I picked up the ZOOM AMS-22 because I wanted a simple, lightweight audio interface for recording acoustic guitar and vocals. After spending some time with it, I can say it’s a lot more capable than it looks. Here’s my hands-on review with real-world use in mind.
■ Surprisingly lightweight — this alone makes it worth it
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the AMS-22 was how ridiculously light it is.
It fits in the palm of your hand, and when paired with my ThinkPad T14, it adds almost no extra weight in a backpack.
When inspiration hits, I can just place it on the desk, plug in the USB-C cable, and start recording immediately.
That sense of “zero friction” is something I value a lot in recording gear.
■ Paired with a FIFINE condenser mic for recording
I used it together with the following setup:
- FIFINE condenser microphone
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0C5XHQXMF/?tag=yamachi4u-22- XLR cable
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09DXRGSK9/?tag=yamachi4u-22 - XLR cable
With this mic + AMS-22 combo, the difference from smartphone recording is dramatic.
The guitar’s attack, the warmth of the vocal, the room tone — everything is captured cleanly without harsh noise or distortion.
For such an affordable interface, the sound quality is honestly impressive.
■ Simple controls that make sense instantly
The AMS-22 has a minimal control layout:
- GAIN knob
- OUTPUT knob
- Direct Monitoring ON/OFF
- Loopback ON/OFF
- 48V phantom power switch
Nothing feels unnecessary.
If you just want to record without learning a bunch of routing options, this interface is perfect.
It does exactly what you expect it to do, and does it without complications.
■ The one limitation: only one XLR input
The only real downside is that the unit has just one XLR input.
If you want to record guitar and vocals on separate channels at the same time, this isn’t the right interface.
However, if your workflow is simple — one mic to capture the whole performance — it works extremely well.
In my case, it’s not a dealbreaker at all.
■ Overall impressions
After using it in different situations, here’s what stood out:
- Clear, solid audio quality
- No-hassle USB-C connection to my ThinkPad
- Incredibly portable
- Perfect for quick recording sessions
- A “minimal but complete” kind of device
I didn’t have any major concerns before buying it, and it turned out exactly how I expected — reliable and straightforward.
■ Rating: ★4 out of 5
Why not 5?
Because although it’s lightweight, affordable, and very easy to use, the single XLR input and minimal feature set mean it’s not a “complete” solution for everyone.
But for what it aims to be, it’s excellent.
■ Who I would recommend this to
- Beginners buying their first audio interface
- Acoustic guitarists and singer-songwriters
- Anyone who wants a portable recording setup
- Users who prefer a clean, simple workflow
- People recording on laptops or smartphones
If you want something compact, easy to carry, and capable of capturing clean audio without unnecessary features, the AMS-22 is a great match.
