Universal Audio Apollo Quad Audio Interface with DSP

Apollo® is the first high-resolution computer audio interface that delivers the sound, feel and flow of analogue recording. This 18 x 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt™- ready interface combines genuine Universal Audio analogue design with class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz sound quality and onboard Realtime UAD Processing. Using Apollo, music producers and performers can finally track audio through a range of classic UAD analogue emulation plug-ins in real time with a sleek, elegant workflow on both Mac and PC.

Main Features

• 18 x 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt™-ready audio interface for Mac and PC
• Realtime UAD QUAD Core Processing for low-latency (sub-2ms) tracking and mixing with UAD Powered Plug-In
• Premium mic preamps, top-end converters and uncompromising analogue design
• Dual FireWire 800 ports as standard
• Thunderbolt I/O Option Card for connectivity to new Macs and PCs (card sold separately)
• Full recall of interface and UAD plug-in settings within DAW sessions via Console Recall plug-in (VST/RTAS/AU)
• Includes 'Analog Classics' plug-ins: LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler, 1176LN Limiting Amplifier and Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer

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Class-Leading 24-bit/192 kHz Sound Quality
Designed to play a central role in a modern Mac- or PC-based studio, Apollo incorporates a true 'no compromise' approach to audio quality. Building upon decades of UA's analogue hardware heritage, it offers extremely high-resolution sonics, with the lowest THD and highest dynamic range in its class. Apollo's premium mic preamps, top-end converters — and UA's meticulous attention to circuit design — translate into greater accuracy and depth in your recordings, from tracking and overdubbing, to mixing and mastering.

Realtime UAD Plug-In Processing for Tracking, Mixing and Mastering
While Apollo's 'natural' sound is exceedingly open and transparent, it can quickly deliver a wide range of classic analogue tones and colour via its Realtime UAD Processing. Fitted with QUAD Core processing onboard, this onboard DSP Acceleration allows for recording and mixing through UAD Powered Plug-Ins — with as low as sub-2ms latency — so that producers can quickly monitor, audition and 'print' audio using classic analogue emulations from Ampex, Lexicon, Manley, Neve, Roland, SSL, Studer and more.

Want to place multiple 1176 compressors on your drum inputs, or record vocals through a classic Neve 1073 EQ, or even track the entire band through a Studer A800 tape machine in real time? No problem. With Realtime UAD processing, Apollo's sonic options are virtually endless.

Thunderbolt™ I/O: The Next Generation of Connectivity
Apollo offers compatibility with Intel's new Thunderbolt technology, as found on the newest iMacs, MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs and next-generation PCs.

Available via a user-installable dual-port Thunderbolt I/O Option Card (sold separately), Thunderbolt provides lower latency, reduced audio buffer size, improved performance and greater UAD plug-in instances versus FireWire. Because Thunderbolt offers many times the bandwith of FireWire, it allows music producers to connect numerous devices in series with the Apollo interface — including hard drives, processors, and additional computer monitors — all with fast, flawless performance.

Deeper Integration with Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase and more
Apollo's Core Audio and ASIO* drivers ensure compatibility with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Live and more. Beyond this basic compatibility, Apollo's included Console application and companion Console Recall plug-in (VST/AU/RTAS) provide control and recall of all interface and UAD plug-in settings within individual DAW sessions, even months and years later.

Elegant Hardware Design and Workflow
One key feature of Apollo isn't really a 'feature' at all. It's the numerous design details that give you a fast, natural workflow — and better results. There are physical front-panel controls for all the most commonly used features, including Preamp and Monitor level knobs, channel selection, mic pad and low cut, phantom power and even dual headphone outs with independent level control. Smart Hi-Z inputs on the front panel detect when you've connected your guitar or bass, and automatically enable hardware and software monitoring.

Sonically, Apollo's Mic inputs and Monitor outputs are digitally controlled analogue, so you don't lose audio resolution when you adjust gain. High-resolution/high-contrast metering, derived from UA's legendary 2192 interface, is designed to be viewable at nearly any angle. Finally, standalone operation means that you can use Apollo's audio connections and last-used DSP mixer settings, even without a computer connected.

Console Application and Console Recall Plug-In (VST/AU/RTAS)
The Console application is Apollo's primary software interface. Its intuitive, analogue console-style design provides ultra-fast ('realtime') tracking and monitoring with UAD Powered Plug-Ins. Additionally, all of Apollo's front-panel hardware features can be controlled using this Console app, even if the Apollo hardware is out of reach of the engineer.

Apollo's Realtime UAD processing gives you the ability to place UAD Powered Plug-Ins on all inputs, tracking with less than 2ms latency — a feature not found in any other interface. Specifically, UAD Powered Plug-Ins can be inserted into any/all Console inputs and/or auxiliary returns (within the constraints of Apollo's onboard DSP), for the ultimate sonic experience. For the first time, music producers can track audio through award-winning plug-ins from Neve, Manley, Studer, Lexicon and more, right on input.

When its time to mix or master, Apollo's onboard UAD-2 QUAD processors can run the entire UAD Powered Plug-Ins library, just like a standard UAD-2 DSP Accelerator. In this way, owning an Apollo not only makes for better-sounding tracking and mixing sessions, but reduces strain on your host computer CPU.

The Console app can be used simultaneously with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Live, Performer and more, giving you very flexible signal routing and processing options. Complete Console setups can be saved as presets — or even saved 'within' your sessions using the VST/AU/RTAS-compatible Console Recall plug-in — for full recall, even months and years after you last opened your session.

In simple terms, the Console Recall plug-in provides access to all of Apollo's crucial monitoring and metering funcionality, without having to leave your DAW of choice.

Connections

• 8 analogue inputs: 4 digitally controlled analogue mic preamps, 8 balanced line inputs, 2 front-panel JFET DIs
• 14 analogue outputs: 8 balanced line outs, 2 digitally-controlled analogue monitor outs, 2 dedicated stereo headphone outs
• 10 channels of digital I/O: 8 channels of ADAT, 2 channels S/PDIF, Wordclock I/O

UA Apollo Duo Minimum System Requirements

Mac
OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard, 10.7 Lion, or 10.8 Mountain Lion
2 gigabytes available disk space
Available PCI Express (PCIe) slot for each UAD-2 card
Available FireWire 800 port
1024 x 900 minimum display resolution
Internet connection or CD-ROM drive for software installation
Internet connection required for registration and plug-in authorization
Compatible VST, Audio Units, or RTAS plug-in host application software

Windows
Windows 7 64-Bit Edition w/SP1
2 gigabytes available disk space
Available FireWire 800 port
1024 x 900 minimum display resolution
Internet connection or CD-ROM drive for software installation
Internet connection required for registration and plug-in authorization
Compatible VST, Audio Units, or RTAS plug-in host application software
Apollo requires a qualified PCIe-to-FireWire adapter card on Windows systems.

FeeFo Reviews

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Mainland UK: FREE within mainland UK

UK Non-Mainland: £ 12

Rep. of Ireland: from £ 15 (calculated at checkout)

Mainland Europe: from £ 15 (calculated at checkout)

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