Behringer UMC204HD / UMC404HD
Interface audio numérique USB - Thomann
# Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD vs UMC204HD
- test with ardour
- Interface walkthrough
# Configuration
48V - Le bouton pour desactiver le 48V se trouve sur la face arriere => il agit globalement. LINE (⬛ désactivé) - Pour des sources niveau ligne (clavier, synthé, boîte à rythmes, sortie d’un autre appareil audio).
- Le signal est déjà amplifié, donc pas besoin de gain élevé. INST (▬ activé) - Pour brancher directement une guitare ou basse (signal instrument, haute impédance).
- L’entrée devient adaptée aux micros passifs d’instruments. PAD - le PAD atténue le signal entrant (généralement de -15 dB environ).
- (▬ activé) - Réduit un signal trop fort pour éviter la saturation (clipping). Utile avec :
- micros très puissants (ex : batterie, ampli guitare)
- sources ligne très “chaudes”
- Si ça sature même avec peu de gain → active le PAD
- (⬛ désactivé)
- Pour les signaux normaux ou faibles (voix, guitare, etc.)
🎤 Micro chant → LINE + PAD OFF
🎸 Guitare directe → INST + PAD OFF
🥁 Micro sur caisse claire (très fort) → LINE + PAD ON
🎹 Synthé → LINE + PAD OFF (sauf si ça clip)
Notes: UMC404HD Low Mic Volume
# USB mic “loudness bias”
This is the big psychological trap:
-USB mics often sound “better” immediately because they are pre-processed -XLR interfaces give a more natural but quieter raw signal
You are expected to add:
-Compression -Normalization -Gain in post
# Mic type matters a LOT
Some dynamic mics (especially broadcast-style) are naturally quiet:
- They may need a cloudlifter/FetHead-style booster
- The UMC404HD preamps are decent, but not extremely high-gain
# Micro
🎤 Micro chant → LINE + PAD OFF
The UMC404HD relies entirely on its preamp gain knobs.
Turn the GAIN knob up significantly (often 50–75% or more for dynamic mics)
Watch the SIG/CLIP LED
You want green signal activity
Occasional orange is OK
Red clipping = too high
If the gain is low, your signal will sound weak even if everything else is correct.
Phantom power mismatch (VERY important) If your mic is a condenser:
- You MUST enable +48V phantom power
If it’s off: Audio will be extremely quiet or almost unusable
If your mic is dynamic (like SM58/SM7B-type):
- Phantom power is not required (but usually won’t hurt on modern mics)
# MAONO PD200XS
74€ - 2025 - MAONO XLR-USB Dynamiques Micro Kit, PC Podcast Micro avec Bras
Both XLR and USB can be used as the same time.
XLR → UMC404HD
Gain : commence vers 40–50% et ajuste
❌ Pas de 48V (phantom) → le PD200X est dynamique
Parle à ~10–15 cm du micro (idéal avec filtre anti-pop)
USB
Mic is recognized as USB Audio
- light are working
- mic mute button is working only on USB audio
- it doesn’t cut the XLR output
- Gain Knob is working
- for mic input
- for Headset monitor
The Heaset can be used as an audio card so you hear also system sound (or any other configured by patchbay)
The knob and mute button are not visible from linux host.
# Behringer XM8500
38€ - 2024
- Directivité: Cardioïde
- Réponse en fréquence: 50 - 15.000 Hz
- Impédance: 150 Ohm
- Connecteur XLR
# Alternative
# focusrite 2i2 with Jack Support / 1 / 2
- linux issue - Focusrite is hostile to Linux, avoid if possible
- latency issue
# see also
- StageConnect: Behringer protocol is open source - StageConnect is a connection to transmit 32 uncompressed audio-channels via a single XLR cable. StageConnect is based on A2B, the Automotive Audio Bus (A2B).