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Now, there is one other difference between the Apollo Twin X and MkII, and that’s that the latest version has upgraded converters. They were pretty great before, so it’s hard to say whether the sound quality will be noticeably better between the two. Some users have noted that the MkII has more vintage sounding converters, while the Twin X has ultra-clean modern sounding ones. Conclusion It features an upgraded DSP chip, offering double the processing power compared to the Apollo Twin. It includes a dedicated monitor output, providing a separate control room output for seamless integration with studio monitoring systems. Whether you prioritize portability or enhanced cooling, both the Apollo Twin and Apollo Twin X excel in design and build quality, catering to different user preferences. Audio Quality and Conversion Also includes “Realtime Analog Classics” 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 moreThe Apollo Twin features a compact and portable form factor, making it ideal for on-the-go recording and production setups. UA Pure Plate Reverb that delivers a shimmering, authentic plate reverb sound with a minimum of fuss The Apollo x8, Apollo x8p and Apollo x16 are direct replacements for the Apollo 8, Apollo 8p and Apollo 16 respectively, all of them featuring broadly the same list of upgrades over their immediate predecessors. For many people, the most significant of these will be that all three devices are now available only in a ‘Hexa core’ configuration, with six SHARC chips, offering 50 percent more DSP power than the previous Quad versions. This is particularly significant in the case of the x8p, with its eight Unison‑enabled mic preamps; some of UA’s Unison plug‑ins are so resource‑intensive that using them across all eight preamps would pretty much max out the Quad version, but you can now have eight emulated Neve 1073s running alongside other plug‑ins. Both the Apollo Twin and Apollo Twin X are compatible with Universal Audio’s comprehensive software ecosystem, including the UA Console application and the UAD Powered Plug-Ins platform. We’ve installed plenty of audio interface drivers in our time, but never have we come across an installation as convoluted as this one. Thanks to the M1 chip in our MacBook Air, there’s an absurdly lengthy installation process to get up and running once we’ve plugged everything in.

For outputs, Twin X has a main monitor output pair alongside a second pair of outputs that can be used for driving a second set of monitors, or as a couple of auxiliary output channels from your DAW. There’s also a headphone output on the front of the unit, and this has its own bus within the Twin X’s mixer, and can carry a different mix to the main and/or alternate outputs. Both interfaces are compatible with popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, and Ableton Live, ensuring seamless integration into various production workflows. Most of the music community is aware of the quality of UA’s Unison preamps, but for us, the UA Console is the real show-stopper here These premium Heritage Edition titles are in addition to Apollo Twin X's included "Realtime Analog Classics" bundle, giving you the most accurate library of classic analogue emulations included with any professional audio interface.The original Universal Audio was established by studio owner, engineer and designer Bill Putnam, and produced many items of classic studio kit such as the 1176 compressor. The modern company of the same name was set up by Bill’s sons Jim and Bill Jr, originally with the goal of re‑making this vintage analogue equipment, alongside new designs such as the 6176 channel strip and 4‑710D mic preamps. Many software‑based studios have found a role for UA’s analogue gear alongside their Macs and PCs, but what has really put the company on the map is their own contributions to the computer recording revolution. The Apollo Twin X QUAD’s Unison preamp technology goes so far beyond traditional software modeling and emulations that it’s really in a category all its own. In essence, Unison is a bidirectional communication between the Apollo Twin X QUAD’s mic preamp and a Unison-capable plug-in, such as the included 610-B plug-in that re-creates the sound of UA’s classic 610 tube preamp. The unit itself has a simple and intuitive set of buttons and meters on its top surface, along with a large data-entry dial. This dial serves chiefly as a monitor-volume controller but can also be used for setting input gain, and alternate monitor and headphone volumes. There’s also a line of buttons along the unit, which allow you to toggle phantom power, and mute the monitors, for example, and generally provide more control over the preamps and outputs. To get full control over the Twin X’s abilities, though, you need to turn to the UA Console software. Registered office: V12 Retail Finance Limited, Yorke House, Arleston Way, Solihull, B90 4LH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. However, the Apollo Twin X provides additional analog I/O channels and a dedicated monitor output, offering greater flexibility and compatibility with various recording and monitoring setups. DSP Processing Power