{"niche":"What features should I look for in a high-end USB audio interface?","description":"What features should I look for in a high-end USB audio interface?","products":[{"brand":"Focusrite","model":"Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen","price_gbp":487.2,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"bit_depth":"24-bit","sample_rate":"44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz","phantom_power":"48V (front-panel or software)","number_of_inputs":"18 inputs (8 mic preamps, 2 front instrument, line, ADAT, S/PDIF, MIDI)","number_of_outputs":"20 outputs (10 line outputs, 2 headphone outputs, ADAT, S/PDIF, MIDI)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Recording Magazine (lists retailer price)","url":"https://www.recordingmag.com/focusrite-scarlett-18i20-4th-gen/","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":649.99,"price_gbp":487.2,"scraped_at":"2026-06-10T01:10:18.912944"}],"summary":"High-I/O USB-C audio interface with eight 4th-gen Scarlett mic preamps, 24-bit/192 kHz converters, dual ADAT for expandability, Auto Gain and Clip Safe workflow features, and dual headphone outputs; suited for project and mid-size professional studios needing extensive I/O. Includes Focusrite Control 2 for routing and mobile control.","ideal_for":"Ideal for a high-end USB audio interface because it offers 24-bit/192 kHz conversion, eight high-gain (69dB) mic preamps, and extensive analogue and digital I/O for flexible routing and expansion."},{"brand":"Universal Audio","model":"Volt 876","price_gbp":748.8,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"bit_depth":"32 bit","sample_rate":"44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz","phantom_power":"+48V (selectable per channel)","number_of_inputs":"24 (8 analog, 16 via ADAT)","number_of_outputs":"28 (8 analog, 20 via ADAT/optical)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Universal Audio (product page)","url":"https://www.uaudio.com/products/volt-876","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":999.0,"price_gbp":748.8,"scraped_at":"2026-06-10T01:10:35.612585"}],"summary":"The Volt 876 is a rack-mount 24-in/28-out USB-C audio interface with eight digitally controlled mic/line preamps, onboard vintage preamp and 1176-style compressor emulations, 32-bit/192 kHz conversion, ADAT expansion, word clock and MIDI I/O. It targets professional and serious home studios needing high channel counts, hardware tone shaping, and comprehensive I/O in a single 1U unit.","ideal_for":"Good high-end USB interfaces should offer high sample rates and bit depth, low-latency I/O, per-channel phantom power and expandable ADAT channels; the Volt 876 provides 192 kHz sample rate, 32-bit conversion, selectable +48V per channel, eight analog preamps and ADAT expansion."}]}