UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HE

Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface, 18 x 24 I/O

The new Apollo Heritage Editions include a comprehensive software suite with a variable number of 5 to 10 of the best UAD plug-ins — including the complete collections of Teletronix,® Fairchild,® Pultec,® Helios®, and UA — in an exclusive package that makes this new series even more prestigious. Apollo Rackmount Heritage Edition interfaces include a plug-in bundle worth €2,490.
These are some of the main UAD plug-ins that have contributed to Universal Audio's great reputation in analog modeling, making the new Apollo Heritage Editions the best choice for anyone looking for the most accurate selection of digital emulations of analog classics.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION allows music producers, project studios, and post-production facilities to record, overdub, and mix with absolute quality AD/DA conversion, HEXA Core UAD plug-in processing, Dual Crystal Clocking, and 7.1 surround monitoring, all in an elegant Thunderbolt 3 rack audio interface for Mac and PC. The construction of this 18x24 interface boasts Universal Audio's 60 years of heritage and experience and stands out for its four Unison preamps, which allow for authentic emulation of Neve, API, Manley, Helios, SSL, and other preamps, all with HEXA Core processing that allows real-time UAD plug-in processing with 50% more DSP. In addition to its class conversion, the Apollo x8 allows for multiple operational levels to be selected to ensure compatibility even with professional +24 dBu instrumentation, monitor level control via a dedicated controller, and communication between the live room and control room thanks to the integrated talkback microphone.

1. Superior AD/DA conversion with the widest dynamic range and lowest noise floor available
2. Record and mix with HEXA Core processing, with 6 UAD DSP chips to handle multiple UAD plug-ins in real-time
3. Record with four UNISON preamps with near-zero latency through emulation of Neve, API, Manley, Fender, and other preamps
4. Easily connect the interface to professional outboard gear with +24 / +20 dBu headroom switches
5. Work in 7.1 surround formats, complete with speaker calibration and fold-down
6. Integrated talkback and cues for simplified communication

To improve the conversion of previous generation Apollo audio interfaces, UA engineers meticulously tested the latest A/D and D/A converters on the market, thus pairing 24-bit/192 kHz converters with entirely new analog circuits for a crystal-clear signal path. The Apollo X series also introduces the new Dual-Crystal clocking, featuring dedicated crystal oscillators for sample rates of 44.1/88.2/176.4 kHz and 48/96/192 kHz, with incredibly low jitter, measured at values lower than 10 picoseconds. This allows for artifact-free recordings and a solid stereo image that can be relied upon. With a dynamic range of 129 dB and -119 dV du THD+N, UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION has an open and natural sound quality superior to many other interfaces in a similar range, and it is the perfect starting point for UAD processing.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION features the new HEXA Core processing, with six DSP chips and 50% more UAD plug-in processing than previous Apollos. This allows for the use of more UAD plug-ins, whether you are recording in Real Time with Neve, Manley, or API channel strips or mixing with several plug-ins open within your DAW.
From the warm tube sound of Pultec EQs on guitars to the musical limiting of the LA-2A on vocals, the genuine power of an 1176 or a Fairchild 670 compressor on drums, your recordings will take a huge leap in quality with the typical rich and three-dimensional sound that only UAD plug-ins can offer.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION interfaces work with all major DAWs, such as Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and others. But now, they become a fully integrated recording system with LUNA, a new recording application for Mac by Universal Audio. Powered by Accelerated Realtime Monitoring™, LUNA allows you to record and mix with an intuitive single-window workflow, unlimited tracks, Audio Units support, and access to an exclusive suite of LUNA Instruments and LUNA Extensions.
From Studer tape multitrack and integrated Neve summing, to Moog instruments and many others, LUNA transforms Apollo interfaces into the most inspiring music creation platform on the planet.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION contains four Unison preamps. This technology allows you to record through exact emulations of Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and Universal Audio. Unison technology is exclusive to Universal Audio, achieving the classic sound of these tube and solid-state preamps, including their input impedance, the "sweet spot" of gain staging, and the quality of the original hardware components. The secret to Unison is its hardware-software integration between Apollo's preamps and its onboard real-time UAD processing.
Undoubtedly a typical feature of Apollo is its real-time UAD processing, which allows you to use the entire UAD plug-in library with near-zero latency. UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION contains the Realtime Analog Classics bundle, which will allow you to record and mix with Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, Fairchild compressors, UA 610-B Unison tube preamps and EQs, Marshall and Ampeg guitar and bass amps.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION goes beyond the included Realtime Analog Classics bundle and brings the user into a world of UAD plug-ins complete with vintage EQs, compressors, reverbs, tape machines, channel strips, and much more, allowing their use with near-zero latency regardless of your software's buffer size and without burdening the computer's CPU. With exclusive emulations of SSL, Neve, Studer, Manley, API, Ampex, Lexicon, Fender, and many others*, it's like having a studio full of iconic analog outboard gear in the space of a single rack unit. These incredible DSP plug-ins will also be available for mixing within your DAW.
With support for surround listening up to 7.1, UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION is a significant advantage for engineers and producers working with audio for music, video games, television, and the web. In addition, UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION allows you to select the +24 dBu mode for complete out-of-the-box compatibility with professional consoles and other high-end equipment.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO X8 | HERITAGE EDITION offers 18x24 simultaneous I/O (8 x 14 analog I/O) and two integrated Thunderbolt 3 ports, backward compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 via appropriate adapters (sold separately). This allows users with Apollo Twin or Apollo Rackmount audio interfaces to combine up to four Apollos and six UAD-2 devices - thus adding inputs and DSP in parallel with your studio's growth.

Specifications

• 18 x 24 Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface with superior 24-bit/192 kHz conversion
• Real-time UAD Hexa Core processing for recording with UAD plug-ins at near-zero latency, regardless of audio buffer size.
• Record with four Unison microphone preamps, offering the user authentic emulation of Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and others.
• Dual Crystal Clocking for low jitter. The result is pure, artifact-free recordings with a reliable stereo image.
• Produce music with LUNA Recording System — a fully integrated recording application for Apollo (Mac/Thunderbolt)
• Surround listening up to 5.1
• Includes UAD “Realtime Analog Classics Plus” plug-in bundle with UA 610-B; Legacy Pultec EQ, LA-2A, 1176; Marshall Plexi Classic; Ampeg SVT-VR Classic and others
• Onboard UAD-2 HEXA Core processing to support mixing on Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, and other major DAWs
• Up to 4 Apollo Thunderbolt interfaces and 6 UAD devices can be combined. Backward compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 via appropriate adapter (sold separately).
• Selectable +24 dBu mode for compatibility with professional consoles and tape machines
• Front panel with monitoring controls such as alt speaker functions, talkback, DIM, Mono.
• Uncompromising UA analog design, superior components, and premium build quality.
• Free UA phone and online support
• A special edition of the award-winning UA rackmount interfaces, with a carefully selected 10 UAD plug-ins worth €2,490
• The Heritage Edition bundle includes complete collections of UA Teletronix, 1176, Fairchild compressors, Helios Type 69, V76 and UA 610 Unison mic preamps, Pultec EQ (all), Oxide Tape Recorder, and Pure Plate Reverb
• The additional “Realtime Analog Classics Plus” plug-in bundle includes UA 610‑B Tube Preamp, Legacy Pultec EQ, LA‑2A and 1176 compressors, Marshall Plexi Classic, Ampeg SVT‑VR Classic, and others
• A significant upgrade for all pro Apollo users looking for the most accurate selection of digital emulations of analog classics

Included in the Apollo "Heritage Edition" Bundle

• UA 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
• Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection
• Pultec Passive EQ Collection
• Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection
• Teletronix LA‑3A Audio Leveler
• UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection
• Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ Collection
• V76 Preamplifier
• Oxide Tape Recorder
• Pure Plate Reverb

Included in the Realtime Analog Classics Bundle

• UA 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ
• UA 1176LN Limiting Amplifier (Legacy)
• UA 1176SE Limiting Amplifier (Legacy)
• Pultec EQP-1A EQ (Legacy)
• Marshall® Plexi Classic Guitar Amp
• Pultec Pro EQ (Legacy)
• Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier (Legacy)
• Raw Distortion
• Ampeg® SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp
• Precision Channel Strip (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
• Precision Reflection Engine (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
• Precision Delay Mod (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
• Precision Delay Mod L (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
• RealVerb Pro Custom Room Modeler