Lets review external USB audio interface Roland Tri-Capture, oriented on portable recording of 3 inputs, incoming signal monitoring and sounds playback from different sources. All connectors are placed on card’s back panel, among them there are : TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) headphones output; the same balanced outputs for left and right channels; USB port for connection with computer and power receiving from it; 2 RCA inputs for stereo sound recording; TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) input, which can work in linear and instrumental Hi-Z modes; and XLR microphone input, to which phantom power +48 V can be connected. Its top panel has : phantom power switch and signal level control; Hi-Z/linear modes switch for instrumental input and signal level control knob; stereo signal level control; signal and clip indicators for all 3 inputs; recording mode selector ( microphone/instrumental inputs, all inputs or loop back mode ); outputs mute button, Direct Monitor mode switch for headphones and their volume level control with levels and clipping indicators for both channels. Card can work with sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision.
External sound card Tri-Capture ( back view )
Roland Tri-Capture fully powers via USB connection and draws 480 mA maximal current. Device sizes are 171 ( width ) x 134 ( depth ) x 40 ( height ) mm and mass is 320 g. For sound card drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0 interface support and for Mac OS X with Core Audio interface support, via which modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) can use all its functions. Package contains : Roland Tri-Capture sound card, USB cable, CD-ROM with drivers and VST plugins and instruments, DVD-ROM disk with Cakewalk SONAR LE program for Windows, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, this is a good card, which has all connectors for analogue sounds recording in small studio; from its minuses not the highest sampling rate, lack of MIDI connectors and quite big sizes can be noted. Also, there is need to look on device’s price, quite may be that more functional entry level studio audio interfaces of Steinberg and Behringer cost less.
Today’s audio part will be devoted to compact external USB sound card M-Audio Super DAC, able to record and play stereo sound and supporting 192 kHz sampling rate and 24 bits per sample precision. Its frontal panel has : output work mode switch ( headphones/line output ), source switch ( digital/analogue, effectively this is a Direct Monitor switch ); 1/8″ mini-jack stereo linear input; and 1/8″ mini-jack and TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) headphones outputs. Its top side has power on and sampling rate choosing knob; on back side USB for communication with computer and powering from it, 2 RCA linear analogue outputs and digital optical and coaxial outputs are placed. Manufacturer says, that high-quality headphone amplifier is used in card, and about WolfsonDAC and ADC.
External sound card M-Audio Super DAC ( top view )
M-Audio Super DAC dynamic range is 110 dB, maximal output power is 210 mW with 16 Ohms headphones or speakers; besides 192 kHz it also supports 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 and 176.4 kHz sampling rates; THD+N equal to 0.00003%. Card sizes are 91 ( width ) × 94 ( depth ) × 27 ( height ) mm and mass is 210 g; it is powered only from USB connection and does not require additional power adapter, judging by its small sizes and small amount of functions and connectors, it should not draw too much current. Audio interface is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.7.5 and newer operating systems; in first ones it works via specialized drivers ( judging by them, it supports ASIO 2.0 interface ) and in second ones via native OS drivers with Core Audio interface support, so, it can be used in DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others.
Package contains : M-Audio Super DAC sound card itself, USB cable, optical disk with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. This card is oriented for high-quality stereo sound recording and playback on nature, live performances and in small studio; it has good technical characteristics, but costs as more functional entry-level studio sound cards, so, it is better to look on Steinberg, Behringer, Roland, Focusrite, M-Audio itself, ESI and other manufacturers audio interfaces of such level.
M-Audio – is a company, founded in USA in 1998 year, it produces audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, loudspeakers, monitor headphones, DJs equipment, microphones and other sound devices. Company offices are also located in Canada, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Many popular artists use its products, among them there are The Crystal Method, Depeche Mode, Evanescence and others.
Lets meet with external USB sound card Behringer U-CONTROL UCA202, able to record and play stereo sound and having digital optical Toslink S/PDIF out. Its top side has : Direct Monitor switch, allowing to send signal from inputs directly to headphones, 2 RCA inputs and 2 RCA outputs with gold-plated connectors; on front side there is USB connection indicator; to its left side USB cable itself is mounted. Bottom side has : digital optical Toslink S/PDIF output, 1/8″ mini-jack output for headphones and volume control wheel. Behringer U-CONTROL UCA202 works with sampling rates up to 48 kHz and 16 bits per sample precision ( this is too small for high-quality audio recording ); all inputs and outputs are unbalanced, it has no ability of phantom power +48 V plugging to inputs; connectors technical details are as following : outputs ( 27 kOhms impedance, maximal input signal level 2 dBV ), outputs ( 400 Ohms, 2 dBV ) and headphones output ( 50 Ohms, 3.7 mW ).
Device draws maximum 100 mA of current; its THD is 0.05 % ( this is relatively high in comparison with studio audio interfaces ), channels penetration -77 dB ( this is good value, if all audio tract supports it and not only DAC or ADC ) and signal to noise ratio 89 dB for analogue to digital conversions and 96 dB for digital to analogue conversions ( it seems, that it is related only to DAC and ADC and analogue part considerably lowers these values ). Card’s sizes are 88 ( width ) x 60 ( height ) x 22 ( depth ) mm and mass is 0.1 kg; card is fully powered from USB connection. With it DAWTracktion is supplied for sounds recording and processing; it is eligible to 3-years warranty. It has no specialized ASIO 2.0 drivers, so it is not very well suited for work with DAWs; but there is ability to download and install ASIO4ALL drivers, which emulate this interface.
Package contains : Behringer U-CONTROL UCA202 sound card itself, warranty card and user’s guide. Its strong sides are : compact sizes and small mass, stereo recording and playback support, digital optical output and not too high price; wherein 16 bits per sample precision is too small for high quality sounds recording and inputs and outputs and DAC and ADC have not very high characteristics for studio sounds recording. So, it is better to invest slightly more money in sound card purchasing and buy enrtry-level studio audio interface with much better connectors and DAC and ADC, then to invest them into purchasing of device, which costs almost like entry-level studio interfaces, but is much weaker than them.
Lets devote today’s audio part to detailed testing and review of external sound card ESI UGM 96 in DAWREAPER. And start with external view on card, its frontal panel has : 2 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs ( one of them is instrumental Hi-Z, second one can be switched between instrumental and linear/microphone modes, also there is ability to switch +20 dB signal amplification for it ); and right input work mode switches. Card records only mono signal by both inputs. Its back panel has 2 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) outputs, working in linear mode and as headphones outputs, they duplicate each other and both output stereo signal; and USB port, for connection with computer and powering from it, it does not require additional power adapter input. There is no ability to plug phantom power +48 V to microphone input and card outputs and records only unbalanced signal. Body of audio interface, including frontal and rear panel, is made from aluminum; analogue connectors are nickel-plated, there are gold-plated rings on the outer sides of connectors, but they are not connected with PCB and do not conduct signal, all connectors are inside and they are nickel-plated; so, there is need to use the same plugs.
Sound card ESI UGM 96 ( rear panel )
Card works with sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision. According to technical specifications, it has following characteristics : Hi-Z inputs ( THD+N 0,003 %, impedance 500 kOhms ), input with +20 dB amplification ( THD+N 0,003 %, impedance 2.2 kOhms ), analogue to digital converter ( dynamic range 105 dB, S/( N + D ) ratio -98 dB, channels separation 90 dB ); linear/headphones outputs ( THD+N 0,003 %, maximal output power 100 mW and 32 – 600 Ohms impedance ), digital to analogue converter ( dynamic range 103 dB, S/( N + D ) ratio -90 dB, channels separation 100 dB ); power consumption 0.85 W, current draw 500 mA maximum. It is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.4 and newer operating systems, in the first ones it uses dedicated drivers with ASIO 2.0, MME, WDM and DirectSound interfaces support, in the second one it works via native OS drivers with CoreAudio interface support. Via these interfaces it works with modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) and sound recording and editing programs. Package contains : ESI UGM 96 sound card itself, shielded transparent USB cable, CD-ROM disk with drivers and plugins ( among which are specialized guitar compressor and effects processor and VST instruments and effects ), DVD disk with DAWCubase LE 5 software and user’s guide. PCB photos from both sides are at the bottom of article.
Testing of ESI UGM96 sound card in DAW REAPER
Lets move on to ESI UGM 96 testing in DAWREAPER; I tested it recording signal from inputs without plugged connectors, this way I recorded only inputs noise; and connecting card’s outputs to inputs with ground and foil shielded studio microphone stereo cable with 0.5 m length and nickel-plated TRS connectors. Testing results of right input without Hi-Z mode and +20 dB amplification switching are as following : noise level without plugged connector -90.4 dB, with plugged in main linear/headphones output -87.4 dB, with duplicating headphones output -87.8 dB, recorded level of 0 dB signal ( 1 kHz sinusoidal wave ) for main output -1.2 dB, for duplicating -2,5 dB. Left Hi-Z instrumental input ( only noise without connector ) -90.6 dB; right input in Hi-Z mode ( only noise without connector ) -89.7 dB; right input in Hi-Z mode and with +20 dB amplification : -85.8 dB. Right input in linear mode with switched on +20 dB preamplification : only noise -87.8 dB, plugged in main output without signal -67.9 dB, plugged in duplicating output -68.2 dB. Wherein there is ability to raise volume level of recorded signal on +12 dB in interface’s control panel, making so noise level of inputs goes up to -75.9 – -77.7 dB from -90 dB, while signal level raises up from -1.2 – -2.5 dB to 0 dB. So, it is better not to use this function and record signal on usual volume level and, if needed raise its level in DAW ( this way at least signal and noise volume levels will raise on the same dB amount ) or with use of external digital or analogue amplifier ( this way signal level will raise, but noise level of cards inputs will remain the same, amplifier just needs to be good ).
Control panel of ESI UGM96 audio interface
Now the most interesting : channels penetration measuring, for this I played the same 1 kHz sinusoidal wave with 0 dB volume only in 1 channel, which cards inputs do not record, and looked on recorded signal level for channel on which this signal should not be transmitted. In result for main output channel penetrated in the other one with -17.8 dB volume, and for duplicating one with -17.3 dB volume. In technical details it is specified, that DAC has 100 dB channels separation : either analogue part of card is much weaker, than DAC in this respect, or after years of use card started to leak signals so much, but fact is the fact : signal penetrates so much, that it is audible via headphones laying on the table.
Sound card ESI UGM 96 ( PCB 1 )
Conclusions about testing of USB audio interface ESI UGM 96 in DAW REAPER
Noise levels of card’s inputs and outputs are relatively low, it is better to not use software card’s input volume raising ( it is better to do this via DAW instruments during recording or after it or via external amplifier; however built in +20 dB microphone preamplifier of card is quite good and can be safely used ) and card has very high channels penetration, also, it records only mono signal. So, ESI UGM96 is more suitable exactly for mono instrumental Hi-Z or microphone inputs recording in small studio and it is not very well suited for analogue signal mixing and transmitting and for high-quality music playback ( due to high channels penetration ). Wherein it has quite low price and in value/price ratio respect is much better, than usual embeddable into computer case sound cards of Sound Blaster Audigy level, due to use of high quality digital chips and analogue components and external placement; also it can be used for recording of additional high quality audio channel in nature and on live performances. So, for its purposes card is good and worth invested money; but, if more functional and universal audio interface is needed, then it is better to buy one of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI itself, M-Audio, Alesis and other manufacturers production.
Sound card ESI UGM 96 ( PCB 2 )
Update of ESI UGM 96 testing in DAW REAPER from 16.5.10
Resolded microphone cable from stereo into mono and made measures with it : this way channels penetration for headphones output is a -51.6 dB and for linear output is -51 dB – this way it is much better, than with stereo cable. Here are two assumptions : either electro-magnetic interference in stereo cable with common ground is so strong, that in channel without signal it appears with such strength; or microphone input partly records signal from second channel of input too. If business is in EMI, then it is useful to use for headphones and speakers cables with channels shielding by their own separate grounds, if possible, with foil; if business is in partial reading of second channel by microphone input, then here is no need to do anything, because most microphones mostly record mono sound.
Steinberg Cubase LE – is a simplified version of more professional DAW of this company, it allows to record, play, edit and mix audio and MIDI signals on 16 audio tracks, 24 MIDI tracks, 8 instruments and 8 physicsl inputs with precision up to 192 kHz and 24 bits. In it HALion Sonic SE instrument is included and set of 18 effects, among which there are modulation, delay, equalizer and others. In package with ESI UGM 96 there are following VST instruments and effects : ESI Piano ( program synthesizer of piano with ability to control Susatin, Resonance and built-in reverberation ); ESI Compressor, Chorus, Phaser and Flanger ( according effects ); LUXONIX LFX1310 ( set of many effects ); as well as other fully functional and demonstration effects.
Company ESI was founded in Germany in 2006 year, mainly it produces audio interfaces, loudspeakers and other sound equipment. Its products are notable for high quality and acceptable prices, currently offices and facilities of company are located in a couple of countries of the world.
Lets review compact external USB sound card Behringer U-PHONO UFO202, which is able to record and play stereo signal and styled as cassette player on 90ties. It works with sampling rates up to 48 kHz and 16 bits precision ( sampling rate is more or less acceptable, but 16 bits is not enough for high quality nature sounds recording, capturing signal from analogue sources and voice and music recording in studio ). On top side it has : inputs work mode switch; grounding connector; 2 RCA inputs and 2 RCA outputs with gold-plated connectors. On front side it has USB connection indicator, to the left panel USB cable itself is mounted; bottom side has : 1/8″ mini-jack output for headphones and volume control.
Behringer U-PHONO UFO202 can work in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X operating systems, but has no specialized drivers with support of ASIO 2.0 and CoreAudio interfaces, however there is ability to download and install ASIO4ALL drivers for it with simulation of such interface. So, it is not very well suited for work with DAWs. After purchase there is ability to download from manufacturer’s site DAWTracktion and large amount of VST plugins and sounds samples packs. Package contains : Behringer U-PHONO UFO202 sound card itself, 3-year warranty card and user’s guide. Card has following pluses : ability to record and play stereo sound, headphones output and adequate price for its functions. But, if there is need to buy sound card for professional work with sound, then it is better to buy device with 24 bits precision and native support of ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio, so that there’ll be ability to use device for wide spectrum of tasks. So, it is better not to buy this sound card and acquire more functional audio interface.
In audio part today we will talk about portable USB audio interface Roland Duo-Capture MK2 for professional stereo sound recording. Frontal panel of sound card has : 1/8″ mini-jack stereo input; TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) stereo input, which can work in microphone and instrumental Hi-Z modes ( phantom power +48 V can not be plugged to it ); TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) stereo output for monitor headphones; and 1/8″ mini-jack linear stereo output. On its top there are sliders for input volume control ( with peak indicator ) and output volume control with USB connection indicator. Its back panel has : USB port, through which it communicates with computer or mobile devices and powers; and buttons for switching Direct Monitor function, Hi-Z mode for TRS input and input signal amplification. It works with sampling rates up to 48 kHz ( for sound recording in wild nature and for vocals and instruments recording, if sound will not be processed intensively, this is enough ) and 24 bits per sample precision.
External sound card Roland Duo-Capture MK2 ( rear view )
Roland Duo-Capture MK2 draws 96 mA current; its sizes are 81 ( width ) x 119 ( depth ) x 31 ( height ) mm and mass is 130 g. For it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X with ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces support, through which it tightly integrates with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Package contains : Roland Duo-Capture MK2 sound card itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software ( DAWCakewalk SONAR X1 LE ), warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, this is a good audio interface, for portable high quality stereo sound recording, which is superior to sound of photo and video cameras, dictaphones, smartphones and other portable devices.
Lets review today external studio-level sound card Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, working with 96 kHz maximal sampling rate and 24 bits precision; with ability to plug-in 2 Focusrite preamplifiers. On its frontal panel following connectors and controls are placed : 2 combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs, which are able to work in microphone, Hi-Z instrumental and linear modes; for each of them these work modes switches with backlight, PAD switches, amplification controls and common phantom power +48 V switch with backlight; 2 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) outputs for monitor headphones, their volume controls, main card’s outputs volume control and USB and MIDI connections states indicators. Its back panel has : Kensington Lock slot; SPDIF digital RCA input and output; power switch; power adapter input ( for MIDI connection ); USB port, through which it is powered and communicates with computer; MIDI input and output; 4 linear TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) outputs; and 2 linear TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs.
Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 performs analogue to digital conversions with 109 dB dynamic range and vice a versa 106 dB; microphone inputs have THD -96 dB and -122 dB noise level; linear inputs on frontal panel has the same characteristics equal to -80 dB and -105 dB, accordingly; on back panel : –82 dB and -107 dB, accordingly; instrumental inputs noise level is -103 dB; THD of linear outputs is -100 dB. With card following software is supplied : DAWAbleton Live Lite, Scarlett MixControl ( 6×6 DSP mixer ), Scarlett Plug-in Suite ( containing VST/AU/RTAS versions of reverberation, compression, gating and equalizer plugins ), Novation Bass Station ( AU/VST versions of according software synthesizer ) and 1 GB of Loopmasters samples. Card sizes are 210 ( width ) x 180 ( depth ) x 50 ( height ) mm and mass is 1.18 kg; body of card is made of anodized aluminum and painted into beautiful maroon-scarlet color.
Ableton Live Lite – is a slightly simplified version of professional DAW of this branch; wherein its projects can be opened in advanced version and in it majority of instruments and utilities of more costly DAW are available. It allows to record and edit audio and MIDI on 8 tracks, has instruments Drum, Instrument and Effect, automatically recognizes large amount of hardware controllers ( for example, MIDI keyboards ), has large amount of built-in effects ( reverberation, compressor, equalizer, chorus, filters, delay and others ). Also Ableton Live Lite allows to plug in external VST/AU instruments and effects, supports Ableton Link technology, allowing to synchronize many DAW instances for cooperative work, has instrument Overhauled Simpler for work with audio, digital version of hardware devices ( which precisely enough simulate their work with sound ) and has large amount of other tools for professional work with sound in studios and on concerts. Program works in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.7 and newer operating systems, it requires multi-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, fast Internet connection for downloading of additional files and 3 GB of hard disk space. Among artists, using professional version of this DAW, there is ability to note : Armin Van Buuren, DJ Krush, Daft Punk, Dust Brothers, Meat Beat Manifesto, Sasha and others.
For it drivers are released for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.7 and newer with ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces support, allowing modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) to use its capabilities to their full extent. Package contains : Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 sound card itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. It is a good stuio sound card, allowing to work with sound on professional level; from its weak sides following can be noted : not maximal sampling rate for modern-day devices, lack of balanced inputs and outputs, and lack of Direct Monitor switch. So, when audio interface is being chosen ( from this one and of Steinberg, Behringer, Roland, ESI, M-Audio, Alesis and other manufacturers production ) there is need to look on prices of devices and accordance of their technical characteristics for specific use tasks.
Focusrite – is a British company, founded in 1985 year, it produces USB, FireWire and Thunderboltaudio interfaces, microphone amplifiers, analogue equalizers and other hardware, as well as different VST/AU instruments, effects and processors, which can be connected to modern DAWs. Many of its devices currently are manufactured in China, company is one of the world leaders in production of high-quality audio devices with good digital part and often exceprional analogue part, to which many other manufacturers have a long way to go, wherein it sets optimal prices for its equipment and makes it one of the best goods in value/price ratio terms.
Lets review professional external sound card M-Audio M-Track Quad, which is able to work with sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits precision. Its frontal panel has : 4 combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs, which can work in mictophone ( there is ability to switch phantom power +48 V for them ), linear and instrumental Hi-Z modes; volume controls for each of them and linear/microphone and instrumental work mode and phantom power switches; TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) output for monitor headphones, Direct Monitor switch, their volume control knob and Direct Monitor source switch ( all channels or only 1st and 2nd ones ); stereo/mono Direct Monitor switch, outputs volume control knob and power and work indicator. Its back panel has : USB port, through which it is powered and communicates with computer, and another 3 ports for external devices plugging in hub mode; 4 analogue TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) outputs; MIDI input and output, power adapter input and power switch button; and 4 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) insert inputs for effects.
M-Audio M-Track Quad is bundled with AIR Music Technology Ignite software, containing Smart MIDI Chord and Phrase players with 275 sound samples. For it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.7.5 and newer operating systems, with ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces support, which allow it to work tightly with modern DAWs : Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools and others. Its body is made from metal; sizes are 333 ( width ) x 89 ( height ) x 156 ( depth ) mm. Package contains : M-Audio M-Track Quad sound card itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. From one side : this is a good professional sound card, which allows to work with sound on studio-grade level; from the other : supported maximal sampling rate is not the highest and it does not support balanced inputs and outputs. So, when external audio interface is compared with other similar models ( Behringer, Steinberg, Roland, Focusrite, ESI and other manufacturers ), there is need to look on prices of devices and accordance of technical characteristics to specific task, for which device will be used.
Lets review external sound card Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD, designed for studio work; it can work with 192 kHz sampling rates and 24 bits per sample precision, MIDAS preamplifiers are built into it. Its frontal panel has : 4 combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs, which can work in linear, instrumental Hi-Z and microphone modes, there is ability to connect phantom power +48 V to them; for each of them there are amplification level control knobs, clip indicators and linear/instrumental modes and PAD switch buttons; TRS output for monitor headphones, their volume control knob, Direct Monitor switch, headphones source selection knob, its stereo/mono mode button, main outputs volume control knob and power, phantom power and inputs and outputs state indicators. Its back panel has : power adapter input; USB port through which it is powered and communicates with computer ; MIDI input and output; Kensington Lock slot; phantom power switch; 4 RCA and 4 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) analogue outputs, which duplicate each other; 2 TRS and 2 XLR duplicating each other main outputs; and 4 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) insert for external effects mixing to signal.
Sound card is supplied with code for downloading of DAW Tracktion 4, after its purchase there is also ability to download from manufacturer’s website around 150 additional applications, VST plugins and sound samples packages; it is eligible to 3-years manufacturer warranty. For it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X with ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces support, via which it tightly integrates with modern DAWs : Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live and others. Package contains : Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD audio card itself, USB cable, optical disc with drivers and user’s guide. This is a great professional sound card, which has all functions and connectors, that are needed in small – middle level studio; so, when audio interface of such level is being chosen, there is need to look on prices and specific characteristics of this device and similar devices of Steinberg, Roland, Focusrite, ESI and other manufacturers, because they are very close in quality and functional aspects.
Lets review external sound card Roland OCTA-CAPTURE, designed for professional studio work; it can work with sampling rates up to 192 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision ( internal processing is performed with 40 bits precision ). Its frontal panel has : 4 combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs, first two are instrumental Hi-Z inputs, rest 2 – microphone inputs with switchable phantom power +48 V; preamplifiers, phantom power, compression and SENS function control buttons with back-light; LCD display, that shows information about card’s work; TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) output for monitor headphones, Direct Monitor switch, display, headphones signal source and card power control buttons with back-light and outputs volume control knob. Its back panel has : USB port, through which it is powered and communicates with computer; power adapter input; MIDI input and output; coaxial digital RCA input and output; 8 analogue TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) outputs; and 4 additional combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs. To all combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs high-quality preamplifiers are connected, such inputs and all 8 main TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs of card are balanced.
External sound card Roland OCTA-CAPTURE ( rear view )
Dynamic range of 8 inputs is 104 dB, 8 outputs is 113 dB; for it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.6 and newer with support of ASIO 2.0, WDM and Core Audio interfaces, via which it tightly integrates with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Its sizes are 284 ( width ) x 158 ( depth ) x 50 ( height ) mm and mass is 1.3 kg; its body is made of aluminum. Package contains : Roland OCTA-CAPTURE sound card itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software and user’s guide. In the entry level studio sound cards segment Steinberg and Behringer are leaders and Focusrite and Roland devices are slightly weaker than them; in the middle level studio sound cards class, second ones catch up with leaders and show no weaknesses. So, when audio interface of such level is being chosen, there is need to look on specific task, for which card is bought, and on prices of these devices.
