HIGH- RESO LUTION INTER FACE with Realtime UAD Processing Apollo FireWire Software Manual Software Version 8.5 Manual Version 151218 www.uaudio.com Table Of Contents Tip: Click any section or page number to jump directly to that page. Introduction .........................................................................................5 Welcome To Apollo! ............................................................................................ 5 Software Features .............................................................................................. 6 Apollo Documentation Overview .......................................................................... 8 Apollo Software Overview .................................................................................. 10 Installation & Setup ............................................................................12 Overview ......................................................................................................... 12 Apollo FireWire System Requirements ................................................................ 13 Installation On Windows Systems ...................................................................... 14 Installation On Mac Systems ............................................................................. 15 Optimizing FireWire Performance ...................................................................... 16 Working With Apollo ............................................................................19 Apollo Setups Overview .................................................................................... 19 About UAD Powered Plug-Ins Processing............................................................ 20 Using Apollo as an Audio Interface .................................................................... 22 Using Apollo with Console (without a DAW) ........................................................ 24 Using Apollo Without A Computer ...................................................................... 25 Using Apollo with a DAW (without Console) ........................................................ 26 Using Apollo Concurrently with a DAW and Console ............................................. 29 Virtual I/O ....................................................................................................... 31 PT Mode ......................................................................................................... 33 Apollo FireWire Software Manual 2 Console Application ............................................................................35 Console Overview ............................................................................................. 35 The Console Window ........................................................................................ 39 Channel Input Strips ........................................................................................ 41 Channel Input Controls ..................................................................................... 43 Inserts ............................................................................................................ 46 Auxiliary Section .............................................................................................. 58 Monitor Section ............................................................................................... 62 Cue Returns (Apollo 16 only) ............................................................................ 65 Console Settings Window .................................................................................. 73 Window Title Bar .............................................................................................. 79 Application Menus ........................................................................................... 81 Console Recall Plug-In ........................................................................85 Overview ......................................................................................................... 85 Console Recall Controls .................................................................................... 86 SYNC ............................................................................................................. 87 Unison...............................................................................................89 What is Unison? .............................................................................................. 89 Unison INPUT Inserts ...................................................................................... 91 Controlling Unison Plug-Ins with Apollo ............................................................. 93 Gain Stage Mode ............................................................................................. 96 Unison Load/Save Behaviors ............................................................................. 99 Unison Operation Notes .................................................................................. 100 Latency & Apollo ..............................................................................102 Delay Compensation with Apollo ...................................................................... 102 Input Delay Compensation in Console .............................................................. 102 Latency Basics .............................................................................................. 105 Multi-Unit Cascading ........................................................................108 Overview ....................................................................................................... 108 Multi-Unit Wiring Diagrams............................................................................. 109 Multi-Unit Operation ...................................................................................... 111 Apollo FireWire Software Manual 3 Device Drivers ..................................................................................115 Apollo Drivers Overview .................................................................................. 115 Driver I/O Tables ............................................................................................ 116 Glossary ...........................................................................................129 Notices ............................................................................................136 Disclaimer .................................................................................................... 136 End User License Agreement .......................................................................... 136 Trademarks ................................................................................................... 136 Copyright ...................................................................................................... 136 Technical Support .............................................................................137 UA Website & Knowledge Base ....................................................................... 137 UAD Community Forums ................................................................................ 137 YouTube Support Channel ............................................................................... 137 Contact Support ............................................................................................ 137 Apollo FireWire Software Manual 4 Introduction Welcome To Apollo! Class-Leading 24-bit / 192 kHz Sound Quality Designed to play a central role in modern studios, Apollo, Apollo Twin, and Apollo 16 incorporate a true “no compromise” approach to audio quality. Building upon decades of UA’s analog hardware heritage, they offer extremely high-resolution sonics, with the lowest THD and highest dynamic range in their class. Apollo’s top-end converters — and UA’s meticulous attention to circuit design — translate into greater accuracy and depth in your recordings, from tracking and overdubbing, to mixing and mastering. Note: Throughout this manual, the use of “Apollo” refers to both Apollo and Apollo 16 unless noted otherwise. Realtime UAD Plug-In Processing for Tracking, Mixing, and Mastering While Apollo’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. Available with SOLO, DUO, or QUAD Core processing onboard, this onboard DSP Acceleration allows for recording and mixing through UAD Powered Plug-Ins — with as low as sub-2ms latency — so producers can quickly monitor, audition, and optionally “print” audio using classic analog emulations from API, Ampex, Lexicon, Manley, Neve, Roland, SSL, Studer, and more.* Important Fundamental Concept: Apollo’s low-latency hardware input monitoring and Realtime UAD Processing requires use of the included Console software application to take advantage of these features. Console replaces the software monitoring feature of the DAW mixer. * All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately. Apollo FireWire Software Manual 5 Introduction Software Features Note: For a list of hardware features, see the Apollo Hardware Manuals. Console Application General: • Enables Realtime UAD Powered Plug-Ins processing on all inputs • Analog-style mixer for realtime monitoring and tracking with UAD plug-ins • Remote control of Apollo hardware features and functionality • Console settings can be saved/loaded for instant recall of any configuration Realtime UAD Processing: • Up to four UAD plug-ins can be serially chained on each input and aux return • UAD insert processing can be monitored “wet” while recording wet or dry • Sub-2ms round-trip latency with four serial UAD plug-ins at 96 kHz sample rate Channel Inputs: • Input channels for all interface hardware inputs (except MADI with Apollo 16) • Level, pan, solo, and mute controls on all inputs • Four plug-in insert slots per input for Realtime UAD processing • Two stereo auxiliary sends with level and pan controls on all inputs • Virtual inputs accept any outputs from DAW • Stereo headphone sends with level and pan controls on all inputs* • Four stereo cue sends with level and pan controls on all inputs* • Adjacent input pairs can be linked for convenient stereo control • Sample rate conversion is available on S/PDIF and AES/EBU inputs* • Physical inputs can be routed to physical outputs Monitoring: • Stereo monitor mix bus with level, mute, solo clear, and source select controls • Independent headphone buses; switchable to monitor mix and/or mirror to any output* • 4 stereo cue mix buses; switchable to monitor mix and/or mirror to any output (Apollo 16) • Independent monophonic sum controls for all mix buses • S/PDIF and AES/EBU outputs can optionally mirror the post-fader monitor mix* Auxiliary and Cue Buses: • Two stereo auxiliary returns with independent level, mute, and mono sum controls • Four plug-in inserts per auxiliary return for Realtime UAD Processing • Auxiliary buses can be routed to main monitor mix or headphone & cue outputs* • Auxiliary & cue buses can be routed to any output* • Independent pre/post switching on each auxiliary bus *Specific software features depend on hardware functionality not available with all Apollo devices. Details within. Apollo FireWire Software Manual 6 Introduction Metering: • Signal level meters with peak hold and clip indicators on all inputs • Dual pin-style peak meters with signal peak LEDs display monitor bus levels • Input meters are globally switchable to display pre or post fader signal levels • Independently selectable peak/clip hold times and global clear clips button Console Recall plug-in • Convenient access to Console’s monitor controls via DAW plug-in • Saves complete Apollo configurations inside DAW projects for easy recall of settings • VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units plug-in formats UAD Powered Plug-Ins • Award-winning audio plug-ins for monitoring, tracking, mixing, and mastering • UAD plug-ins can be used simultaneously within Console and/or DAW • All UAD plug-ins include fully-functional 14-day demo period • Complete UAD plug-ins library is available online at www.uaudio.com UAD Meter & Control Panel application • UAD Control Panel configures global UAD-2 and UAD Powered Plug-Ins settings • UAD Meter monitors UAD-2 DSP resources and FireWire bandwidth Device Drivers • 64-bit device drivers • Supports multi-unit cascading and multi-client output • All hardware inputs and outputs can be individually addressed by DAW • All of Console’s mix buses can be routed to DAW inputs for recording Apollo FireWire Software Manual 7 Introduction Apollo Documentation Overview Documentation for all Apollo components is extensive, so instructions are separated by areas of functionality. Each functional area has a separate manual file. An overview of each file, and how they are accessed, is provided in this section. All manual files are in PDF format. PDF files require a free PDF reader application such as Adobe Acrobat Reader (Windows) or Preview (included with Mac OS X). Apollo Hardware Manuals Each Apollo model has a unique hardware manual. The Apollo hardware manuals contain complete hardware-related details about one specific Apollo model. Included are detailed descriptions of all hardware features, controls, connectors, and specifications. Note: Each hardware manual contains the unique Apollo model in the file name. Apollo Software Manual The Apollo Software Manual is the companion guide to the Apollo Hardware manuals. It contains detailed information about how to configure and control Apollo’s software features using the Console application and Console Recall plug-in. Refer to the Apollo Software Manual to learn how to operate these software tools and integrate Apollo’s audio interface functionality into the DAW environment. UAD System Manual The UAD System Manual is the complete operation manual for Apollo’s UAD-2 functionality and applies to the entire UAD-2 product family. It contains detailed information about installing and configuring UAD devices, the UAD Meter & Control Panel application, buying optional plug-ins at the UA online store, and more. It includes everything about UAD except Apollo-specific information and individual UAD plug-in descriptions. UAD Plug-Ins Manual The features and functionality of all the individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins is detailed in the UAD Plug-Ins Manual. Refer to that document to learn about the operation, controls, and user interface of each plug-in that is developed by Universal Audio. Direct Developer Plug-Ins UAD Powered Plug-Ins includes plug-ins created by our Direct Developer partners. Documentation for these 3rd-party plug-ins are separate files that are written and provided by the plug-in developers. The filenames for these plug-in manuals are the same as the plug-in titles. Apollo FireWire Software Manual 8 Introduction Accessing Installed Documentation Any of these methods can be used to access installed documentation: • Choose “Documentation” from the Help menu within the Console application • Click the “View Documentation” button in the Help panel within the UAD Meter & Control Panel application • Manuals are also available online at www.uaudio.com/support Additional Resources UA Website & Knowledge Base The support area of the Universal Audio website is your complete technical resource for configuring, operating, and troubleshooting UA products. You can watch helpful support videos, search the Knowledge Base for answers, find updated technical information that may not be available in other publications, and more. • www.uaudio.com/support UAD Community Forums The unofficial UAD discussion forums are a valuable resource for all Universal Audio product users. This website is independently owned and operated. • www.uadforum.com Host DAW Documentation Each host DAW application has its own particular methods for configuring audio interfaces and using plug-ins. Refer to the host DAW’s documentation for specific instructions about using audio interface and plug-in features within the DAW. Hyperlinks Links to other manual sections and web pages are highlighted in blue text. Click a hyperlink to jump directly to the linked item. Tip: Use the “back” button in the PDF reader application to return to the previous page after clicking a hyperlink. Glossary This manual uses technical terms and acronyms that may be unfamiliar. Refer to Glossary for the definitions of many of these terms. Apollo FireWire Software Manual 9 Introduction Apollo Software Overview Apollo has several software components that comprise the complete Apollo system. A brief description of each component is provided below, along with a link to complete details about the component. Console Application The Console application is Apollo’s primary software interface. Its main function is to control the hardware unit and its digital mixing and monitoring capabilities. The Console mixer is where Realtime UAD processing using UAD Powered Plug-Ins is configured. Important Fundamental Concept: The primary function of Console is to control Apollo’s low-latency hardware input monitoring and Realtime UAD Processing, and Console must be used to take advantage of these features. Console replaces the software monitoring feature of the DAW mixer. For complete details, see Console Application. Console Recall Plug-In Console Recall is a DAW plug-in supplied in VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units formats. Console Recall offers additional convenience when using Apollo and/or the Console application in conjunction with a DAW. Its primary function is to store complete Console configurations within the DAW project file. For complete details, see Console Recall Plug-In. UAD Powered Plug-Ins UAD Powered Plug-Ins are the software plug-in titles containing the DSP algorithms. UAD plug-ins are loaded within a host application for audio processing on Apollo’s integrated UAD-2 DSP accelerator (Console and DAWs are host applications). Each UAD plug-in contains a graphical user interface (GUI) and various control parameters that can be manipulated to achieve the desired sonic results. Typical UAD plug-in window Apollo includes numerous UAD Powered Plug-Ins that are bundled with the device. Optional UAD plug-ins can be evaluated without functional limitations for 14 days in demo mode. Optional plug-in licenses can be purchased at the UA online store. Apollo FireWire Software Manual 10 Introduction