Hardware manual

Apollo FireWire Hardware Manual Introduction
4
Introduction
Apollo FireWire Audio Interface w/ QUAD Processing
Apollo FireWire is one of the world’s most popular professional audio interfaces — delivering the sound, feel,
and flow of analog recording to music creators everywhere. A perfect centerpiece for studios running original
Mac Pro towers and Windows 7 machines, this 18 x 24 FireWire 800-equipped interface features analog design
based on UA’s 50-year heritage, along with gold-standard Apollo A/D and D/A conversion for impeccable audio
resolution.
Apollo FireWire further distinguishes itself with Realtime UAD Processing and Unison™ technology, letting you
record with near-zero latency through the full range of UAD plug-ins from Neve, Studer, Manley, Lexicon, and
more — including new mic preamp emulations from Neve, API and Universal Audio.*
With its elegant workflow and world-class audio quality, Apollo FireWire is the perfect interface for music
producers seeking classic analog sound.
The Gold Standard in 24-bit/192 kHz Sound Quality
Designed to play a central role in studios running original Mac Pro towers or Windows 7 machines, Apollo
FireWire delivers an uncompromising approach to audio quality. Building upon decades of UA hardware
heritage, it offers extremely high-resolution sound, with the lowest THD and highest dynamic range in its class.
Apollo FireWire’s four premium mic preamps and converters translates into recordings with astounding
accuracy and depth — whether you’re tracking and overdubbing, or mixing and mastering.
Realtime UAD Plug-In Processing for Tracking, Mixing, and Mastering
While Apollo FireWire’s “natural” sound is exceedingly open and transparent, it can quickly deliver a wide range
of classic analog tones and color via its Realtime UAD Processing. Featuring powerful onboard QUAD
processing, Apollo FireWire’s DSP Acceleration allows for recording through UAD Powered Plug-Ins — with as
low as sub-2ms latency, regardless of buffer settings — letting you monitor and “print” audio with classic
analog emulations from Ampex, Lexicon, Manley, Neve, Roland, SSL, Studer, and more.*
The Apollo FireWire’s bundled “Realtime Analog Classics Plus” suite of UAD plug-ins gives you the UA 610-B
Tube Preamp & EQ, Raw Distortion, Softube Amp Rooms, legacy LA-2A, 1176, and Fairchild compressors, Pultec
EQs, and more, so you have a rack full of bonafide audio classics, right out of the box.
Better still, Apollo FireWire’s UAD plug-ins are also available during mixing and mastering, so you can use UAD
plug-ins (VST, RTAS, AU, AAX 64) throughout the creative process.
Unison™ Technology
A Universal Audio breakthrough, Apollo FireWire’s Unison technology gives you the tone of the world's most
sought-after tube and solid state mic preamps — including their all-important impedance, gain stage “sweet
spots,” and component-level circuit behaviors. Based on unprecedented hardware-software integration
between Apollo’s mic preamps and its onboard UAD plug-in processing, Unison lets you record through
stunning emulations like the bundled UA 610-B Tube Preamp plug-in, or exclusive preamp emulations from API
and Neve.
Elegant Hardware Design and Workflow
One key feature of Apollo FireWire isn’t really a “feature” at all. It’s the numerous design details that give you a
fast, natural workflow — and better results. There are physical front-panel controls for all the most commonly
used features, including Preamp and Monitor level knobs, channel selection, mic pad and low cut, phantom
power, and dual headphone outs with independent level control. Smart Hi-Z inputs on the front panel detect
when you've connected your guitar or bass. Sonically, Apollo's Monitor outputs are digitally controlled analog,
so you don't lose audio resolution when you adjust gain.
* All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately.