Behringer is a German company known to offer premium-quality audio gear at a fraction of the price as compared to other brands. The UCA202 is a compact, easy-to-use, budget-friendly audio interface that you can carry anywhere with you.
The USB-powered interface is about the size of a smartphone and provides multiple inputs and output options to connect your devices and enjoy the best of analog and digital worlds.
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Behringer UCA202 Review – UPDATED 2021
The Behringer U-Control UCA202 is one of the most ubiquitous audio interfaces currently available in the market. It is an ultra-low latency audio interface that makes it easy to transfer your albums from tapes and vinyl to digital formats.
The portable USB interface features two RCA inputs, two RCA outputs, an optical digital output, and a headphone output. It aims to allow connecting instruments and other audio devices to your laptop and computer to merge analog and digital worlds together.
It is USB powered and comes with free software that helps streamline audio editing so that you can spend more time listening to music and less time working with the settings.
Powerful DAC
When used as an interface between the computer and your mixing console, the Behringer UCA202 opens up tons of possibilities. You might connect the RCA outputs to the tape input jacks of your mixer or powered monitors. This allows you to use the mixer’s features like Aux Send to create a versatile mix for recording sessions.
Free Software
You will require recording and editing software to make the most of your DAC. The product makes it easy with a facility to download several free software from a single location. For example, Audacity lets you record live audio and convert it into digital formats on Mac, Windows, and Linux systems. It also makes it easy to work with WAV, MP3, and other sound files, cut, copy or mix sounds and change the speed of recordings.
The Behringer UCA202 comes with Tracktion audio production software, one of the simplest and fastest DAWs for recording, editing, mixing, composing, and sharing music. This software gives you, in a single-screen interface, convenient access to professional workstation features like unlimited track count, dynamic automation, support for AU and VST plugins, and MIDI recording. The software is extremely easy to learn and get started with as it provides a readily accessible, vast library of resources.
Value for Money
Costing just a fraction of the cost of a USB audio interface from other brands, this unit can facilitate an exceptional digital conversion, superior editing, and recording, and convenient connectivity between the computer and audio equipment.
Behringer DAC Review
The Behringer UCA202 is an affordable DAC that provides two analog mono inputs and outputs, USB connectivity and external SPDIF optical output. The stereo headphone output comes with dedicated level control to let you listen to the input as well as output. As a high-performance audio interface with a USB connector, it makes the perfect sound card for a laptop or a recording and playback component for studio setups involving computers.
The Behringer UCA202 is compatible with Mac and PC and requires no installation procedure to get started. Separate headphones output lets you play the recordings at any time even when you don’t have loudspeakers available. With two line inputs and outputs along with digital stereo output, the DAC gives you the flexibility to connect mixing consoles, headphones, and speakers. Power is supplied to the unit via the USB connection to the computer.
The DAC can be used with suitable mixing consoles to provide a recording interface between the computer and console. Such a setup allows recording multiple signals at the same time, playback recorded tracks simultaneously and listening to recordings via headphones or loudspeaker. It includes high-resolution 48kHz converters to deliver high-end audio quality. It also offers an additional SPDIF optical output to facilitate a digital conversion.
The Behringer DAC automatically installs itself on computers and laptops with different operating systems and configurations. You don’t need to install any drivers manually to start using the interface. The unit sounds well when listened to the line outputs via headphones and speakers. The sound is quiet without any flaws or distortion.
Talking about the headphone output, a higher impedance set would sound better. The headphone output has an impedance of 50 ohms and intends to work with professional-quality headphones for studio and recording. However, most headphones in the range of 80-600 ohms would work without any problem depending on how loud you want to listen to them. The interface, however, struggles with typical 16-32 ohm portable headphones.
Behringer UCA202 Vs UCA222 – How They Compare?
Behringer UCA202 and UCA222 are two of the best options for audio interfaces in budget. The two models are quite similar in many ways including the compact design. They offer two RCA inputs to plug in stereo output from a mixer and allow connecting instruments with the use of adapters. The two RCA outputs facilitate adding monitoring speakers to the setup.
More Details at Amazon – Behringer U-Control UCA222
The only difference is that the UCA222 comes in a red chassis and both have a plastic construction in good quality. The UCA202 is an older model in a silver enclosure that comes with free software like Audacity. The UCA222, on the other hand, not only includes Audacity and others but also the Compact music production software with a sequencer that loads quickly on any platform.
Both the interfaces are priced at the same level and have more similarities than differences so making a choice between the two is difficult and comes down to personal preferences. The most significant difference is that the newer model includes an additional disc containing plugins and virtual instruments to deliver a richer experience.
While the UCA202 and UCA222 are both impressive choices for a DAC and can be added to any recording setup that already has a mixer, none of them work for those who have plans to expand the setup. These are low-cost interfaces that serve the basic purpose without any advanced features you would see in more expensive alternatives.
Behringer UCA 202 Specs & Latency
A low latency audio interface can make all the difference when it comes to professional recording. There are several factors that affect the latency in a setup, one of the most significant being the compatibility between the operating system and audio interface. An interface with perfectly compatible drivers for the operating system can offer low latency for better recording results.
The Behringer UCA202 is designed to be a low-latency audio interface that works readily with Windows PC or Mac computer without having to install any setup or drivers. There is no need to indulge in any separate installation procedure. It includes all the operating system drivers to ensure an exceptionally short latency.
Specifications
- Connectivity – USB
- Simultaneous I/O – 2 x 2
- Analog Inputs – 2xRCA
- Digital Outputs – 1xoptical
- Analog Outputs – 2xRCA
- Bus-powered – yes
- Phantom power – no
- A/D resolution – 16-bit/48kHz
- Dimensions – 2.36 x 3.46 x 0.87 inches
- Weight – 0.26 lbs
Conclusion
Whether you want to convert old cassette tapes into digital formats or looking for an affordable way to add a console mixer into a professional digital recording setup, a small interface like the Behringer UCA202 is a great choice for you. It can be used as a multi-channel mixer via stereo outputs and is recommended for home recording studios on a budget. However, it is important to note that you get what you pay for and the unit doesn’t include advanced features you may find on more expensive devices.
