Universal Audio Apollo interface

[Grin-go-go]

I'm curious bout conversion quality. I'm really interested in this product.

[work2do]

Originally Posted by Grin-go-go

I'm curious bout conversion quality. I'm really interested in this product.

UA's history with converters is great. The UA 2192 is Burl level conversion (same designer i think). I doubt if the Apollo has the analog section of the UA 2192 but I'm sure it's going to be very, very good.

[fantastic222]

just watched the promo video.... check the rack at 0:27.

• Manley Vari-Mu
• API 2500
• Lexicon Prime Time

gonna be a fun, albeit expensive, year

Can't tell what those units are between the 2500 and the Flanger/Doubler - anybody?

[choukette]

Originally Posted by fantastic222

Very interesting announcement! Great set of features, assuming the conversion is on par with the 2192. Definitely gonna give it some serious consideration when it's time to ditch the 002.

2500 usd was the price for 1 2192 with one stereo converter

2500 usd = 1300 usd for the quad + 1200 usd for 8 i/o converters (something like motu or rme quality but no more)

add at least 250 usd for the TB card

Sorry dudes I don't trust anything trully superior from UA since they continue to sell a 4 years old card without dropping seriously the price of it.

don't misunderstood my comment : UAD plugins are great, UA hardware like 1176 or la2a are great too.

But who need to spend 2500 usd for something most of us already have, who need another mid range 8 converters rack at 2500 usd ?

UAD plugins are attractive but who here need to put so much money to use them ?

I was only expecting an affordable DSP thunderbolt box, they just release a more expensive product,

in fact every 6 month UA release a new more expensive product without understanding that there is a limit for everything.

especially when the plugin alliance "are offering world-class audio plugins that require no more USB dongle or external hardware"

[work2do]

If you need an interface and looking at a UFX or Metric Halo then this is an option. Price is around UFX and cheaper than Metric Halo. If you have an interface already you are happy with then you are not in the market for any new interface. So be it.

For the windows users:

How does Apollo work on Windows?

Apollo will work with Windows 7 operating systems starting in summer 2012, however a qualified PCIe-to-FireWire 800 adaptor or qualified ExpressCard34 adaptor will be required. Because of widespread variance between PC manufacturers, built-in FireWire ports on Windows computers are not supported. Apollo will also work with any Windows 7 PC that has a qualified Thunderbolt port.

[6strings]

Originally Posted by work2do

cool. let's see if the drivers are rock solid.

Bingo!

[grooveminister]

Here´s the console window:



...and part of the master section:

[sigmatibet]

Tracking with plugins is a winner. Hope for converters quality

[6strings]

Originally Posted by depulse

And UA continous their ridiculus overpricing for the UAD2 DSPs. $500 extra for $50 extra of chips.

So don't get the quad. Feature AND price-wise, this unit is appears on par with an Ensemble or UFX. So basically, you getting at least a UAD-Duo for free!

[digigem]

[6strings]

Originally Posted by sigmatibet

Tracking with plugins is a winner. Hope for converters quality

I don't understand why in the world anyone would track with plug-ins? Please explain this to me...

[satissounds]

The pricing in the UK is Duo £2149 and Quad £2699, which is a lot higher here than the RME UFX, about £1699. The Thunderbolt card is being quoted at $499 US.

[fantastic222]

Originally Posted by work2do

cool. let's see if the drivers are rock solid.

+2... agreed.

I'm assuming they've worked their arses off on this. Considering the issues they had with the Satellite and Digi002/3, I hope they have! I got a Satellite after the 5.9 update, which introduced Satellite compatibility with 00x's - but it isn't 100% stable. After a days-long, back and forth support ticket, I was told there was "no fix for my issue", it "may exist indefinitely", and that QA was "buried" in other things. Hopefully, "buried" meant thoroughly testing Apollo for blast-off

we'll see....

[lllubi]

video says the thunderbolt card allows higher plugin count ?

[work2do]

Originally Posted by lllubi

video says the thunderbolt card allows higher plugin count ?

Yeah. Higher than firewire.

[fantastic222]

Originally Posted by 6strings

I don't understand why in the world anyone would track with plug-ins? Please explain this to me...

Why not? Maybe some cats are too afraid to commit!

I guess it all depends on the style/genre?

Tracking with plugins lets you get closer to your vision before you commit to disc. Especially, for instance, if you wanna track everyone thru the Studer prior to mixing. This leave you with more available DSP when mixing...


Captain Obvious signing out!

[choukette]

Originally Posted by 6strings

I don't understand why in the world anyone would track with plug-ins? Please explain this to me...

to lose the possibilitie to change what plugin you apply during tracking, something you don't have to chose when you mix ITB

add to this UAD plugins during tracking will sound the same during the mix and you will soon understand how much interesting it is to track with UAD plugins.

maybe i'm wrong, but the only benefits of tracking is analog gear with character you can't apply without another da/ad process during mixing no ?

The pricing in the UK is Duo £2149 and Quad £2699, which is a lot higher here than the RME UFX, about £1699. The Thunderbolt card is being quoted at $499 US

.

1 € = 1.29 usd today (a very value for €) + 2012 protectionism = apollo at 3000 €

UAD should do some ipad cheap apps instead, there is a lot of money to make selling 2 € apps nowadays



in a world of indignation with 99 % of poor people it's perhaps time to think about them.

[lllubi]

Originally Posted by work2do

Yeah. Higher than firewire.

understand improvement in latency but why should it deliver more DSP power
if there are no additional DSPs on the card?

[bee]

Subscribed.

[choukette]

Originally Posted by fantastic222

Why not? Maybe some cats are too afraid to commit!

I guess it all depends on the style/genre?

Tracking with plugins lets you get closer to your vision before you commit to disc. Especially, for instance, if you wanna track everyone thru the Studer prior to mixing. This leave you with more available DSP when mixing...


Captain Obvious signing out!

interesting idea frankly,

but it's also demonstrate how UAD dongle is limited too

[Broken_English]

Obvious or Oblivious... Offline processing would seem to be the better option...

[choukette]

Originally Posted by lllubi

understand improvement in latency but why should it deliver more DSP power
if there are no additional DSPs on the card?

it won't, it's just about reducing latency

[AudioGaff]

>I don't understand why in the world anyone would track with plug-ins? Please explain this to me...

For one thing, near zero latency. It seems you can monitor with real time plugs and record dry. You record with the plugs you like to record the exact sound that you want for each input and then when mixing, you can use other plug which saves both CPU and DSP resources. while I'm an old hard core hardware fan and user, this is still WAY cool.

I'm thinking that a chain something like the Neve 1073, 1176 & Studer plugs could be a powerful combo to record with so that other plugs could be used in mixdown. Real time Lexicon 224, EMT 250 or Roland Space Echo effects for monitoring would very nice to have and use at your pleasure.

On top of all of that, ******s can now over process to their hearts content....

[superwack]

IF the Conversion is the same/better as a 2192 and IF the mic pres are transformer-based, discrete... you know like UA products (doubt it in a 1RU box) then they've really got something

I really can't believe you have to buy a THUNDERBOLT card (sometime in Summer 12... maybe?) on top of the purchase price! - everyone knows (or believes) everything is going TB and with the price.

Don't get me wrong, if I didn't have an interface, I'd look at this one as it seems cool esp. if you've got nothing but... I think it does put an end to any hope/speculation that UA might go native with their plugs.

[lllubi]

Originally Posted by 6strings

I don't understand why in the world anyone would track with plug-ins? Please explain this to me...

track with plugs for your vibe
split for mixing

[Red Baron]

I am most interested in its ADDA converters, as I need to upgrade my current ones. They say the converters are transparent (good for mastering), so, they are not similar to 2192 because this adds some color, the color will be added by the plug-ins.

[Palaver]

EDIT: Red Baron reminded me of another question I asked...

Some info I recieved after calling them directly:

1) Availability: The sales rep said they're told it will be available in March 2012. I couldn't get an exact date out of them.

2) Manufacturing: The UA Apollo is partially assembled overseas and in the US. I couldn't get the exact details on the process or what aspects were put together 'overseas.'

3) Retail: The Canadian dealer is HHB. I was told to contact them about more specific details. Units should also be available to demo in March.

4) Competition: The sales rep said their team strongly stand behind their claim of, "It's the best converter in its price range by a long-shot." I asked about specific converters, but the sales guy was reluctant to comment. This was fair, but after looking at the specs, I would think the direct competion is the Apogee Ensemble, Metric Halo 2882, and perhaps the Prism Orpheus(?). However, after reading the technical specs, it seems to fall somewhere short of the super high-end, but yet above the mid-road stuff like the Ensemble.

5) Conversion: The rep was unable to say whether or not it used Burr-Brown conversion chips. However, he did claim that it is meant to be transparent simply due to the abundance of 'plugin' character. The 2192 was designed to colour and to do one 'super-high-end' task extremely well. I was given the impression that this unit isn't quite at the level of the 2192, but is an excellent converter none-the-less.

My own observation:

FINALLY someone has made an interface with 2 line outs for monitoring that are seperate from the 8 balanced line outs. Therefore, if you're going to add hardware via D-Sub, you no longer need a D-Box for proper monitoring.

I think they hit a home run with the feature list!

Let's see how good it sounds, and how stable it runs.

Cheers,

Phil

[madsmix]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

Professional 4-Pin XLR DC powering!!! Epic win. Thanks UAD for catering to the needs of remote / location people.

+1 Loving it!

[work2do]

Originally Posted by lllubi

understand improvement in latency but why should it deliver more DSP power
if there are no additional DSPs on the card?

The firewire connection will not give you the same amount of dsp the pcie version of UAD2 will give you. You get less instances of plugs through firewire. More bandwidth on thunderbolt.

Originally Posted by Palaver

FINALLY someone has made an interface with 2 line outs for monitoring that are seperate from the 8 balanced line outs. Therefore, if you're going to add hardware via D-Sub, you no longer need a D-Box for proper monitoring.l

what if you have 2 sets of monitors. Can the control room output switch between both pairs?

[lllubi]

^
got it thanks