Edirol UA25 USB Stereo Audio Interface

No longer available at zZounds
24-Bit/96 kHz record/playback quality. Portable system.

Edirol UA25 USB Stereo Audio Interface
The UA-25 is a powerful USB Audio/MIDI interface designed to offer premium sound quality, rugged durability, and complete portability to the computer-based audio engineer. The UA-25 is compact enough to travel anywhere you can take your computer. It is designed using high-grade aluminum for the chassis, which offers two benefits: 1) The UA-25 can withstand hard impacts that are normally associated with traveling or working in the field, and 2) The aluminum is an excellent shield against high-frequency interference from other electrical components. The UA-25 is USB Powered, so you never have to plug it into a wall socket, but it manages to power condenser microphones with 48V Phantom Power. The Seasoned audio professional will love the UA-25 for its ability to output audio at +4dBu from the balanced 1/4'' outputs, making it the best portable audio interface to pack between the field and the studio.

Have to listen in real time? Monitor Direct! The UA-25 includes a power set of direct monitor controls that allow you to route audio directly from the inputs to the outputs & the headphone jack, so you don't have to listen with latency. You can turn direct monitoring on or off, adjust the relative volume of the input signal compared to the audio playing out from your computer, and even set the signal to monitor in mono. Why mono? Two reasons: 1) If you plug a microphone into the left input and want to hear it in both headphones, you want to have read more your direct monitor set to mono. 2) If you're afraid of phasing issues between your two inputs, you can hear the phasing issues by monitoring in mono.

The best reason to consider the UA-25 as the best audio interface to use in the field is the inclusion of an analog mild compressor built into the interface. This allows a little more discrepancy in setting the microphone levels and allows the user more freedom from audio clipping. If your first take is your only chance, you DONT want to get caught without this feature and the UA-25 is the only USB-powered stereo audio interface in the market that offers it. Add in 24-bit/96kHz audio performance, MIDI I/O, S/P DIF Optical I/O, and Neutrix XLR/TRS Inputs with High-grade microphone preamps, and the UA-25 is everything you need to get superb audio to and from your computer.

Yet another important consideration in choosing your audio interface is driver stability! And Edirol is #1 when it comes to stable drivers for our Audio Interfaces. With ASIO2.0, WDM, MME, and CoreAudio support, the UA-25 offers a wide variety of support for both Mac & PC.

Hidden little extras: The UA-25 also has the ability to reroute out-going audio signals back to the input without crossing into the analog domain. Why is this useful, you ask? If you are streaming audio from the internet, most applications won't allow you to record the audio directly. But if you run it out of your sound card & back to an input, you have an audio signal that you route to any recording application you like. The UA-25 allows you to do this without requiring you to make a physical connection with a cable, and most impressively, without leaving the digital domain.

Main Features

Solid Aluminum Chassis - Portable and Durable

Premium Audio Quality

Wide Variety of I/O Ports

Built-in Analog Limiter

Zero Latency, Direct Monitoring

USB-Powered Phantom Power Preamps

+4 dBu Output for professional application

Solid Aluminum Chassis - Portable and Durable
All of Edirol's latest audio interface technology is condensed into the compact UA-25, giving the user the highest performance 24-bit/96kHz recording and playback via USB.

Premium Audio Quality
The UA-25 uses powerful analog electronics coupled with well-matched A/D & D/A converters for superior audio fidelity.

Wide Variety of I/O Ports
Wide range of input and output ports in a compact case. A pair of Neutrix XLR/TRS combo jacks with Phantom power, Hi-Z port for guitar direct connection, S/P DIF optical I/O ports and MIDI IN/OUT ports.

Balanced I/O Ports
The UA-25 generates low-noise and has a wide-range power supply all via USB. Thanks to this, the UA-25 gives +4 dBu balanced professional audio input and output connections.

Two High Quality Mic Preamps
Includes a pair of high quality microphone preamps using premium analog components. It provides a clean recording environment to give a perfect recording.

Built-in Analog Limiter
Reduce sudden overloaded sounds or popping noises in your recordings. You can often get overloaded levels while recording on the fly. With this switch set, you can still achieve a high quality sound while retaining a wide dynamic range. The side diagram shows the Limiter characteristics.

Zero Latency, Direct Monitoring
The UA-25 provides ultra low latency with maximum performance from popular music software, such as Sonar, Logic and Cubase. You can control Direct Monitoring from the front panel, not only for ASIO 2.0 compatible applications but also for others. Ideal for soft synths controlled from MIDI devices.

Driver Compatibility (WDM, ASIO2.0, and CoreAudio)
The bundled CD-ROM has drivers for WDM (Windows XP/2000)/ASIO2.0 (Windows, Mac OS 9) and CoreAudio(Mac OS X). In addition, you can choose to use either the advanced or OS-standard driver, via the ADV switch. Sound Manager for Audio and OMS/FreeMIDI compatible on Mac OS 9 and Windows98 and Me, as well.

USB Bus Powered
Just connect one USB cable. No need for an AC adaptor. In combination with your laptop, you get a quality field recorder. The UA-25 is the audio interface for mobile users - ideal for the traveling musician.
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Specifications
Number of Audio Record/Playback Channels
Record: 1 pair of stereo
Playback: 1 pair of stereo
Digital Out Switch = Off:
Full duplex (except for 96 kHz setting)
Digital In Switch = On: Recording only

Signal Processing
PC interface:
24 bits (Advance = Off: 16 bits)
AD/DA Conversion:
24 bits (linear)

Sampling Frequency
Digital output: 44.1/48/96 kHz
Digital input: 44.1/48/96 kHz
AD/DA Conversion: 44.1/48/96 kHz
Advance Switch = Off: 44.1kHz only

Frequency Response
96 kHz: 20 Hz to 40 kHz (+0 dB/-2 dB)
48.0 kHz: 20 Hz to 22 kHz (+0 dB/-1 dB)
44.1 kHz: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+0 dB/-1 dB)

Nominal Input Level
Input Jack L, R (XLR type): -60 to -20 dBu
Input Jack L, R (1/4 inch TRS phone type): -36 to +4 dBu

Nominal Output Level
Output Jack L, R (1/4'' TRS phone type): +4 dBu (balanced)
Output Jack L, R (RCA phono type): -2 dBu

Residual Noise Level
Output Jack: -96 dBu (S/N ratio: 105 dB)
(Input terminated with 1 k ohms, Output Volume: max., Input Monitor: min., IHF-A, typ.)

Interface: USB

Digital input/output
Optical type (conforms to IEC60958 consumer format)

Connectors
Front Panel
Input Jack L, R
XLR type
(balanced, phantom power +48 V)
1/4'' TRS phone type (balanced)
Input Jack 2: high impedance is supported
Headphones Jack (Stereo 1/4 inch)

Rear Panel
Digital Input Connector (Optical type)
Digital Output Connector (Optical type)
Output Jack L, R
1/4 inch TRS phone type (balanced)
RCA phono type
MIDI Connectors (IN/OUT)
USB Connector (B type)

Power Supply: USB Bus Power

Current Draw: 480 mA

Dimensions:
164 (W) x 133 (D) x 46 (H) mm
6-1/2 (W) x 5-1/4 (D) x 1-13/16 (H) in

Weight: 554 g / 1 lb 4 oz

Accessories
Owner's Manual
USB cable
CD-ROM

System Requirements

Macintosh

OS: Mac OS 9, 10.2 or later
Computer: Apple Macintosh series with on-board USB port
CPU/Clock: PowerPC G3 400 mhz or higher
Memory(RAM): 256MB or More
Hard Disk: 200 MB of free space.

Windows

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition/ XP Professional /2000 Professional /Me/98 Second Edition/Vista
Computer: Windows XP Compatible PC
CPU/Clock: Pentium, Celeron, or Pentium compatible processor 600MHz or higher.
Memory(RAM): 256MB or more
Hard Disk: 200 MB of free space.

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-380-2580

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (94 ratings)
Submitted July 13, 2005 by a customer from remmerde.com

"Excellent quality, looks, and support."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I like it. The only reason I haven't given it 10 in most categories is that I haven't tried other, very expensive interfaces. I don't have anything to compare it to.
Sound
Very clear sound. Noise at full gain when recording from a microphone, but back the gain down a little, and it has no noise.
Features
The built in pre-amps work only with a condensor mic. I bought a stereo pre-amp from radio shack for 25.00 (that was actually listed as for speakers) use it between my Sony ECM 909A stereo mic., and the results are very clear, very high-quality.
Quality
Well made. Aluminum cover. Seems very sturdy.
Value
I haven't used any other audio interface, but my online shopping seems to indicate that UA 25 is a very good value.
Manufacturer Support
I called support because my microphone did not record loud enough and I wanted to be sure the built-in pre-amps were not usable with this microphone (They arent't). The technician I talked to was very helpful, patient, knowledgable. He looked up relevant information and told me the pre-amp I had, from radio shack was compatible and gave me other information I needed.
The Wow Factor
Looks good. Looks sturdy. It's aluminum case is attractive and sturdy.

Musical Background:

Songwriter

Musical Style:

Hard to classify.
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