Universal Audio Apollo interface

[Red Baron]

no insert points for the mic preamps

Bad news for me

[Sanchez]

Wow that is sweeeet!
One tiny tiny gripe....no midi? Just 1i/o would make this even more useful as a total-solution or mobile box.

[ProPower]

Never used UA stuff before........

When you run out of dsp can you tell the plugins that are just in playback mode to be native???

[chymer]

Originally Posted by ionian

I wonder if the plug-ins are before the converter circuit or after - meaning if you really drive the input of the converter the UAD compressor can brickwall it before it clips the converter, like tracking with a real compressor before the converter would. Or if this is simply to track with plug-ins but offer no real "protection" before clipping.

Regards,
Frank

Wow. Really?

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by 6strings

What is the advantage to committing the effect to tape, so-to-speak, versus being able to tweak the effect during mixdown? I mean, that's one reason you hear big-name mixers using UAD plugs more-and-more; because they can make changes after-the-fact.

Furthermore, hardware compressors and limiters happen before the signal hits the converters. Plug-ins happen afterwards, so you can't rely on them to prevent clipping, for example.

Well yeah that's true...but I'm still trying to figure out whether you could monitor the FX on the way in but not print them, if so I'm sold. None of the interfaces with "zero latency" that have built in FX sound very good...this would change that game for sure.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by grooveminister

With analogue tape this made a bit more sense, because they wanted to print hotter levels to tape
- or preEQ things to not amplify the noisefloor afterwards in the mix process...

Whenever I was in a studio tracking like this is wasn't for those reasons, it was because it sounded great...and of course some LIGHT compression on the way in controlled wild lead singer levels...just as they do today....

[kreeper_6]

I understand that I can plug microphones, guitars, and line-level devices into Apollo and get low latency performance, but what about using virtual instruments with UAD plug-ins in real time?

For that workflow, we recommend using the ADAT or S/PDIF digital I/O as a “loop” (ADAT OUT to ADAT IN). For example, route your virtual instrument to an ADAT path and you will see it show up in the UAD Console application. Then, you can add UAD plug-ins on the Console ADAT input, and you will hear how latency becomes inaudible. You can also use analog I/O as a loop, but using ADAT or S/PDIF does not incur generational loss.

******************

So theoretically you could use this to get near Zero latency with UAD plugs on 8 channels coming from a DAW?

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Well yeah that's true...but I'm still trying to figure out whether you could monitor the FX on the way in but not print them, if so I'm sold. None of the interfaces with "zero latency" that have built in FX sound very good...this would change that game for sure.

I think you can. There is a button in the console app that turns printing on/off.

Check out the sweetwater video.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Bad news for me

Oh hell are you kidding me? Well I guess one could go...mic pre to Distressor to Line in on Apollo....etc...

[Papanate]

Originally Posted by depulse

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

Uh uh....can you offer the same thing for less?

[Sanchez]

Someone mentioned $1500 for the Duo, lowest I've seen is $1999....typo or??

[Papanate]

Originally Posted by Sanchez

Someone mentioned $1500 for the Duo, lowest I've seen is $1999....typo or??

Sweetwater has it at $1999 on pre-order. That's probably going to be the price.

[ShadowAMD]

Some Spec's Peeps..

Analog I/O
Microphone Inputs 1 – 4
Jack Type XLR Female
Phantom Power +48V, Switchable
Dynamic Range 118 dB (A–weighting)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 118 dB (A–weighting)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –110 dB
Hi–Z Inputs
Jack Type ¼” Male (Mono TS plug required)
Dynamic Range 117 dB (A–weighting)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 117 dB (A–weighting)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –103 dB
Line Inputs 1 – 4
Jack Type ¼”Male TRS Balanced
Dynamic Range 117 dB (A–weighting)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 117 dB (A–weighting)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –107 dB
Line Inputs 5 – 8
Jack Type ¼” Male TRS Balanced
Dynamic Range 117 dB (A–weighting)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 117 dB (A–weighting)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –107 d
Line Outputs 1 – 8
Jack Type ¼” Male TRS Balanced
Dynamic Range 118 dB (A–weighting)
Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.1 dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 118 dB (A–weighting)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –106 dB

Gotta love that..

[Moatl]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Why? People have tracked with hardware like the LA-2A, 3A, etc, and Neve pres using the EQ section forever....

yeah but the difference is - this is REAL analog gear...

adding a plugin - be it during tracking or during mixing - IMHO still leaves an immense difference compared to using a real 1176 or LA2A or whatever BEFORE the signal hits the converters!

Tracking with plugins might be ok if you don't have the hardware, wanna save on processing power through mixing (?) or you wanna shape the sound before it's printed to disk but...
...soundwise it won't matter wether you use the plugin during tracking or mixing - it'll still be after the signal hit the converters, so i.e. the line "tracking a band through a Studer A 800 might be "a bit" exaggerated - just a tiny bit

For kind of direct-monitoring and sending processed signals to the headphones of the musicians during tracking it sounds quite promising though...

[an.unna.kid]

Next one is gonna be called "UA ROCKY"

[kdeuce]

Originally Posted by choukette

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"

+50

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by kdeuce

+50

Seriously look at the spec's..

[Category 5]

Wow! Didn't expect anything so forward in ambition from UA. Thought at the very most we'd see an 8 DSP card and an announcement for PC satellite support.

Color me impressed. Although I doubt if many folks are willing to give up their UFXs, Orpheus', Symphonys and Auroras just to get real time UAD plugs. Maybe UAD should work on a second unit to provide quad or double quad processing with t-bolt connectivity. Maybe even just a converter/dsp version for use with lightpipe instead of being a full fledged interface of its' own. I know UAD can do DSP, but interface drivers are an animal few companies have mastered.

Originally Posted by DSK

Great idea..

I like the almost zero-latency tracking.

This would be good for a live act! Imagine coming out through some great UAD processing... Live studio sound without the issues of vintage racks of analog.

If only they had put a quad and an octo version instead of duo and quad.

But still a really nice offering from UAD!

Have you tried Waves Multirack? It's not UAD but it allows using Waves processing live with virtually no latency. I use it with my Studiolive mixer nd it's quite a powerful little setup.

[Moatl]

Originally Posted by ionian

I wonder if the plug-ins are before the converter circuit or after - meaning if you really drive the input of the converter the UAD compressor can brickwall it before it clips the converter, like tracking with a real compressor before the converter would. Or if this is simply to track with plug-ins but offer no real "protection" before clipping.

Regards,
Frank

plugins BEFORE the converter???

You mean an ANALOG plugin??

That would mean an analog digital emulation of analog gear

Nope - I'm afraid the plugin, since it's a digital "piece" of software, it's after the conversion...

[superwack]

Originally Posted by an.unna.kid

Next one is gonna be called "UA ROCKY"

HA, clever... i myself thought GEMINI (guess I was thinking more NASA rocket than hollywood!)

Also tracking through a plugin is NOT like going through hardware - especially compression as it is after the A/D and not before... before can get you hotter level, better s/n and there are sonic benefits to doing that.

[m127c]

Originally Posted by Category 5

Wow! Didn't expect anything so forward in ambition from UA. .

it was obvious since they made a deal with TC.
then UA started to recycle several technologies and products such as satelllite and now soundcard with dsp, all of that already done by TC.

hopefully UA can develop drivers better than TC, otherwise, if they are using TC driver anti-technology A NIGHTMARE is waiting for you.

My fw PowerCore by TC has not seen any use since the last 5 frigging years... that should give you an idea.

But again, UA has their own developers, and it's a US company so Microsoft is their buddy in case of issues.

[m127c]

Also the UA plugins have become overpriced and their offers are meaningless compared to the plugin market both in quality and prices.

I own a quad but I personally have not bought a plugin by them since over a year ago. Before then I had every single plugin in their UAD series...

UA needs to adapt. This soundcard is way overpriced too.

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by m127c

Also the UA plugins have become overpriced and their offers are meaningless compared to the plugin market both in quality and prices.

I own a quad but I personally have not bought a plugin by them since over a year ago. Before then I had every single plugin in their UAD series...

UA needs to adapt. This soundcard is way overpriced too.

On paper it spec's out better than a Prism Orpheus, do you really think it's that overpriced?

[overgrown]

might get this and put it along side my BLA003r, and expand my i/o up to 16

i like that it is like the 2192 and that it has the onboard dsp.


i have the nucleus but i think i might look into a matrix or another small console with full recall ability.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by m127c

Also the UA plugins have become overpriced and their offers are meaningless compared to the plugin market both in quality and prices.

I own a quad but I personally have not bought a plugin by them since over a year ago. Before then I had every single plugin in their UAD series...

UA needs to adapt. This soundcard is way overpriced too.

Yeah couldn't disagree more on their plug in quality. Cards may be overpriced but the plugs are wonderful.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by overgrown

might get this and put it along side my BLA003r, and expand my i/o up to 16

i like that it is like the 2192 and that it has the onboard dsp.


i have the nucleus but i think i might look into a matrix or another small console with full recall ability.

It's a tough call, because if the converters aren't that great, it's an Ensemble with plugs on input. Which isn't a bad thing, but it's at the price level of an Avid Omni, which rocks. But then you have to go with a Native card...which doesn't makes the comparison irrelevant, so I don't know why I brought it up.

[Quint]

So if the Apollo is connected to your computer via Thunderbolt, does Thunderbolt provide for daisy chain connectivity (like firewire) or are you only able to connect a second Apollo through the Firewire 800 or ADAT?

Two Apollo's would be too steep for me right now but one could be cool. I'm just curious how two of them would connect if I were to ever get a second one.

[overgrown]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

It's a tough call, because if the converters aren't that great, it's an Ensemble with plugs on input. Which isn't a bad thing, but it's at the price level of an Avid Omni, which rocks. But then you have to go with a Native card...which doesn't makes the comparison irrelevant, so I don't know why I brought it up.

i dont think ill be moving to analog too much, i'd keep the nucleus. connect to an imac via thunderbolt. and run it side by side with the BLA003r, expand my i/o to 16. have plugs on the input like you said, is pretty appealing (not having to step into the analog too much, more staying more ITB with the nucleus would be nice)

Originally Posted by Quint

So if the Apollo is connected to your computer via Thunderbolt, does Thunderbolt provide for daisy chain connectivity (like firewire) or are you only able to connect a second Apollo through the Firewire 800 or ADAT?

Two Apollo's would be too steep for me right now but one could be cool. I'm just curious how two of them would connect if I were to ever get a second one.

you can daisy chain with thunderbolt no problem!
a second apollo could be daisy chained with either FW or TB.

[WindowSills]

Originally Posted by Quint

So if the Apollo is connected to your computer via Thunderbolt, does Thunderbolt provide for daisy chain connectivity (like firewire) or are you only able to connect a second Apollo through the Firewire 800 or ADAT?

Two Apollo's would be too steep for me right now but one could be cool. I'm just curious how two of them would connect if I were to ever get a second one.

Thunderbolt devices are daisy-chainable.

In their info, it does reference controlling more than one Apollo at a time from the software, but that feature is not available in the initial release.

[Jeezo]

I'm not sure , plugins can be used via the interface for tracking in the console , but , can we use this inteface as a dsp ressources for using plugins in a Daw (like we do with a regular uad card ) ?

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by Jeezo

I'm not sure , plugins can be used via the interface for tracking in the console , but , can we use this inteface as a dsp ressources for using plugins in a Daw (like we do with a regular uad card ) ?

Yes, it refers to using the plugs "at mix time" so they can be used both ways...very cool.