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In case you've not heard, Universal Audio announced their new Apollo 16 interface: a 16 I/O A/D converter and UAD Quad built in. This one is intended for the project studio that already has an arsenal of preamps, mixing console or combination thereof. These can be paired via MADI for a total of 32 inputs and two UAD Quad processors. All this for $2999. A mere $500 more than the Apollo Quad. An amazing value when you consider other "upgrade" options.

http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo 16 Audio Interface with Realtime UAD Processing and Thunderbolt[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo 16 Audio Interface with Realtime UAD Processing and Thunderbolt[/]

Comments

audiokid Wed, 11/12/2014 - 20:04

Update, I have two, (the new) Apollo 16's on the way. 32 IO into the Neos. Should be fun using these as my new front end for the Neos and Dangerous Master matrix. Looks like I have the best of all three worlds now. The real deal, UAD, 120v rails and world class mastering capturing to Sequoia 13.. I'll be sharing some info indeed. Might be the first of the planet with such a rig like this one. Now only if it was 1975 and the recording acts were lining up and I was spinning them out like Motown.

http://www.uaudio.com/interfaces/apollo-16.html
SSL

Tony Carpenter Thu, 11/13/2014 - 19:10

Ahh haaa! audiokid is going UAD, at the price of the apollo 16 I got the Orion 32, since I bought the UA 2 quad card as well.. it was still cheaper. The HUGE advantage of course for the apollo 16 is live use of the plugins.. I have to admit it's still something I wasn't sure about passing up on. Now we come back to AD/DA quality don't we though?. *shrug*

audiokid Thu, 11/13/2014 - 19:25

Makzimia, post: 421101, member: 48344 wrote: Ahh haaa! audiokid is going [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UAD[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UAD[/]

hehe, I love all you guys.
Well, as you been following, I'm actually on an serious Emulation kick. And what better way to emulation than UAD. I doubt anything will rival my Neos/ Dangerous uncoupled rig. This is more targeted to transformerless pre's and how freaken awesome they are. I now want to emulate a few things to see if it holds true to what I'm expecting.

But I'm at a glitch, MADI is for cascading between Apollo 16s only. Can’t be combined with any other MADI units. And I am PC MADI no return these days.
I don't want to switch the RME or go Apple. I need to keep the same system because my ear is so in tune with what I have now.

bouldersound Thu, 11/13/2014 - 23:23

So, one thing that may be relevant. As far as I can tell there is a maximum of four channels of output from the DSP input monitoring mixer, arranged in stereo pairs (level and pan on each strip). So if you have more than two people playing some of them will have to share stereo mixes, either straight up getting the same mix or you'll have to do the level/pan dance to manage up to four mono mixes. An option for two separate level controls per channel would have been nice, and more monitor mixes is almost a necessity.

If you're using the Apollo 16 with a mixer instead of a rack of preamps it's not a problem, but in our case we have a rack of pres so we're stuck with the limitations of the input monitoring DSP.

audiokid Fri, 11/14/2014 - 09:03

Thanks for the info!

bouldersound, post: 421108, member: 38959 wrote: If you're using the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo[/] 16 with a mixer instead of a rack of preamps it's not a problem, but in our case we have a rack of pres so we're stuck with the limitations of the input monitoring DSP.

I'm only interested in the DA emulation step with these.
I would continue to use my console and independent monitoring with these.
I wouldn't use the plugins for tracking but I would like to have the optional plugins on the DA side of the converter, away from my DAW. That really interest me! Having optional emulation OTB away from my DAW might opens up a new frontier to hybrid mixing. It becomes an outboard effect just like a Bricasti

audiokid Fri, 11/14/2014 - 12:47

Hmm, I'm looking at this all goofy. I was hoping there was a way to bypass the Apollo converters and use the UAD mixer to route plugins OTB, after the Orion32 DA between the console side but there will still be an extra conversion like this.

Example of the analog chain I want:
DAW#1> 32 DA Orion32 > 2x cascaded Apollo 16 > Neos > 2-bus> Dangerous Master Console > AD Capture DAW#2

I'm assuming I would use the Apollo firewire to access the mixer and control the plugs but I'm now thinking its twice the conversion which I don't want. But, at least the UAD plugs are OTB between the Orion and the Console which is a big plus to where I am hoping this ends up.

bouldersound Mon, 11/17/2014 - 00:10

bouldersound, post: 421108, member: 38959 wrote: As far as I can tell there is a maximum of four channels of output from the DSP input monitoring mixer, arranged in stereo pairs (level and pan on each strip).

From what I've read it looks like you can use the aux sends to get two more stereo mixes of inputs, but you lose access to the effects via Apollo. You can still use them with latency via the DAW's aux sends. A recent update made this possible by allowing pre-fader aux sends.

audiokid Fri, 12/19/2014 - 19:31

Here is one of the better Apollo 16 video

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Come with the Realtime Analog Classics Plus plug-in bundle:
http://www.uaudio.com/interfaces/apollo-16.html

  • 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ,
  • Softube Amp Room Essentials,
  • Fairchild 670 Legacy,
  • UA Precision Enhancer Hz ,
  • CS-1 Precision Channel,
  • RealVerb Pro
  • Legacy versions of the LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler,
  • 1176LN Limiting Amplifier,
  • Pultec MEQ-5 Midrange Equalizer
  • Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer

audiokid Fri, 12/19/2014 - 20:15

I'm curious how the Pultec MEQ-5 plug-ins are going to compare and emulate to the absolute beautiful pair of Pulse Technique MEQ-5 's I just sold. I also have a stack of LA2A's and 1176's so this is going to be one interesting comparisons and marriage with my existing hybrid system. I don't think I've been this excited about digital technology in years.
FYI, I'm very interested but truthfully not expecting or concerned these plug-ins will be identical. My goal is to emulate my analog mixing and mastering matrix. This bundle is pretty much all I need, I hope.

kmetal Sat, 12/20/2014 - 02:19

From what I've heard frompeoe who've used the real pultecs, the emulations out there, not just the ua, are pretty accurate to abasic real pultec, with the obvious considerations, that they can be old, and most likely only all sound similar to themselves at best.

From my research, you probably wouldn't be dissapointed, when you weight up thentypical plug-insvs hardware considerations, like multiple instances, and repair cost.

I've never heard anyone say the pluggin was better, but I've also never heard anyone say it was much worse, or they need the real thing.

And now as ua(and focusrtie liquid), is pioneering emulations at the pre-amp tracking stage, it's gonna be a matters of time before outboard is weighed up against software for tracking too. Which imo is the place where it still is the most valuable, and "necessary".

Chris just wondering what u meant in The video post by "the better apollo 16" is there a revised version?

audiokid Sat, 12/20/2014 - 08:31

kmetal, post: 422590, member: 37533 wrote: Chris just wondering what u meant in The video post by "the better [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo[/] 16" is there a revised version?

Boswell, post: 422593, member: 29034 wrote: I think he meant a better Apollo 16 video...
...but it's an interesting thought.

yes.

Of all the video's, those two focus more on why I am looking at these. I'm adding these into an existing hybrid system to expand emulation options. I hope the converters are up to the task.

Tony Carpenter Sat, 12/20/2014 - 16:08

I'm not sure how far you are planning to dive in the UAD pool, but, I can tell you whether or not their plugins are true to the originals, they are very stable, and very flexible. Now that my RME card is handling things instead of the Orion I am getting amazing performance too. I'll be watching to see what you think of the AD/DA side of those too. The part that still bothers me is their need to be tethered on a firewire or thunderbolt. Are you planning to use the RME card still?

audiokid Sat, 12/20/2014 - 16:39

Hi Tony, I hear ya.

I have no idea on this one. Its all speculation. I'm expecting one of the two Apollo's to be clocking off RME internal. One of the Apollo 16's will be on the front end or between the Neos of the tracking/mixing DAW , the other on the summing DAW clocked to the Prism. Both DAW's uncoupled as usual. I'm hoping because I'm not round tripping, using these like effect processors, they don't even need to be clocked. Anyone know? If it all fails with this idea, I'm sure I will come up with something else lol.
The first step.
The idea is to emulate my mastering matrix , Emulate my Pultecs, LA2A 's etc and sum into DAW 2.

All this is much like hybrid was. You don't know squat until you try it.

audiokid Sat, 12/20/2014 - 16:46

Makzimia, post: 422605, member: 48344 wrote: I'm not sure how far you are planning to dive in the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UAD[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UAD[/] pool

NOTE: I just edited both posts as I'm thinking out loud.

I want these for front end emulators, not back end. No round trip either. I hope to monitor after them using an independent DA. I'll be using a Prism DA on the master bus (DAW2) connected to the Dangerous Master ST.
I have know idea where I'm heading here. I could all be a pipe dream, or maybe I will just love the entire concept.
At first glance, the basic bundle is exactly what I need right now..

Samplitude is my DAW of choice.
Making more sense?

audiokid Sat, 12/20/2014 - 19:53

Makzimia, post: 422610, member: 48344 wrote: Frankly no, LOL, from what I gather of your setup. Your setup of the [="http://www.rme-audio.com"]RME[/]="http://www.rme-audi…"]RME[/] + [[url=http://="http://www.antelope…"]Orion[/]="http://www.antelope…"]Orion[/] and your [="http://www.prismsound.com/"]Prism[/]="http://www.prismsou…"]Prism[/], [[url=http://="http://spl.info/ind…"]Neos[/]="http://spl.info/ind…"]Neos[/] etc are the perfect thing for you. I am still obviously missing something :).

Indeed it is.

well, lets see if what I'm attempting, is even worth writing about. They'll arrive Jan 2015.

audiokid Sun, 12/21/2014 - 14:36

I've not found this in the literature so I'm wondering if Boulder knows if the Apollo 16 can run as a stand alone unit, like an effect processor?
I understand I need to keep the Apollo16 connected to the DAW to access the console and plug-in parameters, but other than that, could the hardware provide realtime outboard plug-ins to be used independently like an effect processor?
Could the console also work like a digital patchbay? Thus, allow independent routing between the dsubs of my analog console bus's.
If this was possible, I wouldn't need to clock it to my DAW. I could set the Apollo to be at 192 indefinitely; never needing to be clocked to the DAW?

Respectfully, I'm sure I'm not the only one to ask or wonder about this. I could ask these questions on the UAD website but I kind of want to keep this thought on RO for now.

bouldersound Fri, 12/26/2014 - 08:20

audiokid, post: 422622, member: 1 wrote: I've not found this in the literature so I'm wondering if Boulder knows if the Apollo 16 can run as a stand alone unit, like an effect processor?

It looks like you've answered yourself, but I'm pretty sure it's a "yes".

I've only had one or two session with the Apollo since my last post, mostly sorting out headphone mixes and related workflow.

audiokid Tue, 12/30/2014 - 09:50

Makzimia, post: 422937, member: 48344 wrote: Cool!. So, you can load certain plugins in, set as a preset and disconnect?.

maybe, but I'm thinking you still would want to have full control in "real time" to tweak the plug-in, which would require a DAW to access the console too. I'm assuming any DAW for that matter would suffice.

As long as I can do this without needing to be coupled to the session, its a step in the right direction. If the converters sound better than I expect, I might use them and clock to each DAW, possibly replacing the Orion32. Hard to say at this point.

kmetal Fri, 01/02/2015 - 09:02

Fwiw on a Mac, my cousins been using the apollo quad, w fire wire and the perfomance is killer. We have the thunderbolt card, and I expect even better performance.

Since I don't own it, two things that ive found a little confusing is incorporating the UAD mixer alongside the daw, and the fact that the dsp meter registers stuff w no efx instansiated. Again, w very little time spent playing around, mostly it was just the technical hookup and install ect. If I had to describe the sound of the conversion/design it'd be somewhere around the motu apogee- ish type sound.

audiokid Fri, 01/02/2015 - 09:35

Both units are loaded with Thunderbolt, however Firewire 800 is how I have to do it for now . Good to hear your experience on the Quad, thanks for sharing that Kyle!
Once I get this all running, it will be fun sharing the journey. I'm expecting the Console to work just like the Orion32 or RME converter mixers.

Davedog Fri, 01/02/2015 - 12:40

I think you will find the Apollo console to be more intuitive like an old-school hardware console. UA's point was to give as much of the feel and workflow as a high-end large-frame console as possible....without the noisefloor.

I haven't checked in to your new direction for a while but it seems you have chosen the UAD plugs for emulation to replace all that sweet hardware you started with. I think you'll be happy with what these can do. I have a Quad card in my rig and I do use these plugs very specifically on tracks that I want MORE of the original hardware sound. I have several really great emulations of an LA2A for example, and if I really want the almost true to life emulation and the feel of the LA2A I go to the UAD plug. Its as close the the real LA2A sitting in the rack as you can get. My opinion only....but I got ears aint I?? I don't know what packages you got with the Apollo's but whatever you get from UAD besure and get the complete SSL package as well as the API and the Neve. I have the Elysia compressors from Brainworx and I see that UAD has them now. These are fantastic and right up your alley. In fact, ALL the Brainworx plugs are more than adequate for the need. I love how they don't color too much but do exactly what you want them to in an intuitive work flow way. The EQ's are sensational! I'll also put in a plug for the Nomad stuff too.

audiokid Fri, 01/02/2015 - 13:12

Davedog, post: 423076, member: 4495 wrote: I think you will find the [="http://www.uaudio.com/interfaces/apollo.html"]Apollo[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo[/] console to be more intuitive like an old-school hardware console. [[url=http://="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UA[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UA[/]'s point was to give as much of the feel and workflow as a high-end large-frame console as possible....without the noisefloor.

I love the UAD console! I wish everyone got it clean and simple like this. The UAD Console Reminds me a bit like PreSonus Capture. You can tell these people are thinking like musicians.

Davedog, post: 423076, member: 4495 wrote: I haven't checked in to your new direction for a while but it seems you have chosen the [="http://www.uaudio.com/uad-plug-ins.html"]UAD[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UAD[/] plugs for emulation to replace all that sweet hardware you started with.

I still have my front end and complete summing system. I sold all my summing analog EQ's and compressors. No need for them anymore.

Davedog, post: 423076, member: 4495 wrote: I don't know what packages you got with the Apollo's but whatever you get from UAD besure and get the complete SSL package as well as the [[url=http://="http://www.apiaudio…"]API[/]="http://www.apiaudio…"]API[/] and the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.rupertne…"]Neve[/]="http://www.rupertne…"]Neve[/].

Thanks for the suggestions :)

I haven't added anything more than what comes bundled in the hardware. Which is really exactly what I need. But, who knows, I may love what these sound like and even want more tools. To be sincere however, I don't want added core cards or more plug-in ITB. I prefer mixing on Samplitude and mastering into Sequoia. These DAW's have all the essentials and are most stable when clean of third party coding. If I can add more plug-in into the Apollo 16 box, I'm all for that? I don't know enough about how this works, do you?
My focus is still to avoid mixing back to the same DAW.

Davedog Fri, 01/02/2015 - 17:12

You can add any of the plug-ins offered by UA to the Apollo. The way they use their system, you won't have to worry about any added DSP load. There's no added core card involved. The Apollo has the Quad core card already in place. I believe you can actually use the plug-ins you have in the Apollo for tracking ...exactly like outboard hardware. There's no latency involved.

audiokid Fri, 01/02/2015 - 17:14

Davedog, post: 423088, member: 4495 wrote: You can add any of the plug-ins offered by [="http://www.uaudio.com"]UA[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]UA[/] to the [[url=http://="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo[/]="http://www.uaudio.c…"]Apollo[/]. The way they use their system, you won't have to worry about any added DSP load. There's no added core card involved. The Apollo has the Quad core card already in place.

Really! That would be awesome. :)

audiokid Fri, 01/02/2015 - 18:16

Hey Tony,

maybe I'm not quite sure how this is working now. :barefoot: Is the Apollo streaming the code from the DAW while at the same time using the DSP off the Apollo? They need each other to work? So what this really is, is an external PCIe bus that uses TB or FW like an external drive?

I'm hoping not. I was thinking it all resided on the Apollo?

Tony Carpenter Fri, 01/02/2015 - 18:19

It's a software solution that loads into the hardware on demand. This is why I was curious what you thought you were going to do with it :). Keep in mind all the heavy lifting is done by the Apollo though. The UAD control panel for the Apollo is different than the card one. You have a mixer, I don't. In my DAW, I then load each plugin I want, and MY control panel shows load for each of my 4 UAD processor chips.

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