Capture Classic Sounds Anywhere with Volt

Learn everything about UA's flagship USB audio interfaces for musicians and creators.

Whether you’re building your first desktop recording setup, upgrading or expanding your existing studio, or building a mobile recording rig, selecting a new audio interface is no small task. Sound, versatility, and convenience all compete against a backdrop of price. With Volt USB Recording Studios, you get a thoughtfully designed all-in-one option from Universal Audio that checks every box.

News flash: There are countless affordable USB audio interfaces available on the market today, many of them ready to serviceably convert your mic, line, and guitar-level signals into clean digital audio on your Mac, iOS, or Windows-based recording system.

What sets Volt interfaces apart, however, is their built-in analog studio processing, which puts inspiring Vintage mic preamp and classic compression sounds a single button press away. Married to a suite of UAD plug-ins and the LUNA DAW, Volt proves that you can sound legendary, without being a legendary sound engineer.

This article will dive into Volt's key features in a bit more detail. 

Get modern features with vintage tone from start to finish with Volt USB Recording Studios.

Built-In Vintage Preamps with Colorful Tube Tone

After your microphone, the next thing your signal hits is the preamp of your audio interface. Short for “pre-amplifier,” a preamp's primary purpose is to take the information from a mic, instrument, or other source (-40 dBu or lower) and bring it up to the proper level for recording (typically, +4 dBu or peaking around -18 to -10 dBFS in modern digital recording).

Beyond that, mic preamps add their own tonal signature to your tracks — whether it's a clean solid state preamp or a more colorful tube design. Volt gives you the option to select between neutral preamps for pristine-sounding recordings, or Vintage preamp mode for classic, tube-like harmonics. 

Read: Top 5 Reasons Mic Preamps Matter

Easily add rich saturation and tone-shaping to tracks with Vintage preamp mode.

Based on the renowned UA 610 console tube preamp, introduced in 1958 and used to record everyone from the Beach Boys to Arcade Fire, Volt's Vintage preamp mode adds rich tube-like harmonic saturation to your recordings. This is an instant shortcut to a more colorful sound — helping key elements like your vocals and acoustic guitars stand out in the mix. 

Want to learn more about the history of the 610? Get the full story about how it’s been defining recordings for decades from UA’s Bill Putnam Jr.

Read: Discover the Legacy of Universal Audio in Muscle Shoals

Legendary Compression for Studio Vocals, Guitars, and More 

Compression is one of the most important types of processing when recording, mixing, and even mastering your tracks. To put it simply, a compressor is a tool to control dynamic range — taking the loudest parts of a sound and bringing them down in volume to make them more consistent with the quieter parts. And much like preamps, audio compressors impart their own sonic signature to your sources.

Read: Audio Compression Basics

Add punch and dynamic with built in "76" compression.

All Volt 76 interfaces include genuine analog compression circuitry on every channel inspired by our 1176LN Limiting Amplifier — a worldwide studio favorite since 1968. Famous for its ability to add punch and presence to any source, the 1176 is the compressor behind everyone from Bob Marley to Beyoncé to Led Zeppelin.

While the 1176 is a legendary piece of equipment, it can take years to learn how to properly coax its magic. Luckily, Volt 76 interfaces feature a built-in 76 Compressor with preset options for vocals, guitar, and transient heavy sources like percussion. 

Want to hear Volt's 76 Compressor and Vintage preamp mode in action? Check out our collection of sound examples.

Interested in taking a deeper look at the 1176LN Limiting Amplifier? 

Read: What Makes the 1176 Compressor so good?

 

A Full Audio Production Suite with LUNA

Volt is more than just a USB audio interface. While hardware is at the heart of any recording setup, it’s the software that brings great music across the finish line. Volt includes a collection of acclaimed UAD Native plug-ins as well as LUNA, UA’s award-winning DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). But more importantly, this software is elegantly integrated with Volt hardware — so you're able to get album-ready results, right out of the box.


Volt and LUNA are the perfect pair, from demo to radio.

Faster Music Production with AI-Powered Tools

LUNA is UA's DAW built upon vintage analog studio tone, so you can sound like the records you love. It comes with Oxide Tape Recorder for built-in tape saturation, and you can upgrade LUNA with extra extensions or LUNA Pro, expanding your studio with the sound of vintage recording consoles from Neve and API, plus tape machines from Studer and Ampex. 

“I grew up using tape and analog consoles, and LUNA is as close as I can get to the sound and workflow of my old Studer and Neve setups.”

Butch Walker (Green Day, Weezer, Fall Out Boy)

LUNA is packed with AI-powered tools that keep you focused on the music while it handles the setup. Instrument Detection automatically names and color-codes your tracks, Smart Tempo intelligently sets the metronome to the feel of your song, and “Hey LUNA” Voice Control lets you start recording from anywhere in the room — a game-changer when you’re recording solo.

 

Authentic Analog Sound with Acclaimed UAD Native Plug-Ins

Plug-ins are key for processing your tracks and getting a professional, polished sound. The UAD Native plug-ins that come with Volt are carefully curated to ensure you have industry standard tools right out of the box.

If you’re a vocalist, you can add amazing warmth and dynamics control with the Teletronix LA-2A Compressor, sparkle and polish with the Pultec EQs, and natural depth and shimmer with Pure Plate Reverb.

If you’re after that perfect guitar tone, you could grab the Century Tube Channel Strip, for a vintage-style tube mic preamp, simple three-band EQ, and optical compressor followed by a Galaxy Tape Echo for timeless delay and spring reverb sounds.

For beatmakers and electronic music producers, check out PolyMAX Synth for lush poly synth sounds with album‑ready presets and simple, intuitive controls, and Verve Analog Machines Essentials to give your kicks, snares, synth, and vocals gritty tape warmth and texture.

 

Mobile Recording with iOS Devices 

Whether you’re recording at home or in the field, Volt USB Recording Studios let you capture your sound quickly and easily. Not only compatible with your macOS or Windows computer, Volt interfaces can also record directly to iOS devices like iPad and iPhone for high-quality mobile recording.

Combine that with the fact most Volt interfaces (apart from the 476, 476P and 876) work via USB bus power, meaning they don’t need an outlet or power supply, and Volt can help you create anywhere on the move.

To fully appreciate its mobile capabilities, check out Queentide’s cover of Masterpiece by Big Thief recorded in the Northern California redwoods.

Read: Portable Recording with Volt Interfaces

 

Bigger Sessions with More Inputs

If you’re recording larger sessions, tracking full bands, or mixing with outboard gear, expanded I/O is a must. Whether you’re already rocking an Apollo and need more inputs, or are looking to build a larger recording setup from the ground up, Volt 876 is the perfect solution. As the flagship model of the family, it’s the most fully capable and feature packed Volt USB Recording Studio.

Get analog sound for the whole band with volt 876.

With digitally-controlled Vintage Preamps featuring Assistive Auto-Gain, and real analog 76 compressors across all 8 inputs, multi-mic sources like drums can go from clean to colorful before they even hit the DAW. Combine that with upgraded 32-bit / 192 kHz professional-quality conversion, and you have a recipe for unmatched flexibility. That’s true whether you have one Volt 876, two or three linked via ADAT for up to a 24 in / 28 out rig, or even a multi-interface system with an Apollo or other compatible audio interface.

On top of the suite of UAD plug-ins that comes with every Volt USB Recording Studio, 876 also comes equipped with powerful LUNA and UAD console integration for even more versatility. With full session recall of front-panel settings, built-in talkback, and two low latency cues all available without touching your interface, sessions have never felt smoother, especially when recording in the LUNA DAW and its beautifully elegant single-window workflow. 

Thanks for reading! Thoughts? Comments? Let us know at uablog@uaudio.com

— Austin Lyons

* Use of an artist's name or likeness does not constitute an official endorsement of Universal Audio products.