Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD Review – A True Budget Workhorse

Design:
Features:
Performance:
Value:

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Behringer is undoubtedly a powerhouse when it comes to budget audio gear – whatever you need, chances are they will have an affordable model to consider. Behringer’s U-PHORIA UMC204HD is a testament to this statement, proving one of the most efficient audio interfaces under $100 on the market today. Let’s check it out!

Design

The entire U-PHORIA line of audio interfaces is fairly simple and the UMC204HD is no different. It’s not particularly interesting to look at, but it’s equally quite attractive. It features an all-black chassis, with some light gray detailing to break up the black, giving it an ultimately sophisticated look.

It also has a very straightforward layout that matches most interfaces in this price range. On the front is where you will find all of the inputs and channel controls, while the back is reserved for outputs and power management. In terms of build quality, Behringer have done a great job with the UMC204HD. This device is more than capable of taking the daily abuse of a busy home studio, while it’s just as robust for chucking in a backpack for use on the go. At this price, this is about as good as it gets.

Features

The entire U-PHORIA line of interfaces is impressive when you look at the number of features on offer. There are several interfaces out there, but rarely do any of them bring the amount of versatility that this series does. In the case of the budget U-PHORIA UMC204HD, you are looking at two inputs and four outputs. Both inputs feature a combined XLR/TRS port – for both mic and instrument use – while each of them is wired to Behringer’s high-quality MIDAS microphone preamp.

The channel controls are fairly basic, with a gain control for each individual input, an attenuation pad and a switch that lets you choose between line and instrument inputs. Next to those, we see a Stereo/Mono button, a Mix knob, Main Out knob as well as the direct monitor button and phantom power indicator. Around the back, Behringer have included a MIDI pair of outs, a stereo RCA cluster and a stereo 1/4″ TRS cluster.

Combined with the included copy of Tracktion DAW and a plethora of downloadable plugins, this is more than we would expect at this price.

Performance

When it comes to performance, Behringer’s UMC204HD brings solid and consistent results, with good sound quality and zero-latency monitoring. The MIDAS microphone preamps have shown to be the real deal when recording vocals. Their inherent clarity is actually surprising considering the reasonable price of U-PHORIA interfaces.

The UMC204HD is quite unique in the budget market with its number of I/O options. It gives you plenty of versatility while still preserving its compact size. The fact that it works well with hot pickups makes it a perfect choice for budget home recording studios.

Generally speaking, the UMC204HD does pretty much everything you would expect from a simple audio interface, but it does it at a much lower cost. Finally, the UMC204HD is compatible with just about any DAW you can get your hands on. Installing and syncing it is quite easy and only takes a few minutes to achieve.

Conclusion

The U-PHORIA UMC204HD represents another great model from this awesome Behringer series. This particular model packs a whole lot of juice at a price that puts many of its competitors to shame. If you’re in need of a reliable budget solution and need additional versatility, this model is definitely for you.

For more info about the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD, click here.
For more Audio Interfaces Under $100 you might like, click here.