Universal Audio Volt 476P USB Recording Studio

I’ve been using this interface for only a couple months, but I’m so happy with the results so here’s my review. I used a UR242 for years & never had a problem with it for what I do. The dsp’s weren’t terrible, but it was nice to have them for latency issues. Only thing lacking was an insufficient number of outs, which is what I was looking for to reamp guitars. I was looking at the Tascam 208i, but then happened to see an ad for the new budget-line interfaces from UA. Normally, I would never be able to afford anything from UA, but I was intrigued by the built-in compressors & vintage preamps at a budget price.

Since then, my recordings have taken on another life. The preamps are crystal clear, 1176 compressors sound great on both vocals and instruments, and the monitoring choices are a game changer when mixing. I love that there’s also a MONO button, as I always check my mixes in MONO. I don’t use the preamps & compressors on every track, but they’re nice to have nonetheless. I’ve also tried reamping my guitars through the 1176 and the vintage preamp for a more rich tone without having to use multiple plugins. Very happy with the results.

Pros: portable, well-built with classy wood panels reminiscent of Moog pedals, 2 headphone inputs for independent monitoring, Mono button for mixing, multiple monitoring capabilities and a good amount of quality software. Budget price.

Cons: no internal dsp, like in the Apollo models. This isn’t such a big issue for me, as the included software bundle makes up for the lack of dsp.

Overall, I’m elated with this purchase and plan to write another review in a few months. I’m running an old 2011 MBP with a Mojave patch, so make sure your computer is compatible with Mojave or later if you’re running Mac OS. Flawless service from Thomann as usual.

A solid audio interface with plenty to like:
1. Great pre-amps on all channels - vocals sound clean and uncoloured, electric guitar/bass sound rich even through DI.
2. Intuitive hardware design - IO are easy to access, layout of buttons and knobs are good, meters are clear.


What could be better:
Shared phantom power button - having 1 button shared across all channels could potentially damage your mics if not mindful.

Reasons to go for a different option:
Lack of expandability - doesn't have spdif for additional inputs. If you want spdif expandability, go for the Audient ID44 MKii, which is its direct competitor.

Why you should get the Volt 476p:
Sounds good, looks good and comes with a number of great plugins. Along with the Audient ID44, this is probably the best bang for the buck mid-range interface.

I researched several audio interfaces at different price points, concluding that for my needs and at this price point, the Volt 476P was the very best choice.

The inputs/outputs are sufficient for my use with a synthesizer and MPC, both in stereo. The build quality of the interface appears to be excellent, as is the unit's aesthetics. The dials and buttons all feel great.

The highlights of this interface are also its quick set-up time, ease of use and for my personal use requirement; monitoring of audio is easily the best I could find.

The included software is very good. As for the on-board (hardware) effects, I like it them a lot, even if they are not highly customizable. I have not tried the included Luna DAW software, but I definitely plan to when required.

I wish I could have purchased this interface at the current price, but I am still highly satisfied. Overall, simply a joy to use.