Another important thing to consider are the ports in your computer. USB interfaces are usually less expensive than Thunderbolt or USB-C, but you’ll often notice latency. If you’re making beats, or recording one thing at a time, the latency probably won’t be a problem. Often vocals suffer the worst latency on USB interfaces. Some people can deal with it and still perform well, and some can’t. If you find yourself in a situation where the latency is too much, you can lower the buffer size of your session in your DAW. Oftentimes, this will either solve the problem or make the latency sound like a chorus effect. The latency does not affect the recorded track, it’s only a monitoring issue—meaning that you only hear the delay when you’re performing the part, not when you play back the track. The signal simply isn’t traveling fast enough through the USB connection, into your computer, then back out to your headphones or speakers in real time. All of that said, USB interfaces are wonderful, affordable options, and the latency doesn’t mean your brand new interface is broken.

Other unsung heroes of your recording rig are your cables (XLR and TRS). I recommend paying a little bit more for cables, no matter how tempting the cheapest option may be. “Lifetime warranties” are offered with some of the most expensive cable options, and might be a good idea if you don’t see yourself learning to repair the cables on your own. Most musicians agree that spending just a bit more from the base options, to get cables with connectors that you can make DIY repairs on, or prioritizing gold-plated pins on the connectors to prevent oxidizing, is the way to go. Within standard copper wire, there are differences in gauge, braiding, shielding, and more, but the differences in sound quality for basic home recording are negligible.