Technical information

Apollo Software Manual Chapter 8: Unison 154
Unison Load/Save Behaviors
Caution: Apollo hardware preamp settings (including +48V phantom power) may change
when Console sessions are loaded. Details are explained in this section.
Loading Unison Plug-In Settings
When Unison plug-in settings are loaded in Console, the effect upon the currently active Unison
plug-in settings varies depending on how the settings are loaded. Its important to understand
the distinction, because critical preamp settings can be affected.
Note: When Unison plug-ins are used in Console’s standard inserts and/or within a DAW,
this section does not apply. Settings load behavior outside of the Unison insert is like all
other (non-Unison) UAD plug-ins.
There are two ways Unison (and non-Unison) plug-in settings can be loaded in Console:
• Plug-In Presets – UAD Presets are loaded whenever a UAD plug-in is inserted (the de-
fault preset loads). Presets can be loaded from disk files via the Presets Manager or the
UAD Toolbar. Preset files are used to save & load all settings of individual plug-in titles.
• Console Sessions – Console sessions are loaded from disk via the Sessions Manager Pop-
over, the Console Recall plug-in in a DAW, or by double-clicking Console session files on
disk. Console sessions are complete Apollo configurations, containing all hardware and
plug-in settings (i.e., Console sessions are Console presets).
Loading Presets: Hardware settings are inherited
When a Unison plug-in is assigned to the Unison insert and a preset is loaded into the plug-in,
the plug-in inherits the current equivalent hardware settings of the Apollo preamp, if those set-
tings are available in the plug-in.
In simpler terms, Apollo’s preamp settings always override a Unison plug-in’s settings when a
preset is loaded or the plug-in is inserted. This is done to prevent the plug-in’s settings from
switching the hardware to values that could cause extreme level changes and/or other unwanted
circuit changes such as +48V phantom power.
For example, if the PAD is ON in the Apollo preamp, when the Unison preset is loaded, the pad
setting in the plug-in is enabled to prevent unexpected level increases.
Loading Sessions: Hardware settings are overridden
When a Console session is loaded (via Console Recall menu, DAW sessions containing the Con-
sole Recall plug-in, or double-clicking Console files on disk), ALL Console settings are overrid-
den (changed) by the saved session, INCLUDING ALL APOLLO HARDWARE INPUT SETTINGS.
In simpler terms, Console sessions always override Apollo’s preamp settings, even if potentially
harmful preamp settings are contained in the session file. This is done because the very con-
cept of Console session recall is to reproduce all settings in the session.
For example, if the PAD is OFF in the Apollo preamp, when the Console session is loaded, the
pad setting in the plug-in is disabled and sensitive equipment could be affected, such as speak-
ers (level increases) and/or ribbon mics (+48V phantom power).