Volt Series: Affordable new interfaces from Universal Audio

First the SSL2/2+, then Motu M2/M4, now these:

UA Volt Series

Built-in analog compression?!?

Decisions decisions...

You really want to compress into your Dconverters? Superb dynamic range of modern converters?

You really want to compress into your Dconverters? Superb dynamic range of modern converters?

fair point.

Update: Latency is still one of my top priorities, so M4 is probably still top of my list.

I have my 828es and 24ao latency so low I can overdub without direct monitoring. I just monitor the actual recording as its printing. This is also how I'm mixing. Monitoring the converted stere track exactly as it will be heard by the client. I cant even feel the roundtrip latency when moving faders and we're talking 24+ playback back in as stereo.

That said UA rules. Those plugins with tje external DSP are mostly great sounding. I would think with the budget interface though you'll really want a sattelite too if you're working ITB and then it's not a bargain. I'm not really sure how you're doing things K-money.

I do know that the need for hot levels died with ADAT. In tape the concern was signal to noise so the practice of compressing to tape was really practical. Early digital formats supposedly wanted peaks at zero and a strong average level in order to use up all the bits of the storage medium and get max resolution. Neither of these things is an issue and the only reason to print compression during tracking is to get the sound of an old session right from the get go. But its not like it can't be done later. I would always opt for max dynamics because taking away dynamics from a recording is like liberally dumping salt in your soup without tasting it.

I would do that but I have business to run so I kinda need lots of playback with extremely good sound quality. Whatever the client sends can be recorded however but I can't be degrading it further. When I say playback, I mean into an analog desk. 24 channels at 192k would melt an ipad

yeah I should buy an irig.

Or maybe go nicer. The thing about an iRig is you can't plud a microphone in. Or maybe there's one where you can but you're not getting a reasonable quality preamp like on a decent interface. Even stalwarts like the focusrite scarlet and steinberg UR series have tolerable mic and line amps. I'm no snob as engineers go but I pretty much don't recommend anything below the SSL2, MOTU M4 or the UA stuff of course.

Or just hit a line input on a cheaper 8interface with an outboard preamp. For a few buck one can obtain some nice symetrix preamps. Their De-essers with xlr inputs have a pretty good mic pre and some transformers in line and the de esser can be fully disengaged. Their 528 voice channels are fir broadcast but don't suck. Very good 80s designs in the whole neotek type camp and a good mod platform.

I digress. I would be looking for the best quality iPad interface you can afford with a microphone input as well as a DI. On fact the mic input us key. You can buy a DI box that sounds great for peanuts. A good passive DI box is great because it can be reversed to preamp guitar recordings too.

All this said I think it's great UA is becoming less exclusive. If SSL can do it they had no excuse for the arrow being their cheapest product!

So many good options these days. Its glorious to be recording now. I never dreamed I could have a homestudio like I do now as a young turk!