Zoom U-22 Handy Audio Interface

Product Information

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) 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) 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. I love the flexibility to play electric guitar outdoors (a passive one) with this device and a pair of headphones. Great tone detail!

Having a flexible 2-channel audio interface that you can throw in a gig bag, has almost become a necessity for engineers and musicians alike. The Zoom U-22 is aiming at this market and could be one of the most compact options available. By offering the option to be USB bus-powered or powered from batteries, it also permits the interface to be used anywhere. This could be one of the most convenient solutions yet for recording a high-quality mic onto your iPad, in the middle of nowhere. 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! Connect to iPhone/iPad with Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit or Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter (sold separately), plus 2 x AA batteries or optional AC adapter for power 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.I love the three power source option — USB 2.0 type-B port for data transfer and bus power, power only 5 V micro-USB type-B (you probably have a charger with this port laying around, unless you are strictly an Apple user), and 2 AA batteries (choose good rechargeable ones and you will go a long way).

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. 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... Requires 2 AA batteries or optional AC adapter for power, plus an Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit or Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter.CPU: Intel® Core i3 or faster (Operation is not guaranteed with CPUs from Atom, Celeron or Pentium series or CPUs made by AMD) Whether you wish to recording using a microphone or a line-level source (such as a guitar), the U-22's XLR/TRS combo input can accommodate all. Featuring 48v of phantom power, and Hi-Z support for connecting a guitar or bass, and a mini stereo input for recording an external audio device, the U-22 can fulfill all of your recording needs and more. The ZOOM U-22 is also equipped with a direct monitoring switch to allow you to hear your signal before it passes through the computer, resulting in zero latency whilst recording or mixing.

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. I also own the Zoom H1n and Zoom H7. This U-22 has a similar sound quality as the H7. I prefer to take an XLR mic, XLR cable and this U-22 along with a desktop folding mic stand as my travel setup. I have found the H7 overkill for most projects because my podcast, audio and video needs usually involve 1 mic. The H7 microphone quality is good but running the U-22 with an XLR mic gives me better results. 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 No problems using it. I wish we could use the line input & mic/xlr input simultaneously, hence one less star. Its not noisy, it could use a little more output since it's not loud enough sometimes with earphones. Feature wise its okay, handy to carry around for on the spot recordings of ideas through iPad or laptop. no gain headroom for a condenser mic —it produces somewhat quiet recordings that need normalization.

Analogue Out (L/R Output): RCA (coaxial) connector, -0.8dBu Max Output (at 0 dBFS, into 10kOhm Load), 1Kohm Output Impedance 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 Only USB host controllers with Intel Chipsets are supported. Operation is not guaranteed when used with USB hubs or expansioncards. 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. 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.

Power Source: USB bus power (Type B), Zoom AD-17 (Micro-B), DC 5v Power Supply (Micro-B), 2 x AA battereis (approx 5-hours continuous operation with phantom power off)