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

Product Information

Use TRS (balanced) audio cables for the best results with a balanced stereo speaker system. Balanced equipment uses three conductor wiring to reduce interference and electrical noise, and to provide better audio quality over longer cable runs. TS connections may be suitable for shorter output cables, where electrical interference noise may not be an issue.

Equipped with two top-notch preamps, the Volt 2 is perfect for songwriters, synth enthusiasts and podcasters who are after a streamlined, easy-to-use recording interface. Plus, thanks to the Vintage Mic Preamp emulation of the iconic UA 610 Tube Preamp, the character and audio quality are truly something to behold. With each model featuring a USB-C 2.0 connection, the Volt Series can easily integrate into the large majority of home studio setups. For a plug-and-play experience, the Volt 1, Volt 2, Volt 176 and Volt 276 are all bus-powered, meaning they draw power from the machine you plug them into. This has become a common theme with many interface manufacturers, and it’s great to see Universal Audio doing the same. Features (8.5/10) I/O

With 2 inputs and 2 outputs, the Volt 2 follows a popular configuration UA Volt 2: Tried-and-true configuration Use direct monitoring when you are recording sources that you don’t need to monitor through your software. For example, use direct monitoring for vocals or instruments that don’t require you to listen to effects or plug-ins in your software. So Guitar Center had this and I gave it a try. The drivers seem to be solid and it's a little bit better latency @ 128 than the Audient. It's stable and has done exactly what I've wanted it to. Easy interface controls, easy to get levels right (make sure you hit that INST button for guitar) and the Vintage mode seems to do some kinda "voodoo" as well. Tip: You can power Volt by connecting the included USB-A to barrel connector power cable to a USB power adapter, then connecting the barrel plug to this power inlet on Volt. With multiple options in the range, budding producers can opt for an interface that best suits their needs, whilst more advanced sound engineers can go for more future-proof features.

Thank you for choosing Volt as part of your music making experience. We know that any new piece of gear requires an investment of time and money — and our goal is to make your investment pay off. Virgin Media O2 is the leading converged challenger in the market, pairing O2’s award winning mobile network and the UK’s fastest major broadband provider to enhance connectivity for customers at home and on the go. With Virgin Media’s rapid gigabit broadband rollout and O2’s commitment to deliver 5G to half the UK population in 2023, Virgin Media O2 is just getting started. In a post-covid world where we’ve all gotten used to making music at home a lot more than we used to, UA gives you an excuse never to leave your studio! Essential suite of audio and music software including Ableton, Melodyne, UJAM’s Virtual Drummer, Marshall, Ampeg, and more

iPad & iPhone Ready

To recap: I’m sufficiently impressed with the Volt 2 to recommend it as one of the best audio interfaces available at this price point. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a solid little device that’ll suit the needs of most home studio enthusiasts and seems built to last for the long-term. 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 A microphone is typically connected with an XLR connector, and an instrument or line level signal is connected with a ¼” (6.35 mm) TS or TRS plug.

The iPad Pro can provide enough juice to power Volt 1/2/176/276 for truly portable location recording/production. Increase the buffer size setting in the software on your computer. When recording, you can use direct monitoring to record without latency at higher buffer sizes.

The first thing that sets the various models apart is the number of inputs and outputs. The Volt 1 and Volt 176 each offer one XLR/TRS combo input with a preamp for microphone, line and instrument signals, while the Volt 2 and Volt 276 have two of these. The Volt 476 offers an extra pair of line inputs on the rear panel. Due to the amount of power needed to run the increased I/O on the 476, it always needs to be used with a power supply (included).