![Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 Ultimate Guitar-to-USB Audio Interface,White]({"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t0t0GIg-L._AC_SY450_.jpg":[450,450],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t0t0GIg-L._AC_SX569_.jpg":[569,569],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t0t0GIg-L._AC_SY355_.jpg":[355,355],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t0t0GIg-L._AC_SX466_.jpg":[466,466],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t0t0GIg-L._AC_SX425_.jpg":[425,425],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t0t0GIg-L._AC_SX522_.jpg":[522,522],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t0t0GIg-L._AC_SX679_.jpg":[679,679]})
Update: it has started making occasional crackling noises on both my Mac and Android phone. Enough to be annoying. This was a waste of $38.
The UCG102 does what it promises--connects your guitar to your computer through USB and provides a headphone output. For a pretty low price. It's basically a computer audio interface, similar in function to something like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, but with fewer features and in a smaller package. If the small package or low price is important to you, then go for the UCG102. If a larger package is OK and you have a little more money, then go for the Scarlett Solo or a Behringer UM2 or UMC22. If you want a step up but still want the small package, then there is the IK Multimedia iRig HD 2 or the MeloAudio TS Mini for about the same price as the Scarlett Solo. But for the money, you can't beat the UCG102.
On my Mac, I just plug it in and it works. Low latency, no crackles, good sound. The highest quality setting, as seen in the MacOS Audio MIDI Setup tool, is 48.0 KHz 16-bit Integer, which is fine--better than CD sound (44.1 KHz ,16-bit).
I've also connected it to my Android phone (a Google/LG Nexus 5X running Android 8.1), and it works. I had to use an adapter from USB-B on the UCG102 to USB-C on the phone, and I also had to provide power to the UCG102 (phone wouldn't do it), but it did work. The app I used, Deplike, had some troubles since the OS wasn't giving it priority, resulting in some crackles and drop-outs, but that's Android's fault, not Behringer's. It was better on my Moto X4 running Android 9.0, which was able to directly power the UCG102--fewer crackles, but still some.
Two things to know about this product:
1. Don't bother installing the software, it's junk. It comes with a very old version of some open-source recording software called Audacity. Just go to audacityteam.org and download the current version for free if you need a fancy recording app. Or record with Apple GarageBand for free.
It also comes with software that models an amp (yes, just one amp!) from Native Instruments from 2008. Don't bother. GarageBand has decent amp and effects modeling, or buy BIAS FX or Amplitube.
2. The headphone output is 50 ohms. Generally, you want headphones with 10X the ohms of the output for the best sound (so 500 ohms, in this case), but you'll be OK if your headphones are at least 50 ohms. Mine are 26 ohms, in which case there is terrible distortion. I switched to another headphone which are 60 ohms, and then it sounded good. Many headphones intended for use with smartphones are low ohm headphones, and this may be the reason some people here have experienced distortion with the UCG102. It seems that this device is intended more for use with "studio" headphones, 100 ohms and up.
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