Audio Interfaces

The Behringer Firepower FCA1616 is a 16x16 FireWire/USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface that offers a rich feature set and plentiful I/O options for a surprisingly low price. The unit sports 4 front-panel mic/instrument combo jacks—equipped with Behringer's top-of-the-line XENYX microphone preamps—as well as 4 balanced line inputs, 8 balanced line outputs, and MIDI in and out jacks on the rear-panel. Digital I/O includes TOSlink optical in and out connectors, which support up to 8 channels of ADAT, 4 channels of S/MUX, or 2 channels of S/PDIF. A pair of RCA jacks are also included for S/PDIF. When both analog and digital I/O are utilized, the unit is capable of streaming 16 inputs and 16 outputs simultaneously. If you want to expand the channel count, the optional Behringer ADA8000, an 8-Channel A/D and D/A converter equipped with 8 mic preamps and an ADAT interface, can be easily integrated. Each front-panel input channel is equipped with an input-level control knob, a 48V phantom power switch, a switch for a low-cut filter (great for preventing the pickup of low-end rumble), and a Hi-Z switch with an LED indicator. When activated, the Hi-Z switch sets the input to handle high-impedance sources like guitars and basses.  

The U-PHORIA UMC1820 from Behringer is a USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface featuring a combination of 18 inputs and 20 outputs. Capable of running at 24-bit / 96 kHz resolution, the unit provides connectivity for microphones, guitars, keyboards and MIDI devices. Eight MIDAS-designed microphone preamps can supply 48V phantom power for use with condenser microphones. Aside from the eight XLR/TRS combo connectors, the interface also includes a S/PDIF coaxial input and output, as well as ADAT optical I/Os supporting both S/PDIF and S/MUX operation. MIDI input and output is available, along with USB MIDI for adding a control surface to control your DAW. And speaking of DAWs, the unit is compatible with most popular recording software for Mac OS X and Windows. A mix control allows zero-latency direct monitoring to aid performances without any delay or lag in the returning signal. A pair of headphone outputs is available with individual volume controls and an A/B source select for DJ-style cueing. Upon registering the interface at behringer.com, a complimentary download code for the full version of Tracktion DAW software is provided.

The U-PHORIA UMC404HD from Behringer is a four input, four output, USB 2.0 audio interface that features MIDAS-designed preamps and an integrated interface. Powered via the included power supply, the cross platform interface includes zero-latency direct monitoring for recording, LED indicators for status, signal, and clipping, and a dedicated headphone output with volume control and a monitor A/B source select for DJ-style cueing. Connectivity includes a four XLR/TRS combo inputs, while the outputs feature a pair of XLR, four 1/4" TRS, and four RCA phono connectors. Four 1/4" TRS inserts allow for external signal processors, such as compression and EQ. The dedicated MIDI input and output terminals provide additional MIDI connectivity for keyboards and other MIDI devices, while global phantom power is available for use with condenser microphones. A free Traction software download is available on registering the U-Phoria.