Universal Audio Apollo x16 18x20 Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface with UAD DSP
50% More Power, Elite-class AD/DA, and More!
Place the Universal Audio Apollo x16 at the center of your studio, and it's guaranteed to turbocharge your productivity. Track and mix with 50% more processing power than previous Apollos, thanks to UA's powerful 6-core HEXA Core processor. Experience top-shelf sound quality, by way of the Apollo x16's upgraded elite-class AD/DA conversion. Pro users will appreciate native 7.1 surround monitoring support**, selectable +24dBu operation, built-in talkback, and more. Beyond that, you get sub-2ms latency and ample expandability, thanks to the Apollo x16's ultra-fast Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. If there was ever a time to upgrade to the newest Apollo, now's the time!
Track and mix with powerful HEXA Core processing
There are times when your computer doesn't have enough power and speed to run all the plug-ins your recording session requires. That's where UA's powerful 6-core HEXA Core processor comes in. This processor yields 50% more power than the previous generation. This means that you can track in real-time with Neve, Manley, or API channel strips, or run large UAD plug-in counts while mixing in your DAW. The engineers here at Sweetwater appreciate being able to inject guitars with the tube warmth of a Pultec EQ, add the musical limiting of an LA-2A to a vocal, and pump up drums with an 1176 or Fairchild 670 — all in real-time. It's the closest thing to having the real hardware.
Elite-class AD/DA conversion offers ultra-pristine sound
Apollos have always sounded great, but the Apollo x16's AD/DA conversion takes it to the next level. When they were designing the latest generation of Apollos, UA engineers auditioned the latest leading-edge AD/DA technology, ultimately pairing elite-class 24-bit/192kHz converters with overhauled analog circuitry. The result is an ultra-pristine signal path with 133dB dynamic range and -129dB THD+N. Dive in, and you'll hear for it yourself — the Apollo x16's AD/DA rivals any high-end standalone converter on the market.
A bevy of pro-level features
You can find Apollos in professional studios worldwide. That said, users have been clamoring for certain pro-level features. Good news — Universal Audio has been listening! So what's new? First of all, the Apollo x16 includes 7.1 surround monitoring support**, complete with speaker calibration and fold-down. This is great news for engineers working on audio and music for video games, film, television, and the web. Beyond that, the Apollo x16 was tailor-made for your analog console and other high-end gear, courtesy of its selectable +24dBu operation. Thanks to these and other great features, the Apollo x16 makes a great centerpiece for any studio.
Thunderbolt: ultra-low latency and unrivaled bandwidth
Thunderbolt is one of the most important technologies to impact audio production in years, and UA was one of the first to adopt it. Thanks to its blazing-fast connectivity, Thunderbolt offers lower latency and greater stability than USB or FireWire, clocking in with the speed and ultra-fast performance of a PCI Express system. In fact, the Apollo x16's Thunderbolt 3 connection runs projects with high track counts at latencies of less than 2ms! On top of that, multiple Apollo interfaces can be networked over Thunderbolt to add fast, high-bandwidth I/O and DSP to your studio. You don't even need a brand-new computer — the Apollo x16's two built-in Thunderbolt 3 ports are backward-compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 Macs (adapter sold separately).
Sensational plug-in bundle included!
UAD Powered Plug-ins have earned their reputation for being some of the most accurate emulations of analog audio equipment ever created. The astonishing processing power of the UAD platform is what makes these plug-ins sound so great. You simply can't get the depth, color, and character these plug-ins have without devoting huge CPU resources to them. Best of all, Apollo x16 lets you record your audio through UAD plug-ins in real time with sub-2ms latency. You'll receive the Realtime Analog Classics Plus bundle, which includes:
- UA 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ
- Marshall Plexi Classic Guitar Amp
- Ampeg SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp
- UA 1176LN Limiting Amplifier
- UA 1176SE Limiting Amplifier
- Pultec EQP-1A EQ
- Pultec Pro EQ
- Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier
- Fairchild 670 Compressor
- Precision Enhancer Hz
- Raw Distortion
- Precision Channel Strip
- Precision Reflection Engine
- Precision Delay Mod
- Precision Delay Mod L
- RealVerb Pro Custom Room Modeler
Universal Audio Apollo x16 Features:
- 18-in/20-out Thunderbolt 3 audio interface for Mac* or PC, with onboard UAD-2 HEXA Core processing
- 6-core HEXA Core offers 50% more processing power than previous Apollos
- Upgraded elite-class AD/DA conversion supplies an ultra-pristine signal path with 133dB dynamic range and -129dB THD+N
- 7.1 surround monitoring support for engineers working on video games, film, television, and the web**
- Selectable +24dBu operation for easy integration with analog consoles and other high-end studio gear
- Integrated talkback for easy communication and slating takes
- Ultra-fast Thunderbolt 3 connectivity provides less than 2ms of latency and ample expandability
- Realtime Analog Classics Plus UAD plug-in bundle included featuring 16 amazing plug-in emulations
- Backward-compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 Macs (adapter sold separately)
Tech Specs
- Computer Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3
- Form Factor: Rackmount
- Simultaneous I/O: 18 x 20
- A/D Resolution: 24-bit/192kHz
- Built In DSP/FX: 6 x UAD DSP Cores
- Analog Inputs: 2 x DB-25 (line)
- Analog Outputs: 2 x XLR (monitor), 2 x DB-25 (line/7.1 surround)
- Digital Inputs: 1 x XLR (AES/EBU)
- Digital Outputs: 1 x XLR (AES/EBU)
- Thunderbolt: 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 3)
- Clock I/O: In/Out (75 ohm termination switch)
- Software: HEXA Core UAD Plug-in processing, Realtime Analog Classics Plus Plug-ins
- OS Requirements - Mac: OS X 10.10 or later
- OS Requirements - PC: Windows 10 64-bit Anniversary update or later, Thunderbolt 3 port (built-in)
- Rack Spaces: 1U
- Power Supply: 12V DC power supply
- Width: 19"
- Height: 1.75"
- Manufacturer Part Number: Apollo x16
