Universal Audio - Volt 4 Max

The Volt 4 Max Universal Audio is a versatile USB audio interface for the studio, featuring 12 inputs and 6 outputs that make it easy to record multiple sources simultaneously, connect external equipment and manage more complex monitoring set-ups. Its 2 mic/line inputs, front-panel Hi-Z instrument inputs and MIDI connections also allow you to bring together vocals, guitars, synthesisers and controllers within a single workspace, without cluttering up your desk with extra equipment.

The 32-bit/192 kHz converters, with up to 127 dB of dynamic range, ensure highly detailed capture, ideal for musical recordings where every nuance counts, with headphone and speaker outputs designed to maintain precise signal monitoring. Universal Audio has thus designed this interface with studio-grade quality in mind, featuring a bus-powered USB architecture.

The two Universal Audio tone-shaping preamps offer 60 dB of gain and three harmonic profiles – Warmth, Focus and Shine – which provide character inspired by analogue circuits to give recordings a distinct tone right from the start. This range is complemented by real-time Max processing, including six compression presets covering vocals, guitars and basses, with sound references drawn from classic compressors such as the LA-2A and 1176.

The central colour Smart Display brings together information on levels, settings and gain reduction in an instantly readable format, making it easier to monitor the signal when multiple sources are connected or when routing changes occur. Auto-Gain quickly adjusts recording levels, whilst Clip Protection limits the risks associated with unexpected peaks, ensuring a clean take even when the dynamics of a performance vary significantly during a recording session – with a system that prioritises the music over fiddling with the meter readings.

The Volt 4 Max is also suitable for content creation set-ups thanks to its loopback function, which makes it easy to mix audio sources from the computer with those from production or broadcast software, and features a built-in talkback microphone for studio communication. The speaker selector switch between two pairs of monitors and the two headphone outputs with a shared mix cue further expand the possibilities for control and collaboration.

An optical input allows you to add up to 8 digital channels using compatible equipment, whilst the MIDI In and Out ports enable communication with keyboards, synthesisers and other music production devices. The built-in USB hub also provides a host connection and power for external MIDI controllers, helping to organise a workstation where instruments and peripherals are already taking up some of the available sockets, whilst ensuring the layout remains suitable for an evolving creative space.