Cakewalk UA-25EX

When a microphone, guitar and computer need to come together through a compact interface, choosing the right connections is just as important as having direct control over the input signal. The Cakewalk UA25EXCW is a USB audio interface with two microphone preamps, a Hi-Z input and 24-bit recording at up to 96 kHz in Advanced mode.

The two front-panel combo jacks accept microphones via XLR or line signals via balanced 6.3 mm jack. 48 V phantom power can be switched on for condenser microphones. The right input supports Hi-Z, making it suitable for directly connecting a guitar or bass; low input impedance is available for synthesisers and other line sources. You can adjust the input levels separately.

When recording, you can process the signal using the integrated analogue compressor or limiter. Two compressor types with different attack times and a limiter are available; you can adjust the threshold and input level on the unit. The limiter caps signal peaks before A/D conversion, but cannot prevent severe clipping in every case. If required, you can bypass the processing completely.

For monitoring, there is an adjustable Direct Monitor path with stereo or mono switching. This lets you monitor the input signal directly through headphones or the rear outputs. The optical S/PDIF input accepts digital signals, while the optical output passes audio signals on digitally. When the digital input is enabled, the interface only records; this restriction also applies during normal operation at 96 kHz. A Ground Lift switch can help reduce noise caused by ground loops at the balanced outputs.

The interface is also powered via USB. A switch selects between Advanced mode and Standard Driver mode: Advanced mode supports 24-bit operation at 44.1, 48 or 96 kHz. In Standard mode, the unit operates at 16-bit and 44.1 kHz; the MIDI sockets are then unavailable. For current computers, you should check compatibility with the required driver, as the supported drivers are intended for older operating systems.

The UA-25EXCW suits compact recording and playback setups that require two analogue inputs, MIDI and optical digital connections. USB operation without a separate power supply, a headphone output, and balanced and phono outputs make it suitable for mobile studio applications and simple live recordings.