Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Get that song on tape! Errr... disk?
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DrQuasar
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Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by DrQuasar » Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:13 pm

Looking at getting a new interface. I've finally come to accept that my PreSonus Firestudio and '07 MacBook are obsolete. So I got a new computer and am updating my hobby studio.

I'm trying to decide between the UA Volt 276 and the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4.

I like the form factor of the Volt but it has some limitations that concern me (only 2 ins, direct monitoring is on/off only). I also worry the compressor part of it might just be a gimmick and ultimately not useful.

The 4i4 has a couple more input/outputs which would be nice and would be a more similar workflow to my previous interface. But it isn't as pretty.

I know they are both pretty new, but if anyone has any insights or experience with these or anything else I ought to think about, I'd love to hear it. Like, should the software bundle be a consideration at all? Right now I'm leaning towards the 4i4.

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by JackFawkes » Wed Mar 23, 2022 4:14 pm

My only interface experience is with the Motu M2... but it seems pretty great!
Not to complicate you with another option, but I'd guess the Motu M4 is great too.

Otherwise, I'd probably vote Focusrite 4i4 just because it's such a well-known and supported model.

Jack

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by marqueemoon » Wed Mar 23, 2022 5:14 pm

I really like my MOTU M4.

The onboard preamps are nothing special, but not bad either. Everything else is pretty great, and it has MIDI I/O.

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by panoramic » Thu Mar 24, 2022 7:54 am

the focusrite seems like a good option, i am looking at the new tiny arturia one for myself right now
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by Dok » Thu Mar 24, 2022 8:28 am

Another plug for the MOTU M4. Have recommended it to a few people and they're all very happy with it.
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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by DrQuasar » Thu Mar 24, 2022 8:43 am

The MOTU M4 was 3rd or 4th on the list. I think it might edge out the Volt. I'm going to look closer at the specs and see what differences I can find between the 4i4 and M4. Thanks!

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by cestlamort » Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:55 am

The Focusrite sounds good (we have a 2i2 and a 8i6) but worth noting that the (line level) inputs in the back are super duper quiet and not suitable for even line level without a preamp of some kind.
Their "it's a feature not a bug" argument: More headroom. My retort: I just want to track keyboards without having to fuss with unplugging stuff. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but I was surprised and disappointed.
I assume the 4i4 is similar.

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by DrQuasar » Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:07 pm

My plan was to send the output from my mixer into those line level inputs in the 4i4. That way I can leave all the keyboards and synths and other stuff plugged into the mixer. If those inputs don't work that well, then it'd be a real bummer. Very useful information. Thank you!

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by cestlamort » Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:17 pm

DrQuasar wrote:
Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:07 pm
My plan was to send the output from my mixer into those line level inputs in the 4i4. That way I can leave all the keyboards and synths and other stuff plugged into the mixer.
That's what we ended up doing. (I'd hoped with having multiple inputs on ours we could keep all the channels separate. Not a big deal, but more complicated than initially planned).

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Mar 24, 2022 5:54 pm

cestlamort wrote:
Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:55 am
The Focusrite sounds good (we have a 2i2 and a 8i6) but worth noting that the (line level) inputs in the back are super duper quiet and not suitable for even line level without a preamp of some kind.
Their "it's a feature not a bug" argument: More headroom. My retort: I just want to track keyboards without having to fuss with unplugging stuff. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but I was surprised and disappointed.
I assume the 4i4 is similar.
I doubt the M4 is any different in this area.

I’ve actually never connected a line level TRS device directly, but I use my Iconoclast on channels 3/4 connected TRS via my ISA Two and a little bump from the preamp is always needed to get my guitar to where it needs to be.

Good mic preamps are cheap these days.

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by DrQuasar » Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:15 pm

I just ordered the MOTU M4. I'm sure it'll be great for my purposes. Thanks for the input all!

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by DrQuasar » Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:34 am

Just got the M4 in and initial impressions are very good. Had to download the driver and do a firmware update, but it was easy. I love that it has an on/off switch. The knobs feel really substantial and are a pleasure to turn. The buttons also feel chunky and heavy-duty. Maybe the best thing about it is that it doesn't slide around on my desk plugging things in and out. At least not so far anyways.

In terms of sound, it sounds like me, so not good! ;D Haven't used it enough to say anything about how it sounds for real, but so far, so good. Thanks again for the recommendation.

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/blog ... dwide.html Got a free Ampeg SVT plug-in here and it sounds pretty decent to me. There's some other freebies available too.

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Re: Interface UA Volt 276 or Focusrite 4i4?

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Apr 21, 2022 10:30 am

DrQuasar wrote:
Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:34 am
Just got the M4 in and initial impressions are very good. Had to download the driver and do a firmware update, but it was easy. I love that it has an on/off switch. The knobs feel really substantial and are a pleasure to turn. The buttons also feel chunky and heavy-duty. Maybe the best thing about it is that it doesn't slide around on my desk plugging things in and out. At least not so far anyways.

In terms of sound, it sounds like me, so not good! ;D Haven't used it enough to say anything about how it sounds for real, but so far, so good. Thanks again for the recommendation.

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/blog ... dwide.html Got a free Ampeg SVT plug-in here and it sounds pretty decent to me. There's some other freebies available too.
Nice. For me it was a big step up in fidelity, but I was coming from 16 bit/44.1.

I think the metering is my favorite feature.

Getting levels right when recording myself is always a challenge and that’s been really helpful for me.

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