Steinberg UR22 MKII USB Audio Interface with iPad Support

I ordered this to replace a Tascam interface that was no longer supported. All the ins/outs are as needed for my use - I don't need the instrument I/P but do need high quality sterio line ins for interfacing with other gear. The 2 x D-PRE inputs and 192 kHz really do deliver a clean sound into the DAW, in my case an iMac running El-Captain. There is no latency between sources and O/P's and the front panel mix control has a nice 'soft' centre position for no-look positioning. Like the choice of power inputs, like the position and feel of all the front panel controls. The headphone O/P drives my AKG Q701's without running out of steam, these phones do need a good driver and the UR still has plenty in reserve. Now the quibble. Some have mentioned about a 'lack of quality'. Whilst my experience does not relate this to the ability of the electronics to perform, it does relate to the case. Whilst solid the slightest tap makes it ring like a bell. The cure - I have lined it with Gaffa tape inside, there is just room for a layer and the perceived quality is massively improved. Still worth 5 stars though, a great little unit at the price.

Bought this for son who wanted to used iPad (Garageband) to record digital piano, guitar, mic input etc. Looked at all the other options available and this seemed to be the one for me. It also has midi I/O too. Input 1 is good for mic and standard line level, Input 2 is wide (Hi-Z) and suitable for both guitar and line level. It is very sturdily constructed and comes with lite version of CuBase. No issues so far, no driver problems - it just works. Steinberg is a Yamaha company so this is what I would expect!I use this with a cheep and cheerful USB lightening 'Camera Adapter' to connect into the iPad. I have used Camera Adapters with (charges iPad at the same time) and without (iPad does not charge) USB power interface. When using unit with an iPad, you need to power the UR22 externally (I just use a power bank) as the iPad can only supply a maximum of 100mA to peripherals.Only had it a short time and so not been used that much, but so far so good.

Ohhhhh..... I'm still recovering from a recent nightmare conflict between Windows 10, CuBase and my Akai EIE Pro interface. My last resort before abandoning all hope and visiting the town recycling plant... to try the UR22.Thank you Steinberg for a relatively painless transition. I plugged in the UR22; loaded drivers and then more drivers (make a note Akai, the Steinberg drivers actually work and are up-to-date); loaded up CuBase; trawled through and poked about as usual in the settings and ye verily, all was good ! Praise the small gods... my speakers are playing once again !!! No blue screen of death, no distortion. I haven't checked out latency as yet... maybe after I've had my next Diazepam...Anyone wanna buy an Akai EIE Pro... one careful previous owner. I promise that I haven't bounced it off any walls...

Very good value. The interface is well made and solid and it's sound is a lovely quality for amateur use. The software is very good also [I think, though see below!!!], but there are several reasons for 4 stars instead of 5.Getting the software is a BIG hassle. I understand that companies do not want people using illegal copies, but there must be a kinder way to treat genuine customers. Very confusing and you needed several codes/passwords etc and masses of spare time.The software is good but the help files are useless to anyone who doesn't have a phd in sound engineering. For example: "Compressor: the compressor allows you to create smooth compression effects.." Basically that's telling me that a compressor is a compressor and it compresses. I could have guessed that much. I appreciate they can't write a complete teaching manual but they could be more helpful than that. Even when they do tell you something useful, I haven't come across anything yet that tells you where to actually find things and as there are many little icons and menus, it can take hours to find what you want. The help files provided don't necessarily apply to the version they actually come with [if I'm wrong, that just emphasises the fact that the help files could be better!].The driver on the disc that came with the interface did not work well. The sound was very poor and scratchy. I had tried to update to the latest driver on the website as soon as I had installed the unit, but was told that I had the best driver, even though the website showed a later version. It took me several days, first checking my cables, headphones, amp and speakers, and then researching on the web to find out that it really was the driver version installed on my pc that was faulty. Most people suggested going to an older driver [they were writing at a time when the driver that came with my unit was the latest]. As there was now a later driver on the website, I removed the one from my pc and just took the later one to see what would happen happen. With the first driver removed, I could now download the later driver and since then have had no problems.Steinberg must know that there is a problem with the driver - many posts refer to it. At the very least they could put a notice on their website to warn customers. Even if the driver that came on cd could just be updated by clicking on update, that would help.As a musician who knows next to nothing about sound engineering/recording I would really like help files that were clear and used full-word terminology before they start using abbreviations and which tell you where to find things and what each thing does.Having said all that, I still love the product and am learning a litte more each day. Hopefully I will live long enough to have some understanding!

So far, its been silky smooth to set up and record with!I took a plunge on this card after having my Focusrite 6i6 devolve into ASIO madness (after 4 years of use), and I found myself unable to go back to another Focus-rite card due to the piss-poor driver support they have for Windows machines in general - I found their 2nd generation cards to PERFORM WORSE than my trusty 1st generation 6i6! (until it died last week...hah!).As a Cubase user, it was a no-brainer to go with Steinberg - it works well with Cubase as well as Wavelab and I haven't had any issues so far.Kudos to Steinberg for letting me get on with my recordings!