Yellowtec PUC2 Mic LEA Review - Audio Interface with Auto Gain
Yellowtec PUC2 Mic LEA review: First impression and scope of delivery
The PUC2 Mic LEA audio interface makes a really robust impression. You can tell that it is a really high-quality and professional device, only the rubber feet that protect your table are made of plastic. In addition to the interface, only the power supply and USB cable are included. If you connect the PUC2 to a Windows or Mac, you will also need the “Control App” software from Yellowtec, with which you can make extensive settings (including for the LEA Engine). The design is modern and clear, more on this later.
Why LEA? No more clipping and optimum speech intelligibility
The unique selling point of the interface is the integrated real-time LEA DSP engine. LEA stands for Level Energy Arbitration and clearly distinguishes itself from AGCs (i.e. Auto Gain Control). Yellowtec’s LEA is designed so that you don’t hear any compression or “pumping”, and the background noise is comparatively very low. You can also hear this in our audio examples of voice recordings. This means you never have to adjust the level yourself and recordings cannot be over- or understeered.
We already know LEA from the Yellowtec iXm and iXm Podcaster test, which enables perfectly leveled recordings on the go. In our experience, it can really be worth investing in this technology to save yourself the time-consuming leveling and, in some cases, post-processing. In addition, in very dynamic situations – i.e. between whispering and shouting – you can always get good speech intelligibility – unadulterated by distortion.
This is what sets the LEA apart. However, it also means that you get a usable recording in almost every situation. This DSP unit can of course also be switched off, as it is only suitable for voice recordings.
Audio samples from the PUC 2 Mic with and without LEA
To show you the preamps and especially the LEA Engine, we made some recordings.
Recording Shure SM7B with LEA
Recording Shure SM7B without LEA
We then tried out the PUC 2 Mic LEA with a different microphone to see if it responded in the same way.
Recording Sontronics Solo with LEA
Recording Sontronics Solo without LEA
High-quality preamplifiers and no latency in the USB audio interface
Thanks to the DSP engine, LEA in the PUC2 audio interface works without latency. In addition, there is no need for an FET head with microphones such as the Shure SM7B, as the preamplifier in the PUC2 can also easily amplify quieter microphones. We have actually tested this and can confirm it: The Shure SM7B sounds absolutely excellent without any additional equipment (see above). The dynamic range of 114dB is immediately convincing and is really low-noise.
Audio nerds and sound designers will also get their money’s worth, as it can record at up to 192kHz (at 24-bit).
As we had a technical problem with our PUC2, which was due to the communication between the software and hardware, we received a replacement. The old device could not be used, but we got a new one straight away. It then worked smoothly again. As described in the Connectivity section, the cooperation between hardware and software could definitely be improved.
We spoke to the expert from YellowTec, Ralf Werner, and he promised us: “These problems do not occur in ARD studios and professional broadcasters, where the device is in use. This is therefore an isolated case and the smooth interaction of software and hardware is guaranteed in series production.”
★★★★★
Absolutely balanced and natural sound with an incredible dynamic range and top gain assist
★★★★☆
Outdated USB ports and software that doesn't run 100% stable in our system show potential for improvement
★★★★☆
The workmanship is really good and the casing will certainly withstand a lot thanks to the material. The software detracts from the “high-quality” impression.
Conclusion: Plug and play via USB at the highest quality level
From the PUC2 Lite to the PUC2 Mic LEA, the Yellowtec PUC2 Line is an absolutely high-quality series that can be recommended to anyone who values good audio quality. With the first-class presets of the LEA engine, which controls the level of the input signal in real time, it can be used for high-quality voice recordings and even live streams while eliminating over- and underdriving.
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