Behringer U-phoria Umc404hd (4x4 Usb Audio Interface) Review
BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC404HD Review
I feel like an donkey. I posted a fairly long and scathing review of the UMC404 that concluded it'south fine equally an entry level interface and unusable compared to the ID22.
Just...likely the drivers did not install correctly or were in conflict with something on my Windows install.
Before I put information technology back in the box for the return I installed the drivers on a dissimilar system and tried the UMC on that.
It sounded...well it sounded good. Maybe great? Probable great in comparison to how I thought it did audio. The large problem before were the pres were very noisy. Now the pre'due south are actually quiet, all the way up. In fact, now the pre's provide more proceeds and are as quiet as the pre'due south on the ID22.
How practise they audio? They sound expert!
Is it every bit adept as the ID22? Well I tin't say. I haven't recorded a session with diverse instruments. Only I did record audio-visual and electric guitar through both to compare them. At that place were differences simply but based on those tracks alone I feel totally confident that yous could make a neat sounding recording using the thing.
So I take information technology back, for now. The UMC404 sounds shockingly good for the $eighty I got information technology for. Literally shocking.
Concluding edited past jrevel; 25th September 2016 at 08:46 PM..
implying BEHRINGER ever made quality stuff
ok so im planning on getting this unit. Had a few doubts though. I want to use this interface live with my ring...just wanted to know if i can ship a seperate mix to the drummer (with a click)...and a seperate for FOH? thanks!
Generally I don't even look at Behringer products any more. Merely I only checked a couple of recording demos on YouTube done on Behringer U-phoria UMC series interfaces. Those preamps sound unbelievably proficient considering the price!
For the price range the electronic/circuits Beheringer uses isn't bad. Where they cut costs is in the pots and connectors which are the cheapest made. Since these are things users dispense the most they are the first things to fail, and they are the reason the manufacture has a bad rep.
I own several pieces of they're gear. I have one of they're 12 channel mixers I bought used for $50 and left it sitting out uncovered for several months. Dust got into the slider and made the contacts fail. I eventually got it cleaned and working again, but the fabric used to block the slider holes could have been better to prevent that from happening. Another example is with they're pedals. They use cheap plastic jacks and PC mount pots. I put a niggling weight on an input jack and the contacts inside the jack bent so I had intermittent contacts. I had to go into the jack with a spring hook and bend it back to get information technology to piece of work properly over again.
Whatsoever kind of musical gear needs those key areas to be durable considering they are usually the first things that fail. If they were to beef those areas up they gear wouldn't exist that bad at all.
As far every bit they're interfaces get, Tascam has multichannel interfaces in the same price ranges. The builds and audio quality are incredible for they're price ranges. They are solid metal rack units with loftier quality pots jacks and switches. I bought ane of they're vi channel U.s.a.-1200'due south on sale from MF for $89. I found another on EBay in mint condition for $80 with free shipping. I program on buying they're 16 aqueduct version to supercede my studio DAW'due south PCI card setup at some point. I have 24 channels available but rarely if always employ more than and so 16. The unit cost of the US-1600 is $250 new which is better then anything else I've seen available.
The 4 channel Version is a chip high. I think its in the $150 range. That's a bit more then the Behringer but that's likely because its a 4X4. Its also the adjacent stride upward from a 2X2 so its a matter of supply and demand. I'd rather spend $100 more and have 16 channels any day. That way I can record a total pulsate set and band without having to worry about having enough channels.
Gear Nut
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrevel ➡️
I feel like an donkey. I posted a fairly long and scathing review of the UMC404 that ended it's fine as an entry level interface
That'due south an interesting interpretation of the word "scathing."
Lives for gear
I had a pair of Behringer monitors years ago that sounded great and translated well. They were better than many monitors twice their price.
I've had two friends whose Behringer mixers outlasted their Mackies.
Their ADA8000 converters are generally regarded as very usable, even by people who can afford better.
I think a lot of the detest is undeserved.
Gear Maniac
I used 1. A dainty piece of kit for non a lot of money considered yous tin can't go four Midas preamps for that cost, so it's like the A/d converters and MIDI interface is gratuitous.
Information technology certainly seems sturdier than the Focusrite Scarlett comparable model. That affair was extremely buggy and Focusrite had bad support.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bill5 ➡️
That's an interesting estimation of the word "scathing."
In my defense I'chiliad sure I meant to either use a unlike give-and-take or my phone auto-corrected.
But that should not finish you from making a lilliputian and inconsequential contribution to this thread.
Guilty as charged. Was just poking you lot in the ribs to kid and didn't do a good job of making that clear. It was but funny when I read it 
Anyway, I do not ain anything Behringer, simply my impression is also generally that the hate-hype is overdone. I reserve the right to change my heed if I buy.
Lives for gear
404- better than it has any right to exist
I bought the 404HD on a whim, having always been disappointed with the quality of all Behringer gear that I owned in years past - but must say (especially for the money) information technology'southward quite good.
Absolutely silent, cracking dynamic range and with LPX, unless y'all're pushing 24/192, there's been no perceptible latency through the USB interface when over-dubbing even through my MBP directly.
My simply complaint is the lack of a dedicated power switch, and so I leave it on all the time, merely information technology's never given me any issues and is a real steal and has notwithstanding to exhibit a single hiccup since I bought information technology when kickoff released.
I know that at that place are better interfaces on the market, of course, but for the bit depth and sample charge per unit that this offers and the quality of output with no latency in my setup (24/96) information technology's incommunicable to shell for the $$ and it'south very well put together and portable also.
Now, the fact that it beat the Mytek Brooklyn as a DAC as noted above (although no DSD, only 192K) is pretty impressive.
Even if it dies on me, I'd probably get another.
I highly recommend information technology without hesitation.
Gregko
Gear Nut
Quote:
Originally Posted by GregkoNYC ➡️
I bought the 404HD on a whim, having always been disappointed with the quality of all Behringer gear that I owned in years past - but must say (especially for the coin) it's quite good.
Admittedly silent, great dynamic range and with LPX, unless you lot're pushing 24/192, there's been no perceptible latency through the USB interface when over-dubbing even through my MBP direct.
My only complaint is the lack of a dedicated power switch, so I exit it on all the time, but information technology's never given me any issues and is a real steal and has yet to exhibit a single hiccup since I bought it when outset released.
I know that there are better interfaces on the marketplace, of course, but for the bit depth and sample rate that this offers and the quality of output with no latency in my setup (24/96) it's incommunicable to beat for the $$ and it's very well put together and portable likewise.
Now, the fact that it shell the Mytek Brooklyn as a DAC every bit noted higher up (although no DSD, only 192K) is pretty impressive.
Even if it dies on me, I'd probably become another.
I highly recommend it without hesitation.
Gregko
Sadly, I purchased one to endeavor against my Brooklyn also. Nonetheless, it didn't have enough gain to become direct to my Crown DCi which drives my JBL M2 Master Reference Monitors.
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted past wrgkmc ➡️
For the price range the electronic/circuits Beheringer uses isn't bad. Where they cutting costs is in the pots and connectors which are the cheapest made. Since these are things users dispense the most they are the first things to fail, and they are the reason the manufacture has a bad rep.
I own several pieces of they're gear. I take one of they're 12 channel mixers I bought used for $l and left it sitting out uncovered for several months. Dust got into the slider and made the contacts fail. I eventually got information technology cleaned and working again, simply the material used to cake the slider holes could have been amend to prevent that from happening. Another instance is with they're pedals. They use cheap plastic jacks and PC mount pots. I put a little weight on an input jack and the contacts within the jack bent so I had intermittent contacts. I had to get into the jack with a spring claw and curve it back to get information technology to work properly again.
Whatsoever kind of musical gear needs those key areas to be durable because they are normally the first things that fail. If they were to beef those areas up they gear wouldn't exist that bad at all.
That`s a real trouble for myself, anyways. I desire to experience SOLID pots, etc. I could probably forgive, and even probably not even notice if the insides were at to the lowest degree decent. Only turning a knob and information technology feels all loose, or sliding a slider and it`due south sloppy feeling is a Total bargain breaker. Although all the issues I`ve had with them when I "flake the bullet" were those that I described, and excessive noise. Jeez, can information technology really toll THAT much to fix these problems? Does EVERY office accept to be the cheapest of the cheap? People would pay an extra 5 bucks for solid pots, etc. It`s kinda similar the Peavey story. A history of making the worst amps ever, all the style to making amps for EVH and revamping their ain line. I call up information technology`due south been discontinued, but the Valve King freaking sounded Awesome! I almost bought i for christ sake. If Behringer could turn it around like that, certain, I`ll but their gear all day. I`d rather pay More than for a well-built Behringer piece than "unbelievably inexpensive" for a sloppy-knobbed, noisy piece. One of the few times I`d say "pass the cost to the consumer..Please!"
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtwrace ➡️
Sadly, I purchased one to endeavor against my Brooklyn as well. However, it didn't accept enough gain to go direct to my Crown DCi which drives my JBL M2 Chief Reference Monitors.
Yes output level is a place they cut corners on the 404 and 204.
behringer umc202hd has minimal gain
originally had tascam us-1800 - thru GB.
and then got a focusrite scarlett solo cause everything i could find out about it was raves about their preamps.
and so i heard almost uphoria.....& everything i could detect out was positive plus actually and then much more affordable $...so i got the 202hd.
afterwards looking, and searching for a better daw that didnt price a m - i have presonus i v3 artist....really very, very squeamish. intuitive GUI & loaded with dainty features.
stop of story - focusrite 50db of gain is really nice & quiet. tascam has a tad less proceeds - but more versatile also with quiet & clean preamps for a upkeep interface.
behringer....not and so much.
50% less proceeds than other two. i deceit use information technology.
its quite possible, since im still learning that im doing something wrong - but if i can get proficient results from the other two interfaces, i would hope that the fault does not belong to me.
comments / questions / suggestions are truly welcome.
nigh everyone on here knows a boatload more than me - and has the experience to dorsum it upwards.
thanks all.
I was later on an ada8200 to expand my iD22. Found a refurbed umc 1820 for cheaper than the 8200. Bought it expecting to send it back afterwards 10 minutes. However got it, and gonna go on it. Software is pretty basic only hey - for less than a decent plug-in who cares. Built like a encarmine tank likewise. Prolly however gonna get an 8200
The fact that there are quite a few refurbed ones nearly tells information technology'southward own story about the manufacturing side tho'....
Lives for gear
I have a Uphoria UMC202HD. I bought it at a time I was strapped for cash and needed an interface. Well 6 months later information technology still works and runs 18 hours a day every twenty-four hour period. The pots were smooth and precise in the beginning and lo and behold are nevertheless smooth and precise. No looseness at all which is a common Berhinger complaint. It sounds cracking peculiarly putting the mics directly into the interface. In this respect it sounds a off-white amount better than going through my Mackie 1202 or my Xenyx 1202. The UphoriaUMC202HD I take is quiet and make clean, about clinical in it's accuracy. Oh and yes Virgina information technology sounds noticeably better than my once prized Audio Labs PCI bill of fare I used for years. Every occupation and interest needs a whipping boy to badmouth and in the world of audio/recording gear Berhinger seems to be that whipping male child. But I don't buy into the thought information technology's crap. Going back to my pair of 1202 mixers my Xenyx 1202 is getting on being a decade old and information technology has likely a couple of thousand hours on it. And it has held up as well as my Mackie 1202 which is the aforementioned age. My Xenyx was a souvenir but the UMC202HD was a conscious conclusion and I see no reason to upgrade information technology whatever time presently. So if folks go nice results from Behringer these days I'k not at all surprised.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gotthebug ➡️
finish of story - focusrite 50db of gain is really nice & quiet. tascam has a tad less proceeds - merely more versatile too with quiet & clean preamps for a budget interface.
behringer....not so much.
50% less gain than other two. i cant utilise it.
No offense only I'm a piddling skeptical that the Behringer (or whatsoever modern AI, really) has only 25db of proceeds. May I ask where you got those numbers? I didn't see annihilation anywhere; oddly, almost companies are non at all forthcoming, almost downright secretive about it (course if those numbers are right I could understand why).
...
Last edited by Deleted c2a9416; 4th June 2018 at 07:49 AM.. Reason: can't be bothered
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by gotthebug ➡️
originally had tascam u.s.a.-1800 - thru GB.
then got a focusrite scarlett solo cause everything i could find out about it was raves about their preamps.
so i heard nearly uphoria.....& everything i could notice out was positive plus really so much more affordable $...so i got the 202hd.
afterwards looking, and searching for a better daw that didnt price a grand - i accept presonus one v3 artist....really very, very overnice. intuitive GUI & loaded with nice features.
end of story - focusrite 50db of gain is really nice & quiet. tascam has a tad less gain - but more versatile also with quiet & clean preamps for a budget interface.
behringer....non so much.
50% less gain than other two. i cant apply it.
its quite possible, since im still learning that im doing something incorrect - but if i tin get good results from the other two interfaces, i would hope that the fault does not belong to me.
comments / questions / suggestions are truly welcome.
most everyone on here knows a boatload more than me - and has the experience to dorsum information technology up.
thanks all.
Strangely, I went through almost the same progression, but with different results.
Started with a US 2000 - thought the pre-amps were noisy and didn't audio too proficient.
Went to a Scarlett 2i2 . Nice mic pre- amps, neat latency when used with a single VST musical instrument, Simply continuous and about seemingly random clicks and pops when running multi tracks. Fifty-fifty using the biggest possible, buffers made no difference.
Relegated the Scarlett to my laptop for alive use, where it works nicely.
Rather gun shy about buying an expensive interface later on the Scarlett experience , bought the 404. Mic pre-amp near as good ( no proceeds problems for me) , drivers better - handles mixes that would have made the Scarlett click and popular like my knees on a bad day.
Does take a trend to get into la la land if I'thousand sharing the device, and switch from a 48K source to a 44K source while both are open up.
Yeah the 202 is on my short list. Heck the UM2 might piece of work, all I need is i mic jack
EDIT: take it back, nothing less than the 204. Need MIDI. doh.
Quote:
Originally Posted past nt2a ➡️
implying BEHRINGER ever made quality stuff
"23rd September 2016"
Quoting this funny post from 2018
a question on umc404, i tin can't find the answer elsewhere:
tin it be used as a 4 preamp box?
in other words, does input bespeak go straight to output, no a/d conversion?
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted past bill5 ➡️
No offense simply I'k a trivial skeptical that the Behringer (or any modern AI, really) has only 25db of gain. May I enquire where yous got those numbers?
Half the volume of 50dB is 44dB, non 25..
He said 50% less gain, not volume, and the 204 has 56db...somehow I incertitude the 404 has whatever less, though it's certainly possible (their user manual didn't say, which is amazingly common).
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by bill5
fifty% less gain, not volume
I stand corrected!
Quote:
Originally Posted by analog greg ➡️
a question on umc404, i tin't find the answer elsewhere:
tin can it be used as a 4 preamp box?
in other words, does input signal become direct to output, no a/d conversion?
There are inserts on the umc404 so in theory you lot could use the output of the insert as a postal service-preamp output. Is there a particular reason y'all'd want to do that?
Lives for gear
Quote:
Is at that place a particular reason y'all'd desire to do that?
If he'southward got spare inputs but non enough preamps.
Lives for gear
I am thoroughly happy with my UMC202HD. It's power to take line outs with volume pot is proving very handy. This thing sounds clean and clear. The mic pres are equal to mic pres on my Macki 1202 and are superior to my Berhinger Zenyx 1202. So it's win win. The pots in my unit are solid with a firm shine activeness and very linear gain. I had to buy my UMC202 in an emergency and originally I was going to upgrade the 202 merely it sounds and performs so well I tin can find no reason to upgrade. I suppose I can discover amend simply look to pay 5X more than the 202 toll. Focusrite grabs a lot of attention only this Berhinger series is equal to the Scarlets and in some was ameliorate.
Source: https://gearspace.com/board/low-end-theory/1113758-behringer-u-phoria-umc404hd-review.html
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