If you have prepared a fantastic song with terrific beats and meaningful lyrics, and it has been shot using the latest cameras and lighting, is it enough to bring you among the charts’ most-played songs?
Are good lyrics and graphics the only things you need to make history and set examples in the music industry? Or is there more to it? Actually, there is a lot more to it. Let’s find out!
Having the right beats with the right delivery system can make or break things for your song and, obviously, your career.
While you may use just about any amplifier and other software for recording and playing your music, the correct instruments and hardware can completely change the game and bring the odds in your favor.
Such is the case with models released by Universal Audio, the Apollo Twin Duo X, and the Apollo Quad. These two preamps can make your rhythm come alive, allowing you and your audience to enjoy it fully.
The Universal Audio company is known for producing innovative models while maintaining their authenticity, which comes from the old, legendary products.
Their superior audio products include the famous mic pres. And compressors, excellent software and audio interfaces, and several other products have shaped the contemporary recording industry landscape.
The Universal Audio company has come up with some of the most outstanding audio products, such as the Apollo Twin Duo X and the Apollo Quad.
However, you may wonder, is the Apollo Twin X Quad worth it? Or is the Apollo Twin duo enough? One of the most challenging questions you will come across is what is the difference between Apollo interfaces?
Almost all the Apollo interface series were introduced in 2012, but they continue to play an important role even today in maintaining Universal Audio’s unparalleled legacy.
Its third generation features world-class conversion and audio products, including the Apollo Twin Duo X and the Apollo Quad, making each product unique and worth your money.
Let’s take a look at all the features these models offer.
Table of Contents
Apollo Twin X Duo
- A special edition of UA’s acclaimed Apollo Twin X interface — with a premium suite of 5 award-winning plug-in titles from Teletronix, Pultec, and UA — a $1,300 value
- Elite-class A/D and D/A conversion derived from Apollo X rackmount interfaces paired with 2 Unison mic preamps deliver stunning models of classic tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amps
- 2 Unison mic preamps offer stunning models of classic tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amps
- UAD DUO Core Processing for tracking through vintage compressors, EQs, tape machines, mic preamps, and guitar amp plug-ins with near-zero latency
The Apollo Twin X Duo is a recording interface with two inputs and six outputs. It is compatible with Mac computers that have Thunderbolt connectivity, combining 24-bit/ 192 kHz audio conversion as used by its predecessors, the Duo processor, and UAD Solo.
The Apollo Twin X Duo is among the third generation of the Apollo interface series showcasing the UAD power processing and high-quality UAD plug-ins that monitor and record even at low latencies (2 ms region).
The preamps in Apollo Twin X Duo are unlike numerous others, as they use a Unison Preamp Technology system.
It combines the digitally controlled analog preamps with high-quality real-time plug-ins, which work with a wide range of preamps along with stage mics.
The 610 -B Tube Mic preamps plug-in connects with the physical preamp to adjust the gain structure, impedance, and behavior; all this depends on your selected emulation.
The same technology will also be incorporated into the rest of the Apollo range soon.
Known to be ideal for home studios and smaller projects, the Apollo Twin X Duo has two lines and mic preamps that utilize the Unison technology, headphone output, high-impedance instrument input, and two digitally-controlled monitors outputs along with two line outputs.
If you want to use the Apollo Twin X Duo for a bigger session occasionally, you can use the eight additional input channels that are available through the ADAT light-pipe input.
It doubles the two-channel S/PDIF input, giving you the sound you require. The modern DSP audio interface is compatible with real-time analog classics bundle with studio workhorses’ emulations, such as the LA-2A, Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer, and 1176LN Limiting Amplifier.
The guitarists can also enjoy the Softube’s Amp Room Essentials- a flexible amp modeling plug-in. These plug-ins are not just for tracking but also for UAD powering plug-ins in Audio Units, DAW, RTAS, VST, and AAX 64 versions.
The Apollo Twin X duo is compatible with all the main software used in the recording industry and has been tested with both Mavericks and OS X Mountain Lion.
The Apollo Twin X duo allows music producers and musicians to overdub, track, and mix with high-class D/A and A/D conversion.
The two Unison-enabled preamps and DUO or QUAD Core real-time UAD plug-in processing and desktop Thunderbolt 3 audio interface allow for the Apollo Twin X duo to run with Mac as well as Windows.
Inspired by Universal Audio’s 60-year audio craftsmanship heritage, the Apollo Twin X duo easily outperforms several products of its class with its 127 dB D/A dynamic range and UAD analog plug-ins bundle.
The Apollo Twin X duo is also compatible with the LUNA Recording System, which gives an entirely-stocked analog studio right at your desktop.
Allow the Apollo Twin X duo to track you through precise mic preamp emulations with its two Unison-enabled mic preamps. You can get the genuine sound of Helios, Neve, Manley, API, Universal Audio, and so on.
Exclusive to the Universal Audio interfaces, the Apollo Twin X duo, with its Unison technology, gets the correct tone of the solid-state mic pres and tube.
It hits the ‘sweet spots’ and maintains the right gain, impedance, and component-level circuit behaviors as used by the original hardware.
The Unison secret is none other than the integration between Apollo’s elite-class mic preamps and the onboard QUAD Core DSP Acceleration and UAD DUO.
Just put the Apollo Twin X duo’s Unison preamp into the mic input of Apollo Console Software, and it will physically reconfigure Apollo’s interface impedance.
The Apollo Twin X duo also boasts a striking 127 dB range along with a -117 dB THD+N, helping it produce a pleasant, organic sound that confidently wins over other high-end converters.
It is the choice of all the hit music professionals for a reason, such as the record landmarks by Chris Stapleton (From A Room: Volume 1), Kendrick Lamar (DAMN), Post Malone (Beerbongs and Bentleys), and Arcade Fire (Everything Now).
The Apollo interfaces have won several industry awards from Future Music, Sound on Sound, and Electronic Musician, and the acclaimed TEC Award for its great computer hardware running for over five years now.
Like the perfect audio instrument, the Apollo Twin X duo offers a wide variety of remarkable analog emulation plug-ins, including the UA 610-B Tube preamp, EQ, Pultec EQs, 1176 LN, and Teletronix LA-2A.
Since the Apollo Twin X duo is developed by Universal Audio’s talented team of algorithm engineers, the Realtime Analog Classic plug-ins are what set the standard for other hardware emulation plug-ins.
The Apollo Twin X duo will ensure that your Pultec EQ guitar’s tube remains warm while also ensuring your vocals remain gentle, blending in with the tune.
It will also maintain a sonically rich sound that keeps the analog signals within the check.
The Apollo Twin X duo works well with software, including Fairchild, AKG, Lexicon, NEVE, Manley, Teletronix, Chandler Limited, MXR, Sonnox, AMPEX, Dbx, Marshall, Studer, Helios, Eventide, Korg, Little Labs, and so many more.
You can also utilize the Apollo Twin X duo’s two onboard Unison-equipped preamps, optical ADAT/ SPDIF, and two line-outs that monitor and control the talk-back mic.
The 10x Apollo Twin X duo provides you with the I/O you desire for recording all kinds of tracks and mixes.
LUNA, Universal Audio’s personalized Mac-based recording application, is also compatible with the Apollo Twin X duo.
It allows you to explore the analog sounds with your Apollo Twin X duo, a common practice among successful musicians, producers, sound designers, and other music professionals.
The Apollo Twin X duo is designed for impeccable integration with the Apollo interfaces.
It also features five premium UAD titles, consisting of complete plug-in Collections award-winning Teletronix and UA-1176 Compressors, Pultec EQs, and UA 610 microamps.
With your Apollo Twin X duo, featuring the Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo interface, use up to 4 Apollos and six UAD-2 devices, adding DSP and I/O. Once you have used the Apollo Twin X duo in your studio, there is no going back.
You may even use it as your desktop monitor control while tapping the additional DSP and I/O power.
Get used to incredible sound quality with the Apollo Twin X duo, as said by Louis Bell-Post Malone, Cardi B, and Dj Snake.
Most users do not even feel the need for a separate multi-effector as the sound quality is beyond their expectations. With a professional feel, the Apollo Twin X duo offers almost 0-delay processing and excellent UAD plug-ins.
Apollo Twin X Quad
- A special edition of UA’s acclaimed Apollo Twin X interface — with a premium suite of 5 award-winning plug-in titles from Teletronix, Pultec, and UA — a $1,300 value
- Elite-class A/D and D/A conversion derived from Apollo X rackmount interfaces paired with 2 Unison mic preamps deliver stunning models of classic tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amps
- 2 Unison mic preamps offer stunning models of classic tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amps
- UAD QUAD Core Processing for tracking through vintage compressors, EQs, tape machines, mic preamps, and guitar amp plug-ins with near-zero latency
Known as the most powerful Apollo twin yet, the Apollo Twin X Quad will be your studio’s highlight.
Its performance is often compared with the rackmount Apollo X audio interfaces but has even better features.
It acts as a 5.1 surround monitor with a +24 dB operation, giving you a streamlined desktop design ideal for professional setups like project studios.
With the Apollo Twin X Quad, you can mix with terrific emulations of studio classics due to its excellent powerful UA quadcore processor. It brings you top-shelf quality with an upgraded elite-class AD/ DA conversion.
The Apollo Twin X Quad’s dual Unison preamp allows tracking of the music industry’s legendary hardware.
Moreover, it offers sub-2ms latency and sufficient expandability, all thanks to the Quad’s ultra-fast Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.
The Apollo Twin X Quad also showcases compatibility with Universal Audio’s LUNA software, leading to a tightly integrated recording, mixing, and editing environment.
You can also control the interface’s parameters, tape emulations, global console, and advanced real-time tracking. The Apollo Twin X Quad makes you want to upgrade your Apollo Twin as quickly as possible!
If your computer does not have ample power or speed to run all your plug-ins while running a session, the Apollo Twin X Quad has your back.
With its UA powerful 4-core Quad Core processor, you can track real-time with Manley, Neve, and API channel strips or simply opt for the extensive UAD plug-ins for mixing your DAW.
The Apollo Twin X Quad also allows you to bring tube warmth to your Pultec EQ, enjoy some musical limiting of the LA-2A to a good vocal, or play the drums with your Fairchild 670 or 1176- all of this is possible in real-time with the Apollo Twin X Quad.
It also features AD/ DA conversion functions, which were integrated after testing out the latest cut-edge AD/ DA technology. The result is the great, elite-class 24-bit/ 192 kHz converter with overhauled circulatory analog.
The Apollo Twin X Quad also boasts a Unison Preamp technology that is way beyond any traditional software models or emulations.
Unison, a part of the Apollo Twin X Quad, forms a bidirectional communication route between the Unison capable plug-in, such as the 610-B plug-in, and the Apollo Twin X Quad’s mic preamp.
This creates a sound similar to Universal Audio’s classic 610 preamp tube. The UAD plug-ins wow the recording world with their exceptional ability to process sound, almost entirely eliminating the need for huge gear racks in studios.
The Unison preamp technology does the same thing for the mic inputs, removing the necessity of collecting and maintaining hardware preamps for the sake of sonic variety.
The Thunderbolt technology integrated into Apollo Twin X Quad gives way to blazing-fast connectivity, low latency, and more stability than FireWire or USB.
It allows the Apollo Twin X Quad to run with high-count track projects with a high bandwidth I/O and DSP. Furthermore, the Apollo Twin X Quad supports Thunderbolt 1 and 2 on Macs and a Realtime Analog Classic Bundle with the following:
- UA 610-B
- UA 1176LN Legacy
- UA 1176SE Legacy
- Ampeg SVT-VR Classic
- Marshall Plexi Classic
- Precision Channel Strip (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
- Precision Reflection Engine (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
- Precision Delay Mod (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
- Precision Delay Mod L (Precision Mix Rack Collection)
- Pultec EQP-1A Legacy
- Pultec-Pro Legacy
- Teletronix LA-2A Legacy
- Raw Distortion
- RealVerb Pro
Apollo x4
The Apollo x4 is ideal for small spaces, new engineers, and workers on the go. It features a total of four channels of Unison preamps, improved conversions, and QUAD core processing.
Apollo x4 has a DSP of 127 dB dynamic range along with -117 dB THD+N. It has a robust, elegant finishing that easily slides into backpacks and suitcases for all your traveling needs.
The Apollo x4 showcases two accessible DI inputs, one knob-style monitor, two headphone outputs, and a Unison mic pres.
Wrap Up-Apollo Twin X Duo Vs. Apollo Quad
While most of the features between the Apollo Twin X duo and Apollo Quad, some functions set them apart, making them ideal for different settings.
The strength of the processors is different, the Apollo Twin X Quad being able to handle greater UAD iterations at one time. Moreover, it is more powerful and works better in large professional settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to most users, the Apollo Twin X Quad is well worth the money. With its useful preamps, sleek design, and real-time professing, it will surely help you make the sounds of your choice.
The Apollo Twin Duo is sufficient for most tracking needs. However, you may run out of DSP every now and then.
This often occurs when working with guitar chains with pedals, amps, reverbs, and delays. Such problems can adversely affect the processing power.
Various Apollo interfaces showcase different DSP dynamic ranges, output, and input ports and are compatible with multiple software.
