Audio Interface comparison - (I won't be "upgraded" to a Focusrite)

[fep]

This is really well done and the results are surprising.

[va3ux]

That is a very informative and well done video. Thanks for posting.

[GuyBoden]

Excellent, thanks for posting, I am so surprised that the very inexpensive Behringer UMC with Midas Mic Preamplifiers is rated very highly.

I might buy the inexpensive Behringer UMC with Midas Mic Preamplifier, so I can test it.

Edit: I prefer a dedicated line-in input than a combo input (mic/line-in combined).

[fep]

Excellent, thanks for posting, I am so surprised that the very inexpensive Behringer UMC with Midas Mic Preamplifiers is rated very highly.

I might buy the inexpensive Behringer UMC with Midas Mic Preamplifier, so I can test it.

Edit: I prefer a dedicated line-in input than a combo input (mic/line-in combined).

Yes, the Behringer UMC is surprising. I do record vocals so I like that the direct monitoring does not go thru digital conversion with the inevitable associated latency (unlike almost all the other interfaces). The demonstration of the comb filtering even with a tiny bit of latency was very dramatic.

I've had no problems with the combo mic/line in inputs on any of my gear that has it.

[GuyBoden]

I've had no problems with the combo mic/line in inputs on any of my gear that has it.

When using an in-line signal, most Audio Interfaces that have combo mic/in-line input socket drop the in-line signal volume and then send it through the mic preamp. Ideally, the line-in signal should bypass the mic preamp.

[equenda]

Very interesting video.
However, I had purchased a Behringer UMC404HD interface and was forced to sell it because the XLR and TRS audio inputs went into clipping/overloading very easily.
The same problem does not arise with the new Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 which in my opinion also has a better sound.

Ettore

My website

[fep]

Very interesting video.
However, I had purchased a Behringer UMC404HD interface and was forced to sell it because the XLR and TRS audio inputs went into clipping/overloading very easily.
The same problem does not arise with the new Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 which in my opinion also has a better sound.

Ettore

My website

Why wouldn't you just lower the input knob and/or engage the pad on the interface?

With my guitar plugged in direct or from a direct box to my umc404HD, I have the input control knob at about 11 o'clock (with my guitar volume and tone knobs all the way up). That puts me at about -18 to -12 db on the DAW which is where you want to be.

With a condenser mic, I have the input knob at a little less than 10 o'clock.

I haven't had to use the pad button on the interface.

Note that you don't want to run as hot as you can without clipping the DAW, that was old school recording to tape recommendations and is not optimal with recording to a DAW.

As far as the Focusrite sounding better, the Focusrite scored worse on the two most important tests of sound floor and preamp coloration. I do think the differences are pretty minute and he passed the audio through 50 times to illustrate the coloration. Even with that it wasn't that obvious.

[fep]

When using an in-line signal, most Audio Interfaces that have combo mic/in-line input socket drop the in-line signal volume and then send it through the mic preamp. Ideally, the line-in signal should bypass the mic preamp.

The guy who did the video said that want to bypass the preamp (not just a mic preamp) if you have your own external preamps, otherwise you want to go thru the preamps. I think only two of the audio interfaces that he tested allowed you to bypass the preamp.

[GuyBoden]

The guy who did the video said that want to bypass the preamp (not just a mic preamp) if you have your own external preamps, otherwise you want to go thru the preamps. I think only two of the audio interfaces that he tested allowed you to bypass the preamp.

Many thanks for the advice, I'll buy the inexpensive Behringer UMC with Midas Mic Preamplifier.

[fep]

Many thanks for the advice, I'll buy the inexpensive Behringer UMC with Midas Mic Preamplifier.

Funny thing, I watched that video because I was thinking of upgrading to a Focusrite from a Behringer UMC404HD. My takeaway is I probably couldn't tell an audio difference from one to the next. I'm just going to keep what I have.

I have a Behringer UMC404HD for my home desktop and a UMC202HD for my laptop travel computer. I'd recommend not getting the UMC202HD, get the UMC204HD for just $10 more (or the UMC404HD $40 more). The 202 has a direct monitoring button whereas the 204 and the 404 have a direct monitoring blend dial which is much more useful. Behringer has just recently rolled back all their prices to pre-pandemic pricing.

The crazy deal is the Behringer U-Phoria UMC1820 with 8 midas preamps, two headphone outs, and 8 line outs, for $189. With that and a headphone distribution amp, you could do silent/headphone band rehearsals, and with reaper you could enable everyone to control their own monitor mix from their smartphone.
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[JazzNote]

This is really well done and the results are surprising.

For my ears, even through the "lousy" speakers of a 2017 Macbook Pro, the Apollo sounds more pleasant than the Behringer. Also with my AKG headphones. Interestingly, when listening through the macbook speakers the Apollo appears to have more depth, sounding bigger than the Behringer, listening through the AKG K712 the Behringer sounds big and a little compressed, while the Apollo appears to be pleasantly lighter with more depth.

[GuyBoden]

For my ears, even through the "lousy" speakers of a 2017 Macbook Pro, the Apollo sounds more pleasant than the Behringer. Also with my AKG headphones. Interestingly, when listening through the macbook speakers the Apollo appears to have more depth, sounding bigger than the Behringer, listening through the AKG K712 the Behringer sounds big and a little compressed, while the Apollo appears to be pleasantly lighter with more depth.

I've starting putting the output from my audio Interface through my Allen&Heath mixer, it sounds better, sweeter and more alive. To my old ears at least.