General
Just hearing the name Universal Audio will make the hearts of audio engineers beat faster. The company has a history of combining high-quality products with great user ease, after all. The Apollo 8 QUAD is no exception. Like its little brother, the Apollo 8 DUO, this audio interface features four microphone preamps and four line inputs. It offers double the UAD processing power, however, which means you can use even more plugins. Compared to the previous series, the Apollo 8 QUAD boasts improved AD/DA conversion, and is equipped with two Thunderbolt connectors. In short, this interface will keep your studio up to date for years to come!
Universal Audio Apollo 8 QUAD: preamps
One of Universal Audio's signature products is their Unison preamp, which emulates the warm sound of old '610' preamplifiers. This Apollo has four of these Unison preamps, which bring out that familiar tube sound that's ideal for atmospheric recordings. On the back of the interface, you'll find four XLR/jack combo connectors, and on the front there are two Hi-Z inputs that are suitable for electric guitar and bass guitar. The routing for the various inputs is determined by means of an included console application.
UAD processing
The Universal Audio company has a rich history that includes, among other things, the basic design of the modern-day mixer. The manufacturer also produces various dynamic processors. To optimise their devices' performance, Universal Audio came up with the UAD system, which emulates both classic and modern effects in exceptionally high quality. The UAD devices themselves supply the necessary processing power. Naturally, the Apollo 8 QUAD also boasts this UAD functionality, which means you can use plugins without burdening your computer's CPU. To get you started on the right track, the interface comes with the Realtime Analogue Classics Plus Bundle.
Buy this product before December 31st 2015, and you'll receive a free UAD-2 Quad after registration at Universal Audio.
