Universal Audio Apollo x8 Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface
Universal Audio Apollo x8 allows music producers, project, and post-production studios to track, overdub, and mix on elite-class equipment. With exceptional A/D and D/A conversion, HEXA Core UAD plug-in processing, Dual-Crystal clocking craft your ultimate mix. Additionally, use the unique 7.1 surround sound monitoring for the most detailed audio design.
Elite Audio Conversion with Four Unison Mic Preamps, HEXA Core Processing, and Surround Sound.
Apollo X8 is built upon UA’s 60-year heritage of audio craftsmanship. The Apollo X8’s 18 x 24 interface distinguishes itself with four Unison™-enabled mic preamps and all-new HEXA Core processing. With this, it can yield 50% more DSP for running UAD Powered Plug-Ins in real time. Plus, it includes LUNA Recording System, giving you a fully-integrated music production application.
Apollo X8 Elite-Class A/D and D/A Conversion
Apollo interfaces are no strangers to tracking stellar-sounding records. They have been a part of thousands of chart-topping songs and hundreds of Grammy-winning albums. To improve on the previous generation interface’s class-leading audio conversion, UA engineers obsessively auditioned the latest A/D and D/A converters. Ultimately, pairing elite-class 24-bit/192 kHz converters with all-new analog circuitry for an ultra-pristine signal path.
The Apollo X series also introduces new Dual-Crystal clocking. Apollo X8 has dedicated crystals for 44.1/88.2/176.4k and 48/96/192k sample rates. As a result, Apollo x8 has stunningly low jitter, measured at less than 10 picoseconds. In fact, this translates into pure, artifact-free recordings and solid stereo imaging you can trust.
With 129 dB dynamic range and -119 dB THD+N, Apollo x8’s open, natural sound quality rivals any dedicated high-end converter on the market — regardless of price — and is the perfect starting point for applying UAD processing.
Realtime UAD HEXA Core Processing
Apollo x8 features new HEXA Core processing, with six DSP chips and 50% more UAD plug-in processing power than previous Apollos. This lets you run more UAD plug-ins, whether you’re tracking in real time with channel strips from Neve, Manley, or API, or running high UAD plug-in counts when mixing in your DAW.
Furthermore, from the tube warmth of Pultec EQs on guitars to the musical tube limiting of the LA-2A on vocals, or the pump of a genuine 1176 or Fairchild 670 tube compressor on drums, your recordings will take a giant leap forward with a rich, three-dimensional analog sound that UAD plug‑ins provide.
Unison Technology: The Genuine Sound of Neve, API & Manley Preamps
Perfect for musicians, engineers, producers, and sound designers, Apollo x8 features four Unison-enabled mic preamps. This allows you to track through exacting mic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Helios, SSL, and Universal Audio. A Universal Audio exclusive – Unison technology nails the tone of these sought-after tube and solid state mic pres. This includes their input impedance, gain stage “sweet spots,” and the component-level circuit behaviors of the original hardware.
The secret to Unison is its hardware-software integration between Apollo’s mic preamps and its onboard HEXA Core DSP Acceleration. Simply place a Unison preamp plug-in on your mic input in Apollo Console software, and it physically reconfigures the Apollo interface’s impedance — so you can tap into the classic sounds of the world’s most recorded mic preamps.
A Full Suite of Classic Analog Processing Onboard
Of course, a hallmark feature of Apollo is its Realtime UAD Processing. Apollo x8 lets you run the full library of UAD plug-ins with near-zero latency. Apollo x8 includes the Realtime Analog Classics Plus plug-in bundle, so you can record and mix with the world’s only authentic Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, and Fairchild compressors, the Unison-enabled UA 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ, and iconic guitar and bass amps from Marshall and Ampeg.
Access the World of UAD Powered Plug-Ins with Apollo X8
Going beyond the included Realtime Analog Classics Plus plug-ins, Apollo x8 lets you tap into the full UAD Powered Plug-In library of legendary vintage EQs, compressors, reverbs, tape machines, channel strips, and more — at near-zero latency, regardless of your audio software’s buffer size and without taxing your computer’s CPU.
With exclusive emulations from SSL, Neve, Studer, Manley, Helios, API, Ampex, Lexicon, Fender, and more, it’s like having a studio full of iconic analog gear, in a single rack space. And unlike competing interfaces, these award-winning DSP-powered plug-ins are also available in your DAW for mixing.
Surround Sound, Talkback, and More
The Apollo x8 features built-in front-panel monitoring functions including a Talkback mic, Alt Speakers, and assignable Dim or Mono control. Further, with its comprehensive 7.1 surround monitoring support, Apollo x8 is a boon for engineers and producers working on audio and music for video games, television, and the web.
In addition, Apollo x8 offers selectable +24 dBu operation for out-of-the-box compatibility with mixing consoles and other pro audio equipment.
Create with a Fast, Natural Workflow in LUNA
Explore analog sound and workflows with LUNA, UA’s Mac‑based recording application for producers and musicians, composers, sound designers, and more.
Specifically designed for seamless integration with Apollo audio interfaces, LUNA gives your recordings big studio sound with built‑in extensions from Neve,® Studer,® and API® — plus inspiring instruments like Moog® Minimoog and Ravel grand piano.
Build an Expanded Studio System Over Thunderbolt
Lastly, Apollo x8 offers 18 x 24 simultaneous inputs/outputs (8 x 8 analog I/O) and two built-in Thunderbolt 3 ports. Consequently, this allows users of any Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo Twin or Apollo rackmount audio interfaces to easily combine up to four Apollos and six total UAD-2 devices. Therefore, adding fast, high-bandwidth I/O and DSP as your studio grows.
Apollo X8’s Included Plugins:
- UA 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ
- Marshall® Plexi Classic Amplifier
- Fairchild® 670 (Legacy)
- Teletronix® LA-2A Classic Leveling Amplifier (Legacy)
- 1176SE/LN® Classic Limiting Amplifiers (Legacy)
- Pultec® Pro Equalizers (Legacy)
- Ampeg® SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp
- Precision Mix Rack Collection
- UA Precision Enhancer Hz
- Raw Distortion
- RealVerb Pro
