UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 Thunderbolt3 18x24 Audio Interface Rack With Uad Processing

Apollo x8

Rack-Mountable Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface with UAD DSP

Elite Audio Conversion with Four Unison Mic Preamps, HEXA Core Processing, and Surround Sound.

Apollo x8 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 24 interface distinguishes itself with four Unison(TM)-enabled mic preamps, providing authentic emulations of preamps from Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and more, plus all-new HEXA Core processing - yielding 50% more DSP for running UAD Powered Plug-Ins in real time.

• Record with elite-class A/D and D/A conversion - nearing 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
• Track with near-zero latency through Unison(TM) preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Helios, Fender, and more
• Integrate with high-end commercial systems, via 7.1 surround sound monitoring and selectable +24 dBu headroom

Elite-Class A/D and D/A Conversion

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 129 dB dynamic range and -119 dB THD+N, Apollo x8's open, natural sound quality rivals any dedicated high-end converter on the market - regardless of price - and is the perfect starting point for applying UAD processing.

Realtime UAD HEXA Core Processing

Apollo x8 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.

Unison Technology: The Genuine Sound of Neve, API & Manley Preamps

Perfect for musicians, engineers, producers, and sound designers, Apollo x8 features four Unison-enabled mic preamps, letting you track through exacting mic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Helios, SSL, and Universal Audio. A Universal Audio exclusive, Unison technology nails the tone of these sought-after tube and solid state mic pres - including their input impedance, gain stage "sweet spots," and the component-level circuit behaviors of the original hardware.

The secret to Unison is its hardware-software integration between Apollo's mic preamps and its onboard HEXA Core DSP Acceleration. Simply place a Unison preamp plug-in on your mic input in Apollo Console software, and it physically reconfigures the Apollo interface's impedance - so you can tap into the classic sounds of the world's most recorded mic preamps.

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 x8 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, the Unison-enabled UA 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ, and iconic guitar and bass amps from Marshall and Ampeg

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

Features: 

• 18 x 24 Thunderbolt 3 audio interface with class-leading 24-bit/192 KHz conversion (backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 1 & 2 on Mac**) 
• Realtime UAD HEXA Core Processing for tracking through UAD plug-ins at near-zero latency, regardless of audio buffer size 
• Record through 4 Unison-enabled mic/line preamps - giving you fully authentic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and more 
• 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 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 
• 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:
  • 8 Balanced 1/4" TRS
• Microphone Inputs:
  • 4 Balanced XLR
• Instrument (Hi-Z) Inputs:
  • 2 Unbalanced 1/4" TS
• Digital Inputs (Optical TOSLINK):
  • ADAT: 8 channels @ 44.1 96 kHz
  • ADAT: 4 channels @ 176.4 192 kHz
• Digital Inputs (RCA):
  • S/PDIF: 2 channels @ 44.1 192 kHz

A to D Conversion

Mic Preamps:

• Dynamic Range:
  • 122 dB (A-weighted) •
• THD+N:
  • -115 dB (0.00019%) •
• Frequency Response:
  • 20 Hz 20 kHz, 0.05 dB

Line Inputs: 

• Dynamic Range:
  • 123 dB (A-weighted) •
• THD+N:
  • -113 dB (0.00022%) •
• Frequency Response:
  • 20 Hz 20 kHz, 0.04 dB

Outputs

• Line Outputs:
  • 8 Balanced 1/4" TRS
• Monitor Outputs:
  • 2 Balanced 1/4" TRS
• Headphone Outputs:
  • 2 Stereo 1/4" TRS
• Digital Outputs (Optical TOSLINK): 
  • ADAT: 8 channels @ 44.1 96 kHz 
  • ADAT: 4 channels @ 176.4 192 kHz
• Digital Outputs (RCA):
  • S/PDIF: 2 channels @ 44.1 to 192 kHz

D to A Conversion

Line Outputs: 

• Dynamic Range:
  • 127 dB (A-weighted) 
• THD+N:
  • -118 dB (0.00011%) 
• Frequency Response:
  • 20 Hz 20 kHz, 0.07 dB

Monitor Outputs: 

• Dynamic Range:
  • 129 dB (A-weighted) 
• THD+N:
  • -118 dB (0.00012%) 
• Frequency Response:
  • 20 Hz 20 kHz, 0.06 dB

Headphone Outputs: 

• Dynamic Range:
  • 125 dB (A-weighted) 
• THD+N:
  • -102 dB (0.00080%) 
• Frequency Response:
  • 20 Hz 20 kHz, 0.05 dB 

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, 10.13 High Sierra, and 10.14 Mojave and later

PC: 

• Available Thunderbolt 3 port 
• Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (64-Bit Edition) and later