Universal Audio Volt 1 Gen 2 – Classic Preamp Tone, Pocket Size

Volt 1 Gen 2 is the smallest way into Universal Audio sound: one mic/line input with a Tone Shaping Preamp, a front Hi-Z input for guitar, and 32-bit conversion, all bus-powered from a laptop, iPad or phone. It suits songwriters and creators recording voice and guitar together.

Key Features

• Tone Shaping Preamp: Three switchable characters per channel: Warmth (tube, 610-inspired), Focus (American solid state) and Shine (British Class-A)
• 32-bit / 192 kHz Conversion: Up to 119 dB dynamic range on the mic inputs, so quiet details and loud peaks both land intact
• Voice and Guitar at Once: XLR/TRS combo mic/line input plus a front-panel Hi-Z instrument input
• 48V Phantom Power: Run a studio condenser mic straight from the bus-powered unit
• Built-In Loopback: Blend mics with computer audio for podcasts, livestreams and video calls
• Bus Powered: 2.4 W typical draw, no power supply needed for computer recording

Customer Benefits

You get a character choice before the signal ever reaches the DAW, which is where cheap interfaces usually sound thin. Pick Warmth for a vocal, Focus for a punchy guitar, record, and move on. The bundled UAD plug-ins and LUNA cover mixing from day one, so the only extra purchase is a microphone.

Quick Specs

• Simultaneous I/O: 2-in / 2-out
• Mic preamps: 1, 60 dB gain, Tone Shaping (Warmth / Focus / Shine)
• Inputs: 1x XLR/TRS combo (mic/line), 1x 6.3 mm Hi-Z instrument
• Outputs: 2x 6.3 mm TRS monitor, 1x 6.3 mm headphone
• Conversion: 32-bit / 44.1 to 192 kHz
• Dynamic range: 119 dB (mic in), 122 dB (monitor out)
• Connection: USB-C (USB 2.0), extra USB-C power input
• Power: USB bus-powered, 2.4 W typical
• MIDI / ADAT: None

In the Box

• Universal Audio Volt 1 Gen 2
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• UAD Volt Studio Bundle: LUNA, Topline Vocal Tune, UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection, Teletronix LA-2A, UA 1176, Pure Plate Reverb, PolyMAX and Anthem synths, UAD Lion '68 and Showtime '64 amps, plus Melodyne Essential, Ampeg SVT-VR Classic Bass Bundle, UJAM Virtual Drummer DEEP and Virtual Bassist DANDY, Splice INSTRUMENT, UVI Prisma Producer Lab and 3 months of FL Studio Producer Edition

Ideal For

• Singer-songwriters tracking voice and guitar
• Mobile recording on iPad or iPhone
• Solo podcasts and streaming

Compatibility

Class-compliant on macOS 12 or newer, iPadOS / iOS 16 or newer (USB-C, or Lightning via Camera Adapter) and Windows 10 64-bit or newer with the UA ASIO driver. Works with Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, FL Studio and every other major DAW.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros:

• Real tone choice on the preamp at an entry price
• 32-bit converters and loopback in a very small box
• Large, useful software bundle

⚠️ Cons:

• Single mic input, so no stereo or two-mic recording
• No MIDI, ADAT or Smart Display (step up to Volt 2 Gen 2 for the display)

If you want one good input and a sound that does not need fixing later, Volt 1 Gen 2 is the honest place to start.