone doesn’t give you it.

Hands-on headphone control

Count independent headphone mixes as well as headphone sockets. Two connectors can still carry the same mix.

Existing USB microphone

A USB microphone plugs straight into your computer. An ordinary XLR input can’t take its USB output. The RØDECaster Duo and RØDECaster Pro II are the exception: their USB2 port takes a supported RØDE USB microphone, such as the NT-USB+ or PodMic USB, as an extra input, but not other makers’ USB microphones.

Where each model fits

Three limits of this comparison

  1. A gain figure doesn’t tell you how quiet the preamp sounds in your room.
  2. Routing is set up in the maker’s software, and what it can do depends on that software and your operating system.
  3. Interfaces and mixers are both here; pick the smallest that does your job.

Two of them head to head

Already own an older model?

This table lists models you can buy now. An older model you already own can still do the job: add it in the setup builder and test it. Different colors of one model are not listed separately, and a newer version can need different ports or software from the one before it.

To plan what your stream, your headphones and a guest each hear, open the audio routing builder.

Sources