Interface upgrade potentially needed

[opivy3056]

Hey all,

I've been using an Apogee Jam for the past 8 years or so and it's worked well enough for my needs thus far. However I was wanting to make a simple recording the other day comparing distorted sounds from my recently acquired Darkglass X Ultra, and I noticed the sound I was getting through GarageBand and the interface sounded significantly thinner/weaker than the headphone output on the pedal.

-Is this an issue with the A/D/A conversion rate on the Jam? Or potentially garageband?

-If so, can you make any recommendations for a higher quality interface sub $200 for home recording?

Thanks!

 

[silky smoove]

There’s nothing wrong with the AD on the Jam. Consumer grade converters have gotten alarmingly good in the last decade. Anything in the sub-$200 range will likely use identical or at least very similar conversion.

If you’re hearing a difference in tone with nothing else in the mix then my suspicion is a difference in impedance between the two headphone outputs, a software issue, user error or some combination of the above.