When you’re working with a MIDI controller, it makes sense that you’d want to minimize costs, which can quickly run up and out of control if you’re not careful.
Thus, the question is a reasonable one: Do I need an audio interface for a MIDI controller?
In Most Cases, the Answer is No
As long as you’re working with standard FL studio software, and not planning on using any additional instruments, microphones, or other input sources, you should not need an audio interface to use your MIDI controller with a laptop.
That said, not having an audio interface for your MIDI controller can be limiting if you’re looking to do more complicated things.
For example, without an audio interface, you’ll have no way of using a larger desktop monitor to display your mixes. This is something that a lot of electronic artists are going to need to do at some point in their careers. You can get by with only a laptop and some basic software, but as your music becomes more complex and bifurcated, you’re going to need a way of looking at it more comprehensively, and your laptop isn’t going to be sufficient in that regard.
So, again, you don’t need to purchase an audio interface — not right away, anyhow — but it’s going to become a greater hindrance on your work as you start to progress.
In fact, it’s not a bad idea to get started without an audio interface. That way, you’ll be able to get your feet wet without overextending yourself financially.
If you don’t already have an audio interface, it’s likely that you don’t have a lot of experience making music this way (which, obviously, is fine! Everyone has to start somewhere), and the simple fact of the matter is that a lot of people who start work in the genre end up dropping out of electronic music completely after a short period of time.
Knowing this, new musicians are right to be cautious when deciding what equipment to buy. This is especially true of the audio interface, which can be a really expensive piece of equipment.
All of that taken into consideration, it’s probably a good idea to start your career in electronic music without an audio adapter. This way, you can get your bearings in the genre slowly, and can use that time to figure out whether or not it’s something you see yourself sticking with long-term. If you decide it’s not for you, then, well, no problem! We’re not offended. It simply isn’t for everyone.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who has been making music for a while without an audio interface, and you’ve decided that electronic music is something you’d like to pursue, then it might be time for you to invest in a cheaper model of audio interface.
Having an audio interface has a number of advantages. In particular, with an audio interface you can check your mixes on monitors in your home, and that’s going to be necessary long-term. It’s just too difficult to continue struggling to check your mixes on other screens, in other ways.
When you decide it’s time to opt into an audio interface, you’re going to have a difficult decision to make.
- What are the pros and cons?
- What are the usual pitfalls of this purchase?
- How do I know I’m getting a good value?
These are all questions you’ll want to consider while you’re on your search.
Conclusion
In general, you should never buy anything less than $200; that’s just not wise. This equipment is expensive because it’s complex, and chances are that anything for sale for a price lower than $200 US is going to be too barebones for pretty much every artist, or that, alternatively, that it most likely won’t last for very long.
The reality of the situation is that electronic music is an intimidating genre to enter; there’s a lot of jargon, and it can get expensive fast. This means that there are inevitably going to be a large number of sellers out there that are trying to capitalize on the aspirations and naivety of newcomers.
Some of these sellers price their audio interface products at a price over (sometimes well over) $200 per, however, a good starting point is just to recognize that any product that’s radically less than $200 is going to be put together with shoddy workmanship.
Do your research. There are a lot of good resources out there that you can use to vet these products; don’t pass them up.