Best Audio Interfaces For iPad | Top 4 Options

With the release of Logic Pro for the iPad, you don’t necessarily have to own a PC or laptop anymore to start your music production career. With Logic Pro covering your DAW needs, another piece of pivotal equipment necessary for music production is an audio interface.

An audio interface is a device that has the connectors necessary for plugging in your headphone, speaker, microphone, and instruments to record music. Audio interfaces also offer features like metering, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) inputs and outputs, sampling rate and bit depth, reduced latency, and overall better sound quality.

Lastly, and most importantly, an audio interface is the bridge between your music equipment and your DAW. As you can see, an audio interface is a must when it comes to music production. 

There are plenty of different audio interfaces for the iPad, each with differing options, features, and prices. That’s why it’s important to know which audio interface best fits your needs, depending on its capabilities.

That said, let’s get into the best audio interfaces available for the iPad.

1. IK Multimedia iRig Pro Quattro I/O

The IK Multimedia iRig Pro Quattro I/O is a jack of all trades and master of all. The iOS-friendly iRig Pro Quattro offers everything you need in an audio interface and more, especially in terms of compatibility and versatility. 

It supports both USB-C and Lightning cables, offers four inputs and two outputs, MIDI input and output, XLR connectors, and more. The iRig Pro Quattro also has a built-in omnidirectional microphone, making it a capable field recorder.

The four phantom-powered microphone combi XLR inputs also work as two instrument and two line-level inputs. You’ll also get alternative line inputs on the RCA phono and mini-jack, so you don’t have to pack a bunch of adaptors. 

In terms of its outputs, you have two balanced XLR connectors as well as an extra mini-jack line and mini-jack headphone output. Inputs and outputs aside, the iRig comes with two grease- and scratch-resistant screens for metering and LEDs for showing you hosts, outputs, and MIDI connections.

Lastly, the IK Multimedia iRig Pro Quattro I/O comes at an above-average price of $349; however, it more than makes up for the price with its versatility and plethora of features.

2. MOTU M2

The MOTU M2 is an inexpensive, reliable, and robust audio interface that might not be specifically designed for iOS, like the iRig, but works just as seamlessly as its Class Compliant. On the front, you have two XLR TRS combo inputs, each with their own monitoring button, gain knob, and individual phantom power button. 

On the off chance that you want to record with a ribbon mic on one channel and a condenser mic on the other channel, the phantom power button comes into play, as condenser mics need phantom power while ribbon mics may be damaged if powered by phantom power.

As for the back panel, you have two ¼-inch TRS balanced outputs and two RCA outputs, five-pin MIDI in and out sockets and a USB-C port, and an old-school on and off switch so that you don’t have to unplug the M2 from your device.

The inputs on the back are standard XLR and ¼-inch jack combo sockets supporting microphones, instruments, and audio equipment. 

Lastly, the MOTU M2 also offers a high dynamic range of 115 dB and an output of 120 dB, a loopback feature, and near-perfect round-trip latency. You can get the MOTU M2 for a very reasonable price of $199 on Amazon.

3. Apogee Duet 3

Known for its pristine and unique design, the Apogee Duet 3 isn’t just good looks. The Duet 3 is optimized for iOS and works smoothly in tandem with the iPad and Logic Pro. You do only get two simultaneous inputs; though, you also get four input cables, two XLR for microphones, and two instrument cables.

On the back, you have two USB-C ports, one for power and one for your device. Unfortunately, the third connector is for the breakout cable, which isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite. Breakout cables have improved durability-wise over the years; however, you can pay extra to get the optional Duet Dock.

With the breakout cable, you get two XLR mic inputs, two high-impedance instrument jack inputs, and ¼-inch TRS jack left and right monitoring outputs. What makes the Apogee Duet 3 special in terms of performance, though, is Apogee’s Symphony ECS Channel Strip.

This neat little plug-in does wonders as a compressor with three-band affair, low-shelf and high-shelf EQ, a sweepable midrange with a narrow or wide Q, a high-pass filter that goes up to 300 Hz with an 18 dB per octave slope that can be set to trim the low end or be a sidechain high-pass filter for the compressor detector.

This sleek and capable device will cost you quite a pretty penny, with a price tag of $649.99 on Amazon. The price tag might seem steep, but you’re getting a gorgeous design that will fit in perfectly with your Apple products and the brilliant Apogee Symphony ECS Channel Strip.

4. Focusrite Vocaster and Scarlett

There aren’t many bigger or better audio interface manufacturers than Focusrite. With a huge variety of products that range from entry-level to fully professional, Focusrite has the audio interface you need. 

The Vocaster model is an entry-level audio interface that’s budget-friendly and gets the job done. It comes in two models, the Vocaster One and Vocaster Two, with the main difference being one input and output for the One model and double that for the Two model. Both models feature auto gain, a mute button, onboard voice presets, and phantom power. Vocaster One can be an excellent entry-level audio interface for $100 on Amazon.

The Scarlett series is also another excellent option that comes with USB-C connectivity, meaning that you can use it to make music on your iPad Pro. With two mic/line inputs, the Scarlett 2i2 offers the best bang for your buck. It comes with Focusrite's praised "Air Mode" for recording with more presence. the Air Mode boosts high-end frequencies for a livelier take for vocals and spoken word. You can find the 4th-Gen Scarlett 2i2 on Amazon for $199.

Final Thoughts

No matter which audio interface you go for, quality is guaranteed, as these audio interfaces have a proven track record among musicians and producers. Ultimately, which audio interface you choose comes down to budget and personal preferences. Hopefully, this article has been helpful in making that choice!