Steinberg UR44 Review

Church Use: Audio Interface For Computer and iPad

Audio interfaces have come a long way since my original Avid Mbox back in the early 2000’s, and the Steinberg UR44 has ushered a new generation of feature-packed audio interfaces with usability and stability.   Whether it’s in the studio recording audio or connecting to an iPad to trigger loops and backing tracks, the UR44 is a great-sounding, reliable interface you can count on in every situation.

Features: The UR44 sports 4 class-A D-PREs, Steinberg’s own microphone preamps and two line inputs and four separate outputs, allowing high-resolution audio recording up to 192kHz at 24 bits via USB 2.0. MIDI I/O is included in addition to the USB port it uses to connect to the computer. Latency-free monitoring and its own DSP engine are built in to the UR44, so vocalists can track with reverb without any latency from the DAW. Cubase AI comes standard with every UR44.

Application: We like the UR44 for two reasons: 1) it’s a great sounding recording unit, and 2) it’s the ideal live interface. Recording with the UR44 is a breeze.   After you get the hang of the built-in FX, it’s easy to track without latency or to give a vocalist reverb just on the headphone mix. The preamps have a ton of headroom and are extremely transparent, making them great for vocalists and acoustic instruments. The combo XLR/1/4” jack is incredibly useful when recording direct instruments like bass or keyboards. We also love the UR44 as a live interface. The 4 separate outputs are perfect for splitting up drum, bass, click, and keyboard parts when playing backing tracks live, and the MIDI I/O is great for controlling keyboards, effects, and even lighting. It’s rare to see an interface of this quality feature iPad connectivity, and it makes a perfect travel recording rig. Find out more at usa.yamaha.com.