Volt 4 Max USB Audio Interface

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Volt 4 Max USB Audio Interface

A record-making machine for your studio.

Tone Shaping Preamps. Get the rich, full character of a record, not a demo.
Max Processing. Record with classic compressor presets tuned for vocals, guitar, and bass.
Full 32-Bit Audio. Capture your performance in incredible detail, with legendary UA quality.
Expanded I/O. Capture your vocals and instruments simultaneously, connect external hardware over MIDI, and add inputs over ADAT.
Smart Display. Select channels and set levels fast, with bright visual feedback.
Auto-Gain & Clip Protection. Never worry about signal peaks ruining your take again.
Easy to Use. Quickly connect and record using your favorite music apps.
Premium UAD Software. Get the same EQs, compressors, synths, and guitar amps used by the pros, plus the award-winning LUNA DAW.

Downloads & Details

Downloads

Download UA Connect

Read Manual

Details

12-in / 6-out desktop USB audio interface with professional 32-bit / 192 kHz audio conversion
Two Tone Shaping Preamps with 60 dB gain and three harmonic character modes — Warmth, Focus, and Shine — for the rich sounds of classic analog mic preamps at the source
Max Processing — onboard realtime compression with six musical presets for vocals, guitars, and bass, modeled on classics like the LA-2A and 1176
Over 18 character combinations by pairing Tone and Max, all completely noise-free
Two mic / line inputs with two front-panel Hi-Z instrument inputs, plus additional line I/O for external gear
Speaker switching between two sets of monitors (Main and Alt)
Built-in talkback microphone for effortless studio communication
ADAT or S/PDIF optical input for up to eight channels of digital expansion, plus MIDI In and Out
Onboard USB hub for connecting peripherals and powering external MIDI controllers
Full-color Smart Display for bright, at-a-glance visual feedback, including gain-reduction metering
Auto-Gain and Clip Protection for perfect recording levels, every time
Two studio-quality headphone outputs (with one shared cue mix) for monitoring and collaboration
Full integration with the UAD Console app and LUNA, including session recall and low-latency cue mixes
Built-in loopback for podcasting, streaming and content creation
Independent 48V phantom power per channel for condenser microphones
USB bus-powered and class-compliant for easy setup with Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone*
Stylish, rugged construction built to withstand years of use

What’s Included

Included Volt Software (Subject to Change)

UAD Volt Studio Bundle

LUNA Free
Topline Vocal Tune
UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection
Century Tube Channel Strip
Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor
UA 1176 Classic FET Compressor
Pure Plate Reverb
Galaxy Tape Echo
Oxide Tape Recorder
Vibe Analog Machines
Vibe Analog Machines Essentials
PolyMAX Synth
Anthem Analog Synth
UAD Lion '68 Super Lead Amp
UAD Showtime ’64 Tube Amp

Additional Software

Melodyne Essential by Celemony
Ampeg® SVT-VR Classic Bass Bundle by Plugin Alliance (Includes Ampeg SVT-VR Classic, bx_Tuner, bx_Masterdesk_Classic)
Virtual Drummer DEEP by UJAM
Virtual Bassist DANDY by UJAM
Splice INSTRUMENT
Prisma - Producer Lab by UVI
FL Studio Producer Edition (3 months free)
Access to exclusive Puremix audio education content

12-In / 6-Out

Tone-Shaping Preamps

Max Processing

Full 32-Bit Audio

Premium UAD Software

Speaker Switching

Built-In Talkback Mic

Easy to Use

Studio Sound at the Push of a Button

Home recordings and phone demos can sound thin and lifeless. Volt Max gives your recordings incredible tone right from the start. With three harmonic mic preamp modes — Warmth, Focus, and Shine — you can quickly add Tube, Solid State, and British Class-A tone to everything you record.

Add Punch with Max Processing

Volt Max lets you punch up your vocals, guitars, bass, and other sources as you track, thanks to Max dynamics processing. With six push-button presets ranging from “Rap Vocals” to “Jangly Acoustic,” you’ll get big, radio-ready sounds based on our venerable 1176 and LA-2A studio compressors. Combined with its three preamp modes, it puts 18 inspiring sonic possibilities right at your fingertips.

Hear Every Detail with 32-Bit Converters

When you capture that perfect take, Volt Max’s best-in-class 32-bit / 192 kHz converters preserve every detail, exactly as it happened. And with loud, clear speaker and headphone outputs, you’ll get the perfect monitoring levels, from your first take to your final mix.

Capture Bigger Ideas with More I/O

With Volt Max, your audio interface never becomes a bottleneck. Use its dual mic and Hi-Z instrument inputs to record multiple vocalists and instruments at the same time. Tap into clean 48V phantom power for your fancy studio condenser mics. Connect your controllers and synths over MIDI. And with ADAT you can add eight more digital inputs, should the need arise.

See the Big Picture with Smart Display

Volt Max’s beautiful full-color Smart Display shows your inputs, levels, and settings in detail. So you spend less time setting up and more time creating.

Get the Perfect Levels with Auto-Gain

Nothing’s worse than a great take wrecked by digital distortion. Auto-Gain sets your recording levels in seconds, and Clip Protection catches unexpected peaks. So you can focus on the performance instead of the meters.

Start Making Music in Minutes

When you’re inspired, every second counts. Thankfully, Volt Max is ready, willing, and USB class-compliant on Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone.* No downloads or drivers. Works with any DAW. So you can be up and recording in minutes.

Shape Your Songs with UAD Plug-Ins and LUNA

Every Volt includes over 15 UAD plug-ins and instruments — the same software used to create and mix countless hit records for decades. Plus you get LUNA, our award-winning DAW with authentic “big studio” sound and smart tools designed to make recording easy.

Ideal for Podcasts and Livestreams

Volt Max’s Loopback feature allows you to blend live sources with computer audio. So you can mix podcasts and livestreams in realtime. Or just level up your video calls. There’s even a Talkback mic to communicate with talent. It’s the same way pro broadcasters work, built into every Volt.

*Requires an Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (except iPhone / iPads with USB-C). Windows systems use the ASIO driver, available in the UA Connect app. Requirements for bus-power vary by model and device.

Specifications

I/O

Simultaneous I/O: 12-in / 6-out
Microphone Preamps: Two, 60 dB available gain with Tone Shaping, Harmonic Saturation, and Max Compression
Monitor Outputs: Two stereo (main and alt speaker switching)
Headphone Outputs: Two stereo (one shared cue mix)
USB: One USB 2.0 Host port One USB Hub port for peripherals – supplies 5VDC @ 0.5A maximum One USB External Power input port – requires 5VDC @ 1.5A minimum (3A provided with unit) USB Type-C connectors
Digital / Optical: ADAT or S/PDIF optical input ADAT IN: 8 channels at 44.1 and 48 kHz - S/MUX capable 4 channels at 96 kHz - S/MUX capable 2 channels at 192 kHz S/PDIF IN: 2 channels at all supported sample rates
MIDI: In, Out, 1/8" TRS Mini-Jack MIDI Type A
Talkback: Built-in microphone

A/D – D/A Conversion

Supported Sample Rates (kHz): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
Bit Depth: 32

Power

USB Bus-Powered: Yes
Power Consumption (@ 5VDC): 5.5W typical, 7.1W maximum
On / Off Switch: Yes - Rear Panel

Analog I/O

Instrument Inputs 1-2

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.02 dB
Dynamic Range (A–weighted): 116 dB
THD + Noise (1 kHz @ -1 dBFS): -108 dB (0.0004%)
Maximum Input Level: 13 dBu
Input Impedance: 1 Megohms
Available Gain (Digitally-controlled): 60 dB
Connector Type: 1/4" TS unbalanced

Microphone Inputs 1-2

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.08 dB
Dynamic Range (A–weighted): 119 dB
THD + Noise (1 kHz @ -1 dBFS): -110 dB (0.0003%)
Maximum Input Level: 14 dBu
Input Impedance: 2 Kilohms
Available Gain (Digitally-controlled): 60 dB
Phantom Power: +48V (switchable per channel)
Connector Type: XLR Combo Jack, pin 2 positive

Line Inputs 1-2

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.05 dB
Dynamic Range (A–weighted): 119 dB
THD + Noise (1 kHz @ -1 dBFS): -108 dB (0.0004%)
Maximum Input Level: 22 dBu
Input Impedance: 10 Kilohms
Available Gain (Digitally-controlled): 60 dB
Connector Type: 1/4" Combo Jack TRS balanced or TS unbalanced

Line Inputs 3-4

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.05 dB
Dynamic Range (A–weighted): 119 dB
THD + Noise (1 kHz @ -1 dBFS): -108 dB (0.0004%)
Maximum Input Level: 22 dBu
Input Impedance: 10 Kilohms
Available Gain (Digitally-controlled): 60 dB
Connector Type: 1/4" TRS balanced or TS unbalanced

Monitor & Line 3-4 Outputs

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.05 dB
Dynamic Range (A–weighted): 126 dB
THD + Noise (1 kHz @ -1 dBFS): -112 dB (0.0003%)
Maximum Output Level: 20.2 dBu
Output Impedance: 200 Ohms
Connector Type: 1/4" TRS balanced or TS unbalanced (DC coupled)

Headphone Outputs

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.08 dB
Dynamic Range (A–weighted): 116 dB
THD + Noise (1 kHz @ -1 dBFS into 300Ω): -103 dB (0.0007%)
Maximum Output Power into 32Ω: 45 mW
Maximum Output Power into 300Ω: 24 mW
Connector Type: 1/4" and 1/8" TRS stereo unbalanced (DC coupled)

System Requirements

macOS & Windows

Available USB 2.0 (or higher) port
USB cable (included)
Intel, AMD, or Apple silicon processor
Windows 10 64-bit edition or newer
macOS 12 Monterey or newer
Internet connection for software downloads

iPad & iPhone

iPadOS / iOS 16 or newer

DAW Compatibility

All major DAWs, including Ableton Live, FL Studio, GarageBand, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and more

Compare Models

UA Studio Sessions

Exploring Volt's Tone Shaping Preamps

There are a lot of reasons a recording can fail the vibe check. But one of the most overlooked is what's happening before your signal ever reaches your DAW.

Best Plug-Ins for Your Volt USB Audio Interface

You just unboxed your Volt audio interface and are looking to take your recordings even further. UAD plug-ins are your ticket to getting mixes that sound pro.

Capture Classic Sounds Anywhere with Volt

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the Volt 4 Max is worth it if you want a desktop USB audio interface that brings classic UA compression, preamp tone, and real studio control to one compact unit. It combines two Tone Shaping Preamps and Max Processing with Main and Alt speaker switching, a talkback mic, two headphone outputs, and 12 inputs and 6 outputs with ADAT and MIDI. It's everything a home studio control room needs, built around 32-bit / 192 kHz conversion.

Volt 4 Max pairs onboard 1176, LA-2A and VCA-inspired compression with the monitoring features you'd normally find on a separate controller. Speaker switching, talkback, dual headphone outputs, and a Smart Display with gain-reduction metering sit right alongside its Tone Shaping Preamps. That means one box handles tracking tone and control-room duties, with no extra hardware on your desk.

Speaker switching on the Volt 4 Max lets you connect two sets of studio monitors, labeled Main and Alt, and flip between them at the push of a button. Checking a mix on a second pair of speakers is one of the most reliable ways to make sure it translates to cars, earbuds, and living rooms. The Volt 4 Max builds that directly into the interface, so you don't need a separate monitor controller.

Choose the Volt 4 Max for two mic preamps, and the Volt 4P Max if you need four mic preamps for drums, bands, or multi-guest podcasts. Both share Max Processing, speaker switching, talkback, two headphone outputs, ADAT, MIDI, and the same 12-in / 6-out connectivity. The Volt 4 Max has two mic / line inputs plus two dedicated line inputs, while the Volt 4P Max turns all four analog inputs into Tone Shaping mic preamps.

Volt 4 Max takes over from the Volt 476 as the expanded Volt with onboard compression, moving from a single compressor to six Max presets based on the 1176, LA-2A, and VCA types. It also moves up to 32-bit / 192 kHz conversion, three Tone Shaping Preamp modes, and a full-color Smart Display with Auto-Gain and Clip Protection. It also adds speaker switching, talkback, a second ⅛” headphone output, ADAT or S/PDIF input, and a USB hub. If you started on a 476, the Volt 4 Max gives you more tone, more control, and more room to grow.

Max Processing is the onboard realtime compression built into the Volt 4 Max, with six push-button presets for vocals, guitars, and bass. The presets are based on UA's 1176, LA-2A, and VCA studio compressors, with names like "Rap Vocals" and "Jangly Acoustic" that tell you what each one is for. The Smart Display shows gain reduction as you track, so you can see and hear the compression working.

The Volt 4 Max offers over 18 character combinations by pairing its three Tone Shaping Preamp modes with its six Max Processing presets. Warmth is inspired by the UA 610 tube preamp, Focus by a famous American solid state console, and Shine by classic British Class-A circuitry. Match a Tone Shaping mode to a Compression preset, and you can go from a smooth, tube-warm vocal to a tight, punchy bass in a few button presses.

The Smart Display on the Volt 4 Max shows inputs, levels, settings, and gain reduction in full color, and Auto-Gain sets your recording levels in seconds. Clip Protection catches unexpected peaks before they distort your take. With speaker switching, talkback, and compression all on one unit, having everything visible at a glance keeps sessions moving.

The Volt 4 Max records and plays back at up to 32-bit / 192 kHz, with 119 dB of A-weighted dynamic range on the mic inputs and 126 dB on the monitor and line outputs. Mic input THD+N measures -110 dB, so your tracks stay clean and detailed until you add character with Tone Shaping or Max. Balanced ¼" monitor outputs keep your speaker feeds quiet, including on the Alt pair.

Yes, the Volt 4 Max is built for tracking other people, with two headphone outputs and a built-in talkback microphone. Both headphone outputs (one ¼" and one ⅛") share a cue mix, so you and the performer hear the same balance, and talkback lets you give direction between takes. Two mic inputs with independent 48V phantom power let you record two performers at once.

The Volt 4 Max comes with a power supply, however it can also run on USB bus power when your computer or host device supplies enough current. It draws 5.5W in typical use, and its external USB power input takes 5VDC at 1.5A minimum, with a 3A supply included in the box. For a desktop studio with monitors, MIDI gear, and a powered USB controller, the included supply is the way to go.

Yes, the Volt 4 Max works with macOS 12 Monterey or newer, Windows 10 64-bit or newer, and iPadOS or iOS 16 or newer, on Intel, AMD, and Apple silicon. It's class-compliant on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, and on Windows it uses the UA ASIO driver from the UA Connect app. It works with all major DAWs and is fully integrated with the UAD Console app and LUNA, including session recall and low-latency cue mixes.

Yes, the Volt 4 Max expands through its ADAT or S/PDIF optical input, which adds up to eight channels from an external preamp or converter. MIDI In and Out connect keyboards, synths, and drum machines, and the onboard USB hub connects peripherals and powers a USB MIDI controller at up to 0.5A. ADAT runs eight channels at 44.1 and 48 kHz, four at 96 kHz, and two at 192 kHz using S/MUX.

Yes, the Volt 4 Max has line inputs 3-4 and line outputs 3-4 for hardware compressors, effects, and synths. You can keep a synth patched in full-time, or send a track out through hardware and record the result back into your session. Those extra line connections sit alongside the two mic preamps, so you don't give up a mic input to use your outboard gear.

No, the Volt 4 Max uses UAD Native plug-ins, which run on your computer's processor instead of dedicated DSP hardware. Its Max Processing and Tone Shaping happen on the interface itself, so classic compression and preamp tone are there while tracking without taxing your computer. If you later want to track through the full UAD plug-in library with Unison™ preamp modeling, UA's Apollo interfaces add onboard DSP for that workflow.

The Volt 4 Max includes the UAD Volt Studio Bundle, which pairs the LUNA DAW with UAD plug-ins and instruments used on countless hit records. You get plug-in versions of the Teletronix LA-2A and UA 1176, plus the UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection, Century Tube Channel Strip, Pure Plate Reverb, Galaxy Tape Echo, Oxide Tape Recorder, the PolyMAX and Anthem synths, and the UAD Lion '68 and Showtime '64 guitar amps. Additional instruments and production tools from partner developers are included too, and bundle contents are subject to change.

Yes, the Volt 4 Max can run a complete home studio, covering recording, monitoring, and communication from one desktop unit. Two Tone Shaping mic preamps with Max Processing handle tracking, Main and Alt outputs feed two pairs of monitors, talkback and dual headphone outputs handle sessions with other musicians, and MIDI and the USB hub bring in your keyboards and controllers. Add the included LUNA DAW and UAD plug-ins, and your studio is ready to make records.

The Volt 4 Max routes audio for streaming and recording through its built-in loopback, which blends your live inputs with computer audio in realtime. Your mic, instruments, and anything playing on your computer, like game audio, music, or a call, combine into one feed for your streaming or recording software. Max Processing and Tone Shaping shape your voice before it reaches the stream, and talkback helps you coordinate with guests or talent.

Check our Knowledge Base for additional questions

Volt 4 Max USB Audio Interface

Volt 4 Max USB Audio Interface

A record-making machine for your studio.

Downloads

Details

Included Volt Software (Subject to Change)

12-In / 6-Out

Tone-Shaping Preamps

Max Processing

Full 32-Bit Audio

Premium UAD Software

Speaker Switching

Built-In Talkback Mic

Easy to Use

Studio Sound at the Push of a Button

Add Punch with Max Processing

Hear Every Detail with 32-Bit Converters

Capture Bigger Ideas with More I/O

See the Big Picture with Smart Display

Get the Perfect Levels with Auto-Gain

Start Making Music in Minutes

Shape Your Songs with UAD Plug-Ins and LUNA

Ideal for Podcasts and Livestreams

Specifications

I/O

A/D – D/A Conversion

Power

Analog I/O

Instrument Inputs 1-2

Microphone Inputs 1-2

Line Inputs 1-2

Line Inputs 3-4

Monitor & Line 3-4 Outputs

Headphone Outputs

System Requirements

macOS & Windows

iPad & iPhone

DAW Compatibility

Included UA Software

Compare Models

UA Studio Sessions

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Frequently Asked Questions