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So http://www.uaudio.c… here's what the big NAMM buzz was all about. I'll post more comments later

Comments

audiokid Thu, 01/19/2012 - 12:37

Cool, the press just arrived and is posted on our front page now
http://recording.org/content/814-universal-audio-unveils-apollo-high-resolution.html

Here's the pricing skinny:

The Apollo High-Resolution Audio Interface will be available in both DUO CORE and QUAD CORE processing formats (with either two or four Analog Devices SHARC processors, respectively). Apollo will be shipping in the first quarter of 2012, with an estimated street price of $1,999 (DUO processing model) and $2,499 (QUAD processing model). Apollo’s Thunderbolt Option Card will be shipping in the first half of 2012, with an ESP of $499.

BobRogers Thu, 01/19/2012 - 14:47

So a while ago I refered to my setup with the UFX interface, UAD DSP cards, and PT9/10 as a "poor man's HD system." If the Apollo is all it is cracked up to be that could be closer to the truth. With my current setup, I do perfectly well with zero-latency monitoring for the sort of acoustic/roots music that I usually record. There are some basic effects on the UFX if I want to adjust the feel while someone is tracking. But if I wanted to do more electric/electronic music and use some of the UAD plugs as effects, this would provide a way to do that with a realistic feel while tracking. Another point - even for acoustic tracks - you could record wet with, say the Studer tape emulator and then never have to use DSP for it during mixing.

I note that there is no midi i/o. Isn't that kind of curious. It certainly gives some sort of answer to those of us who were hoping for analog synth emulation down the road.

BobRogers Sat, 01/21/2012 - 15:39

lostindundee, post: 383125 wrote: ...I already have a UAD-2 Triad (Duo+solo) and a few nice outboard comps and an RME MultifaceII (zero latency monitoring) so I'm not sure what this would do for me. Perhaps I'm missing something? Thunderbolt perhaps?...

I don't think it gives you much of anything if you stick with your current workflow. But since it allows you to use < 2ms latency with the UAD plugins you can track with things like guitar pedals and get a real feel while tracking. I haven't really checked this closely, but I think it gives you the option of recording wet or dry, so you can record wet (say with the Studer) and save a lot of DSP power during mixdown, or record dry and adjust the plugins settings (which are supposed to be exportable to you DAW) at mixdown.

Of course, it adds more DSP (either a duo or a quad) to your system to use on mixdown.

RemyRAD Sat, 01/21/2012 - 16:42

Now that's a new audio interface that even has me thinking. And that's difficult when part of your brain has been squished to death (not by rock 'n roll). That looks almost worthy and worth the investment. Selling a couple of Neve modules should do the trick? And then I could sell the entire Neve? Maybe not? Of course his costs more than twice what my MOTU 2408 cost me but hey, it's portable and the dustup machine with the 2408, ain't. Will it is but it isn't. This looks more than interesting and appealing.

I wish I was appealing now from a sunburn?
Mx. Remy Ann David

lostindundee Sun, 01/22/2012 - 06:16

BobRogers, post: 383137 wrote: I don't think it gives you much of anything if you stick with your current workflow. But since it allows you to use < 2ms latency with the UAD plugins you can track with things like guitar pedals and get a real feel while tracking.

Yeh...that kind of monitoring during tracking would be helpful Bob. Regarding my workflow needs, I'll stick where I am for now. I'm about to add an RME FirefaceUC to my MultifaceII via adat to give me an extra 8 channels I could use with quality pres. I could do with the extra outputs too. I can also unhook the FireFaceUC for remote stuff with a laptop.

My only hankering towards this Apollo is how much of a difference Thunderbolt may make to simultaneous recording capacity and latancy. It may be prove too attractive to avoid, depending on workflow needs of course.

Stewart

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