User's Manual
Table Of Contents
- A Letter from Bill Putnam Jr.
- Introducing Apollo Solo USB
- Getting Started
- Hardware Controls & Connectors
- Apollo Solo USB System Overview
- Working With Apollo Solo USB
- Essential Apollo Solo USB Concepts
- Setting the DAW to use Apollo Solo USB I/O
- Accessing Apollo Solo USB’s I/O in the DAW
- Input Monitoring with the DAW
- Using Console with the DAW
- UAD Plug-Ins: Console versus DAW
- Virtual I/O
- Using Apollo Solo USB for System Sound I/O
- Using Apollo Solo USB Without Audio Software
- Console Overview
- What is Console?
- Console Functions
- Global Functions
- When To Use Console
- Interactions Between Console and Apollo Solo USB
- Accessing Console
- Console Layout
- Global Window Elements
- Meter Bridge Overview
- Info Bar Overview
- Current Bank Overview
- View Column Overview
- Monitor Column Overview
- Channel Strips Overview
- Console Plug-In Inserts Overview
- Insert Effects Overview
- Popover Windows
- HP Cue Overview
- Sends Overview
- Console Sessions Overview
- Console Settings Overview
- Multiple Undo/Redo
- Keyboard Focus & Control
- Adjusting Console Controls
- Controls Shortcuts
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Console Reference
- Console Plug-In Inserts
- Insert Types
- Inserts Signal Flow
- Inserting UAD Plug-Ins
- Removing UAD Plug-Ins
- Editing UAD Plug-Ins
- Insert Assign Popover
- Inserts Display
- Insert State Indicators
- Insert Hover Options
- Insert Options Menu
- Channel Insert Effects
- Plug-In Editor Window
- Channel Strips
- Presets Manager
- Presets Manager Popover
- Save Preset Popover
- Console Settings
- Unison
- Console Recall Plug-In
- UAD Meter & Control Panel
- Using UAD Plug-Ins
- Tempo Sync
- UA Account & Store
- Latency & Apollo Solo USB
- Device Drivers
- Troubleshooting
- Glossary
- Specifications
- Hardware Block Diagram
- Universal Audio History
- Notices
- Technical Support
Apollo Solo USB Manual Working With Apollo Solo USB 43
I/O Buffering
I/O buffering is the shuttling of audio data back and forth between the DAW and the
audio interface. The DAW’s I/O buffer size setting determines the amount of input
latency when software monitoring via the DAW. Smaller buffer sizes reduce latency, but
increases CPU loading of the host computer. Lower buffer sizes do not increase UAD
DSP loads.
Using Console to control Apollo Solo USB’s input hardware monitoring completely
bypasses DAW I/O buffering, so there is no input latency, regardless of DAW’s I/O buffer
size setting.
Software Input Monitoring
Software input monitoring refers to using the DAW’s software mixer for monitoring live
inputs instead of hardware input monitoring via the audio interface. Software input
monitoring allows plug-ins (UAD or otherwise) loaded in a DAW to process live inputs,
but the monitored signals are subject to the input latency caused by DAW I/O buffering.
Note: The DAW’s software input monitoring feature is enabled by default. To
prevent doubled signals at Apollo Solo USB’s outputs when software monitoring
via the DAW, Apollo Solo USB’s hardware monitoring must be disabled by muting
Console’s inputs.
Hardware Input Monitoring
Hardware input monitoring means an audio interface’s inputs are routed directly to its
outputs, which avoids discernible audio latency by eliminating DAW I/O buffering. Apollo
Solo USB features low-latency hardware input monitoring via its internal digital mixer,
which is controlled by Apollo Solo USB’s companion Console application.
Note: Apollo Solo USB’s hardware input monitoring is active by default. To prevent
signal doubling at Apollo Solo USB’s outputs when hardware input monitoring via
Apollo Solo USB’s Console, the DAW’s software input monitoring feature must be
disabled.
Delay Compensation
Various sources of input and output latency are inherent in complex digital audio
environments. However, when the DAW and Console are properly configured and
operated, all time and phase alignment of all audio within a session is managed
automatically by the DAW’s delay compensation feature. See Delay Compensation with
Apollo Solo USB and Latency Basics for more information.