Best Music Laptop

Best Audio Interface For Chromebook

Best Audio Interface For Chromebooks

If you want to take your music production setup to the next level, an audio interface will be an essential accessory to have.

It will allow you to connect XLR microphones and instruments like electric guitars, adjust audio levels, and so much more.

And if you want to produce music on a Chromebook which I talk in detail about here, you’re going to want to make sure you get one that is compatible with Chrome OS.

Not all audio interfaces will work with Chrome OS, but I’ve compiled a list of some audio interfaces that should work with a Chromebook just fine.

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best audio interfaceCan I Use An Audio Interface With A Chromebook?

You can use an audio interface with your Chromebook, but there are certain limitations that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Choose One That’s Compatible With Chrome OS

First off, not all Audio interfaces will work with Chrome OS, the ones I’ve listed above will work just fine, and some others that aren’t on this list might work as well.

But some might work with a few missing features and others might not work at all so that’s certainly something to keep in mind when purchasing an audio interface for your Chromebook.

If you happen to have a different audio interface that you’ve managed to use with your Chromebook, let us know in the comments section down below.

Using A Compatible DAW

Another thing you’ll want to consider if you want to use an audio interface with your Chromebook is that not all Chrome OS music production software will support the use of an audio interface.

As I explain here, there are two different types of music production apps that you could use on a Chromebook, there are web apps, and there are Android apps.

I’m not going to get into the differences between the two here (read the other article for more on that), but you actually can’t use an audio interface with Android apps on a Chromebook.

This means the only way to produce music with an audio interface on a Chromebook will be to use a web app.

Below is a list of four different music production web apps that I recommend and all four of them support audio interfaces:

  1. AudioTool
  2. Soundation
  3. BandLab
  4. Soundtrap

If you happen to know of another music production web app that you want to use, it might support connecting an audio interface but you’d probably want to do some research first to make sure it does.

The Correct Ports

Most audio interfaces (including the ones listed above) will connect to your computer using a USB A port. Most Chromebooks will have a USB A port so if yours does there’s nothing to worry about.

But some Chromebooks these days only have USB-C ports (like the Pixelbook GO). If your Chromebook is like this, you can still use an Audio Interface with it, but you’ll need to get a USB-C hub or USB-C to USB A adapter.

So there you have it, hopefully this article has helped you to find a Chrome OS compatible audio interface that suits your needs.

And if you are interested in producing music on a Chromebook, I highly recommend you take a look at my article about music production on a Chromebook.

Or, if you’re looking for a good audio interface to use with your Windows or Mac computer, check out my article on that here.

Image Name Number Of XLR Inputs Number Of Line In Inputs Number Of Headphone Outputs Buy On Amazon

Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 2x2
1
2
1
BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC202HD
2
2
1
The Good
The Bad

The Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 is not the fanciest audio interface around, but it works with Chrome OS and has everything you really need for a very affordable price.

It only has one XLR connector but that’s fine as long as you only want to record one microphone at a time, and it also has a separate line-in port which allows you to record an instrument like an electric guitar at the same time. 

It also has a headphone jack which is great for monitoring the sound through headphones, and on the back are a pair of RCA outputs so that you can connect speakers to it if you want.

The three control knobs are conveniently placed on the top of the interface and can be used to control the gain of the two inputs as well as the volume of the output.

Better yet, if you buy it on Amazon using the button below, you will also get an included pair of headphones, three different cables, and a microfiber cloth. All these inclusions are really handy if you’re just getting started with music production.

The build quality is not the best ever, but it’s still perfectly fine, and considering all the inclusions and features you are getting for the price it is a great deal.

So if you want to stick to a lower budget or you’re just getting started on your music production journey, this is a great option, but if you’re after something a little bit better, the next one will probably be for you.

Want to Buy The Behringer U-PHORIA UM2?

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The Good
The Bad

If you’re after something a bit of a step up in quality and features, this will be the one for you.

It’s a bit more expensive than the UM2, but if you don’t mind the higher price tag, it is probably going to be worth it.

Unlike the cheaper option, it has a very sturdy metal construction and the build quality feels much better overall which is great, especially if you’re going to be traveling with it.

It also has two XLR connectors which means you can connect up to two microphones simultaneously if you want to. But something you should keep in mind is that the line inputs are inside the XLR connectors which means if you want to connect an instrument you can only have one microphone connected.

Aside from inputs, it also has a headphone port which is great for monitoring the audio through headphones, as well as left and right line outputs on the back for connecting speakers.

As for knobs, it has a gain 1, a gain 2, and an output knob just like the cheaper one, but it also has a headphone volume knob which is great if you want to adjust the headphone volume without affecting the main output.

So overall, this is a very nice audio interface with really everything you’re going to need, and it’s compatible with Chrome OS.

Want to Buy The BEHRINGER U-PHORIA?

(Affiliate Link)

2 thoughts on “Best Audio Interface For Chromebooks”

  1. Hi, the old Alesis iO2 works like a charm and the audio flux is bidirectional (I tried it with an Acer CB314-1HT Chromebook and my Casio CT-X800 keyboard).

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