USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Audio Converter for Mac and PC
Take your sound new heights with the high-speed, high-resolution, low-latency, and ultra-portable UAC-2 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Audio converter.
The bus-powered UAC-2 adds two channels of 24-bit/192 kHz high-resolution audio to any USB 2.0 or 3.0-equipped Windows or Mac computer—even to your iPad.* It utilizes SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology for low latency and includes advanced features such as 4x upsampling, Loopback, and MIDI I/O. Plug in any microphone, line-level device, or instrument and use the UAC-2 for onstage playback, recording to a DAW, or enjoyment of high-res audio in your home or office. You can also use it for fast, low-latency podcasting, gaming, and other live streaming applications.
* Optional power adapter and Apple Camera Connection kit or Lightning to USB Camera Adapter required
Live performance
Now you can get the best out of your laptop at every gig. The UAC-2 is portable, bus-powered (no AC connection required), and built rugged for the road, plus its advanced converters and support for USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ensures superior audio wherever your music takes you.
Webcasting, podcasting, gaming, and live-streaming
Broadcast your creativity, enhance your gaming experience, and share your performance with the world. The UAC-2's Loopback function combines the input from connected mics, instruments, and line-level devices along with background music or other audio tracks being played back by your computer and then instantly routes a custom blend of the signals to your streaming software.
Recording and archiving
Pair a UAC-2 with your DAW and create great audio in any recording environment. Connect a wide variety of microphones, line-level devices, and instruments. Use Direct Monitoring for zero-latency overdubbing. Sync your MIDI controllers, sound modules, and drum machines. Archive your favorite recordings in high-resolution formats. The UAC-2 provides everything you need, in one compact device.
MIDI
The UAC-2's MIDI input and output connectors ensure rock-solid synchronization between your computer and devices such as electronic keyboards, controllers, drum machines, and synthesizer or sampler modules.
Desktop audio enhancement
Think your headphones and speakers already sound pretty great? Treat yourself by plugging them into the UAC-2 instead of your computer's audio outputs. Now you can enjoy the ultimate in streamed high-resolution audio—all the way up to 24-bit/192 kHz—in full fidelity.
Complete connectivity
The UAC-2 works with everything from legacy USB 2.0 laptops and desktops, all the way up to the latest-generation Mac or Windows USB 3.0-equipped computers. Or plug in an AC adapter and Apple Camera Connection kit or Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (sold separately) and use it with your iPad.
USB 3.0 SuperSpeed
The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 transfer protocol supported by the UAC-2 is ten times faster than USB 2.0 and six times faster than FireWire 800. The result? Low-latency (2.2ms roundtrip @ 96 kHz/32 samples) for improved performance from your DAW software, and a stable data stream that is unaffected by computer jitter (slight variations in timing), so there's no need to connect an external master clock source. What's more, the extra bus voltage carried by USB 3.0 (900 mA, as opposed to the 500 mA carried by USB 2.0) allows for the use of higher-end electronic components such as the advanced preamps and converters in the UAC-2.
The Hardware
The USB 3.0 connector on the rear panel carries digital signal to and from your computer in addition to providing power to the UAC-2—no batteries or external power required. Dual front panel combo XLR/TRS inputs allow you to connect a wide variety of microphones as well as line-level signals from electronic keyboards and music players—even passive instruments such as electric guitars and basses. Dual-balanced TRS output jacks enable you to connect the UAC-2 to amplifiers or self-powered speakers, and there's an independent ¼" stereo headphone jack with dedicated volume control for private monitoring of the input or output signal.
Dedicated input gain controls and Clip LEDs make it easy to set optimum input levels, and a large Output knob enables fast control over overall output level. A phantom power switch applies +48 volts to the mic inputs, allowing you to use the UAC-2 with studio-quality condenser microphones, and a three-way Direct Monitoring switch enables monitoring of input signal with zero latency in both mono and stereo. MIDI In and Out connectors allow interfacing with devices such as electronic keyboards and drum machines. Last but not least, a Class Compliant Mode switch enables the UAC-2 to be connected to an iPad.*
* Optional power adapter and Apple Camera Connection kit or Lightning to USB Camera Adapter required
Upsampling
The UAC-2 uses high-end components such as the Burr Brown PCM4202 analog-to-digital converter and AKM AK4396 digital-to-analog converter. In addition, the UAC-2 performs 4-times upsampling during both analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion. In other words, when the sampling frequency is set to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, the UAC-2 processes the signal at high resolution 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz. For A/D conversion, this means less aliasing noise; for D/A conversion, this means increased clarity and fidelity.
Extend your capabilities with software
UAC-2 MixEfx is a free Macintosh and Windows compatible application designed specially by Zoom for the UAC-2. With UAC-2 MixEfx, you can set mix parameters and add high-quality effects such as reverb and echo. Other features include a low cut filter, phase reverse, AUTO GAIN control for each input. UAC-2 MixEfx even has three memory slots for saving user settings with quick recall.
Download UAC-2 MixEfx.
State of the art editing with every interface
The Zoom UAC-2 comes with a free download license for Steinberg’s Cubase LE music production software, providing not just the ability to capture incredible high-resolution / low-latency audio in every box, but to do spectacular things with it.
Take your recordings to a more professional level. Steinberg’s powerful and state-of-the-art audio software used by creators around the world now comes with every Zoom UAC-2 and UAC-8 purchase.
Currently shipping with:
Cubase LE8 for Mac OS X 10.9/10.10 and Windows 7/8/8.1.
For information on license activation and upgrades, visit our Steinberg Software support page.
Accessories
Here's what comes included with the UAC-2
- Operation manual
- USB 3.0 cable (1m)
- Cubase LE download
- Cubase LE startup guide
Optional accessories
- Zoom AD-14 AC adapter (DC 5V 1A)
UAC-2 IMAGES
Image Gallery
