Huge news from Universal Audio! Today at the NAMM show they will announce a brand new 18 x 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt-ready audio interface with on-board UAD plugins for tracking and mixing.
Apollo will be available in UAD-2 Duo and Quad formats. If you plan on mixing with the UAD plugins I assume you’ll want the Quad version but if you’re integrating hardware and/or Native plugins the Duo should be able to handle the task well. Universal Audio promises sub-2ms latency.
While Universal Audio states that they’ve borrowed technology from their other products, they’re not really specific about where the analog chain comes from. It’s not tube, so apparently not directly from their 610′s, but maybe a little from their TwinFinity’s?
Apollo incorporates numerous design hallmarks from classic UA analog gear, including its fast, easy workflow. Dedicated front-panel controls are present for all 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 — making it a well-equipped centerpiece for the modern project studio.
I think we can assume that the converters will be top notch. Their 2192 was very popular and I would be very surprised if Apollo included anything less than that.
The Thunderbolt connection is worth noting. It definitely makes the unit more future-proof in my opinion. However, it’s only Thunderbolt-ready, meaning that you’ll have to buy a separate card for it.
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.
There’s nothing on the Universal Audio website yet but it won’t be long before info starts showing up there.
This has come at the perfect time for me. I was going to upgrade my ULN-2 (need more I/O) and buy a UAD-2 Quad – this does both. If all is well I will be buying one of these no question. Looks great.
Perfect timing indeed
I wonder if it comes with the ” Flexi dollars” like se of the satellites?
[...] of interfaces. Both Apogee and Universal Audio told us that Thunderbolt is finally on its way. Universal Audio’s Apollo in particular looks like a wicked interface that definitely will be worth a closer look once [...]
[...] plugins the Duo should be able to handle the task well. Universal Audio promises sub-2ms latency. [read] [Universal Audio] Advertisement GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", [...]