Features

There's a whole new world of possibilities for Mac and PC Creators - high-speed, high-resolution, and low-latency. Upgrade your rig with the rackmountable UAC-8, and add 18 inputs and 20 outputs to your USB 3.0-equipped Mac or Windows computer-even your iPad.* Plug in a microphone, line-level device, or instrument and start bringing your ideas to life, or take the UAC-8 onstage to enable high-res audio playback, all the way up to 24-bit/192k.

* Apple Camera Connection kit or Lightning to USB Camera Adapter required

USB 3.0 SuperSpeed

The USB 3.0 SuperSpeed transfer protocol used by the UAC-8, with a speed of 2.0 ms roundtrip @ 96kHz / 32 samples, is ten times faster than USB 2.0 and six times faster than FireWire 800. That not only ensures low latency, it provides a data stream that's unaffected by computer jitter (slight variations in timing), so there's no need to connect an external master clock source.

The Hardware

INPUTS
The UAC-8 provides a wide variety of both analog and digital connectors. Eight front panel combo XLR/TRS inputs accept mic- and line-level signals, and you can even plug instruments directly into Inputs 1 and 2. Dedicated input gain controls and Clip LEDs make it easy to set optimum input levels, and a Phantom Power switch enables the use of condenser microphones.

OUTPUTS
The UAC-8 has dual balanced analog TRS output jacks for connection to monitors, and there are also 8 discrete balanced TRS analog line outputs for multichannel monitoring or connection to external effects devices. A large front-panel Output knob offers fast control over output level, and there are two independent ¼" stereo headphone jacks, each with its own dedicated volume control, for private monitoring.

DIGITAL I/O
8 ADAT and stereo S/PDIF digital inputs/outputs allow for the connection of up to 10 external channels, and built-in Word Clock enables easy integration into any system. In addition, MIDI In and Out is provided to allow interfacing with devices such as electronic keyboards and drum machines.

Upsampling, Standalone Mode

The UAC-8 uses high-end components such as the AKM AK5388 analog-to-digital converter and AKM AK4413 digital-to-analog converter. In addition, the UAC-8 performs 4-times upsampling during both analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. In other words, when the sampling frequency is set to 44.1kHz or 48kHz, the UAC-8 processes the signal at high resolution 176.4kHz or 192kHz.

For A/D conversion, this means less aliasing noise; for D/A conversion, this means increased clarity and fidelity.

In standalone mode, the UAC-8 can be used as an 8-channel mic preamp and analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converter without being connected to a computer.

Extend your capabilities with software

UAC-8 MixEfx is a free Macintosh and Windows compatible application designed specially by Zoom for the UAC-8. It provides a comprehensive onscreen mixer, with independent level, phase reversal, and panning control for each channel. UAC-8 MixEfx also allows you to freely route all inputs to all outputs and to create custom mixes. In addition, MixEfx features effects like reverb and echo, and complete mixes can be stored in three different memory slots, allowing instant recall.  

State of the art editing with every interface

The Zoom UAC-8 comes with a free download license for Sternberg's Cubase LE music production software, providing not just the ability to capture incredible high-resolution / low-latency audio in every box, but to do spectacular things with it.

Take your recordings to a more professional level. Steinberg's powerful and state-of-the-art audio software used by creators around the world now comes with every Zoom UAC-2 and UAC-8 purchase.

Currently shipping with:
Cubase LE7 for Mac OS X 10.7, 10.8, 10.9 and Windows 7/8

For information on license activation and upgrades, visit our Steinberg Software support page.

Features at a glance

    18‐in/20‐out USB 3.0 SuperSpeed audio interface
    Standalone mode allows use as an 8-channel mic preamp and A/D or D/A converter without connection to a computer
    Support for recording and playback of up to 24‐bit/192kHz high‐resolution audio
    Low latency audio streaming
    8 combo balanced XLR/TRS analog input connectors accept both mic and line‐level signal
    High‐performance mic preamps with up to +60dB of amplification
    Hi‐Z switches allow direct connection of electric guitar or bass (INPUT1, INPUT2)
    Independent gain controls and clip LEDs for each input
    Switchable +48V phantom power (INPUTS 1‐4, INPUTS 5‐8)
    10 balanced TRS output jacks for connection to mixers, amplifiers, self‐powered speakers, headphones, or effects devices
    Dual front-panel 1/4" headphone outputs with dedicated volume controls
    Large knob output volume control
    4x upsampling during A/D and D/A conversion for reduced noise and enhanced fidelity
    Asynchronous transfer system unaffected by computer jitter
    S/PDIF IN/OUT: 2IN / 2OUT, up to 24‐bit/192kHz 
    ADAT Optical IN/OUT: 2 IN / 2 OUT at 192/176.4kHz (S/MUX4 compatible), 4 IN/4 OUT at 96/88.2kHz (S/MUX compatible), 8 IN / 8 OUT at 48/44.1kHz
    Word Clock in/out  
    Clock source indicator
    MIDI in/out
    Rack-mountable (1U space)
    Robust metal housing
    Works with all USB 3.0-equipped Mac and Windows computers and Apple iPad*

ANALOG INPUTS: INPUTS 1-8
Connectors:     

XLR/TRS combo jacks
(XLR: 2 hot, TRS: TIP hot)

Input gain:     

0-60 dB (1 dB steps)

Input impedance:     

5 kΩ
1 MΩ (When IN1/IN2 Hi-Z on)

Maximum input level:     

+13 dBu (XLR at 0 dBFS)
+21 dBu (TRS at 0 dBFS)

Phantom power:     

+48 V
ANALOG OUTPUTS: MASTER OUTPUTS

L/R Connectors:     

TRS jacks (balanced)
ANALOG OUTPUTS: LINE OUTPUTS 1-8

Maximum output level:     

+14 dBu (at 0 dBFS)

Output impedance:     

150 Ω
ANALOG OUTPUTS: PHONES 1/2

Connectors:     

Standard stereo phone jacks
20 mW × 2 (into 32 Ω load)

Maximum output level:     

+10 dBu

Output impedance:     

33 Ω
DIGITAL IN/OUT: ADAT OPTICAL

Connectors:     

ADAT Optical (lightpipe)
8 IN/OUT: 44.1 kHz/48 kHz
4 IN/OUT: 88.2kHz/96kHz, S/MUX compatible
2 IN/OUT: 176.4kHz/192kHz, S/MUX4 compatible
DIGITAL IN/OUT: S/PDIF

Connectors:     

RCA (coaxial)

Supported sampling frequencies:     

44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 kHz
DIGITAL IN/OUT: WORD CLOCK

Connectors:     

BNC

Supported sampling frequencies:     

44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 kHz

Output impedance:     

75 Ω
OTHER

Frequency characteristics :     

44.1 kHz: −1.0 dB, 20 Hz-20 kHz
96 kHz: −1.0 dB, 20 Hz-40 kHz
192 kHz: −1.0 dB, 20 Hz-60 kHz

Input conversion noise:     

Measured EIN: 125 dB (IHF-A)
at 60dB, 150Ω input

Dynamic range:     

AD: 120 dB typical (IHF-A)
DA: 120 dB typical (IHF-A)

Sampling frequencies:     

192 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 96 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz

Bit depth:     

24-bit

Interface:     

USB 3.0 / 2.0

MIDI IN/OUT:     

5-pin DIN jacks

Power supply:     

AD-19 DC12V 2A AC adapter

External dimensions:     

6.2 in. (D) × 19 in. (W) ×  1.8 in. (H)
157.65 mm (D) × 482.6 mm (W) × 46.03 mm (H)

Weight (main unit only):     

4.4 pounds / 2.02 kg
    
Note: 0dBm＝0.775Vrms

Number of recording and playback channels

AUDIO INTERFACE AND STANDALONE MODES: At 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz :     

Recording:   18 channels (ANALOG: 8, S/PDIF: 2, ADAT Optical: 8)
Playback:   20 channels (ANALOG: 10, S/PDIF: 2, ADAT OPTICAL: 8)
AUDIO INTERFACE AND STANDALONE MODES: At 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz:     

Recording:   14 channels (ANALOG: 8, S/PDIF: 2, ADAT Optical: 4)
Playback:   16 channels (ANALOG: 10, S/PDIF: 2, ADAT OPTICAL: 4)
AUDIO INTERFACE AND STANDALONE MODES: At 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz:     

Recording:   12 channels (ANALOG: 8, S/PDIF: 2, ADAT Optical: 2)
Playback:   14 channels (ANALOG: 10, S/PDIF: 2, ADAT OPTICAL: 2)
CLASS COMPLIANT MODE: At 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz:     

Recording:   8 channels (ANALOG: 8)
Playback:   10 channels (ANALOG: 10)

UAC-8 System Requirements
Windows:     

OS： Windows® 7 SP1 or later / 8 / 8.1 (32bit/64bit)
CPU: Intel® Core i3 or faster*
USB: USB 3.0/USB 2.0**

* Operation is not guaranteed with CPUs from Atom, Celeron or Pentium series or CPUs made by AMD.
** Only USB host controllers with Intel Chipsets are supported. Operation is not guaranteed when used with USB hubs or expansion cards.

Mac:     

OS： Mac® OS X 10.8.5 or later
CPU: Intel® Core i3 or faster
USB: USB 3.0/USB 2.0*

* Operation is not guaranteed when used with USB hubs or expansion cards.

iPad:     

OS： iOS 7.1 or later