Product Description

The Universal Audio Apollo QUAD is the quad core version of the first professional, high-resolution computer audio interface that delivers the sound, feel, and flow of analog recording. This 18 x 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt- ready interface combines genuine UA analog design with class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz sound quality and onboard Realtime UAD Processing. Using Apollo, music producers and performers can finally track audio through a range of classic UAD analog emulation plug-ins from Neve, Studer, Manley, Lexicon and more in real time, and with a sleek, elegant workflow on both Mac and PC.*

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 UAs analog hardware heritage, it offers extremely high-resolution sonics, with the lowest THD and highest dynamic range in its class. Apollos premium mic preamps, top-end converters and UAs 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 Apollos 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, Apollos sonic options are virtually endless.

Thunderbolt I/O: The Next Generation of Connectivity

Apollo offers compatibility with Intel's Thunderbolt technology, as found on the current 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

Apollos Core Audio and ASIO* drivers ensure compatibility with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Live, and more. Beyond this basic compatibility, Apollos 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. Read more about Apollos included software here.

Elegant Hardware Design and Workflow

One key feature of Apollo isnt really a feature at all. Its 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 UAs legendary 2192 interface, is designed to be viewable at nearly any angle. Finally, standalone operation means that you can use Apollos audio connections, and last-used DSP mixer settings, even without a computer connected.

Console Application and Console Recall Plug-In (VST/AU/RTAS)

The Console application is Apollo's primary software interface. Its intuitive, analog console-style design provides ultra-fast ("realtime") tracking and monitoring with UAD Powered Plug-Ins. Additionally, all of Apollo's front-panel hardware features can be controlled using this Console app, even if the Apollo hardware is out of reach of the engineer.

Apollo's Realtime UAD processing gives you the ability to place UAD Powered Plug-Ins on all inputs, tracking with less than 2ms latency -- a feature not found in any other interface. Specifically, UAD Powered Plug-Ins can be inserted into any/all Console inputs and/or auxiliary returns (within the constraints of Apollo's onboard DSP), for the ultimate sonic experience. For the first time, music producers can track audio through award-winning plug-ins from Neve, Manley, Studer, Lexicon and more, right on input.

When its time to mix or master, Apollo's onboard UAD-2 DUO or UAD-2 QUAD processors can run the entire UAD Powered Plug-Ins library, just like a standard UAD-2 DSP Accelerator. In this way, owning an Apollo not only makes for better-sounding tracking and mixing sessions, but reduced strain on your host computer CPU.
Image

The Console app can be used simultaneously with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Live, Performer and more, giving you very flexible signal routing and processing options. And complete Console setups can be saved as presets -- or even saved "within" your sessions using the VST/AU/RTAS-compatible Console Recall plug-in -- for full recall, even months and years after you last opened your session.

In simple terms, the Console Recall plug-in provides access to all of Apollo's crucial monitoring and metering functionality, without having to leave your DAW of choice.

Features

- 18 x 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt(TM)-ready audio interface for Mac and PC*
- Realtime UAD Processing for low-latency (sub-2ms) tracking and mixing w/ UAD Powered Plug-Ins**
- Premium mic preamps, top-end converters, and uncompromising analog design
- Front-panel controls for all commonly used features
- Full recall of interface and UAD plug-in settings within DAW sessions via Console Recall plug-in (VST/RTAS/AU)
- 8 analog inputs: 4 digitally controlled analog mic preamps; 8 balanced line inputs; 2 front-panel JFET DIs
- 14 analog outputs: 8 balanced line outs; 2 digitally-controlled analog monitor outs; 2 dedicated stereo headphone outs
- 10 channels of digital I/O: 8 channels of ADAT; 2 channels S/PDIF; Wordclock I/O
- Dual FireWire 800 ports (standard)
- Thunderbolt I/O Option Card for connectivity to Macs and PCs (card sold separately) *
- Available in DUO Core and QUAD Core processor models
- Includes "Analog Classics" plug-ins: LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler, 1176LN Limiting Amplifier, and Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer

* Compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7; Windows 7 support coming Summer 2012.
** All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately. NOTE: Thunderbolt I/O option card coming Summer 2012. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Universal Audio products.

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 1/4-in. 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 1/4-in. 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 1/4-in. 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 1/4-in. 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 1/4-in. 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 1/4-in. 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

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Base Item

Shipping Weight: 17 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 8 in