The StarTech Mini Audio Interface Is A Great Little Gadget For Video Calls

2022-09-23 23:41:51 By : Ms. Sabrina Xia

The StarTech USB stereo audio adapter is a handy little box that connects to a computer and can feed ... [+] analog mic signals to the computer while receiving analog audio signals from the computer.

Today I’m reviewing a device that could easily have been my favorite device of the year but for one minor flaw. It’s a shame, as the StarTech USB stereo audio adapter with S/PDIF digital audio and stereo mic input is a clever little box of tricks that can be incredibly useful.

This neat little device plugs into a PC or Mac and easily connects a microphone and pair of headphones. So if you’re taking part in a video meeting or a TV broadcast over Skype, you can plug this gadget into your Mac or PC and then connect a lavalier microphone and pair of wired earbuds. With this setup, you have studio-quality audio while looking more discreet than wearing a headset. It’s an ideal solution.

At the front of the StarTech USB stereo audio adapter there is an input for a microphone and a pair ... [+] of headphones. The volume knob controls the headphone output.

The StarTech USB stereo audio adapter also has a 3.5mm line out/optical S/PDIF connection, so you can record a digital audio feed to an external device like a digital audio recorder. The sample rate goes as high as 96kHz at 24-bits. All the sound to and from the computer is carried via a USB connection once you select the StarTech USB stereo audio adapter as your computer’s input and output audio device.

Unlike many mini audio adapters, this one has a physical volume knob for controlling the headphone output. It also has three LEDs displaying the sampling rate of the digital audio coming from the USB connection. A small switch on the back of the StarTech USB stereo audio adapter can adjust bass, treble or direct feed.

At the rear of the StarTech USB stereo audio adapter there is a 3.5mm analog and 3.5mm optical ... [+] S/PDIF output.

Now we come to the reason why this device just missed my accolade as Best Gadget of the Year. I had hoped that the microphone input signal would be amplified and fed through to the headphone output so you can hear your voice which helps prevent you from speaking too loudly or unnaturally. It’s just such a shame the audio interface doesn’t do this. If it did have that function, it would be the perfect audio interface for video meetings or broadcasts, enabling the user to deploy a discreet lavalier or lapel microphone and a hidden earpiece.

Verdict: Despite its shortcoming, the StarTech USB stereo audio adapter is a handy little gadget that adds a pocket-sized USB audio interface to almost any computer. It makes it easy to use a microphone and the computer audio to a digital audio recorder. The physical volume control is a nice touch too. If StarTech could add the microphone monitoring function, this little gizmo from StarTech would be perfect.

Pricing & Availability: The StarTech USB Stereo Audio Adapter External Sound Card with SPDIF Digital Audio and Stereo Mic is available now and costs $41.99 / £45.99 / €50.99.

More info: www.startech.com