Roland UA-11 Duo-Capture MKII

I acquired this little audio interface to record my Fender Deluxe Reverb Shure SM57 with. I will take into account that this use during the writing of this review.

Ah yes, I use it intensively for four months ... You'll notice that I put a point of honor to wait a bit before throwing my opinion on a product. This allows me to avoid the "I got there one hour, I find it great, it's the best I've ever had, moreover it is also the first".

This is something that drives me crazy about Audio fanzine!

Then!

Is it working? YES! Am I satisfied with the final sound? TOO!

1) Presentation

This is a small plastic Audio interface manufactured by Roland. The print quality really seems very good for the price .. The plastic is very thick and its surface is nice. The machine weighs more than it seems: no, it really is not a toy.
The controls are as follows: two sliders "Input volume" and "Output volume" which allow to avoid peak likely to produce distortion. The first has a lead "Peak" that lights up when the input volume is too high. Both sliders have good resistance during handling, which is a very good point. Three push buttons: Input Monitor / Hi-Z (on / off) / Input gain (Hi-Low) used to complete the input sensitivity.
Found in more a USB input which supplies the vehicle, a "Line In" and a "line out" jack small format, entered a "Mic / Guitar" and a headphone output (big Jack). There are two more small sliders under the machine. The first is setting the sampling frequency (48k or 44.1k), the second seems to me more obscure (a star or two star). Mode two stars would apparently allow to activate additional functions available in a firmware upgrade and use the device with a tablet. I admit to not be on my shot, there ...

UTILIZATION


2) Use

Easy to implement. I use Mac .. I use it with Logic with Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch 2.2 Ghtz and 8 MB RAM. Less than 9 ms, as saying that latency is nothing detectable in the ear, the sound is immediate, without any lag and there is no sound alteration. Immediate attention by the machine from connecting, never had any bug, no problem: hyper cool. I would add that there is no background noise or detectable digital gadget in his: it is simply outstanding.

Used output device, I have no idea how many simultaneous track can be returned. In fact, I use the output of the Macbook Pro that enough for me. Me based on the test conducted upon receipt of the beast, I would say "a great big package!" In any case 16 tracks overfed to the mouth of additional effects emerge fingers in the nose ...

3) Questions?

Can I register more than one entry by using the "Line In" Jack format in addition to the MIC / GUITAR input? YES, but warned that the Roland stereo spectrum is not fully respected. Personally, I think that here we are already in the field of DIY ...

Can I use the device to plug directly his guitar and amp emulations benefit found in abundance on Logic (or Garage Band)? YES, and it works very well. I even think the DUO CAPTURE Mk2 is any interface specified for this type of use.

You who have a MACBOOK Pro: the sound of this interface is better than that of the internal sound card of your beautiful computer? NO, I do not hear any difference. I note, however, that the latency is better and that the connection is still more convenient to connect a microphone or guitar ....

GETTING STARTED

4) Details

Necessary drivers supplied on CD-ROM are simple to install and can be found in the worst case on the website of Roland. During the first installation I noticed a huge shift and a well perceptible alteration of his suddenly I almost return without understanding. A flash of genius but prompted me to restore the original settings of Logic, and there ah ah! nickel!

OVERALL OPINION

5) Conclusion

Before I used a BOSS BR800, complicated and whose sound did not suit me at all (oddly very "rough"). I am fully satisfied with this machine whose simplicity appeals to me and allows me to make excellent catch her. Those who have read my other reviews know that I tend to be a bit fussy! Well this time I did not really see anything wrong with DUO CAPTURE Mk2, since even the price of the beast seems to me honest ... me based on my experience, I therefore strongly recommend to anyone wishing to record a guitar or amp in Logic.