The Universal Audio Volt 4 Max is a compact 12-in/6-out USB audio interface from the same team behind Universal Audio's Apollo line. Its Tone Shaping Preamps let you add tube, solid-state, or British Class A color at the press of a button, and onboard Max compression puts punch on every source as you track, giving you 18 possible character combinations for recording big, studio-grade sound. Additionally, Auto-Gain sets your levels for immediate balance, Clip Protection catches surprise peaks to ensure clean recording on every take, and the full-color Smart Display provides valuable visual feedback on inputs and levels. Volt 4 Max runs on USB bus power and connects to Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone, so your studio goes wherever you do. You also get a generous bundle of UAD plugins and instruments, plus the award-winning LUNA Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). From capturing moments of inspiration to recording, mixing, and mastering full-length projects, the Universal Audio Volt 4 Max provides the tools, features, and control you need for professional, polished sound.

Tone Shaping Preamps put character on every take
Volt 4 Max's dual Tone Shaping Preamps deliver up to 60 decibels of gain, and each one offers three character modes: Warmth adds the rounded glow of a tube preamp, Focus brings the clarity of a solid-state design, and Shine lends the open lift of a British Class A circuit. Max Processing then adds onboard compression with six push-button presets for vocals, guitars, and bass, modeled on the LA-2A and 1176, for 18 character combinations in all. Independent 48-volt phantom power on each channel lets you run your favorite condenser mics, and 32-bit converters running at up to 192 kilohertz preserve every nuance of the performance. For tracks that have the energy and fullness of studio records — not the thinness of demos — simply hit record and let the Volt 4 Max handle the rest.

Auto-Gain and Clip Protection for optimal leveling
Tracking engineers understand that gain staging can be tedious, but the Volt 4 Max provides the pivotal tools and features that let you focus solely on performance. Auto-Gain sets your recording levels in seconds, and Clip Protection catches unexpected peaks before they ruin a perfect take. The full-color Smart Display shows your inputs, levels, settings, and gain reduction immediately, so selecting a channel and confirming your preamp mode is quick work. Two mic/line combo inputs and two front-panel hi-Z instrument inputs let you capture a vocal and a guitar together or record a keyboard in stereo. Two more line inputs welcome outboard gear, Main and Alt speaker switching lets you check mixes on a second pair of monitors, MIDI In and Out connect your controllers and synths, and an ADAT or S/PDIF optical input adds up to eight more digital channels. Volt 4 Max also integrates with the UAD Console app and LUNA for session recall and low-latency cue mixes. Every crucial setting is available at the push or click of a button, ensuring your sessions are spent making music rather than fiddling with knobs and digging through menus.

Record, stream, and mix anywhere
Because Volt 4 Max draws its power from USB, you can set up a session wherever inspiration strikes: just connect your laptop, tablet, or phone and start tracking. Volt 4 Max works with Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone, and it plays nicely with any major DAW. Built-in loopback also lets you blend live mics with computer audio for podcasts, livestreams, and video calls, a real boon for content creators. Two headphone outputs and a built-in talkback mic make it easy to track with a collaborator, whether they’re in the control room or the iso booth. Moreover, the included UAD Volt Studio bundle provides top-notch instrument, effects, and utility plugins like the Teletronix LA-2A, the 1176 Classic FET Compressor, Pure Plate Reverb, Galaxy Tape Echo, and a pair of UAD guitar amps, alongside LUNA and third-party extras such as Melodyne Essential. For a complete mobile studio in a single box, the Volt 4 Max is tough to top.

Features

• 12-in/6-out, 32-bit/192kHz USB audio interface with onboard tone shaping and compression for pro-sounding recordings at home or on the go
• 2 Tone Shaping Preamps with 60dB of gain and 3 character modes: Warmth (tube), Focus (solid-state), and Shine (British Class A)
• Max Processing adds onboard compression with 6 presets for vocals, guitars, and bass, modeled on the LA-2A and 1176, for 18 character combinations
• 2 mic/line combo inputs with independent 48V phantom power and 2 front-panel hi-Z instrument inputs for tracking vocals and instruments together, or recording in stereo
• 2 additional 1/4-in. line inputs for integrating outboard gear
• Speaker switching between 2 sets of stereo monitors (Main and Alt) for checking mixes on multiple systems
• ADAT or S/PDIF optical input for up to 8 additional channels of digital expansion
• MIDI I/O on 1/8-in. TRS mini-jacks (Type A) for controllers, keyboards, and synths
• Auto-Gain sets recording levels for a balanced sound in seconds
• Clip Protection catches unexpected peaks to keep every take clean
• Full-color Smart Display gives at-a-glance feedback on inputs, levels, settings, and gain reduction
• USB bus-powered and class-compliant for driver-free setup on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, with a Windows ASIO driver available in the UA Connect app
• Built-in loopback blends live sources with computer audio for podcasting, livestreaming, and video calls
• Built-in talkback mic for effortless communication with performers
• Includes the UAD Volt Studio bundle with 15+ UAD plugins and instruments, plus LUNA, Melodyne Essential, and more
• Integrates with the UAD Console app and LUNA for session recall and low-latency cue mixes
• Stereo 1/4-in. TRS balanced Main and Alt monitor outputs and 1/4-in. and 1/8-in. stereo headphone outputs with a shared cue mix
• USB Type-C connectors, including a separate USB power input for devices that require external power (5V DC, 1.5A minimum; 3A power supply included)
• Onboard USB hub port for connecting peripherals and powering external MIDI controllers (5V DC, 0.5A maximum)
• Lightning-equipped iPhone and iPad models require an Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (sold separately)
• Rugged construction built to withstand years of use

Specifications

• Computer Connectivity: USB 2.0
• Form Factor: Desktop
• Simultaneous I/O: 12 x 6
• Number of Preamps: 2
• Phantom Power: Yes
• A/D Resolution: 32-bit/192kHz
• Analog Inputs: 2 x XLR-1/4" Combo (mic/line), 2 x 1/4" (instrument), 2 x 1/4" TRS (line)
• Analog Outputs: 6 x 1/4"
• Digital Inputs: 1 x Optical Toslink (ADAT)
• Headphones: 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8"
• MIDI I/O: 2 x 1/8" (in/out)
• USB: 3 x USB-C
• Software: UAD Volt Studio Bundle, LUNA
• OS Requirements - Mac: macOS 12 or later
• OS Requirements - PC: Windows 10 or later
• Bus Powered: Yes