REVIEWS

BEHRINGER U-CONTROL UCA202

BEHRINGER.COM $10

The UCA202 is a low latency USB audio interface that features a stereo input and output, headphone output with volume control, and a digital optical output. It has 48 kHz converters for high quality recording and playback. It is USB bus powered and works with your iPhone and iPad. It is extremely inexpensive and take up very little space. I use mine to send two mono effects sends from my portable mixer to the iPad for on-board signal processing. I route the signal back to the mixer via the stereo output. The only drawback I have experienced is that to use this interface and a midi interface you need an USB hub or splitter of some kind. Otherwise the UCA202 is a fine addition to your portable kit.

HEADSET BUDDY MIC-LINE-PLUS ADAPTER

HEADSETBUBBY.COM $25

The mic-line-plus adapter is an inexpensive audio interface for your iPad. It utilizes the TRRS headphone jack on your device to send a mono audio signal into the iPad and a stereo audio signal out of the iPad. This is similar to your ear buds with a built-in microphone. This adapter allows you to connect any line level signal with an 1/8” jack to your device. I have used this adapter with my iPad and it has performed well. It takes up very little space in my case and can be routed with my other cables. It allows me to send audio from my mixing board into the iPad to process it through effects apps or to record loops in my looper apps, which frees up my lightning port to connect a midi controller or midi adapter.

BEHRINGER MIRCO MIX MX400

BEHRINGER.COM $25

The Behringer Micromix MX400 is a 4 channel mixer featuring 4 x ¼” mono inputs and 1 x ¼” mono output, with separate volume controls per channel. It is quite small at 2.25” wide x 4.06” long x 1.83” high and works very nicely in a portable set up. It is powered by a 12v power supply and cannot be powered by batteries. It has a low-noise operation. It is built very well in a metal enclosure.

I have used this mixer in various situations and it has always performed well. I have been able to power it by USB with a 12v Ripcord adapter as well. The only drawback to this mixer that I have experienced is that the output is mono and only plays on one side of headphones. You will need an adapter to hear the mono signal in both sides if you are monitoring the output with headphones.

HOTONE SKYLINE PEDLS

HOTONEAUDIO.COM

Hotone Skyline pedals are tiny guitar pedals with big sound. These analog pedals are available in a wide range of effect processors and are a great choice for adding old-school out-board effects to your rig. The Skyline series is now discontinued and are therefore an exceptional value on the second-hand market. I have used the EKO and VERB pedals in my setup for years. They are powered by 9v adapter and can be converted to USB power with a Ripcord or a 9v battery attachment.