Oh No!! I Fell in Love with Mic Preamps Again: Apollo x4 First Look, from Universal Audio

[@BIGEGO]

You can hear the compression and EQ characteristics of these preamps even though they aren't being used in Unison Mode (as in the video). Looks like they're being used as inserts here to help make switching between preamps faster. In Unison Mode each preamp model will change the impedance relationship with the microphone as well (but this does not happen when using the same preamp as an insert). At the studio we've been using the Helios and 610 models quite a bit. In fact we ran our tie lines from the live room directly to our Apollo X8P units to take advantage of the Unison Mode features.

[@RooftopRecording]

And, you didn't even load the preamp models into the Unison slot where the impedance shift happens. This was all with the straight Apollo Pre front end. I love my UA rig. Thanks for this fun video.

[@SonicScoop]

Yup, sounds pretty great even just in the insert slot for quick comparisons! Someday, maybe we'll do a video on the Unison technology and impedance for mics and pres in general.

[@MarkRay84]

I think you have to put them in the unison part of the chain to fully take advantage of the pre amps. Instead of the insert section.

[@jclbuxfan]

I have the Apollo solo for VO work . I freaking love it. The Avalon plugin is unbelievable.

[@charlesdubois5645]

Is it possible to record 4 microphones and 2 guitars at the same time ?

[@mattsb17]

I need the Avalon preamp !

[@TheSpeedyr6]

No u don’t

[@NessunDorma732]

the Avalon sound amazing on your voice. insane

[@a-gnosis]

great showcase, thank you

[@ice999cream]

But the Apollo's don't come with all those plug-ins for free. Seems a little misleading. I wish I had all those plug-ins with my Apollo x8

[@brianstoltz2838]

All of the UA plugins I've tried were great, but I was really impressed with UA's model of the Marshall amp. Unlike all the others out there, this one really sounds and feels Ike a Marshall. It even has that nice sag making the feel of it just like playing through a Marshall head. The Fender Tweed was nice too.

[@gitarman666]

Also why does the x4 have 4 unison channels but my x6 only has 2 just like my twin?

[@spacemanpope1805]

That reverb actually sounded awesome too!

[@SonicScoop]

Agreed!

[@dx_armitage]

That looks great.

[@AdviceandAdventures]

Will this audio interface help me get more music streams?

[@JustinColletti]

Only if you use it well.

[@AdviceandAdventures]

@@JustinColletti cool. Thanks! I'm trying to get my music played in heavy rotation like Post Malone and Billie Eilish.

[@spacemanpope1805]

That V76 is straight butter! Im sold...

[@elianmusic7452]

Hello :) I've watched every single episode you put out. You've done a lot for my production and craft. I'm not an amateur, but i sure have learnt a ton from your podcasts and i am extremely appreciative of your work Justin :) Never stop, i listen to your videos in the car daily and i need bottomless content. heh Much love from Cairo x

[@SonicScoop]

Glad we can help!

[@brianwynn10]

I have the Avalon but now I like the v76 for music vocal

[@jgalindor]

Does it make sense to connect a Yamaha 12 channel mixer to a Universal Audio Apollo X4 to have more inputs? Are any of the properties of the interface lost with this connection? Or, do the mixer gains the interface properties?

[@JeffMarshMusic]

Hi Justin, can you let us know what you know about compatibly with the new Macs that are Catalina only? The Sweetwater site says OS 10.14 or higher, but the UAD site says not fully supported for Catalina. They might be referring to the software plugins, but there is no mention of a compatible driver for Catalina. Thanks!

[@gitarman666]

Do you hear both the built in Apollo hardware pre and your chosen uad pre at the same time? Can I bypass to only hear the uad preamp or use an outboard pre?

[@fx-mayhem1081]

Thanks for the review. But you did not put them in the Unison plugin slot. So it did not even use the impedance function. :/

[@symph1744]

Great! but why not in Unison?

[@mikewhiteman23]

Do you get the unison technology with the preamps only so you dont get it with a satalite?

[@SonicScoop]

That's right. To use the plugins in true Unison mode, where they adjust the input impedance of the preamp, you need a UAD Apollo interface with preamps in it.

[@mikewhiteman23]

@@SonicScoop So this goes beyond just recording live? if i am just mixing not recording live is it worth getting just a satellite or Apollo?

[@brianwynn10]

Hey what did you do with

[@joshmancell4539]

Question to you all: I've been using the PreSonus central station for 10+ years and have been very satisfied with the lack of coloring to my speakers etc (because there's no active circuitry?). Does anyone use the Apollo4 as the 'centerpiece' of their studio as described in the vid? and if so, any issues/discrepancy with speaker sound? Thanks

[@rolandoo002]

Do you recommend a Cloudlifter for the SM7Bn together with the UAD Apollo Devices or not? Thx

[@yodhamheaven]

Ull be surprise how cloudlifter can make your sm7B sound cleaner better signal to ratio, im using apollo unison neve with sm7B

[@ChadRockwell]

You shouldnt need it with their pres

[@Johnwilkinsonofficial]

arent the 1073 and the Avalon both preamps.. is it usual to have have both on a track ?

[@dmourati]

Did you use the Shure sm7b straight into the apollo or with an additional pre-preamp like a CL-1?

[@SonicScoop]

Yup, just straight into the Apollo!

[@delvenhamric1200]

Good first look. The Pre-Amp sound would have been a little better if you had used the Unison slot. Keep up the good work!

[@Check-it-out]

Hi, I see 6 discreet line outputs on the back. Perfect for 5.1 Surround mixing ! How do i route the 6 channel mix to the corresponding outputs ? To Left Front, Center, Right Front, etc ? I am talking about the 1.800$ X4 here.

[@henrikpetersson3463]

Sadly, the X4 doesn't support a surround setup in the Console. Only the rack versions has the feature for some reason. You could of course set it up in your daw (if it supports surround).

[@Adon77]

I’m hip hop producer entry level and my question is since you explain in very good details how this thing works does this one should be enough for a mac book pro computer with a 16 gb memory ram To record and mix ,i was looking at the x6 as well ??

[@rr88821]

Do I need cloud lifter to boost the mic?

[@joshrainbow-IceTenor]

This Apollo is so amazing. I am still working with a digi002 on a XP windows. Because it is still working I never really felt the need to buy a new computer and a new interface. However, I've been looking at the Universal products for a year and I feel more and more attracted to it and giving me a reason to buy new stuff. I have a AD2022 Avalon pre and a AD2044 Avalon Comp and costed me around 3500 euro that's 7.000 euro for both and I love them. Now i see it is available as plug in the Apollo where the price for the entire unit is far cheaper than all the money I spent in the days on hardware and software incl melodyne that costed round 500 to 600 euro. Apollo even trows in a auto-tune plug in - man, what a change --- Could it be that the sound from the digi002 interface gives me that deadish vocal sound - I've always been struggling with the vocal sound using this device - I wonder if the Apollo unit would sound by default already more clear and better on m vocals. mybe you can share some of your experience....

[@AnalogFlava]

One of the reasons I did the change (small home studio owner with a chandler pre amp) was to have an easy and quick hassle free vocal chain setup. Bought an Arrow for this purpose, and it seems this was the right choice for now. I don't think the benefits of me having an expensive hardware preamp will outweigh the benefit of having all the plugin preamps in the world at half the price. Most likely will sell my hardware unit now. The sound as you can hear here is Amazing out of the box. Even the standard UB 610 I think its called that comes bundled with the Arrow is great for vocals. You can always get the Arrow if you are not sure, and then upgrade later to a bigger card. Good luck!

[@joshrainbow-IceTenor]

@@AnalogFlava Thanks so much for your reply and advice - I also need a new computer when purchase the Apollo. I want to have a imac. When I buy the computer from the store and install the apollo and pro tools does that work ok? I see some companies advise to bring the computer or purchase the computer with them so they install everything, only the charge more money for the computer and service. My XP was build and the harddisc was divided into 2 - one for the C and a F disc for pro tools and the files..Just wondering when people buy a new computer they just install the programs and start making music without any software problems - maybe you can share your experience what may be best to do...thanks in advance

[@AnalogFlava]

@@joshrainbow-IceTenor I understand where you are coming from, you are from the oldschool, which make sense since you didnt upgrade your system in a very long time. I can't remember when I last time had any of such issues or had to split up my HD, well...maybe that was actually when I was on a PC more than 15 years ago. Since going Mac in 2005 I had no such issues, and didn't bother splitting up my drive although you can do it if you want but I dont see the need. Any new mac bought from a store as is should do the job, and will blow your old PC out the water in an instant, no need to fiddle with HD formation or anything like that. But if you never worked with a mac then you need to take your time, as there will be a learning curve as with anything new. However, it is 100 times better than a PC if you ask me. Just make sure that UAD and Pro Tools work well together, on a mac I don't think there should be any issues though. Good luck and don't be scared to make the jump!

[@joshrainbow-IceTenor]

To Pi I replaced it last month. I got my Apollo X4 and Luna and it is so mind blowing. What a difference

[@moano3271]

Do you have anything between your mic and apollo? Or is it just an xlr from the sm7b directly into the back on the apollo?

[@SonicScoop]

That's right. Justin just plugs the Shure SM7b right into the interface for all of his videos so far to date. He says there is 55dB of clean gain on it from the Apollo and nothing else aside from the plugins you see on screen. No additional pre- or post-processing is being done here.

[@moano3271]

SonicScoop thanks! I was just wondering since i've seen a lot of people suggesting using the Cloudlifter when using the sm7b because it is "hard" to run as a stand alone mic. But thats great news, thank you 👍

[@congamantony]

MoanoBeats I use a cloudlifter on my SM7b going into a Focusrite Clarrett, and that works fine 😊

[@vtmpe]

Great job! Thank you.

[@CMMTV718]

Awesome Video Man. What’s a nice vocal chain suggestion I should use based off the standard Apollo plugins that come With the Duo. This would be for recording hip hop Music.

[@brianwynn10]

Avalon or the v76

[@mobbmusic2800]

AVALON!!!! Hands down

[@MediaMusik777]

x6 is the entry level and still even then i run out of dsp so do the math duo is 900 x 6 chips is like 2700 you have the 4 so 1400 divided by 4 is 350 a core and i paid 333 per core with my 6 not to far off i got a really good deal though at gc

[@andrewshepard8078]

I bought the Neve and the Tube Tech but I have to say I'm not too impressed. The input level is so low and you have to really push the gain to get a decent signal with a Rhode NTA. I ran an Electrovoice RE20 and also a Nueman TLM 103. Not too much difference between the Neuman and the Rhodes. I found that the signal is much better recorded clean into the Apollos factory preamp (at least for my voice). I wasted a few thousand dollars trying to get a better sound. At the end of the day, I just needed to fix my recording space and tighten up my own performance. Think about that before spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

[@gailgamer]

And before the video the youtube just gave me your ad 😂😂😂

[@Ali_ReBORN]

What headphones are those?! 😃

[@SonicScoop]

OLLOs

[@Ali_ReBORN]

SonicScoop thanks 😊

[@lorraineming4590]

aren't you supposed to put the preamp in the Unison slot ?

[@lamlo]

I also wanna hear these in the unison slots, and not as inserts

[@SonicScoop]

Maybe we'll do a video like that sometime soon. We've had enough requests for it. The inserts made sense for some quick level-matched comparisons on the fly, but the Unison option can get you even closer to the sound of the original units by matching the impedance to the originals.

[@LSAworship]

Good video!! Learning alot

[@sgfdancecompany]

I love UAD!!!!!

[@SonicScoop]

Samesies! -Justin

[@G_handle]

You do know you never actually used Unison right? Your video(s) are always on point, however a HUGE part of what makes UA different is that A) yes their plugin emulations are best in class, B) they run on the DSP chips inside of their own hardware giving them all the horsepower they need to run the heavy code, their plugins would bring your native CPU to it’s knees, C) much like Apple building the OS and the hardware, UA doing so allows for maximum dedicated optimization and incredibly low latency, aka “realtime“ processing, which allows a performer to listen through the DSP without disrupting their performance, and D) the Unison plug-ins, as opposed to simply running as inserts, which you can do, which you DID throughput this video, when run in the Unison slots, actually change the impedance of the Apollo’s HARDWARE preamplifier to match that of the real preamp being modeled by the Unison plugin. That changes the load that your Microphone actually sees, and in many, though not all cases, dramatically and sonically changes how your MIC itself performs. When you were switching between Plugin Pres with that SM7B, you were only showing half the story. Not that you may notice on the other end of KZbin, but in the studio it’s more akin to patching that mic in and out of physically different preamps in your arsenal. Hopefully since at the end of the video you thanked UA for sending you the unit, you guys can team up again for a follow up video, and put Unison Pres to the test, maybe against some actual hardware units, as people watching your videos are likely deciding which makes sense to invest in, bang for buck vs absolute quality. Maybe also try them with different Microphones on different sources, vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, amps. Again though, great video. But let’s say incomplete.

[@pozzthanapat]

Lol the guy didn’t even put them on preamp slot

[@Theboydevoye]

Nope nope nope i heard it on my laptop... got warmer and less harsh

[@michaelbennett9127]

As an owner of the X4 and X8 I think it's highly irresponsible to say they sound "close", or "sound the same" as the hardware. It's in-factual and outright wrong. Doesn't even come close. My Neve and API pre's blow the UAD pre's out of the conversation. Plugins are digital coding - some are modelling vintage gear (emulation), and digital modelling ain't the real thing. The price tag is absurd considering the resale value is a fraction, if even possible at all considering it's normally registered to one owner. Don't seem to find Fabfilter, and other desirable digital coding second hand. Plugin companies really exploit consumers (victims), and UAD may be up there as one of the best creators of emulations, and certainly top of the list of a pricey business model to commit to. RME and Apogee are good alternatives. Horsepower refers to engines, not audio interfaces

[@treztracks]

Good stuff ✌

[@alandeleon715]

You sound almost exactly like Dominick Cruz, ufc fighter lol

[@SonicScoop]

Maybe. I don't talk nearly as much trash tho! :-)

[@tuneunleashed]

Hahahaha HE DOES INDEED

[@organic10p]

this is not unison ! to use this tech you've got to put your pré on the unison place just under the input knob... that makes the différence...

[@mimidhof2179]

Is this a sponsored review...? If yes, you should tel it on title or announce it at the begining of the video...

[@SonicScoop]

Hi Mimidhof, This is not a "review". It is one of our sponsored First Look videos! All of the videos in this series are done in partnership with a brand that put out a new and interesting piece. In our view, if it's sponsored, it's not a "review", and vice versa. Justin mentions that this video is done in partnership with the brand twice in the video and we mention it in the video description as well. That's a lot better than so many channels on KZbin do! Usually, Justin thanks the brand right at the beginning, but the intro on this one was a little different in an effort to make a little more fun. We'll ask Justin to keep finding a way to mention right in the start in other installments. But we do make it clear we're partnering with them for this multiple times. There's a LOT of covert partnerships out there, and a lot of sponsored content that masquerades as impartial reviews, but we try to be as transparent about our partnerships as possible. We do not try to pretend that sponsored content are impartial reviews, like so many channels do. Hope that helps!

[@mimidhof2179]

@@SonicScoop Ok, now it's clearer to me that the content is sponsored, partnership doesn't necesary mean commercial partnership. But if it's sponsored that's clearly the case. Nothing against that and the brand clearly diserve what you say about... but I almost was confused if it was sponsored or not... thank you for clarify this point. Keep making great and honest video. I appreciate a lot what you do.

[@mrvron]

This is a headache for window users

[@lucinogen697]

why are you saying unison like that

[@jakemenzhuber4787]

too warm bud

[@juap]

i don’t need this... came on stay strong, I don’t need this... fck

[@e.apollis2877]

sorry but the Neve sounds weaker than the stock preamp!!!

[@SonicScoop]

It's hard to judge it accurately because the Neve has some significant EQ going on just for fun. In hindsight, I probably should have cut a bit less 350 Hz, but I wasn't wearing headphones or when I dialed it in in all of 5 seconds or so :) -Justin

[@miqer]

Nah... I have been testing it also. The Neve can be very spunky and crisp...