Gear Hunter

Universal Audio - UA-APX16

Description

The flagship Apollo x16 allows music producers, project, and post-production studios to track, overdub, and mix with new world-beating A/D and D/A conversion, HEXA Core UAD plug-in processing, and 7.1 surround sound monitoring* - all in a sleek rackmount Thunderbolt 3 audio interface for Mac** or PC.

Built upon UA's 60-year heritage of audio craftsmanship, this 18 x 20 interface boasts the widest dynamic range (133 dB) and lowest THD+N (-129 dB), of any integrated audio interface on the market. Plus, with all-new HEXA Core processing, you'll get 50% more DSP for running acclaimed UAD Powered Plug-Ins in real time.

• Record with UA's flagship A/D and D/A conversion - providing the widest dynamic range and lowest noise available, at any price


• Mix with powerful HEXA Core processing, featuring 6 UAD DSP chips for running more UAD Powered Plug-Ins in real time


• Easily connect to professional studio gear with 16 x 16 analog I/O via DB-25 connections, plus switchable +24 dBu headroom settings


• Integrate with high-end commercial systems, via 7.1 surround sound monitoring with speaker calibration and fold‑down

UA's Flagship A/D and D/A Conversion
With thousands of chart-topping songs and hundreds of Grammy-winning albums under their belt, Apollo interfaces are no strangers to tracking stellar-sounding records. To improve on the previous generation Apollo interface's class-leading audio conversion, UA engineers obsessively auditioned the latest A/D and D/A converters - ultimately pairing elite-class 24-bit/192 kHz converters with all-new analog circuitry for an ultra-pristine signal path.

With 133 dB dynamic range and THD+N of -129 dB, the Apollo x16's open, natural sound quality bests every interface in its class - regardless of price - and is the perfect starting point for applying UAD processing.

Realtime UAD HEXA Core Processing
Apollo x16 features new HEXA Core processing, with six DSP chips and 50% more UAD plug-in processing power than previous Apollos. This lets you run more UAD plug-ins, whether you're tracking in real time with channel strips from Neve, Manley, or API, or running high UAD plug-in counts when mixing in your DAW.

From the tube warmth of Pultec EQs on guitars to the musical tube limiting of the LA-2A on vocals, or the pump of a genuine 1176 or Fairchild 670 tube compressor on drums, your recordings will take a giant leap forward with a rich, three-dimensional analog sound that UAD plug‑ins provide.

A Full Suite of Classic Analog Processing Onboard
Of course, a hallmark feature of Apollo is its Realtime UAD Processing, letting you run the full library of UAD plug-ins with near-zero latency. Apollo x16 includes the Realtime Analog Classics Plus plug-in bundle, so you can record and mix with the world's only authentic Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, and Fairchild compressors, Pultec EQs, and many more.

Included Plugins:
- UA 610‐B
- Marshall Plexi Classic Amplifier
- Fairchild 670 Legacy
- Teletronix LA‐2A Legacy
- UA 1176LN Legacy
- UA 1176SE Legacy
- Pultec EQP‐1A Legacy
- Pultec Pro Legacy
- Ampeg SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp
- Precision Channel Strip
- Precision Reflection Engine
- Precision Delay Modulation
- Precision Delay Modulation L
- UA Precision Enhancer Hz
- Raw Distortion
- RealVerb‐Pro

Surround Sound Monitoring and +24 dBu Operation
With comprehensive surround monitoring support for formats up to 7.1, Apollo x16 is a boon for engineers and producers working on audio and music for video games, television, and the web. In addition, Apollo x16 offers selectable +24 dBu operation for out-of-the-box compatibility with professional mixing consoles and other high‑end pro audio equipment.

Build an Expanded Studio System Over Thunderbolt
Apollo x16 offers 18 x 20 simultaneous inputs/outputs (16 x 16 analog I/O) and two built-in Thunderbolt 3 ports. This allows users of any Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo Twin or Apollo rackmount audio interfaces to easily combine up to four Apollos and six total UAD-2 devices - adding fast, high-bandwidth I/O and DSP as your studio grows.

APOLLO x16 FEATURES

* 18 x 20 Thunderbolt 3 audio interface with class-leading 24-bit/192 KHz conversion (backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 1 & 2 on Mac**)

* HEXA Core Realtime UAD Processing for tracking through UAD plug-ins at near-zero latency, regardless of audio buffer size

* Surround monitor controller up to 7.1 format*

* Includes Realtime Analog Classics Plus UAD plug-in bundle featuring UA 610-B Tube Preamp; Legacy Pultec EQ, LA-2A, and 1176 compressors; Marshall Plexi Classic; Ampeg SVT-VR Classic and more

* UAD-2 HEXA Core processing onboard for additional mixing horsepower for Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, and other major DAWs

* Combine up to 4 Thunderbolt-equipped Apollos and 6 total UAD devices

* Selectable +24 dBu operation for easy compatibility with professional mixing consoles and tape machines

* Convenient front panel monitoring functions including Alt Speakers, Talkback mic, and assignable Dim or Mono

* Uncompromising UA analog design, superior components, and premium build quality

* Free, industry-leading technical support - on the phone and online - from knowledgeable audio engineers

*Surround Sound Support for Apollo X Coming Q4 2018.
**Mac Pro (Late 2013 "black cylinder" model) compatibility for Apollo X coming Q4 2018.

SPECIFICATIONS

Inputs
Line Inputs (DB25): 16 Balanced via (2) 25-pin D-sub
Digital Inputs (XLR): AES/EBU: 2 channels @ 44.1 - 192 kHz

A to D Conversion
Line Inputs
* Dynamic Range: 124 dB (A-weighted)
* THD+N: -115 dB (0.00018%)
* Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.05 dB

Outputs
Line Outputs (DB25): 16 Balanced via (2) 25-pin D-sub
Monitor Outputs (XLR): 2 Balanced (Left/Right)
Digital Outputs (XLR): AES/EBU: 2 channels @ 44.1 - 192 kHz

D to A Conversion
Line Outputs
* Dynamic Range: 127 dB (A-weighted)
* THD+N: -123 dB (0.00007%)
* Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.02 dB
Monitor Outputs
* Dynamic Range: 133 dB
* THD+N: -129 dB (0.00004%)
* Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.02 dB

Apollo X Series System Requirements

- Thunderbolt 3 cable (not included)
- Internet connection to download software and authorize UAD plug-ins
- 6 gigabytes available storage
- Quad Core i7 or better processor recommended

MAC:
- Available Thunderbolt 1, 2, or 3 port
- Thunderbolt 1 and 2 connections require an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (not included)
- macOS 10.12 Sierra or 10.13 High Sierra
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 black cylinder model) compatibility for Apollo X coming Q4 2018

PC:
- Available Thunderbolt 3 port
- Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (64-Bit Edition)