Apollo x8 | Thunderbolt Audio Interface | Universal Audio (2024)

Get professional sound with the widest dynamic range and lowest noiseavailable

Record your vocals and synths in realtime through classic mic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Avalon, andmore

Link up to four Apollos for 156 channels of premium I/O and control it from Apollo Twin or x4

Create with seamless hardware-software integration and analog console modeling in LUNA RecordingSystem

Apollo works with all major DAWs, but only LUNA Recording System gives you seamless integration with Apollo, for big analog studio sound — in realtime — using a host of built-in features and extensions from API console modeling to genuine Neve summing and integrated Studertape.

Learn more about LUNA ›

“I love my new Apollo x8p! I can mix without worrying about the amount of plug-ins I use, and the new converters reveal the most subtle details when I record. One of the best upgrades that I’ve added in a longtime.”
–Derek ‘MixedByAli’ Ali (Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Childish Gambino)

“I'm really impressed with the Apollo X8. I hear more detail in the several sets of monitors I use, and I'm getting that little bit extra out of the Unison mic pre emulations –and they were already extremely close.”
–Jacquire King (James Bay, Kings of Leon, Tom Waits)

“This is the best-sounding Universal Audio D/A ever. By far. It has an extra octave of clear bottom, but it's not hyped. It's just very solid and full. It's like there’s no converter generated signature at all. It’s completely open and natural.”
–Fab Dupont (David Crosby, Shakira, Santigold)

“My Apollos are my sound.
Where I go, they go.”
–Trevor Lawrence Jr. (Dr. Dre, Herbie Hanco*ck, Eminem)

“Apollo is a platform that grows more powerful with every innovation – the UAD plug-in processing onboard has changed the way I work forever.”
–Tony Platt (AC/DC, Bob Marley, Buddy Guy)

“The Apollo is the best I/O we've ever used, and we've tried them all. It has an incredibly clean, transparent, and accurate sound.”
–The Glitch Mob

“I’m totally blown away by the stunning sound quality of the Apollo. The ability to use UAD plug-ins in real-time is pure genius. It’s the centerpiece of my newstudio.”
–Richard Devine

“The Apollo's ability to do low latency –Imeanthat's the whole ballgame rightthere.”
–Joey Waronker (Atoms for Peace, Beck, Other Lives)

“The Apollo is a powerhouse and a game changer for mystudio.”
–Grieves

“Using my Apollos and Console 2.0, I'm able to front a live mix, create a monitor mix, and record, all at the same time. That’s pretty awesome.”
–Chris Dugan (Green Day, Iggy Pop, U2)

“Having the Apollo with UAD plug-ins at my disposal is like carrying a giant studio with outboard racks at all times. Minus the tech fees, down time, and electricity bill!”
–Andrew Dawson (Jay-Z, Fun.)

“Apollo's A/D and D/A conversion sounds incredibly detailed, with great clarity and a tight, punchy low end. And with the Console 2.0 app, I have all of the routing and monitoring options I need.”
–Dave Pensado (Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Maroon 5)

“The Apollo x8p is the workhorse for the majority of our mobile sessions. The flexibility is crucial to our workflow and once you’re familiar with the front panel controls and Console software, it becomes a seamless experience that allows you to truly craft yoursound.”
–Mike Larson (Pharrell, Ariana Grande, Migos)

UA 610-B Tube Preamp andEQ

Impart your tracks with the iconic warmth and character of the classic hardware used to track everyone from Duke Ellington to Coldplay. By emulating the entire signal path, including tube amplifiers, transformers, and circuit nonlinearities, the 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ plug-in injects organic detail and saturation to any signal — whether you’re re-amping or tracking through the 610-B via Universal Audio’s Unison™technology.

Marshall^® Plexi ClassicAmplifier

The undisputed alpha dog of rock and roll guitar amps, the Marshall “plexi” amplifier is as legendary as the music it helped create. From Jimi Hendrix to Jimmy Page, Duane Allman to Eric Clapton, the Plexi’s punishing melange of snarl, sustain, smoothness, and raunch defined the sound of rock. Developed by Softube, the Marshall Plexi Classic Amp plug-in gives you the sound of this iconic amp with a perfectly placed microphone from engineer Tony Platt who recorded AC/DC’s Back in Black and Highway toHell.

Fairchild^® 670(Legacy)

The world’s most coveted compressor, the classic Fairchild 670 tube limiter will give your tracks and mixes unmistakable tube warmth and character. Whether you’re looking for subtle compression on a lead vocal, or grittier textures that can work on guitars, bass, or a drum bus, the Fairchild 670 plug-in adds a classic “glow” to anything you run throughit.

Teletronix^® LA-2A Classic Leveling Amplifier(Legacy)

With its gentle, program dependent optical compression and meticulously designed tube amplifier, the LA-2A is the go-to compressor for professional mixers around the world — especially for vocals. Incredibly easy-to-use Peak Reduction and Gain controls gives you the ideal optical compression sound for guitar, bass, drums, andmore.

1176SE/LN^® Classic Limiting Amplifiers(Legacy)

Get classic, ultra-fast FET compression from the world’s most recognized compressor. The 1176 will impart punch, presence, and character as well as its signature distortion overtones on drums, vocals, guitars, and bass. The 1176LN has graced countless recordings, from Led Zeppelin, to the White Stripes and MichaelJackson.

Pultec^® Pro Equalizers(Legacy)

Mix with two of the most sought-after hardware EQs ever made — the MEQ-5 Midrange Equalizer and the EQP-1A Program Equalizer. Both of these tube-based icons deliver smooth and silky EQ curves with an abundance of warm analogcharacter.

Ampeg^® SVT-VR Classic BassAmp

Introduced in 1969, the Ampeg SVT bass amp is still the reigning king of high-powered tube bass tone. Developed by Brainworx, the Ampeg SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp plug-in perfectly captures the raw power and punch that has made this the go-to amp for rock, funk, and soul players. Track in real time using Unison™ preamp technology for the tone, touch, and feel of a real SVT bass amp, or transform bland DI tracks with the thunderous roar of a stone coldclassic.

Precision Mix RackCollection

Featuring the Precision Channel Strip, Precision Reflection Engine, and Precision Delay Modulation plug-ins, the Precision Mix Rack Collection offers four modern, high-fidelity plug-ins for recording and mixing. Powerful and intuitive, Precision Mix Rack Collection gives you an impressive tool set — perfect for beginners and seasoned professionalsalike.

UA Precision EnhancerHz

Expertly dial-in your music’s low-end frequencies with the Precision Enhancer Hz plug-in. Able to yield exacting results with minimal adjustment, the Precision Enhancer Hz can add weight to kick drum samples, fatten up a synth bass, or simply make the low-end of your tracks more audible on smallerspeakers.

Raw Distortion

Modeled from a vintage early-’80s Pro Co Rat, Raw Distortion delivers all the gritty dynamic raunch of the legendary stompbox. And with Unison™ technology, you can plug in to Apollo Twin, 8, or 8p’s front-panel Hi-Z instrument jack and experience the same circuit interaction, gain range, and clip points for the true tone, feel, and response of the originalhardware.

RealVerb Pro

RealVerb Pro is a flexible, natural sounding reverb based on UA’s own unique set of algorithms. Allowing you to design the room just as you hear it, the RealVerb Pro goes beyond simply big/small or dark/bright, giving your sources distortion-free, smoothing diffusion control and ultra-long reverbtail.

August 10, 2024

June 19, 2024

June 15, 2024

June 11, 2024

June 2, 2024

April 21, 2024

March 8, 2024

February 26, 2024

February 15, 2024

February 14, 2024

Definitely audio quality both on A/D and D/A side outshine other interfaces. It is very convenient to use the DSP effects. Personally my most favourite is to put C-Suit Vox on my vocal recordings to help me the imperfections of the home studio that I haven been built and suppressing unwanted noises.

The mixing console is all in all good, mimics a physical console however I feel in 2024 that imposes limitations on how you can use it and also not the most intuitive for those who are not having hands-on experience with hardware mixing consoles. I hope that the I/O matrix will have some re-work in the future.

Being able to control phantom power supply per channel individually is really nice. On many interfaces it is grouped like 1-4, 5-8.

For me it is really a feature that gets me to be able to not only link mono channels into stereo, but to be able to also control their volume together. With many other interfaces even if on the mixer they can be linked you still have to calibrate the knobs manually which is painful.

WDM driver is a bit clumsy as only the UNISON slot effect is applied, but not the whole track and unfortunately I cannot select which inputs to "expose" towards to WDM (like some other interfaces). Most typical use-case would be that I want to use only one of my MIC with C-Suite Vox and LA-2A towards to other applications such as Teams or any conferencing application. I hope in future this will improve!

All in all buying Apollo x8 was the best decision, no regrets at all!

January 13, 2024

December 21, 2023

Eins vorweg, arbeite ich nur in Cubase 13 Pro funktioniert das x8 wie gewünscht. Glasklarer, knackiger Sound. (Windows 10)

Außerhalb der DAW funktioniert es als Mikrofon grauenhaft. Weder über Skype, noch zB Adobe Audition, noch bei OBS/ Nvidia Shadowplay lässt es Aufnahmen ohne Pops, Klicks, Distortion und leichtem Hall zu. Ich habe echt alles versucht. Driver updates Mainboard ect., Consolen Einstellungen, ect. Da es in der Dawn läuft, tippe ich auf Treiberprobleme im zusammenhang mit Windows. My guess ist dass die Samplerate nicht passt. Leider kann ich sie in Systemssounds bei Windows nicht umstellen. Es wird 2 Kanal 48khz 32 Bit angezeigt, jedoch ist es ausgegraut, sodass ich nichts anderes auswählen kann. Da wäre wie vorher Mono 48khz 24 Bit sicher die beste Wahl. Es ist frustrierend, da ich so zwar Musil machen kann, jedoch ist Gaming erstmal vorbei... die Recherche im Internet zeigt, dass es einige mit den gleichen Problemen gibt.

Ich möchte dennoch festhalten, dass die Qualität des Interfaces wirklich spitze ist. Einzig der Windows Treiber Support scheint nicht zu klappen. Ich hatte zuvor ein Apollo Twin USB und hatte nie Probleme. Dies stellte sich nach schließen der DAW immer automatisch richtig ein. (Hörte man) . Ich werde weiter nach Lösungen suchen und hoffentlich klappt es irgendwann, denn dieses Interface will ich auf jeden Fall weiter nutzen.

December 9, 2023

December 6, 2023

November 27, 2023

November 14, 2023

!!! WARNING TO WINDOWS USERS !!!
WDM audio is still busted as of November 14, 2023. What does this mean? Anything outside ASIO playback, like YouTube, Spotify, video games, etc. is glitchy. Pops and crackles.

Universal Audio is aware of it and still has no solution. I’ve been using their products for almost 10 years now, and I absolutely love the plugins and hardware itself. Very well made. Heck, the tech support around this issue was top-tier as well. However, I cannot fully recommend this product with how obviously busted it is outside of your DAW integration. Which may be a non-issue for you, but it’s absolutely a problem for myself and many others.

If it wasn’t for this issue, I’d give the product a 5 star review. It’s a wonderful tool for the studio. It’s just a real pain in the @$$ and embarrassing every time a client wants to reference a YouTube song, or something on Spotify, or literally anything outside my DAW.

Do better, Universal Audio.

October 22, 2023

October 6, 2023

August 8, 2023

August 2, 2023