New UA Apollo Desktop Teased!

19th October 2019

#31

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverOak

It was not a test run. UA didn't deliberately leak this. It was the pricing given to the dealers. And sure it might change in the future but I'm certain that it's the MSRP. Given the pricing of the rest of the lineup it seems reasonable.

Now I hope as much as anyone that they bring down their prices a bit. The premium they charge for the extra DSP for example is out of proportion. The fact that their margins are good enough to give away free satellites is quite telling.

I hear you about the extra TB port. It doesn't bother me personally but I can see several scenarios where it wouldn't be ideal to have it as an end-of-chain device. Having rack Apollos in the tracking room and desktop Apollo in the control room is an obvious one.

I have to admit though that I'm pretty excited about the X4. It solves most of the limitations I have with my Twin. And although I'd prefer more DSP (especially for the money), it's still a step up from my Duo, which is seriously limiting for my use. Glad I didn't go for the Twin Quad or one of the rack units.
I'll be saving up for this one for sure.

I would have preferred to be able to keep my Twin and chain it with the new ones. At least with the X4. And carry both for mobile sessions if need be.

20th October 2019

#32

rammanr88

Gear Head

It better be able to "SIDE-CHAIN" this time with all those compressors and asking prices!

21st October 2019

#33

habbe

Gear Head

Right now Apollo Twin MKII Quad is 1199 euro at Thomann. And x6 is 2199 euro.

How could the new version be only 899 euro (as in the "leaked" link)?

21st October 2019

#34

RiverOak

Gear Maniac

Quote:

Originally Posted by habbe

Right now Apollo Twin MKII Quad is 1199 euro at Thomann. And x6 is 2199 euro.

How could the new version be only 899 euro (as in the "leaked" link)?

Because it's a Duo?

21st October 2019

#35

habbe

Gear Head

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverOak

Because it's a Duo?

Hmm good point

I just read QUAD but the text were covering both versions. If the new DUO is 899e I would consider it a good value.

21st October 2019

#36

lllubi

Lives for gear

The prices don´t see right to me on the leaked link. Let´s wait what the prices will be tomorow after the official release.

21st October 2019

#37

mike vee

Lives for gear

My Studio

2 Reviews written

hopefully the line inputs bypass the pres this time around like the rack units

21st October 2019

#38

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by lllubi

The unit on the left could be a Twin´s bigger brother with six DSPs I think.

It could be. Or, it could be the new arrow. I think yesterday the UA Facebook page put out a pic of a twin and an arrow in reference to tomorrow's release. But who knows? You might be right and there will be a new interface to occupy the place between the twin and rack-mount Apollos.

21st October 2019

#39

RiverOak

Gear Maniac

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ox Han

Well we do know, as it has been leaked several days ago. It is a larger desktop interface called Apollo X4 with 4 pres, 6 outputs, dual headphone/hi-z and ADAT I/O.

22nd October 2019

#40

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverOak

Well we do know, as it has been leaked several days ago. It is a larger desktop interface called Apollo X4 with 4 pres, 6 outputs, dual headphone/hi-z and ADAT I/O.

Whoa! I was not aware. Do you have a link?

Thanks

22nd October 2019

#41

andersmv

Lives for gear

https://miditalk.com/news/15776

22nd October 2019

#42

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverOak

Well we do know, as it has been leaked several days ago. It is a larger desktop interface called Apollo X4 with 4 pres, 6 outputs, dual headphone/hi-z and ADAT I/O.

Both are available on sweetwater and reverb now

22nd October 2019

#43

VintageKingAudio

Gear Nut

Hey everyone, you can check out our new Universal Audio Apollo Twin X and Apollo x4 demo videos below:

https://youtu.be/IsaUM0gGPtE
https://youtu.be/502ZtUGLJ0M
https://youtu.be/e6FH4Fy2iGA

22nd October 2019

#44

mamabuna

Gear Nut

2 Reviews written

Unfortunately you can't bypass the stage gain on the [email protected] $1800 with no clean line input :(

Attached Thumbnails

New UA Apollo Desktop Teased!-apollo-x4.jpg

22nd October 2019

#45

dancingmandy

Here for the gear

The UA Live event is today covering the new Apollos with "live production tips and tutorials from Vance Powell, Vulfpeck guitarist Cory Wong, Andrew Huang and Reid Stefan, and more": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9CDka9Riyo

22nd October 2019

#46

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamabuna

Unfortunately you can't bypass the stage gain on the [email protected] $1800 with no clean line input :(

When I did this on the twin, it didn't seem to have any discernible difference. I agree, for $1800 they should've added this option, but I don't know how much engineering that takes. To me, it's not a deal breaker and isn't noticeable. YMMV

22nd October 2019

#47

andersmv

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ox Han

I tried this with my AEA R88 cranked through a TRP preamp. I didn't notice a difference between going into the Apollo Preamp at line level and going into one of the non unison inputs. No extra noise or sonic differences as far as I could hear. That's good enough for me as it's about the only conceivable real life instance I might worry.

22nd October 2019

#48

andersmv

Lives for gear

I had the live feed on in the background waiting for this. UA just said they are using a different clock in the desktop units than the racks, which is unfortunate in my opinion. I was looking at adding the X4 to utilize the new clocking, but that's giving me something else to consider at this point.

22nd October 2019

#49

loudpipes

Here for the gear

The X4 is really interesting! If i buy it I may be using it to sum 12 channels analog. 8 adat plus the four line outs. Just a little worried about delay between the two different converting methods.

Any thoughts?

22nd October 2019

#50

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by loudpipes

It’s cool if you need to free up rack space when traveling and have a hard suitcase to put the x4 inside. It’s good for the desktop form factor.

However, If you can go rack size, then you could buy a used x6 for less than a new x4 and get two more line inputs, two more line outputs, spdif, and world clock in/out. WC would eliminate sync delay/problems. You would also get more DSP

22nd October 2019

#51

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Even a “demo” unit of an x6 from Sweetwater is about $1975. For not too much more $ than an x4 you get a lot more bang for the buck

22nd October 2019

#52

loudpipes

Here for the gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ox Han

Going rack size i may just go for the x16 instead, its probably better. Then i could analog sum 16 channels. The apollo 16 would go in a "portable" rack with headphone amp and mic pres. And in the mix room I will just hook up it too summing i guess.

decisions, decisions...

23rd October 2019

#53

Fleer

Lives for gear

My Studio

Price should be $1000 max.

23rd October 2019

#54

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fleer

Price should be $1000 max.

The x4 does seem a bit expensive. Considering the price of a quad satellite and the twin quad, I’d say $1499 would be a better price and the twin x should still be $1299. I guess they still have a lot of twin MkII’s to move.

Prices will come down in a year or two like the twin mkII quad dropped $100 last year.

23rd October 2019

#55

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Two questions. Sorry if they have been answered, but I couldn’t watch the live launch.

Do the x4 and twin share the same converters for both AD and DA?

Is the only upgrade from twin quad to twin x the conversion?

23rd October 2019

#56

Universal Audio

Manufacturer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ox Han

Yes, they do.

Twin X upgrade is the conversion and TB3.

23rd October 2019

#57

mamabuna

Gear Nut

2 Reviews written

The x6 looks more appealing now , especially if you go for a used one. That being said I am not sure if I can tell the difference, conversion/sound wise between the Apollo 8BF and the X6.

23rd October 2019

#58

Ox Han

Lives for gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by loudpipes

I feel like that is a chapter of life. Decisions, decisions...

I'd offer this: If you could make due with an x4, you could make due with an x6 and save a lot of $$$. But if the x16 is calling and it fits your set up...

Either way, you'll have a great interface for years

23rd October 2019

#59

loudpipes

Here for the gear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ox Han

I slept on it, and will go for the x16, not as portable but hey when I'm on location i would need a rack for preamps anyways. I just got hyped about the small form factor of the x4.

And I don't want to feel like upgrading after purchase.