Zoom UAC-8 USB Audio Interface

The Zoom UAC 8 is a professional-grade, rackmount audio interface designed for serious studio recording, live performance, and extensive home studio setups. It’s a powerhouse that leverages the high-speed USB 3.0 protocol to deliver a massive amount of I/O with extremely low latency.

Key Features and Highlights:

• High-Speed USB 3.0 Connectivity: This is a core feature of the UAC-8. USB 3.0’s “SuperSpeed” protocol provides a roundtrip latency as low as 2.0 ms, making it one of the fastest interfaces in its class. This is crucial for tracking multiple sources (like a full band or a drum kit) with no noticeable delay.
• Extensive I/O: The UAC-8 is a true workhorse, offering a total of 18 inputs and 20 outputs. This includes:
  • 8 x Combo XLR/TRS inputs: Located on the front panel, these inputs can accept microphones, line-level signals, or instruments (with a dedicated Hi-Z switch on inputs 1 and 2).
  • 10 x Balanced TRS outputs: For connecting to studio monitors, headphones, and outboard gear.
  • 2 x ADAT Optical Inputs/Outputs: Allows for expansion with up to 8 additional channels of digital audio.
  • S/PDIF Coaxial I/O: Provides 2 channels of digital audio.
  • Word Clock I/O: For syncing with other digital audio equipment.
  • MIDI I/O: For connecting hardware synthesizers, drum machines, and controllers.
• High-Resolution Audio: It’s capable of recording and playing back audio at a professional standard of 24-bit/192 kHz, ensuring exceptional sound quality and a wide dynamic range.
• High-Quality Preamps and Converters: The UAC-8 features eight of Zoom’s high-performance microphone preamps with +48V phantom power. It also uses high-end Burr Brown and AKM converters for superior audio fidelity. A key feature is its 4x upsampling during A/D and D/A conversion, which helps minimize aliasing noise and increase clarity.
• Rackmount Design: The UAC-8 is housed in a rugged, 1U rackmount metal chassis, making it perfect for permanent studio installations.
• MixEfx Software: This free software application allows you to control all parameters of the UAC-8 from your computer. It includes a comprehensive mixer with independent level and panning controls for each channel and allows you to add effects like reverb and echo to your monitor mixes, which can be useful for vocalists.
• Standalone Mode: The UAC-8 can be used as an 8-channel mic preamp and A/D or D/A converter without being connected to a computer, which is a great feature for live sound or as a front-end for another digital system.