Zoom U-22 Handy Audio Interface

Product Information

Unfortunately I didn't use it extensively — my audio projects are on hold for the moment. Thus means I haven't tried the line-in feature.

Overall, not a bad product at all, much better reliability & quality than similar behringer products. I got this during the great indian sale week, so it was discounted. Presently the MSRP for this product is very high, around Rs.9k, its not worth it at that price but at around 6k it's okay. no gain headroom for a condenser mic —it produces somewhat quiet recordings that need normalization. Not only is the U-22 a must-have for mobile recording, but it makes the perfect audio companion for musicians who like to incorporate digital audio or pre-recorded sound into their live shows. Simply connect the U-22 to a laptop or phone/tablet, open up software effects or a looper, and send the processed signal to a mixer or the house PA via RCA stereo outputs! The U-22 sports XLR/TRS combo input connectivity into which a mic can be plugged, or alternatively a line-level source. Hi-Z support means that you can even connect a guitar or bass. The stereo input also lets you record an iPad or any other portable audio device. Direct Monitoring Support We also wanted to be "future-proof" in using these for other projects in the classrooms, such as video voice-overs, music production, and so on. The other features of the U-22 were not needed at this time, such as the optional 5V power input, RCA out, iOS support, or the link to Ableton Live Lite, but it's nice to know they're there.

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I use this audio interface when traveling. It can be battery-powered or USB powered and is extremely lightweight, especially without batteries. The dimensions make this one of the smallest sized audio interfaces available. The ZOOM U-22 features available Bus Power via USB which makes it ideal for connecting to a laptop or other device with USB output. The U-22 an also be used with an iPad, however it requires 2 AA batteries or AC adapter for power, plus a Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter for connection to iPad. Low Noise Preamp Lefties — it's quite ambidextrous, the switches are at the right side, but it is not irritating, you use them in the beginning of the session anyway. Recording guitar and dynamic microphone is a straight forward job. The gain knob is around 6-7. I got mixed results with AKG P220 condenser, some nice, even though quiet, recordings in the studio and a lot of hiss outdoors "in a quiet forest". The gain is around 8. I bet it will benefit from a signal booster device.

With mobile recording becoming more and more viable these days, it's becoming increasingly important for aspiring singer/songwriters to have the correct gear at their disposal within a moments notice. If only there was an affordable,small and lightweight USB audio interface that can be connected to your phone / tablet / laptop to help you record those moments of sudden inspiration on the fly... CPU: Intel® Core i3 or faster (Operation is not guaranteed with CPUs from Atom, Celeron or Pentium series or CPUs made by AMD) Power Source: USB bus power (Type B) - Zoom AD-17 (Micro-B) - DC 5V power supply (Micro-B) - 2 AA batteries (About 5 hours continuous operation with phantom power off)

Bundled Software

USB: USB 3.0/USB 2.0 (Only USB host controllers with Intel Chipsets are supported. Operation is not guaranteed when used with USB hubs or expansion cards) I love the flexibility to play electric guitar outdoors (a passive one) with this device and a pair of headphones. Great tone detail!