Universal Audio VOLT2 USB Audio Interface for recording, podcasting and streaming

Product Information

If bus power is insufficient, connect Volt to external 5VDC power to compensate for the underpowered USB port. With the ultra-clear onboard mic preamps, you can capture a classic vocal and characterful recording, enhanced by the Vintage Mic Preamp Mode. Few sounds can compare to a vintage Universal Audio 610 tube preamp, famously used to record the likes of Ray Charles, Beach Boy’s, Johnny Cash, Adele, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Van Halen. The UA Volt 2 is USB bus-powered from the connection to the computer. A 5V connection is also available for any computers that may struggle with power requirements/be under a heavy load. If you join O2 or live in a household where at least one eligible O2 Pay Monthly tariff is registered, you’ll get double the mobile data on every eligible O2 Pay Monthly plan in your household. When direct monitoring is on, disable the software monitoring feature in your audio software to prevent signal doubling, which can make your input sound thin or “phasey.”

Few sounds can compare to a vintage Universal Audio 610 tube preamp, as used to record everyone from Ray Charles to Van Halen. Volt 2 gives you the rich, full sound of this iconic UA preamp, thanks to its built-in tube emulation circuitry, a UA exclusive. Get a 30-day Free Trial to UAD Spark

In that case, we'll automatically upgrade your broadband speed as soon as a faster tier is available in your area (up to a max of 1Gbps). In the meantime, you can still enjoy double mobile data on O2 or unlimited data if you're on a tariff of 250GB and above.

I’d personally lean toward the Volt 2 here. But if you’d really like to see your levels on an LED screen, that’d tip you toward the M2. The Volt 2 versus the Presonus Studio 24c

Article Contents

When you hear the name Universal Audio, chances are that the first thing that comes to your mind is iconic analog hardware like the famous 1176 Limiting Amplifier and LA-610 channel strip. The company is also well known for the high-priced audio interfaces of the Apollo series, which, thanks to their DSP chips, serve as the platform for UA’s extensive library of UAD plug-ins. Inexpensive hardware from Universal Audio wasn’t exactly something we were expecting. To top it off, the Volt 2’s preamps feature Vintage Mode, which adds a slight boost in the low end of your audio to produce a warmer tone. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is into its third generation and, until now, has remained virtually unchallenged. The Universal Audio Volt 2has come in and changed the game, however. The differences aren’t so vast that 2i2 owners will abandon their gear and make the switch, but when it comes time to replace or upgrade, they’ll have some serious decisions to make. While we aren’t suggesting you base this Universal Audio Volt 2 review on looks alone, getting the unit out felt like we were unboxing something that aesthetically added to our home studio vibe while feeling sturdy and long-lasting enough to survive being transported between recording sessions.