UNIVERSAL AUDIO Volt 476 USB Audio Interface User Manual

Volt 476 Hardware Manual

This article contains complete instructions for Volt 476 hardware controls and connections.
Note: To learn how to set up Volt with audio software and how to redeem your bundled software, please see the Volt Software Manual.

Volt 476 USB Audio Interface

Getting Started

To begin with setup, follow the steps below. The UA Connect software guides you through the process step-by-step.

1. Download and install UA Connect from www.uaudio.com/volt/start
2. Launch the UA Connect application
3. Follow the instructions within the app

To learn how to set up Volt with recording software and how to redeem your bundled software, please see the Volt Software Manual.

Introduction & Overview

A Letter from Bill Putnam, Jr.
Thank you for choosing Volt as part of your music making experience. We know that any new piece of gear requires an investment of time and money — and our goal is to make your investment pay off.
Universal Audio’s family of audio interfaces represent the best examples of what UA has stood for over its long history; from its original founding in the 1950s by my father,  to our current vision of delivering the best of both analog and digital audio technologies.
Volt’s best-in-class audio quality serves as its foundation, but this is just the beginning. Volt is also the perfect “on-the-go” audio interface and features an exclusive analog  Vintage Mic Preamp circuit, inspired by our legendary UA 610 mic preamp. Plus, some Volt models feature the analog 76 Compressor inspired by our iconic 1176 limiter  heard on thousands of classic records. Volt also includes MIDI for connection to a wide range of devices, and direct monitoring capability for latency-free recording.
At UA, we’re dedicated to the idea that technology should serve the creative process — not be a barrier. These are the very ideals my father embodied as he invented audio  equipment. We believe Volt will earn its way into your creative workflow by providing stunning fidelity and rocksolid reliability for years  to come.
Please feel free to reach out to us via our website www.uaudio.com, and via our social media channels. We look forward to hearing from you, and thank you once again for  choosing Universal Audio.
Bill Putnam, Jr.

Big Studio Sound, Anywhere.

Produce with Best-in-Class Audio Quality
From the team that brought you the game-changing Apollo interface, Volt 476 delivers superior studio sound quality, with more character and tone than any USB interface in its class.
Get Classic Sounds with Vintage Mic Preamp Mode
Few sounds can compare to a vintage Universal Audio 610 tube preamp, as used to record everyone from Ray Charles to Van Halen to Arcade Fire. Volt 476 gives you the  rich, full sound of this classic UA mic/line/instrument preamp, thanks to its built-in tube emulation circuitry, a UA exclusive.
Control Volume Peaks with UA Compression
Get album-ready punch and presence with Volt 476’s onboard 76 Compressor — an innovative analog circuit inspired by UA’s classic 1176 Limiting Amplifier. The 76  Compressor features three perfectly tailored presets to tame voice, guitars, synths, and drum machines. Just plug in, pick a setting, and play.
Easy In, Easy Out

Volt 476 gives you simple 4-in/4-out audio connections. Just plug your mics, guitars, or synths into the front panel. Then connect your speakers or headphones to monitor  your audio with no latency. With Volt, you’ll be producing like a pro, fast.
Stay Inspired with a Curated Suite of Audio Software
Some audio interfaces give you a smattering of random audio apps. Not Volt. Instead, we put together a bundle of serious music production tools, virtual instruments, and plug-ins from the industry’s best.

Key Features

• Desktop 4-in/4-out USB audio interface with class-leading 24bit/192 kHz audio conversion for Mac, PC, iPad, and iPhone
• Vintage Mic Preamp mode lets you record voice or guitar with the rich, full sound of a classic UA tube preamp
• Built-in 76 Compressor adds instant clarity and punch to voice, instruments, and other sources with all-new analog circuit based on UA’s iconic 1176
• Essential suite of audio and music software including Ableton, Melodyne, UJAM’s Virtual Drummer, Marshall, Ampeg, and more
• Studio-quality headphone amplifier for loud, clear monitoring
• USB bus powered to reduce cable clutter
•  48V phantom power for condenser microphones
• Direct Monitoring for latency-free recording
• Monitoring matrix for advanced audio routing
• Stylish, rugged construction built to withstand years of use
• 1-in/1-out MIDI connections
• USB-C to USB-A cable included
• Power adapter included

System Requirements
Mac & PC

• Available USB 2.0 (or higher) port
• USB cable (included)
• Intel, AMD, or Apple Silicon processor
• (PC) Windows 10 64-bit edition
• (macOS) 10.14 Mojave or later
• Internet connection for software downloads

iPad & iPhone

• iPadOS / iOS 14 or later

Volt 476 Hardware Descriptions
All hardware controls, connections, and indicators are explained in this section.
Front Panel

(1) XLR/TRS Combo Inputs
Connect your microphones, instruments, or line level sources here. The combo input connectors accept XLR and ¼” (6.35 mm) plugs.
A microphone is typically connected with an XLR connector, and an instrument or line level signal is connected with a ¼” (6.35 mm) TS or TRS plug.
Preamp gain and impedance automatically adjusts for line or mic signals, based on whether the plug is XLR or ¼”, along with the state of the INST button.
Press the INST button to toggle the impedance and gain of the line input to accommodate a Hi-Z instrument, such as an electric guitar or bass.
Tip: The Vintage Preamp and 76 Compressor can be used on mic, line, and instrument inputs.
BALANCED AND UNBALANCED CONNECTIONS

• The line inputs on Volt are balanced when connected with TRS connectors to balanced equipment.
• Use TRS (balanced) audio cables for the best results with balanced audio sources. Balanced equipment uses three conductor wiring (via TRS or XLR connectors) to  educe interference and electrical noise, and to provide better audio quality over longer cable runs. Use TS (unbalanced) cables for instruments that are not balanced, such  as an electric guitar or bass, or an unbalanced synth or sound module. TS connections may also be suitable for shorter input cables, where electrical interference noise may not be an issue.

(2) Headphone Volume Knob
Adjust the headphone volume with this knob. The headphone volume control is independent from the Monitor volume control.
Note: The monitor output and headphone signals are the same.
3) Headphone Output
Connect stereo headphones to this output. Headphones are connected with a ¼” (6.35 mm) TRS plug. If your headphones have a ⅛” (3.5 mm) plug, use a TRS ⅛” to ¼” adapter.

(4) 48V Phantom Power Button
Press this button to toggle 48V phantom power at the XLR microphone inputs. The LED blinks red while phantom power is activating or powering off. The LED is lit solid  red when phantom power is active. Both XLR inputs receive phantom power when enabled.
Phantom power is required by most condenser microphones, but is usually not required with dynamic microphones or ribbon microphones (phantom power can damage  some ribbon microphones).
Note: Disable phantom power before you connect or disconnect the microphone.

(5) Instrument Buttons (INST)
Press these buttons to toggle the impedance and gain of the line inputs to accommodate Hi-Z instruments, such as electric guitar or bass. These buttons are lit green when  the Hi-Z inputs are enabled.
Tip: Generally speaking, the INST button should be off when connecting a line-level source such as a keyboard or sound module, unless you need more gain.
Top Panel

(6) Monitor Knob
Rotate this knob to adjust the volume of speakers connected to the Monitor outputs. The output signal level meters (14) indicate the output levels.
(7) Gain Knobs
These knobs adjust the preamp gain for the microphones, instruments or line level devices attached to the inputs.
For optimum gain, rotate the knob to adjust the input signal level while monitoring the source that is connected, so the input meter (12) shows signal but does not light red.  The red input LED lights when the input signal is near 0 dB.
Tip: Clipping occurs when the signal is overloaded. When clipping happens, the top of the waveform is squared off, creating distortion that may be unpleasant. Clipping has  creative uses, but is usually avoided. To prevent clipping, adjust the gain so only green and yellow meters light, and the red LED doesn’t light.
(8) Vintage Buttons
Press these buttons to toggle the Vintage Preamps. The Vintage Preamps can be used on mic, line, and instrument inputs.
The Vintage Preamp adds a carefully crafted analog tube preamp emulation, inspired by Universal Audio’s all-tube 610 console preamplifier, to the sound. When the button is lit orange, the circuit is active.

(9) 76 Compressor Buttons
Press these buttons to engage the 76 Compressors. The 76 Compressors can be used on mic, line, and instrument inputs. The button is lit orange when the compression  circuit is active.
The 76 Compressor lets you add clarity and punch to voice, guitars, and more, with an analog compressor based on UA’s iconic 1176 Limiting Amplifier.
Press the button repeatedly to cycle through the presets or disable the circuit (VOC, GTR, FAST, or OFF).
Note: The input level increases when the compressor is active, so you may want to readjust your Gain setting.

(10) 76 Compressor Presets
The indicators above the 76 Compressor button indicate whether the compressor is off or enabled on one of the presets. The 76 Compressor presets have the following characteristics:

transients
FAST| Very fast attack and medium release for aggressive compression

Tip: Although these presets are designed to work well with these particular sources, you can use any setting with any source. Feel free to use the 76 Compressor creatively.
SHAPING YOUR SOUND WITH THE VINTAGE PREAMP AND 76 COMPRESSOR
Here’s some guidance to help you add just the right amount of analog saturation or compression to your track with the Vintage Preamp and 76 Compressor:

1. Start with the gain knob at zero.
2. Press the 76 Compressor button to select the desired preset (VOC, GTR, or FAST), based on the source you’re recording.
3. Enable Vintage preamp mode.
4. Slowly raise the gain until you hear audible distortion.
5. From that point, back the gain off slightly for a subtle classic “tube” sound, or overdrive it for the right amount of energy.

(11) Monitor Source Buttons
Important: Output pair OUT 1-2 and/or OUT 3-4 must be selected to hear audio from your computer.
These buttons select the audio that you’ll hear in the monitor and headphone outputs. When a monitor source button is lit, that source is routed to the speakers and  headphones.
You can choose to monitor the mic/line/instrument inputs (direct monitoring), outputs from the computer, or both.
IN – The IN 1-2 and IN 3-4 buttons route Volt’s hardware inputs directly to the monitor outputs. Direct monitoring allows you to listen to your inputs through the device, without any software latency.

OUT – The OUT 1-2 and OUT 3-4 buttons route audio from the computer to the monitor outputs. Enable these buttons to hear sound from the audio software.
MONITOR SOURCE NOTES

• You can monitor multiple sources at the same time. Enable all sources that you want to route to monitor outputs and headphones.
• Press the MONO button so it is lit blue to listen to the inputs panned to the center. By default, inputs are routed in stereo, so input 1 and 3 are routed to the left, and  input 2 and 4 are routed to the right.
• You can still hear direct audio from the inputs if IN sources are enabled, even if no OUT sources are enabled for monitoring.
• When any combination of both IN and OUT sources are enabled, the volume from your audio software is slightly reduced so you can clearly hear your input signals.

The monitor source buttons work as described below.

the audio software, but not directly to the monitor and headphone outputs.
IN 1-2| Hardware inputs 1-2 are routed directly to the monitor and headphone| Hardware inputs 1-2 are routed to the audio software, but not directly to
| outputs, and also to the audio software.| the monitor and headphone outputs.
---|---|---
OUT 3-4| Audio software outputs 3-4 are routed to the monitor and headphone outputs.| Audio software outputs 3-4 are not routed to monitor and headphone outputs.
OUT 1-2| Audio software outputs 1-2 are routed to the monitor and headphone outputs.| Audio software outputs 1-2 are not routed to monitor and headphone outputs.

DEFAULT SETTING
From the factory, OUT 1-2 is selected. With this setting, you hear audio from your computer (most audio software will automatically route audio to outputs 1-2), but your  inputs are not directly monitored.
Monitor Source Example
HOW TO LISTEN TO PREAMP INPUTS AND AUDIO SOFTWARE Select IN 1-2 to hear hardware inputs 1 and 2, and select OUT 1-2 to hear audio from your computer.

(12) Mono Button
Press the mono button to route the monitor source direct inputs in mono instead of stereo. The button lights blue when enabled.
Important: The mono button applies to Volt’s hardware inputs only.
(13) Input Meters
The input meters show the level of signal on the inputs.
The red LED lights when the level is near 0 dB. To prevent undesirable clipping, adjust GAIN so only green and yellow meters light, and the red LED doesn’t light.

(14) Output Meters
The output meters show the level of signal at the monitor and headphone outputs.The red LED lights to indicate that the level is near 0 dB.
(15) Host indicator
The host indicator is lit blue when Volt is recognized by the computer or device.

Rear Panel

(16) Line 3-4 Inputs
Connect input sources for line inputs 3-4 here. These are ¼” balanced inputs designed for line-level sources, such as synths, external sound modules, or other line-level  sources.
Note: There are no gain controls on the line 3-4 inputs. Any level controls must be configured in your software.
(17) Monitor Outputs
Connect your stereo speaker system to the monitor outputs. Connect the left speaker to Monitor 1/L and the right speaker to Monitor 2/R. You can use TS (tip-sleeve) or TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) ¼” (6.35mm) cables.

MONITOR NOTES

• The sources that you hear in the monitor and headphone outputs are assigned using the Monitor Source buttons (11). To hear your computer or software in the monitor  speakers and headphones, Monitor Source OUT 1-2 must be enabled. These outputs are enabled by default.
• When you enable direct inputs with the Monitor Source IN buttons, you will hear those inputs on the monitor outputs and the headphone outputs, even if no outputs are selected with the Monitor Source buttons.

BALANCED AND UNBALANCED CONNECTIONS

• The outputs on Volt are balanced when connected with TRS connectors to balanced equipment.
• Use TRS (balanced) audio cables for the best results with a balanced stereo speaker system. Balanced equipment uses three conductor wiring to reduce interference and  electrical noise, and to provide better audio quality over longer cable runs. TS connections may be suitable for shorter output cables, where electrical interference noise may not be an issue.

Note: The monitor outputs are not powered. You will need to connect the cables to either powered speakers or an amp with speakers.

(18) Line Outputs
Use the line outputs for monitoring unattenuated audio directly from the software. Audio can be assigned to these outputs in your software. These are ¼” balanced outputs.  See (11) Monitor Source Buttons for related information.

• Line Outputs 1-2 typically carry the main outputs from your software.
• Line Outputs 3-4 must be specifically assigned as outputs from your software. These can be used for various monitoring purposes.

(19) MIDI I/O
You can connect a MIDI device to Volt with standard 5-pin MIDI DIN cables. Connect the MIDI OUT of your device to the MIDI IN on Volt, and the MIDI IN of the device to the MIDI OUT on Volt.
You may not need to make both connections. For example, a MIDI controller might only be connected to the MIDI IN on Volt, and a MIDI sound module might only be  connected to the MIDI OUT from Volt.

(20) USB-C
Connect Volt to a USB 2.0 (or higher) port on your computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable (included), or with another cable.
For example, you can connect with a USB-C to USB-C cable if your computer has a USB-C port. For iOS or iPad devices, connect the interface with a USB-C cable (iPads  with USB-C) or with the Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (other iPadOS and iOS devices).

(21) 5VDC Power
Use the 5VDC power supply when using Volt 476. Volt 476 may work from USB bus power, but only in limited configurations.
(22) Power Switch
Apply power to Volt with this switch.
(23) Kensington security slot
Use with Kensington-compatible security devices to secure Volt hardware.

Troubleshooting

• Make sure the power switch is in the ON position.
Host indicator doesn’t light| • Power Volt off and back on.
• Try a different USB port or USB hub.
• Try a different USB cable.
---|---
Crackling audio, dropouts, glitches| Increase the buffer size setting in the software on your computer. When recording, you can use direct monitoring to record without latency at higher buffer sizes.
(PC) ASIO driver not available in DAW| Install the Volt hardware driver with the UA Connect app.

References

• Universal Audio | Audio Interfaces | UAD Plug-Ins
• Volt Start
• Volt Start

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