You simply can’t have a home studio without an interface. Your interface is the heart and soul of your home recording setup. And if your goal is to get authentic vintage sounds from your home studio, in my opinion, you can’t do better than to get started with a Universal Audio Volt interface.
Comprising a range of different models (with varying degrees of connectivity), the Volt line has something for beginning producers/engineers of all reasonable needs. In particular, the Volt 176, 276, 476, and 476P (the latter of which will be the primary focus of this review) supply not only versatile connectivity and ease of use, but also unique analog-inspired tone-shaping options, namely 1176-inspired compression, right on board the unit for singers and instrumentalists to start sounding their best right out the gate with the push of a button.
In this review, I'll walk you through my experiences testing out the UA Volt 476P. Of course, I'll also run down the specs of the complete line, taking a deep dive into the ins and outs (both literal and figurative) of the Volt, all in the interest of determining which of these vintage-inspired beauties is the interface for you.
Quick Overview
SPECS:
- Computer Connectivity: USB 2.0
- Simultaneous I/O: 4 x 4
- Number of Preamps: 4
- Phantom Power: Yes
- A/D Resolution: 24-bit/192kHz
- Analog Inputs: 4 x XLR-1/4" combo (mic/line)
- Analog Outputs: 6 x 1/4" TRS
- Headphones:2 x 1/4"
- MIDI I/O: In/Out
- Included Software: LUNA DAW Software, PolyMAX Synth, Century Tube Channel Strip, Teletronix LA-2A Leveler, Pultec Passive EQ, Ableton Live Lite
- Compatibility: Mac, PC
- OS Requirements - Mac: macOS 10.15 or later, iOS 14 or later
- OS Requirements - PC: Windows 10 or later (64-bit editions)
- Power Supply: 5V DC power supply required (included)
The cream of the Volt line is the 476P, a 4-in, 4-out USB interface that’s loaded with onboard tech that gets you killer vintage sounds right from the start of your signal chain (and looks damn good doing it). The good folks at UA were kind enough to send me a sample for review, and as a vintage audio enthusiast myself, to say I was happy with it would be an understatement.
Right out of the box, I got a sense of the quality UA brings to its products. The Volt is no flimsy plastic toy—in fact, it's got the most premium-feeling build quality I have seen yet in a desktop interface. The metal chassis has a nice heft to it, and it’s styled with attractive blond wood siding that evokes the half-circuitry, half-furniture craftsmanship of real midcentury vintage studio equipment.
Universal Audio Volt 476P Interface: The Ins and Outs
The Volt 476P that I received as my test model has four inputs on the face of the chassis—combination XLR/1/4" jack—as well as two headphone outputs. On the back you've got four 1/4" line outputs, plus stereo monitor outs and MIDI I/O jacks as well. This arrangement makes the 476P the best-suited of the bunch for recording live performances when you're tracking multiple signals simultaneously.
On the flip side of that, if you're mostly planning on working solo, I advise you to consider a Volt 176 or 276 instead. They've got most of the same features as the 476P, only with fewer ins and outs (the 176 has 1 channel, the 276 has 2). There's also a 476 (without the P), which has two combination jack inputs with onboard tone shaping controls at the front, plus two line inputs on the rear panel.
But in my opinion (huge fan of the onboard processing that I am), you might as well splurge on the 476P if you think you'll ever at any point need four inputs—and take advantage of all four channels of sweet, sweet compression and preamp tone.
Workflow and Functionality
I found it super easy to get started creating inspired studio sounds with the Volt. The 476P is equipped with UA’s best-in-class 24-bit/192 kHz audio conversion for a crystal-clear, high-quality signal. Each of the four combination XLR/1/4” inputs has the sound of UA’s classic 610 tube preamps at your fingertips with a press of the “Vintage” switch, which saturates your signal with vintage warmth modeled on one of the most recorded mic pres of all time.
Then there’s the onboard 76 compressor—also equipped on each of the four channels—an analog circuit inspired by UA’s famous 1176 Limiting Amplifier. Activate this switch to punch up your vocals, guitars, drums, and more with the compression heard on countless classic records. There are settings for Vocal, Guitar, and Fast (the setting with the most aggressive attack—for drums and electric guitar, among other things).
I’m the type of guy who likes to push all the buttons, and that definitely worked out for me on the Volt. The natural, clear signal sounded amazing—but I love the option to sweeten it up right at the source with vintage compression and tube preamp coloration.
These onboard controls are super-intuitive and great for simulating an analog-style workflow. In addition to the inline channel processing, there are switchable monitor controls and a switchable mono mode. Each switch lights up when its function is in use, so you know just where you stand at all times.
Those of you, who (like me) enjoy getting literally hands-on in the recording process will love working with this interface. Plus, the gain knobs and headphone volume knobs have a super smooth action that just jibes with the interface’s generally high-end feel and adds another layer of joy to the user experience.
Included Software Bundle
Adding to the great value here is UA's inclusion of some super crucial software, including their Luna Digital Audio Workstation and Ableton Live Lite, as well as plug-ins inspired by vintage recording equipment like Century Tube Channel Strip, Pultec Passive EQ Collection, Galaxy Tape Echo, and tons more. See the complete list here.
If your goal is to make your home recordings sound like your favorite classic records, you're already barking up the right tree with the Volt interface. UA's included plug-in collection will seal the deal, though.
Alternatives to the Volt 476P
Volt 176
The Volt 176 is the baby of the family, with a single combination jack input on the faceplate and two line outs. This single input channel still comes loaded with the same onboard processing (1176-inspired compression, 610-inspired "vintage" preamp) as the 476P, so if you're a solo vocalist or instrumentalist who will only really need one input at a time, this is the Volt for you.
Universal Audio Volt 176
Volt 276
The Volt 276 has—you guessed it—two combination jack inputs on the faceplate, with both channels boasting the switchable compression and "vintage" preamp, and two line outs. This is the singer/songwriter's choice, with two sweet-sounding channels that you can use simultaneously—the ideal setup for a singer/instrumentalist who wants to capture their performances in real time with no overdubs.
Universal Audio Volt 276
Volt 476
Finally, there's the Volt 476. While I personally struggle to conceptualize the ideal use case for this one, I'm sure it exists. You've got the same two preamp channels as the 276, plus an additional two line in channels without the sound sweeteners. There are four lines out, which is an improvement on the 276, but for an extra $100 you could have four preamp channels with the 476P. I say splurge—buy once, cry once.
Universal Audio Volt 476
Check out our full guide to the best audio interfaces to learn more.
Verdict
Singers and instrumentalists looking to get into recording their own music at home are spoiled for choice in today's market. There's a huge selection of entry-level audio interfaces available. The key is determining your needs/priorities and drilling down from there.
With UA’s Volt interfaces, you can imbue even the most rudimentary demos with the warm-and-fuzzy analog vintage sound of your favorite recordings. Plus it’s simple enough to use without getting in the way of your creative flow. If that’s not a recipe for inspiration, I don’t know what is.
The 476P is a perfect choice for vintage-minded musicians who want to start recording their own music, but don't want to be limited by input/output capabilities. That said, UA has a full range of options for anyone looking to get a hit of vintage compression and preamp saturation in their home recordings, all the way down to a single input. Perhaps best of all? The top-of-the-line 476P won't even run you up $500.
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