Zoom AMS-22 — Editorial Review
The Zoom AMS-22 is an ultra-portable 2-in/2-out USB-C interface aimed at entry-level recording and streaming — simple, bus-powered, and built around hardware switches that handle common streaming tasks without software.
Featured Video Review
Streaming-ready switches in a tiny, bus-powered box
Sound on Sound and Zoom note the AMS-22 offers 24-bit/96 kHz conversion, one XLR/TRS mic/Hi-Z combo input with phantom power, and a dedicated 3.5 mm stereo line input, plus dedicated Direct Monitor and Loopback hardware switches that simplify streaming with no extra software. It runs on a single USB cable, making it easy to record or stream anywhere. In Julian Krause's measurement-focused review — featured above — its converters and preamp are bench-tested.
Honest cons
- 24-bit only. No 32-bit float capture, unlike Zoom's pricier interfaces.
- One mic input. Fine for a solo voice or instrument, not for two mics at once.
- Conventional architecture. No onboard DSP or advanced routing — it's a straightforward budget box.
- Mobile power. Streaming away from a computer means carrying a USB power pack.
Where this interface fits
- New streamers and podcasters who want hardware loopback and direct monitoring without software.
- Solo recordists capturing one voice or instrument plus a stereo line source.
- Grab-and-go setups needing a tiny bus-powered interface.
- Not two-mic sessions, 32-bit-float workflows, or onboard-DSP/streaming-mixer needs.
Sources & Citations
- Sound on Sound, "Zoom AMS-22, 24 & 44," soundonsound.com (accessed 2026-05-27)
- Zoom, "AMS Series (product and technical overview)," zoomcorp.com (accessed 2026-05-27)
Last verified: 2026-05-27
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