Apogee Symphony Desktop v1.1 ECS channel strip

[@Payan8]

I use the symphony desktop on my iPad Pro and when I first seen the update for the strip I wasn’t excited because I thought you would need to run the plug-in in your daw. You are right! The fact that it runs the plug-in natively on the interface and be controlled through the interface is a big game changer for mobile production. This why I love apogee. They been pushing iPad production from the start.

[@joeljrichards]

Right?! I’m curious to see if they enable any more plugins to be run this way and/or bring the FX set to the iOS.

[@WayneDawkinsThePartyMan]

This will be pretty cool as they do more emulations also

[@joeljrichards]

After I published this video I got thinking, if Apogee enables the digital out to run independent of a USB host, I could see people buying Symphony Desktop as a stand-alone two channel mic-pre/control strip/A-D box. Weirdly, looked at that way, it actually seems like a better deal (IMHO $600 per channel is good in that market) than as an audio interface where the market is more competitive.

[@loudane9962]

Yes. Consider further than it comes not only with the apogee pres but also comes with a Neve and Ampex-modeled Pre, and the game has changed

[@cbenson76]

This really is a game changer. Thanks for the video.

[@joeljrichards]

It really is!

[@loudane9962]

This is WAY better than anything UA. Game over!

[@_JohnnySav]

Agreed!

[@quietpersona]

I agree except I wish there was a reverb plugin as well

[@demon-ll9eg]

i agreed lou dane and guess what i just made my order

[@JeffKellyMedia]

Joel- how do you feel about Symphony desktop now that you have had it for several months. Also if you have a Source connect live session.. would your processing be in the box, So you could have a bit of color to live session? How is the routing is the software can you loopback. Thanks

[@joeljrichards]

I still really like the box! I've only done one Source connect live session so I haven't explored all the options. The ECS channel strip affects the sound just like a physical channel strip (as far as the computer is concerned) because all the processing happens before the data hits the computer. In the future you'll be able to change that and run Apogee's RackFX plugins using the Desktop hardware but non-destructively (or possibly through virtual loopback). However, for live sessions I think the current setup is what you'd want. Hope that helps! Let me know if you've got other questions.

[@JeffKellyMedia]

@@joeljrichards Glad you like it still. Apollo Twin and Antelope Zen Go have been on my list. . But I keep coming back to Apogee. The Duet from Apogee sounded so good and the fact that you can use this interface with IPad is nice option that others don’t have. The Symphony Desktop will work for me. if I can understand the ability to do loopback (I think I’ll need that in future). Is the software in the apogee able to do multiple routing task? Apogee never answered that question when I wrote them months ago.

[@CarloEspresso]

Hi and thanks a lot for your video. I am interested in buying the symphony desktop, but I have two questions: - can you use clearmountain space as a reverb? I mean directly with s.desktop ? - Can you use the effects only for monitoring? I want to be able to hear them in my headphones while recording, but I don’t want to send them to the daw. Thanks a lot

[@joeljrichards]

Thanks, sadly the answer is "not yet". Apogee has said that functionality is coming.

[@CarloEspresso]

@@joeljrichards Thanks for your reply. That’s too bad, I am looking for an audio interface for my iPad, but the fact that the S.D doesn’t have a built-in reverb is a real deal breaker for me 😔

[@MarlonKingShow]

Do the mic pres sound any good? In comparison with other desktop interfaces or separate preamps?

[@joeljrichards]

Hey Marlon thanks for your comment. I have several ideas on my channel comparing them to a couple other preamps. IMO they compare very favorably.

[@MarlonKingShow]

@@joeljrichards thanks man. Will take a look

[@jbkivontop]

This looks like a winning combination. A question, how is the build quality of the Symphony Desktop?

[@joeljrichards]

Very solid. Certainly on par or better than any Apogee interface I've used but I don't have a lot of experience with their Ensemble or Symphony rack-mount lines. Like every Apogee interface (IME) it runs warm, but not hot, all the plugs, dials, materials feel great with no give/creaks/cracks. Occasionally the touch screen fails to register a tap, I think that's more about it being a tad small for the amount of info/buttons they put on it sometimes-and where it sits on my desk-but that's getting pretty nit picky. It feels like a $1500 device IMO.

[@JGW-im3nf]

Can a apogee desktop be used without a computer attached? Like a standalone mixer.

[@joeljrichards]

No, not as of this moment. It is something that I’ve heard Apogee express interest in doing but it isn’t even on the official roadmap (yet). So while I think it is possible, perhaps even likely, I would not recommend buying a Symphony Desktop on the assumption that it will gain that feature.

[@picardmyhero]

Does anyone know if the Symphony Desktop supports a MIDI keyboard via it's USB port in the back, for USB over MIDI?

[@joeljrichards]

Not currently. Although Apogee claims it will be enabled.

[@picardmyhero]

@@joeljrichards Thanks for responding Richard. One more question: Do you know if the SD supplies power to the iPad Pro, which only has one usb-c port?

[@joeljrichards]

@@picardmyhero I’ve only ever used it with a hub so I’m not sure. I missed this comment earlier. I’ll check and get back to you.

[@miablack]

great sound what Mic are u using ? :)

[@miablack]

Do u think the A/D would be a noticeable upgrade from a Apogee Quartet ?

[@joeljrichards]

@@miablack I haven’t used a Quartet. My go to interface was a Duet USB for many years. I’d say this is a step up.

[@joeljrichards]

I believe this one was recorded with an SE T2 microphone. I’ve since swapped in a SE VR1 on channel two but I’m pretty sure it was after this video was recorded...

[@Bhallmed]

I wish the compressor had a reduction meter.

[@joeljrichards]

Me too, the DAW version does so I suspect they ran out of room (or maybe overhead on the DSP?).

[@_JohnnySav]

That would be sick!!!

[@rickyelvis3215]

M1 ipad compatible ... yes ?

[@joeljrichards]

It works fine with my 2018 iPad Pro. I can’t say whether Apogee Control 2, coming in June, will be compatible. The desktop is what’s call “USB compliant” which means any device supporting USB audio should just work with the Desktop plugged in. You only get control of the Desktop’s settings through it’s physical interface, but that’s pretty much the way it is now for every device/computer you hook it up to.

[@rickyelvis3215]

this device is next level ~ seriously !

[@loudane9962]

Essentially, this feature alone warrants the price of $1300.00 alone

[@joeljrichards]

It certainly increases it’s value immensely if you’re an iPad user. I’m still adding the ECS later but the “Print FX” feature is a lot more useful if it means not needing the plugin running at all on your DAW.

[@richardwilliams1310]

Cool product but there are quite a few digital mixers that have a ton more features.

[@demon-ll9eg]

what micrphone are u using to record this video?

[@joeljrichards]

Honestly I don’t remember. I believe it is an SE T2 (could be the SE VR1)

[@dailymeditation8058]

how about reverb?

[@joeljrichards]

@Hermit Music Not sure what your asking. Apogee does have the Clearmountain Spaces and Domain plugins. My limited experience with Spaces has been very positive but neither are "FX enabled" to run on the Desktop DSP at the moment. Does that help?

[@dailymeditation8058]

@@joeljrichards yes, that helps, thank you! I'm thinking if the reverb can be FX enabled then it can be a standalone audio interface which can be plugged into a phone, then that'll be perfect for phone livestreaming

[@joeljrichards]

@@dailymeditation8058 apologies for not replying sooner. The release notes for firmware 1.1 say, "Symphony ECS Channel Strip Plugin Control and Print FX via Touch Screen Control" and that meant the control and plugin running independently. The notes for the upcoming 1.3 update say, "Additional plugin parameter controls via Touch Screen Control". To me that means the some/all of the FX rack plugins will work the same way. However, Clearmountain Spaces-despite being bundled with the Desktop-is not actually an FX rack plugin so unless that changes first I don't see it being supported in the same way. I hope so though! I haven't used it much, and it is very simple, but it sounds great IMO.

[@dailymeditation8058]

richards thank you so much, that's very helpful !

[@electedmusic7685]

a question friend, to update, do you have to use the apogee usb dongle again?

[@joeljrichards]

I did. It worked fine. Just replace the earlier update file with the new one. You don’t have to use the Apogee flash drive but I believe it has to formatted as FAT32

[@electedmusic7685]

@@joeljrichards So you didn't use the apogee pen drive? did you just run the update? I don't understand what you meant by fat32.

[@joeljrichards]

@@electedmusic7685 Sorry I wasn't clear. I did use the Apogee pen drive. I was pointing out that you can use any pen drive as long as it is formatting correctly.

[@electedmusic7685]

and to update, I can delete the folder of the previous update, which I have inside the apogee usb pen drive, and drag the new update to the apogee pen drive, right? do you need to format the apogee pen drive?

[@joeljrichards]

@@electedmusic7685 you shouldn’t. I just deleted the old update and copied the new one over.

[@quietpersona]

Voice sounds nice, what mic are you using?

[@joeljrichards]

Thanks! I used an SE electronics T2 microphone (I'm pretty sure, may have been the SE VR1).

[@bigdap100]

Big fella, drive this thing man so we can HEAR how the FX sound!! we came here to hear it. Thanks for your time but all we really saw was you tapping on the interface and slightly turning one or two parameters.

[@TheJoecoool]

REALLY ? 😅