MyStreamSetup
MyStreamSetup
Webcam testMicrophone testWebcam and mic test
TestsWebcam testMicrophone testWebcam and mic testHeadphone testPre-stream checklist
SetupsSetup builderSetup guidesAudio routingCamera checker
SettingsBitrate calculatorUpload calculatorSettings by platformTwitchYouTube LiveKickFacebook LiveTikTok LIVE
GearAll gearComparisonsStream Deck selector
GuidesChoose your gearConnect and set upFix a problemAll guidesAll tools
AboutCorrections and contact

Search stays on this device. Esc to close.

Connection guides / Best audio interface for streaming

Best audio interface for streaming

An audio interface is for an XLR microphone. Choose by how many people talk, whether guests join by call, and the gain your microphone needs. Current models by situation.

Updated October 10, 2026

The best audio interface for your situation

Your situationLook atWhyWhat else it needs
One XLR microphone, one voiceElgato Wave XLR MK.2One preamp with up to 80 dB of gain, 48 V phantom power, a headphone output and loopback.An XLR cable
Two people in the same roomFocusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, Elgato Wave XLR Pro or RØDE RØDECaster DuoTwo microphone inputs, each with its own gain. The Wave XLR Pro and RØDECaster Duo also have two headphone outputs.Two XLR cables; with the Scarlett, a headphone splitter or a second output for the second person
Remote guests on a callRØDE RØDECaster DuoMix-minus on both of its USB interfaces, so a guest hears everyone but themselves.XLR cables; set the call app to one of its USB interfaces
A console and a microphone in one boxRØDE Streamer XHDMI capture with passthrough, plus one XLR/TRS microphone input and mix-minus.Two HDMI cables and an XLR cable
Several HDMI cameras or consolesBlackmagic ATEM Mini ProA video switcher with four HDMI inputs; it has two 3.5 mm audio inputs and no XLR input.An interface as well, for an XLR microphone

An audio interface is only needed for an XLR microphone: it powers and raises the microphone’s signal and sends it to the computer over USB. A USB microphone plugs straight in. If that is you, the microphone guide is the better start.

For an XLR microphone, three questions decide it: how many people talk into microphones in the room, whether guests join over a call, and whether you want one box for a console as well.

There is no score or ranking here, because the site has not tested these interfaces: the choices come from what each maker publishes. The audio interface table puts them side by side, and interface or mixer explains the difference between the two kinds.

Check the gain your microphone needs

Quiet dynamic microphones need a lot of preamp gain. Shure says the SM7B needs more than 60 dB. Every interface above publishes more than that: Elgato Wave XLR MK.2 80 dB, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen 69 dB, Elgato Wave XLR Pro 80 dB, RØDE RØDECaster Duo 76 dB, RØDE Streamer X 76 dB.

If your microphone’s maker gives a figure, compare it with the interface’s published maximum before you buy. Once it is connected, the microphone test shows whether your level actually reaches OBS’s yellow zone.

Count inputs and headphone outputs

Each person needs their own microphone input, so each voice gets its own gain. Two people also each need to hear the stream: with a single headphone output, both listen to the same mix through a splitter, while two outputs let each set their own volume.

Two XLR inputs are not always two microphone preamps: check that each input takes a microphone, not only a line or instrument signal. The Scarlett 2i2 has two microphone preamps; the RØDECaster Duo has two combo inputs that take a microphone, an instrument or a line.

Loopback and mix-minus

Loopback sends the computer’s own sound, such as music or a game, back in through the interface, so OBS or a call can take it with your voice. The Wave XLR MK.2, the Scarlett 2i2 and the RØDECaster Duo list it.

Mix-minus is what a remote guest needs: a return that carries everything except their own voice, so they do not hear themselves delayed. Loopback alone does not do this. The RØDECaster Duo and the Streamer X list mix-minus; with the others, build it in software. Loopback and mix-minus explained shows both routes.

The audio routing builder maps the stream, headphone, chat and recording paths for your own devices.

Questions

Do I need an audio interface for streaming? Only for an XLR microphone. USB microphones, and hybrid microphones used over USB, connect directly.

Which interface for a Shure SM7B? One with more than 60 dB of gain. All the current interfaces on this page publish more; the Wave XLR MK.2 and Wave XLR Pro publish the most, 80 dB.

Is a mixer better than an interface for streaming? A mixer such as the RØDECaster Duo adds hands-on controls, two headphone outputs and built-in routing for guests. If you stream alone with one microphone, an interface does the job. Interface or mixer covers the choice.

Can I use two computers with one interface? The Wave XLR Pro has two USB connections, a main one and an auxiliary one, and the RØDECaster Duo has two USB interfaces. The dual-PC audio guide shows the routing.

Equipment for these connections

Start with the kind of gear you’re missing, and read its full profile before adding it to your setup.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How this site earns · Amazon offers a free 30-day Prime trial, with free delivery on eligible items.

Sources