Behringer U-Phoria UMC22

1293

2-Channel USB Audio Interface

  • 16 Bit / 48 kHz
  • 2 Inputs and 2 outputs
  • 1 Combi jack XLR / 6.3 mm jack and 1x 6.3 mm jack
  • MIDAS-designed microphone preamp with 48 V phantom power
  • Guitar input
  • Signal and clip display
  • Direct monitoring with level control
  • Headphone output: 6.3 mm jack
  • 6.3 mm jack output
  • USB Bus powered
  • Metal housing
  • Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7-10 and Mac OS
  • Includes USB cable
Available since December 2013
Item number 325925
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Recording / Playback Channels 2x2
Number of Mic Inputs 1
Number of Line Inputs 1
Instrument Inputs 1
Number of Line Outs 2
Headphone Outs 1
Phantom power Yes
Number of S/PDIF Connectors 0
Number of ADAT Connectors 0
Numer of AES/EBU Connectors 0
Number of MADI Connectors 0
Ethernet 0
Other Connectors No
MIDI interface No
Word Clock No
Max. sample rate (kHz) 48 kHz
Max. resolution in bit 16 bit
USB Bus-Powered Yes
Incl. power supply No
USB Version 2.0
Width in mm 163 mm
Depth in mm 125 mm
Height in mm 46 mm
Connection Format USB port Type B
Included in delivery USB cable, software
Zero latency monitoring 1
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$53
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Solid foundation at an affordable price

The Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 is a compact and exceptionally affordable USB audio interface which features two input and output audio channels, and is compatible with both Windows and MacOS DAW environments. Unlike the slightly lower-priced U-Phoria UM2, one of its inputs is equipped with a high-quality microphone preamplifier, developed by renowned British manufacturer Midas, which renders both detailed and natural recordings. The 16-bit/48kHz AD/DA internal conversion rate meets the basic requirement for professional recording. The U-Phoria UMC22 thus offers a solid and functional basis for the aspiring home-studio producer.

A miniaturised studio

The Behringer U-Phoria UMC22’s two input and output channels provide everything needed for simple audio recordings. The mic/line XLR combo input provides 48V phantom power for condenser microphones, and is also available as a line input. The second line input is Hi-Z compatible, allowing high impedance instruments such as guitars and basses to be connected without an additional DI box. The Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 features a stereo output for monitors on balanced jacks, as well as a headphone output. Both output volumes are controlled simultaneously via a single knob on the front panel. A direct monitoring switch is also provided which allows the monitoring of both inputs of the Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 without any perceivable latency, an important feature when recording live vocals and instruments.

A gateway to the home studio

The Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 is an affordable USB audio interface that provides the basic requirements for live recording and navigating DAW environments on a computer. The mic/line input and its high-quality preamp coupled with the Hi-Z input allow vocal and instrumental duets to be recorded effortlessly and to a high standard. The minimalist and portable design of this desktop interface allows it to be taken anywhere, and used in any context, not just musical ones. For instance, YouTubers or podcasters looking for a flexible alternative to a USB microphone will find the U-Phoria UMC22 to be an excellent choice.

About Behringer

The company, which was founded in Germany by Uli Behringer and now manufactures its products in China, has been known for affordable and great-value equipment since its very first product, the Studio Exciter F. An array of mixing consoles (such as the Eurodesk MX8000), signal processors, and later sound amplification and monitoring equipment, has made it possible for countless musicians to fit out their home studios, practice rooms, and mobile PAs within budget limits that were previously unthinkable. The acquisition of other companies, including Midas, Klark Teknik, and TC Electronic, meant that new product groups were added - and also resulted in the technical expertise of these companies being incorporated into product development.

A sturdy companion

The Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 performs equally well "on the road”, thanks to its compact and robust metal casing. It is USB-powered, so no external PSU is required for operation. Mobile recording with a high-quality condenser microphone is just as possible as playing back audio tracks from a laptop on stage. Unlike larger audio interface in the series, the UMC22 does not have MIDI connectivity. However, this is unlikely to be a significant issue, since most modern keyboards come with a USB interface as standard to transmit MIDI to a computer.

1293 Customer ratings

4.4 / 5

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791 Reviews

J
Well made design, but many problems with the drivers and hardware
JustinasK 03.04.2019
PROS: I love that its made from metal, feels very good in your hands and provides a sense of confidence. XLR mount is very stable and the knobs feel secure and rigid. Features give yout everything for small studio work. 10 points for design and overal exterior build. Thats all for the PROS.

CONS: For WIN users: what I hate, as many other people, is that Behringer doesn't provide their own dedicated WIN drivers for UMC22 and you're left with Asio4all which is outrageous! Asio4all is not even working correctly on WIN10 after certain update some time ago. If you want small buffer size, Asio4all is going to crash on you or make bad noises eventualy. Thats a shame, because I know that some time ago UMC22 worked flawlesly with Asio4all and provided very small latency. Anyways there are many recommendations to use older Behringer drivers from other users (BEHRINGER_2902_X64_2.8.40), which you can google. It works for many with less issues Asio4all (with the "rapid" option selected in the Behringer drivers settings), but Behringer themselves don't recommend it anymore for some reason.

I should point out, that I had my unit returned for money back. One of the reason is the driver issues, mentioned above, which leaves your very well built unit practicaly unusable. Another reason lies with white noise levels on MIDAS preamp. It was very audible, when I cranked the mic gain pass 70 percent, but I only got minus 20 dB (or less) on my DAW, so in the end you are left with bad noise on your recording after final mixing. I'm not sure if it was drivers' problem or a hardware fault. This may not occure on every Behringer unit, because I also tested another UMC22 unit of my friend with no issues whatsoever, but I've read a lot that the same problems as mine are very common.

That said, I think it could still be usable for beginners and you could get good results from the interface on the condition that you got a working unit (with no noise issues). Also, I should note that UMC22 is better to be used with MAC and not WIN systems, because of the serious driver issues (lack of them) with WIN10.
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Simple to use for the not-so-dedicated!
ikillpcparts 04.12.2020
I would like to preface this by the fact that I am by no means someone well educated in the field of audio. I bought this to go with a cheap microphone setup from Amazon, just so I could talk to my friends with something of a nicer setup.

So, after getting the product and setting it up on my desk, finding the right drivers when getting it to work with my PC was a little difficult initially, but after following a few links and finally getting it downloaded, it worked there and then. So, a plus to getting it to a state of 'just about working'. I've heard from other places that it isn't exactly this simple when trying to use it for something more than just a microphone input, but that doesn't quite affect me. Setup outside of the drivers is as simple as adjusting audio levels in Windows.

For audio input, it works just fine with my current microphone, a cheap Neewer NW-800 that I got from Amazon. Setting everything to max in Windows and then using the adjustments on the interface itself felt right to do, and the little indicators were perfect for telling me if I had set the gain a little too high or not. Though, the Signal LED doesn't appear to be too sensitive, as in, even if a program I am using (Discord/Teams/Zoom) is detecting input, the signal indicator is usually off. I don't necessarily speak so loud, and it only comes on when I start to raise my voice.

In terms of using it as audio output for my headphones, the built in DAC/amp works wonderfully, and is a tonne better than the output on my laptop of course. I can't say too much about it as I have not got much to compare to, but it provides a wide range of listening volumes (I usually have it set at 11 or 12 o'clock with my AKG K612 Pros, with all volumes in Windows set to max) and the direct monitoring feature is wonderful to help me realise if I'm talking just a little bit too loud. I don't particularly like how it quietens down the output signal a little bit, but that's just nitpicking.

The build quality of the unit is perfectly acceptable. Looking from the front, the slightly glossy front facade isn't distracting with reflections as the gloss isn't overly done, and each knob feels nice and buttery smooth to turn. Though, the small size of the knobs isn't that satisfying personally, but that's not exactly a problem, is it? The unit sits just a little higher than the surface on some small, rubber feet which do a good job of protecting the surface from scratching from the case of the unit. Speaking of which, the metal case feels of high quality, and does not feature any sharp edges. My biggest complaint about the unit would be that the phantom power switch is on the back (I like having all of the controls and switches on the front, for ease of access), but as the average person wouldn't be fiddling with that switch too often if at all, it isn't too big of a problem.

Overall I find the unit to be really quite good, especially for the price you can get it at! The build quality is great, and the provided features are very nice.
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Its a very decent product for the price
jkak72 11.01.2021
Like just about everything Behringer makes at this price point, the UMC22 is chiefly one thing: cost-effective. You don't get best-in-class sound quality. You don't get a flashy brand name. You don't get the most features. What you do get is an audio interface that works, and honestly does a surprisingly good job. Setup is easy. Plug it into your computer. USB2 is fine. Plug in your headphones. Plug in your monitors. Plug in your mics/instruments. Done. Drivers aren't obscure or finicky. Don't worry about it. Outputs in the rear need two 1/4" TR cables for left and right channel. Output in the front needs a 1/4" TRS cable. Make sure you've got semi-decent studio headphones and/or monitors, too - an audio setup is only as strong as its weakest link, and if you're looking up 1/4" adapters for your Beats or whatever, maybe skip this and invest in better headphones instead. Craftsmanship's okay. It's a Behringer audio interface, not an SM-58. I wouldn't go throwing it down flights of stairs for fun. You have two audio inputs - the XLR/TRS hybrid jack going through the Midas preamp, and the second TRS jack that goes through a Xenyx preamp. Neither are particularly touted for their sound quality (the Midas is better than the Xenyx by far, though), but it's miles above motherboard-integrated stuff. Both can record at 48KHz tops - as far as I'm concerned, if you're looking at this interface instead of something higher-end, that's plenty. The "direct monitor" button you see on the front ducks your computer sound output and lets you listen to your connected inputs through the hardware, which has its uses. The interface outputs to headphones and to external monitors by means of 1/4" TRS and TR cables, respectively. Sound is clean - mind you, my ears aren't well trained to that sort of thing, and if yours aren't either then the sound quality should be fine. It's important to note that it will always output to both headphones and monitors - if you want to listen to just headphones or just monitors on-the-fly, this won't provide a convenient solution to that. It does, however, eliminate the need to go through your OS's sound system, which can be useful when working with ASIO or CoreAudio exclusive modes to reduce latency. If you want the best and have the money to back up your needs, consider looking elsewhere. Again - an audio setup is only as strong as its weakest link. But if you want the pretty solid, and you're on the kind of budget that has you saving up for purchases like these, I think you can't go wrong with the UMC22, or the U-PHORIA series in general. TL DR: It's cheap. It's fine. If you need it, get it
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Horrible unwanted noise at 3.15kHz, rendering it useless to me
victoryoverall 06.04.2020
From the moment I received my UMC22 three months ago it produced a whistling noise at around 3.15kHz (a super visible spike can even be seen when using any simple EQ spectral analyser) which when amplified by any high gain virtual pedals/amps turned into a horrible screech. I spent a lot of time and effort troubleshooting the problem, to ensure it wasn't caused by external interference, including and not limited to the following:

- Trying a different computer
- Trying on a laptop connected to mains power and on battery power
- Using a laptop away from my house (outside and in my car)
- Using different plugs
- Guitar plugged either input
- No instrument plugged in at all
- Phantom power both on and off
- No other peripherals connected
- Connecting the UMC22 to each USB port and through a high quality powered USB hub
- Etc...

When I ran out of things to try I sent the unit back for repair, making sure it was carefully packed. Thomann's repair centre eventually found no fault, sent it back in a poorly packed box which meant it arrived with cosmetic damage, and after all that it turns out the noise is still there.

If they discovered no fault then I figure that this issue is inherent to the UMC22. Aside from this the product is physically well made, has all the features a simple USB audio interface would need, and was super simple to set up on Mac. It's just a shame that this problem renders it completely useless for me, ruining any high gain guitar tone with its constant screeching noise.

Now I have no choice but to buy another audio interface, and just accept I wasted money on this one.
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