For many, especially mobile, setups, a digital output could mean a world of difference in ergonomic workflow and preserving sanity. This goes double when you are going back and forth interfacing between a large studio, and your home workstation.
Why not just use your laptop’s onboard digital I/O (if it even TRULY has one)? Latency, stability, resource use, performance, noise, the usual suspects for getting an interface in the first place….yes even you mac guys with CoreAudio whatever.
This won’t be a super comprehensive list, but will hopefully at least be informative if you need this particular type of device right now.
| Interface Name | Digital Out | Mic Pres | DI’s | Type | Loopback | Bus Power | Price $ |
| Focusrite 18i8 3rd Gen | Spdif | 4 | 2 | USB | 1 stereo | No | 420 |
| Focusrite 18i20 3rd Gen | Spdif, ADAT | 8 | 2 | USB | 1 stereo | No | 550 |
| Focusrite 8i6 3rd Gen | Spdif | 2 | 2 | USB | 1 stereo | No | 320 |
| Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB | Spdif, ADAT | 8 | 2 | USB | 1 stereo | No | 900 |
| Focusrite Clarett 4Pre USB | Spdif | 4 | 2 | USB | 1 stereo | No | 700 |