Universal Audio Apollo x8 Heritage Edition

Universal Audio Apollo X8 equips music producers and post-production studios with new world-leading A/D and D/A converters, HEXA Core UAD plug-in processing, and 7.1 surround sound monitoring* - all in a sleek Thunderbolt 3 audio interface for Mac**or PC.

This 18 x 24 interface draws on and's 60 years of experience designing and manufacturing audio equipment. It features four Unison™-enabled mic preamps, providing authentic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Helios, SSL and more. All-new HEXA Core plug-in processing means 50% percent more DSP power for real-time use of UAD Powered plug-ins in the recording and mixing process.

In addition to outstanding audio conversion, Universal Audio Apollo X8 features selectable level compatibility with professional +24 dBu devices, as well as an integrated monitor controller and built-in talkback microphone.

• Experience outstanding A/D and D/A conversion with the widest dynamic range and lowest noise floor
• Record and mix via powerful HEXA Core signal processing - with 6 UAD DSP chips for real-time use of additional award-winning UAD Powered plug-ins
• Record virtually latency-free with Unison™ technology via preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Fender and others*
• Easily connect professional studio gear with switchable +24 / +20 dBu headroom settings
• Work in surround formats up to 7.1*, complete with speaker calibration and downmix
• Integrated talkback microphone for easy communication and recording of audio notes or additional takes

Unison™ technology: The original sound of Neve, API and Manley preamps.

An optimal solution for musicians, engineers, producers, and sound designers, Apollo x8 offers four Unison-enabled mic preamps that let you record via faithful mic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and Universal Audio. Exclusive to Apollo interfaces, Unison technology reproduces the tone of these coveted tube and transistor mic preamps with 100% detail - including input impedance, gain stage "sweet spots," and component-level circuit behavior of the original hardware. The secret of Unison lies in the hardware-software integration between Apollo ́s microphone preamps and the integrated UAD real-time processing.

Recording studio to go

The included UAD 2 plug-ins turn any recording setup into a virtual recording studio with the analog sound of famous studio classics. When you purchase the Universal Audio Apollo X8, the Realtime analog Classics and Heritage Plug-ins packages are included. This gives you access to all important studio tools in multiple versions: classic LA-2A and 1176 compressors, Pultec and Universal Audio EQs, various delays and reverb effects from AKG, Korg or Roland, as well as transistor- or tube-based Preamps from Neve, Helios or Siemens. Thanks to advanced tools such as the Precision Mastering series or the precise Oxford EQ, even tasks that require a high degree of precision can be reliably handled. If you also get a more comprehensive reverb plug-in, eg. UAD Ocean Way Studios, you are perfectly equipped for almost any application!

Surround sound monitoring* and +24 dBu operation.

With comprehensive support for surround monitoring up to 7.1 format, Universal Audio Apollo X8 is a boon for engineers and producers working on audio and music for games, television, and the web. furthermore, the x8 offers selectable +24 dBu operation for pre-configured compatibility with professional mixing consoles and other high-end pro audio gear.

Building a networked studio system over Thunderbolt

Apollo x8 provides 18 x 24 simultaneous inputs and outputs (8 x 8 analogue I / or two integrated Thunderbolt 3 ports that are backward compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 Macs via an adapter (sold separately). This makes it easy to combine any Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo Twin desktop or Apollo Rack interfaces (up to four Apollos) and a total of six UAD-2 devices - and expand the system with additional high-speed I/O and high-bandwidth DSPs as needs grow at Studio.

What is Luna?

Luna is Universal Audio's in-house, full-featured DAW that realizes uniquely deep integration of preamp, interface, DSP and sequencer. With Luna, for the first time, the complete recording and production process can be accomplished with hardware and software from a single vendor in a single screen window. Luna controls the microphone amplifiers in the Apollo interfaces via the familiar UAD2 plug-ins, adjusts their impedance and sound behavior matching the emulated analog hardware, and enables monitoring of gain staging. Furthermore, the DSP cores of all Apollo interfaces and UAD DSP processors are controlled from a central location, reducing the overall latency from signal input to output to less than 2ms. Together with special Luna extensions for eg. Neve consoles and Studer multitrack tape machines, you can not only make your recordings as if they were made in an analog setup studio, but they will sound like it too!

Luna also comes with Unison mic preamp plug-ins from Neve, Manley, API, Avalon and other well-known manufacturers, and includes a whole range of newly developed instruments. Among them are a realistic Minimoog, a gorgeous concert grand piano that combines sampling and physical modeling, Spitfire Audio's orchestral instruments, and a large sample library.

Luna is free for owners of the newer Apollo interfaces, and so no one has to fret when switching: Luna supports the cross-DAW session format AAF!

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Universal Audio Apollo X8 features:

• 18 x 24 Thunderbolt 3 audio interface with premium 24-bit / 192 kHz audio conversion.
• Real-time UAD HEXA core processing for near-latency-free recording via UAD plug-ins, regardless of buffer settings
• Record via four Unison-enabled mic/line preamps - for completely authentic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, SSL and others†
• Surround monitor controller up to 7.1 format*.
• Includes the "Realtime analog Classics Plus" UAD plug-in bundle with and 610-B Tube Preamp, Legacy Pultec EQ, LA-2A and 1176 compressors, Marshall Plexi Classic, Ampeg SVT-VR Classic and others
  
• Integrated UAD HEXA Core Processing for additional mixing power in Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton and other major DAWs
  
• Combine up to four Thunderbolt-equipped Apollos and a total of six UAD devices; backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 via optional adapter
  
• Selectable +24 dBu operation for easy compatibility with professional mixing consoles and tape machines
  
• Convenient front-panel monitoring functions, including alt speakers, talkback mic and selectable dim or mono
  
• UA's uncompromising analog design, superior components, and premium build quality
  
• Free, industry-leading technical support from expert audio engineers - by phone and online
  

*Surround sound support for Apollo X as of Q4 2018.