Whether you’re a music producer or a singer-songwriter interested in putting together a home studio, this piece of technology is worth a look. The unit was designed to help record instruments and even vocals at home and do so professionally. Here is more on what makes this unit stand out.
Main advantage
Thanks to the latest technological achievements, recording your latest musical pieces no longer calls for a visit to some professional studio. They have simplified the life of musicians and producers significantly, and this model from Behringer makes no exception.
The unit is packed with features that will enable you to record your latest masterpiece quickly and do so with results that will enchant your listeners. One of the things that set this model apart from other products in this category is the sound quality ensured.
The audiophile 24-Bit/192 kHz resolution will help you get nice audio quality, while the four world-class MIDAS-designed mic preamps will enable you to record even vocals to your DAW. What’s more, these mic preamps have +48 Volt phantom power for condenser mics, and the 24-Bit/192 kHz converters will help you create studio-grade recordings.
Just think of all the possibilities you can explore with this compact piece of equipment. Not to mention that the item is compatible with many recording software stations and can also be connected to various MIDI devices for more flexibility. Plus, the package includes 150 instrument/effects plug-ins that you can easily download for enhanced versatility.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($185)
Main disadvantage
If you’re a beginner and you’ve never used an audio interface of this type before, you might find the unit to be a bit difficult to set up. The instruction manual provided with the product might not be that helpful as the information is not organized too well.
Plus, to download the required drivers, you are directed to the official website of the manufacturer, but you don’t get specific details regarding the page where you can find those drivers. Other than that, once you manage to put everything together as far as the setup is concerned, the item should work well.
Main features explained
Recording instruments or vocals in the very comfort of your home is no longer a tedious or too expensive process. Due to the latest technological advancements, you can now unleash your creativity and capture it in high sound quality. Here is more on what the Behringer UMC404HD Audio Interface offers.
MIDAS microphone preamps and 192 kHz resolution
An audio interface is about sounds, and thus the sound quality ensured by such a product is the one that holds the greatest importance when making your decision. To provide you with good audio quality, the item is equipped with various features that make it stand out from the crowd and set it apart from other models in this price range.
The MIDAS preamps employed for the construction of this unit help the manufacturer score a good deal of points. They have gained appreciation for delivering clean sounds with lots of headroom, which has placed them among the most popular preamps in the world.
The preamps used in an audio interface are vital for the final results. Thankfully, Behringer chose wisely and packed this compact unit with quality ones.
Moreover, the four MIDAS preamps come with +48V phantom power, and the item is further packed with 24-Bit/192 kHz converters. This further adds to the studio-grade audio quality you will get and enables you to use the audio interface for various applications and even in settings that require high precision, such as music and video post-production.
Thanks to these features, you can employ the product to record instruments as well as vocals. Versatility is, therefore, one of the benefits you will get to enjoy. What’s also important is that you won’t just be flexible as far as the instruments or microphones you want to record are concerned, but you should also get quality audio results as long as you use the item properly.
An audio interface might be flexible and versatile, yet if the quality of the audio results is not high, you will probably no longer take the same advantage of such benefits. Of course, it all depends on your recording requirements and how professional you want your audio to be.
Zero-latency and free software
A common issue with audio interfaces regards latency, yet this should not be a problem when employing this unit from Behringer. The product was designed to help you experience your performance clearly.
In order to make sure there is no lag or delay in the returning signal, the product boasts an Input/Playback Mix control as well as a Stereo/Mono switch for direct monitoring. Since latency is reduced so much, you should enjoy great performances and recording every time you use this model.
For a complete experience, the manufacturer provides free audio software that you can use to record, edit, and podcast. Moreover, you will also get 150 instrument/effects plug-ins. All you have to do is to visit the official website of the manufacturer and download them from there. This proves to be of great help if you want to do more than recording.
The software provided should help you play even more with your recordings and edit them according to your needs. The musical production software will get you many of the tools found in professional recording studios.
If this is the first time you use this type of software, you might be a bit overwhelmed at first by all the features and possibilities it offers. It shouldn’t take too much time to learn the way it works, though, and, thus, soon get the best out of it.
Not to mention that the plug-ins will enable you to take your experience many steps further and explore new sonic realms and possibilities. Considering the price of the audio interface and the fact that you also get these free tools, this option makes a good option money-wise as well.
Connectivity and compatibility
Since a musician’s needs vary, this unit was designed to make sure most of them, if not all, are covered. That’s why it offers various connectivity options. It thus comes with a USB 2.0 port that will enable you to connect it to your computer effortlessly. On the rear panel, you will also find various analog playback options, such as ¼” TRS, XLR, and RCA.
What’s more, the four analog inserts allow you to use the product with external effects, including gates, EQs, compressors, and more. Thanks to the built-in MIDI I/O, you can connect keyboards and various MIDI devices, which takes the flexibility ensured by this unit even further. It does feel like you get the possibilities of an entire studio in just one box.
An audio interface might be equipped with lots of great features, but to enable you to take advantage of them, it must be compatible with your DAW. No need to worry about compatibility when it comes to this product since the Behringer UMC404HD Audio Interface was designed to cover many needs in this regard.
It can thus be used with many popular recording software stations, such as Ableton Live, Avid Pro Tools, and Steinberg Cubase, just to name a few. Plus, it can be used with Windows XP or later and Mac OS X; therefore, you can rest assured that it won’t be difficult to employ with different DAWs and computer operating systems.
Build and controls
If you take home recording seriously and you’re committed to advancing in this field, you need a durable product that will keep up with extended use. This unit does not disappoint when it comes to longevity, and you can tell that from the materials used for its construction. The product boasts a rugged construction and high-quality components.
Metal has been used for the casing, so it should withstand the test of time. Even if this unit is primarily designed for home studio applications, mishaps can occur even when you use this product at home. Thanks to the attention paid during the manufacturing process and the materials employed, you shouldn’t worry about its durability.
Keep in mind that this is a relatively affordable model, but the manufacturer did not compromise durability when building this item. First-time users might find the control panel a bit complicated, yet once you understand what each control is designed for, using it can be done easily.
It is also worth mentioning that the product also features a connector for headphones and level control. The item measures 11.5 x 5.1 x 1.8 inches and weighs 2.65 pounds, which means that it is easy to store and transport if the need arises. It is pleasantly surprising to see so many features packed in such a compact unit.
This is a 4-channel model, but the product is also available in other versions, including 1-channel, 2-channel, and 8-channel units. Of course, these models are priced accordingly.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($185)
