My Rant: Interfaced Interfacing Interfaces, Anyone?

Everybody makes audio interfaces these days. I guess that if my phone was to ring and at the other end I'd hear my grandpa asking me whether I want a new and cutting-edge audio interface he has designed and produced I would not be THAT surprised. Au contraire, I guess I'd be almost shocked seeing all this avalanche of consumerism stop.

It's not that audio interfaces are bad, I am not stupid to say such a thing. They have meant a great leap in audio tech and especially in recording, studio or home, it really does not matter. It's just that there are way too many of them and the ads are starting to get tiresome.

At the winter NAMM it literally rained with sound interfaces as if there was nothing more to be produced. Everybody is now obsessed by the 192kHz-level exactly as if this were the last problem sound engineers have.

What started my rant was some kid who makes some mixes at home and he kept on asking me what ADA interface he should he buy, because there are so many of them he can't decide. I said "kid, go out and buy the one you feel like buying, they're pretty much the same and in any case, you won't feel the differences among them, at least not at the level you're at". He replied (and because of this I got mad) that not any interface is good and he desperately needs a 192kHz one as he saw somewhere online.

"Kid, you can barely keep your hands on the guitar, you tell me that this is the cause of your tracks sounding lousy? The lack of the 192kHz?" He mumbled something unintelligible as I was leaving but the way he saw things made me think about the problem. Namely, what if you have a 24-bit/96kHz interface on USB 1? Is it SUCH a drama that you don't have Firewire and 192kHz? Is it SUCH an impediment that you can use it to excuse your lack of expertise, imagination, knowledge and whatever I could further think of?

I guess not! It's just like in any other industry or field: BUY MORE! Does anyone think that a digital audio interface released in January 2007 is THAT far better than its June 2006 version? You must be a complete beginner or a snob to believe such a crappy statement.

People, please! Stop being silly and chase any "new" AD interface! Look instead for new interfaces that would interface your not-so-newly-bought interfaces. And thus obtain a new interface which most likely should need a special interface which would interface it with your PC. Don't learn audio tech too much... just buy interfaces. For interfacing, you know...

Happy now?