User's Manual

Apollo Solo USB Manual Working With Apollo Solo USB 48
Input Monitoring with the DAW
Input monitoring is the process of listening to live inputs, such as when an artist is
performing with a musical instrument and/or vocals. When using Apollo Solo USB with a
DAW, there are two ways to monitor inputs:
Software Input Monitoring via DAW– The DAW’s software mixer is used to control input
monitoring and plug-in processing. Inputs are subject to DAW I/O buffering latency.
Hardware Input Monitoring via Console – Console is used to control Apollo Solo USB’s
low-latency hardware input monitoring and Realtime UAD Processing. Inputs are routed
directly to outputs, bypassing DAW I/O buffering latency.
Use Software OR Hardware Input Monitoring
When monitoring live inputs, it’s important that only one input monitoring system is
active. If software and hardware input monitoring are both active, the input signal(s)
will be heard twice at Apollo Solo USB’s outputs — first from Console’s low-latency
mix, and shortly thereafter from the DAW’s I/O buffered (higher latency) software mix.
Doubled signals can cause undesirable “thin” sounds or other anomalies due to phase
cancellations.
Tip: Use Console for hardware input monitoring to take advantage of Apollo Solo
USB’s low-latency monitoring and Realtime UAD Processing features.
Disable Unused Input Monitoring System
By default, the DAW’s software input monitoring and Console’s hardware monitoring are
both enabled. Therefore, one of the input monitoring systems must be manually disabled
to prevent doubled signals at Apollo Solo USB’s outputs. Instructions are provided in
following sections.
Important: To prevent doubled signals at Apollo Solo USB’s outputs when input
monitoring via Apollo Solo USB’s Console, DAW software input monitoring must
be disabled. Conversely, if DAW software input monitoring is enabled, Apollo Solo
USB’s hardware input monitoring must be disabled by muting Console’s inputs.
How To Disable Software Input Monitoring
To prevent doubled signals at Apollo Solo USB’s outputs when hardware monitoring live
inputs via Console, the DAW’s software input monitoring feature must be disabled. Note
that DAW software input monitoring is usually enabled by default in the DAW’s settings.
The methods for disabling DAW software input monitoring, and the name of the setting,
are different for each DAW. Examples of how to disable software input monitoring
within major DAWs are provided below. For more specific details, refer to the DAW’s
documentation.
Note: Some DAWs have multiple ways to disable software input monitoring.