Arthurso

If by power you mean receiving the audio output of the computer through the audio interface device and convert to analog signal so it can be used with headsets, yes that is what I "want" (Sorry, not familiar with the terminology). However, what I'm getting from your answer is that this is not what those simpler audio interfaces are designed for. In that case, I might as well get my jungle set. I already have a device for doing the output (I was going to sell it though). Perhaps I'm better off with something dedicated to capturing a single input and outputting it in good quality by USB, XLR, 3.5mm and perhaps optical. Would there be a considerable difference in price/value with no mixing or would it just be a waste? If I need to record computer audio at the same time as mic audio, I could use my other device extra output to feed into a mixer. But I don't think it is worth paying much more for that feature.

I should have been more clear on what I intended to use the interface for depending on the case. Here are reformulated question, hopefully more straight forward: Are audio interfaces generally capable of getting audio from the computer as well as sending audio to it? Are they commonly used only for converting analog to digital or it is used both ways? (Almost like an external sound card, if you will). I have an external USB device that I use to output audio from my notebook as well as input (It has XLR, input bandwidth extremely limited compensated by digital enhancement). The main reason for getting it was simply because the audio card in my notebook suffers from extreme interference by placing the hands where they usually stay while typing. Conventional good microphones used with my computer's audio card would go to waste. Can the output from those moderately priced USB audio interfaces be used the same way as those external devices like the one I have or it simply returns the signals coming from the input? If I can get both, the range of headphones I can use would greatly increase, I would get a better one and I would resell the overpriced device I have. If only input and conversion from analog to digital is what those are dedicated for, I'll keep my device and get a good yet simpler interface. If I can't use it for outputting computer sounds coming in digital signals from the USB and being converted to analog to be used with headsets while eliminating the return from the mic, all I would need is an interface good enough for non-professional condenser mics.

Hello there! I came across audio interfaces while researching for microphones with semi-professional recording quality. What wasn't clear to me, and I couldn't find the answer by reading the specifications of those products, was weather or not the audio output from those audio interfaces included the sounds of applications being used in the computer to which the interface is plugged. I am not specifying an exact interface because I didn't pick one yet; the answer to this question will greatly affect the choice. I am looking for USB interfaces, but preferably not powered by it (Don't know if that makes a difference when answering the question). I'm not sure if this was supposed to be posted in the "computer section" or this one. I picked this one because I had the impression that by using the audio interface, I was no longer directly recording to the computer. I know it is not true since the device is only converting from analogue to digital, however it seemed the topic belongs to this section. Please, feel free to move it if that is not the case. Thanks for your time. English is not my native language; I apologize for possible semantic misuses.