UA Apollo QUAD High-Resolution Audio Interface, from UA

Apollo High-Resolution Audio Interface with Realtime UAD Processing

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 analog 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 analog tones and color via its Realtime UAD Processing. Available with either DUO Core or 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 analog 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. And 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 analog, 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.

Audio Interface

• Sample rates up to 192 kHz at 24-bit word length
• 18 x 24 simultaneous input/output channels:
  • Eight channels of analog-to-digital conversion via mic, line, or high-impedance inputs
• 14 channels of digital-to-analog conversion via:
  • Eight mono line outputs
  • Stereo monitor outputs
  • Two stereo headphone outputs
• 10 channels of digital I/O via:
  • Eight channels ADAT Optical I/O with S/MUX for high sample rates
  • Two channels coaxial S/PDIF I/O with sample rate conversion
  • Two FireWire 800 ports for daisy-chaining other FireWire devices
• 32-bit and 64-bit device drivers

Microphone Preamplifiers

• Four high-resolution, ultra-transparent, digitally-controlled analog mic preamps
• Front panel and software control of all preamp parameters
• Switchable low cut filter, 48V phantom power, 20 dB pad, polarity inversion, and stereo linking

Monitoring

• Stereo monitor outputs (independent of eight line outputs)
• Digitally-controlled analog monitor outputs maintains highest fidelity
• Front panel control of monitor levels and muting
• Two stereo headphone outputs with independent mix buses
• Independent front panel analog volume controls for headphone outputs
• Front panel pre-fader metering of monitor bus levels
• S/PDIF outputs can be set to mirror the monitor outputs

Onboard UAD-2 Processing

• DUO and QUAD models featuring two or four SHARC processors
• Realtime UAD Powered Plug-Ins processing on all of Apollo’s analog and digital inputs
• Same features and functionality as other UAD-2 products when used with DAW
• Can be combined with other UAD-2 devices for increased mixing DSP
• Includes UAD Powered Plug-Ins “Analog Classics” bundle
• Complete UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins library is available online 24/7

Software

• Console application:
  • Enables Realtime UAD Powered Plug-Ins processing
  • DSP mixer for realtime monitoring and tracking
  • Remote control of all Apollo features and functionality
• Console Recall plug-in:
  • Saves Apollo configurations inside DAW sessions for easy recal
  • Enables control of all front panel parameters from within the DAW
  • VST, RTAS, and Audio Units plug-in formats
• UAD Meter & Control Panel application:
  • Configures global UAD-2 and Powered Plug-Ins settings and monitors system usage

Specifications

System

• I/O Complement
  • Microphone Inputs 4
  • High-Impedance Inputs 2
  • Analog Line Inputs 8
  • Analog Line Outputs 8
  • Analog Monitor Outputs 2 (1 stereo pair)
  • Headphone Outputs 2 stereo (independent mix buses)
  • ADAT Up to 8 channels via dual I/O ports with S/MUX
  • S/PDIF 1 stereo input, 1 stereo output
  • FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b) Dual ports
  • Thunderbolt (via Option Card) Dual ports
  • Word Clock 1 input, 1 output
• A/D – D/A Conversion
  • Supported Sample Rates (kHz) 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
  • A/D Bits Per Sample 24
  • Simultaneous A/D conversion 8 channels
  • Simultaneous D/A conversion 14 channels
  • Analog Round-Trip Latency 1.1 milliseconds @ 96 kHz sample rate
  • Analog Round-Trip Latency with four serial UAD-2 plug-ins via Console application 1.1 milliseconds @ 96 kHz sample rate

Analog I/O

• Microphone Inputs 1 – 4
  • Jack Type XLR Female
  • Phantom Power +48V, Switchable
  • Dynamic Range 118 dB (A–weighting)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 118 dB (A–weighting)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –110 dB
• Hi–Z Inputs
  • Jack Type ¼” Male (Mono TS plug required)
  • Dynamic Range 117 dB (A–weighting)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 117 dB (A–weighting)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –103 dB
• Line Inputs 1 – 4
  • Jack Type ¼”Male TRS Balanced
  • Dynamic Range 117 dB (A–weighting)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 117 dB (A–weighting)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –107 dB
• Line Inputs 5 – 8
  • Jack Type ¼” Male TRS Balanced
  • Dynamic Range 117 dB (A–weighting)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 117 dB (A–weighting)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –107 d
• Line Outputs 1 – 8
  • Jack Type ¼” Male TRS Balanced
  • Dynamic Range 118 dB (A–weighting)
  • Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.1 dB
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 118 dB (A–weighting)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –106 dB
• Monitor Outputs 1 – 2
  • Jack Type ¼” Male TRS Balanced
  • Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.1 dB
  • Dynamic Range 115 dB (A–weighting)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 114 dB (A–weighting)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –103 dB
• Stereo Headphone Outputs 1 & 2
  • Jack Type ¼” Male TRS Stereo/Unbalanced
  • Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.1 dB
  • Dynamic Range 113 dB (A–weighting)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 113 dB (A–weighting)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –101 dB

Digital I/O

• S/PDIF
  • Jack Type Phono (RCA)
  • Format IEC958
• ADAT
  • Jack Type Optical TOSLINK JIS F05
  • Format ADAT Digital “Lightpipe” with S/MUX
  • Channel Assignments @ 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz Port 1 = Channels 1 – 8, Port 2 = 1 – 8 (mirrored)
  • Channel Assignments @ 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz Port 1 = Channels 1 – 4, Port 2 = Channels 5 – 8
  • Channel Assignments @ 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz Port 1 = Channels 1 – 2, Port 2 = Channels 3 – 4
• Word Clock
  • Jack Type BNC
  • Lock Range ±0.5% of any supported sample rate
  • Word Clock Input Termination 75 Ohms, switchable
• Synchronization Sources
  • Internal, Word Clock, S/PDIF, ADAT

Electrical

• Power Supplies External AC to DC Power Supply Brick, Internal DC to DC Power Supply
• AC Connector Type IEC Male
• AC Requirements 100V – 240V AC, 50 – 60 Hz
• DC Connector Type XLR 4-Pin Locking Male (Neutrik P/N NC4MDM3-H)
• DC Requirements 12 VDC, ±5%
• Maximum Power Consumption 6.5 amperes

Mechanical

• Dimensions
  • Width 19”
  • Height 1.75” (1U rack space)
  • Depth, Chassis Only 12.125”
  • Depth, Including Knob & Jack Protrusions 13.5”
  • Shipping Box (Width x Depth x Height) 24” x 17” x 8”
• Weight
  • Shipping Weight (with box & accessories) 18 pounds
  • Weight (bare unit) 9.1 pounds