[NAMM] Universal Audio Apollo

It is designed to combine UA’s analog design with UAD Powered Plug-Ins in a recording system for Mac and PC. Music producers and performers can track through UAD Powered Plug-Ins in real time, via a 18 × 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt-ready audio interface designed to deliver 24-bit/192 kHz sound quality.

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Apollo features mic preamps and converters. Its Core Audio and ASIO drivers are designed to ensure compatibility with DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Live, and more. Moreover, Apollo’s Console application and companion Console Recall plug-in (VST/AU/RTAS) provide control and recall of interface and UAD plug-in settings within individual DAW sessions.

Apollo’s UAD-2 DSP Acceleration is designed to allow for recording through UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins so that music producers can monitor, audition, and “print” audio using a range of analog emulation plug-ins from Ampex, Lexicon, Manley, Neve, Roland, SSL, Studer, and more. The onboard UAD-2 processors are also available for mixing and mastering, offloading processing from the host computer.

Notably, Apollo offers compatibility with Intel’s new Thunderbolt technology, as found on the newest iMacs, MacBook Pros, and MacBook Airs. Available via a user-installable Thunderbolt Option Card (sold separately), Thunderbolt is designed to provide lower latency, reduced audio buffer size, improved performance at high sample rates, and greater UAD plug-in instances versus FireWire.

Apollo incorporates design hallmarks from classic UA analog gear. Dedicated front-panel controls are present for the most common features, including preamp gain, channel selection, mic pad, +48V phantom power, low cut, monitor level, and dual headphone controls.

Apollo’s connectivity includes 4 digitally controlled analog mic preamps, 8 balanced line inputs and outputs, dual front-panel JFET DIs, digitally-controlled analog monitor outputs, 8 channels of ADAT, 2 channels of S/PDIF, word clock I/O, FireWire 800 (standard), and a Thunderbolt expansion bay.

Pricing & Availability:

The Apollo 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 pricing TBD.

Learn more about Apollo here: www.uaudio.com/apollo