UA Volt 4 interface

[mybud]

Hi collective wisdom: I recently had to retire my Mac Pro (2015 vintage) for lack of suitable software. So I opted for a Mac mini M4 as replacement.

My Focusrite Saffire 56 audio interface has also gradually become unusable (same scenario). I've been considering various replacement options and the UA Volt 4 seems a fair proposition for my fairly simple needs.



I don't need anything more advanced than this as I plan only to record and play back in stereo. I have some UA software and just need something that does the job and doesn't cost too much. Any opinions on your personal choice of a basic but good quality interface like this would be very welcome.

Excerpt from official specs follows for comparison purposes: 'Volt 4 gives you simple 4-in / 4-out audio connections. Just plug mics, guitars, or synths into the two XLR-1/4" combo jacks on the front panel—48V phantom power is available for condenser microphones. Hook up additional line-level sources such as external mic preamps or drum machines to the two rear-panel 1/4" inputs. Connect your beat machine or keyboard controller to the MIDI 5-pin ports on the rear panel to easily integrate them with your setup. Then plug in your speakers or headphones via 1/4" sockets to monitor your audio with no latency.'

Thanks, all.

 

[Nic]

I bought the Volt 276 as a gift for my wife a few years back. It was (well still is) her first interface and she really likes it. She records guitars and voice with it.

 

[mybud]

I bought the Volt 276 as a gift for my wife a few years back. It was (well still is) her first interface and she really likes it. She records guitars and voice with it.

Thanks, Nic. They are close to one another price-wise, granted, but the 276 has fewer outputs so the 4 may be more suitable for me.

 

[Erik S]

I don't know anything useful about interfaces, but those new mac minis look pretty rad.

 

[mybud]

I don't know anything useful about interfaces, but those new mac minis look pretty rad.

Yes, indeed this one is very fast. Much as I loved the old Mac Pro, keeping it alive was just endlessly chucking good money after bad.

 

[jwin615]

No doubt the sound quality on the UA stuff. If latency of any concern, I'd stick to a thunderbolt interface if possible, but there aren't many in the sub-$500 price range.
The UA Solo and Arrow are both around 450usd. If you have UA plugs, I think the arrow has one sharc DSP in it.
The presonus quantum series supposedly have good latency specs. If you use studio one, there's some bonus integration there I think.
RME is King of low latency, for a price.
And there's always good ole boring MOTU.

 

[jcpst]

I like this thread topic. I have similar needs in my home recording setup. Currently using a 2010 Mac Mini and an Apogee FireWire Duet.

Maxed out the RAM, put in SSDs, upgraded the OS as far as it can go. I have a few licenses for software that I can’t even run on it. I’ll need to upgrade both the machine and the interface when it’s time. But it just won’t die!

 

[CheapSuitG]

The new mac minis SCREAM. I had to intentionally crash it with VST and CPU intense reverbs. I will NEVER use that many tracks with that many plugins ever.

I don't know anything useful about interfaces, but those new mac minis look pretty rad.

I haven't tried out the Volt but hear good things about it. The vintage vibe sounds cool. I went with the SSL2+. The AD/DA is really good not just for the price point, the 4k circuit in the pres is nice (not 100% an SSL pre but close enough for what I do) and honestly the form factor. I am always changing volume so having the knob where it is was great. Much better than having to use the mackie big knob for monitor control.

I don't record drums so the 2 in/4 out is prefect. The down fall of the SSL is all the input jacks are on the back. That said I have a 1/4" guitar DI in and a mic line always set up so I can run direct into logic and use amp sims for when I need to keep down the volume then an xlr over to the guitar amp for when I track amps and also a condenser mic nearby on its own stand if I want to track acoustic or have a vocalist over.

 

[Nostradoomus]

I have a volt 2 running into a super old lenovo thinkpad and it does the job just fine. With a new computer I don't see any issues

(I use good ol mic and amp though, never overloading ram with plug ins and all that)

 

[chongmagic]

I switched from a Focusrite to a Motu M4, love it!

 

[mybud]

Well, since my old Firewire-equipped Mac Pro went west along with the Firewire UAD-2 Satellite Quad I bought many moons ago, it struck me that I still had a large batch of UA plugins available. So, armed with my newly arrived M4 Mac mini, I researched various options and sought the collective wisdom's advice on such things. Thanks to all who chipped in.

As you see, I took the plunge and got myself one of these little (Apollo Twin new generation) wonders. Even my less than perfect noodlings sound fab and I'm now spoilt for choice with plugins galore. Even better, I've been dredging through many old compositions with a second album in mind, so feeling inspired and ready to take 2025 on with both hands.

Yes, I quite agree with some colleagues here that new technologies are in many ways new forms of enslavement. I hope that my renewed creative energy will outweigh these in the long run. Thanks for reading as always.

 

[DeadAirMD]

Yeah the Apollo is definitely pretty sweet, especially if you live/die by plugins.

I got a new MacBook 2yrs ago and decided to update my "studio" gear since I was using a 1st gen Focusrite Scarlett. I run everything through a Rupert Neve DI into a Tascam M12. I never use plugins ever.

Bought the Apollo and the newest Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. After running a ton of tests, I couldn't tell the difference (audio-wise) and sent back the Apollo. This was solely using the two as interfaces and not using a single plugin.