Behringer U Phoria Umc202hd Driver Download Mac

There are a lot of budget audio interfaces on the market these days all elbowing each other for your attention. One device that comfortably fits into this low-cost category is the Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD.
The manufacturer modestly boasts ‘tank-like construction' when explaining how tough it thinks their metal chassis is. These are bold words indeed, but the big question is, does the UMC202HD perform as solidly under the hood as its sturdy-sounding exterior?
A quick scan of the product's specification sheet uncovers two of its strongest selling points: 24-bit / 192 kHz sampling coupled with custom MIDAS-designed preamplifiers. The unit also comes packed with features which includes: a 2×2 interface, direct monitoring, +48V phantom power, input level type selection, and more.

So with this in mind, doesn't the UMC202HD make for an intriguing review?

Overview

First Impressions

Unboxing

The UMC202HD comes with everything needed to get started. The unit draws its power from a spare USB port on your computer and so a USB 2.0 cable (type-AB) is supplied to get connected. Other than that, the usual suspects lurking inside the box are: quick start guides for different languages and the customary Behringer sticker for people who like pimping music gear.

Built Like a Tank?

The metal casing is the standout feature when the UMC202HD is first unboxed. Fortunately it isn't the thickness of heavy tank armour so it's light enough to be portable, but sufficiently impact-proof to protect the device's internals.

The case has well-rounded edges too which should reduce the likelihood of damage from accidental knocks and bumps. On the front of the UMC202HD the rotary controls and push buttons also feel well-made and have a smooth action which reinforces the feeling of reliability.

User Interface

Behringer have done a decent job of creating a user interface that is intuitive to use. The controls on the front are logically arranged to create an efficient workflow. The LED indicators are also strategically positioned to give enough feedback to the user without creating a distracting light show.

Behringer have opted for blinking LEDs to warn about input clipping. They work well for keeping an eye on signal overloading. However, it would have been nicer to see a meter display which is far more useful when setting up input levels. That said this is only a minor gripe, the LEDs are nice and simple and do a fine job.

Styling

Behringer have decided on a simple black and silver styling for the UMC202HD. Granted, it's not the most eye-catching audio interface out there, but it is quite smart and professional looking. The front of the unit has a shiny piano black finish with some nice silver detailing around the controls and inputs; elsewhere on the unit the paint finish is matte.

Main Features

Drilling down to see what the UMC202HD has to offer reveals a surprising array of features. Behringer have certainly packed a lot into their low-cost U-Phoria product. Here is a rundown of the main features:

2 Combo inputs
XLR and 1/4' TRS connections can be used for microphones, line level sources, and instruments using these flexible combination inputs.

Custom-designed preamplifiers
For the UMC202HD, Behringer have used MIDAS-designed preamps rather than staying with the older Xenyx ones found in the UM2 for example.

+48V phantom power
To cater for condenser microphones the unit has a switch on the rear for enabling / disabling phantom power through the XLR contacts.

Professional grade sampling
The A/D conversion precision is first-rate and quite a bonus considering it's one of the cheapest on the market right now. With a bit depth of 24 and sampling rate of up to 192 kHz you can work on virtually any project.

Direct monitoring
There's a push button on the front of the unit to bypass the return signal to monitor inputs at near zero latency.

Line / inst buttons
When using a 1/4' TRS connection the correct type of audio source can be easily selected – i.e. line level or instrument level.

Pad buttons
Enabling this will reduce the input signal to avoid clipping and distortion. A handy feature to have when you can't alter a particularly hot signal feed at the source.

Getting Connected

Getting the UMC202HD connected is a simple plug and play affair. There are no drivers required for Mac OS X so it should work straight out of the box. However, Windows users get a dedicated UMC driver which is ASIO compatible which needs to be downloaded and installed before connecting the audio interface. The latest version is always available on Behringer's website along with some extra bonus software.

Users working with large CD image files may need a program to compress them for easier use and transfer. Despite having few options, ECM for Mac performs this function well, and would be a. Ecm tools mac free download.

During testing on a Windows 10 machine the driver installed without a hiccup and the unit was instantly recognised. Just remember to install the driver first before connecting the interface or you may have to reinstall a second time.

Incidentally, Behringer offer an extended 3-year warranty for registering the UMC202HD. At the time of writing this article, users also receive a bonus redeem code for the Tracktion Waveform 8 DAW; this is an older version but still very capable. This specific DAW isn't required of course, but if you're just getting into music production then it's a great piece of software that gives you a total solution right out of the box.

Recording and Output

On the recording side of things the UMC202HD performs surprisingly well for a budget audio interface. It's obviously never going to compete with more expensive devices but when tested it produced clear recordings that were fairly transparent; the latency was also very low too.

XLR Inputs

When using a condenser microphone (with +48V phantom power) connected via the XLR inputs, speech is very clear and there is plenty of mileage left on the gain controls; the MIDAS preamps do a stellar job in this respect.

The UMC202HD's very low noise floor is particularly impressive and there's hardly any hiss even when cranking the input gains to maximum. This will ensure your vocals don't sound like you are standing in a rain shower.

TRS Inputs

When connecting instruments via the 1/4' TRS inputs the recordings have good detail both at the low and high frequencies. When playing instruments at different loudness levels the UMC202HD demonstrates its excellent dynamic range in capturing very quiet to loud sounds. It's also nice to see a pad switch function to combat hot signal feeds; this feature is typically found on more expensive / external preamp gear.

Technical Specifications

Behringer U Phoria Umc202hd Driver Download Mac 10

• Dimensions (H/W/D): 1.8″ (46.45 mm) x 6.7″ (170 mm) x 4.9″ (125 mm).
• Weight: 1.2 lbs (0.5 Kg).
• Mac Operating System: Mac OS X.
• Windows operating system: Windows XP or higher.

Verdict

Trying to find a budget audio interface which is affordable and comes with a generous set of features is difficult at the best of times. However, Behringer have achieved the perfect balance between these two key aspects with the U-Phoria UMC202HD.

Lets be clear. It's not the ultimate device for music production, not by a long way. There are much better interfaces out there, but they will cost you a whole lot more. What the UMC202HD excels at is to provide an incredibly affordable way to produce quality audio.

Unless you intend on recording a band the 2×2 interface is more than adequate. Add to this 24-bit / 192 kHz sampling, custom-designed preamplifiers, signal level selection, and attenuation control, then you've got a device that covers most bases.

Overall, the audio quality was better than expected when recording microphone level and line level sources; the MIDAS preamps certainly do the unit justice when it comes to this task. When factoring in added bonuses such as a 3-year warranty and free software then you've got a product that is hard to ignore.

There are a lot of budget audio interfaces on the market these days all elbowing each other for your attention. One device that comfortably fits into this low-cost category is the Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD.
The manufacturer modestly boasts ‘tank-like construction' when explaining how tough it thinks their metal chassis is. These are bold words indeed, but the big question is, does the UMC202HD perform as solidly under the hood as its sturdy-sounding exterior?
A quick scan of the product's specification sheet uncovers two of its strongest selling points: 24-bit / 192 kHz sampling coupled with custom MIDAS-designed preamplifiers. The unit also comes packed with features which includes: a 2×2 interface, direct monitoring, +48V phantom power, input level type selection, and more.

So with this in mind, doesn't the UMC202HD make for an intriguing review?

Overview

First Impressions

Unboxing

The UMC202HD comes with everything needed to get started. The unit draws its power from a spare USB port on your computer and so a USB 2.0 cable (type-AB) is supplied to get connected. Other than that, the usual suspects lurking inside the box are: quick start guides for different languages and the customary Behringer sticker for people who like pimping music gear.

Built Like a Tank?

The metal casing is the standout feature when the UMC202HD is first unboxed. Fortunately it isn't the thickness of heavy tank armour so it's light enough to be portable, but sufficiently impact-proof to protect the device's internals.

The case has well-rounded edges too which should reduce the likelihood of damage from accidental knocks and bumps. On the front of the UMC202HD the rotary controls and push buttons also feel well-made and have a smooth action which reinforces the feeling of reliability.

User Interface

Behringer have done a decent job of creating a user interface that is intuitive to use. The controls on the front are logically arranged to create an efficient workflow. The LED indicators are also strategically positioned to give enough feedback to the user without creating a distracting light show.

Behringer have opted for blinking LEDs to warn about input clipping. They work well for keeping an eye on signal overloading. However, it would have been nicer to see a meter display which is far more useful when setting up input levels. That said this is only a minor gripe, the LEDs are nice and simple and do a fine job.

Styling

Behringer have decided on a simple black and silver styling for the UMC202HD. Granted, it's not the most eye-catching audio interface out there, but it is quite smart and professional looking. The front of the unit has a shiny piano black finish with some nice silver detailing around the controls and inputs; elsewhere on the unit the paint finish is matte.

Main Features

Drilling down to see what the UMC202HD has to offer reveals a surprising array of features. Behringer have certainly packed a lot into their low-cost U-Phoria product. Here is a rundown of the main features:

2 Combo inputs
XLR and 1/4' TRS connections can be used for microphones, line level sources, and instruments using these flexible combination inputs.

Custom-designed preamplifiers
For the UMC202HD, Behringer have used MIDAS-designed preamps rather than staying with the older Xenyx ones found in the UM2 for example.

+48V phantom power
To cater for condenser microphones the unit has a switch on the rear for enabling / disabling phantom power through the XLR contacts.

Professional grade sampling
The A/D conversion precision is first-rate and quite a bonus considering it's one of the cheapest on the market right now. With a bit depth of 24 and sampling rate of up to 192 kHz you can work on virtually any project.

Direct monitoring
There's a push button on the front of the unit to bypass the return signal to monitor inputs at near zero latency.

Line / inst buttons
When using a 1/4' TRS connection the correct type of audio source can be easily selected – i.e. line level or instrument level.

Pad buttons
Enabling this will reduce the input signal to avoid clipping and distortion. A handy feature to have when you can't alter a particularly hot signal feed at the source.

Getting Connected

Getting the UMC202HD connected is a simple plug and play affair. There are no drivers required for Mac OS X so it should work straight out of the box. However, Windows users get a dedicated UMC driver which is ASIO compatible which needs to be downloaded and installed before connecting the audio interface. The latest version is always available on Behringer's website along with some extra bonus software.

Users working with large CD image files may need a program to compress them for easier use and transfer. Despite having few options, ECM for Mac performs this function well, and would be a. Ecm tools mac free download.

During testing on a Windows 10 machine the driver installed without a hiccup and the unit was instantly recognised. Just remember to install the driver first before connecting the interface or you may have to reinstall a second time.

Incidentally, Behringer offer an extended 3-year warranty for registering the UMC202HD. At the time of writing this article, users also receive a bonus redeem code for the Tracktion Waveform 8 DAW; this is an older version but still very capable. This specific DAW isn't required of course, but if you're just getting into music production then it's a great piece of software that gives you a total solution right out of the box.

Recording and Output

On the recording side of things the UMC202HD performs surprisingly well for a budget audio interface. It's obviously never going to compete with more expensive devices but when tested it produced clear recordings that were fairly transparent; the latency was also very low too.

XLR Inputs

When using a condenser microphone (with +48V phantom power) connected via the XLR inputs, speech is very clear and there is plenty of mileage left on the gain controls; the MIDAS preamps do a stellar job in this respect.

The UMC202HD's very low noise floor is particularly impressive and there's hardly any hiss even when cranking the input gains to maximum. This will ensure your vocals don't sound like you are standing in a rain shower.

TRS Inputs

When connecting instruments via the 1/4' TRS inputs the recordings have good detail both at the low and high frequencies. When playing instruments at different loudness levels the UMC202HD demonstrates its excellent dynamic range in capturing very quiet to loud sounds. It's also nice to see a pad switch function to combat hot signal feeds; this feature is typically found on more expensive / external preamp gear.

Technical Specifications

Behringer U Phoria Umc202hd Driver Download Mac 10

• Dimensions (H/W/D): 1.8″ (46.45 mm) x 6.7″ (170 mm) x 4.9″ (125 mm).
• Weight: 1.2 lbs (0.5 Kg).
• Mac Operating System: Mac OS X.
• Windows operating system: Windows XP or higher.

Verdict

Trying to find a budget audio interface which is affordable and comes with a generous set of features is difficult at the best of times. However, Behringer have achieved the perfect balance between these two key aspects with the U-Phoria UMC202HD.

Lets be clear. It's not the ultimate device for music production, not by a long way. There are much better interfaces out there, but they will cost you a whole lot more. What the UMC202HD excels at is to provide an incredibly affordable way to produce quality audio.

Unless you intend on recording a band the 2×2 interface is more than adequate. Add to this 24-bit / 192 kHz sampling, custom-designed preamplifiers, signal level selection, and attenuation control, then you've got a device that covers most bases.

Overall, the audio quality was better than expected when recording microphone level and line level sources; the MIDAS preamps certainly do the unit justice when it comes to this task. When factoring in added bonuses such as a 3-year warranty and free software then you've got a product that is hard to ignore.

If cost is your top priority in choosing your next audio interface then the UMC202HD is worth a serious look as one of the best buys right now.