Apollo Twin MkII
レビュー
Apollo Twin MkII
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V. Zizkuns
Pricey, but good for tracking vocals
Got the Duo version about 6 months ago. Tested it in and out. Here are some points that I like and don't like about this interface.
The good:
* Desktop form factor (replaced my TC Konnekt 6).
* Worked straight out of the box on Windows 10 and the system reliability has improved since May 2017, when I bought it (I had some Console application crashes back then, when I was removing/disabling all plugins at the same time, but this has been fixed since).
* About 1 ms round-trip latency (@96k), if no upsampled plugins are used, which is great for tracking vocals.
* Console application is intuitive and easy to use.
* Versatile preamps
* Plugins sound great. Have not used the real Manley VOXBOX, Neve 1073 and SSL E channel strip, but I like what those Unison enabled plugins do to the sound.
* Auto-Tune real-time is available as an extra purchase. However, it has not been on sale so far and no vouchers work on it, but at the moment you can get it as a "3+1 bundle" holiday deal, which you can actually apply the vouchers on, if you have any.
The bad:
* Had to get a TB3 to TB2 converter and a TB cable, which created extra expenses.
* The interface sometimes gets really hot. Had to slightly lift it up above the desk surface by making custom "legs" to get more air flowing around it. And had to use a fan to cool it down in the summer, when the days were hot.
* SHARC processors are not very powerful - you can very quickly run out of the DSP power, if you use the newer, more DSP hungry plugins.
* Most of the new (upsampled) plugins add some extra latency. This is not an issue, when you are mixing/mastering, but, if you want to track live with plugins and you stack 4-5 of them in a chain (if you don't run out of the DSP power, of course), then you get some extra latency (basically, you go from 1 ms to 3-4 ms or more depending on the used plugins). And there are other good quality interfaces (with more I/O) on the market, that easily get you in the 3-5 ms round-trip latency range, while tracking through the computer + you are not limited to UA's plugins in this case.
* Not a lot of I/O's - 2 more line inputs and 2 more line outputs would have been very welcome, especially in this price range.
Final thoughts:
This interface is by no means perfect, but it does, what it has been advertised to do. If you are like me and most of the time you don't really need more than 2 inputs and 4 outputs (+ 1 headphone output), then this interface is worth considering. Preamps are very versatile and you can create custom low round-trip latency (about 1 ms @96k) signal chains for tracking vocals (and other instruments) with plugins, that sound great. However, I wish UA would have done a better job with the heat dissipation, because the interface is always warm and sometimes it does get abnormally hot, which makes me worry about the longevity of this interface.
F. Biagetti
Great little box
It replaced a motu 828 mk3, I'm mostly recording bass, guitars and vocal.
Being able to record with Unison plugins is great and tracking with a bit of compression and reverb does make the recording process easier and more comfortable.
I haven't fully mixed tracks with the UAD plugins yet, but the quick n' dirty mixes I did already sound better than final mixes I did before...
One point of concern (1 star less) with the unit is that it runs really hot quickly, not sure about longevity... I will try using a small USB fan to cool it down.
P. Kralovic
My best sound card yet
I'm very satisfied with the mk.II it has everything I needed. The only little thing I miss is the ability to use the volume keys on a mac to turn the volume up or down.
A. Hagos
A safe buy!
I´m very happy with the Apollo, it´s stable and have not given me any problems, works flawlessly as an audio interface. I think I would have given it 5 stars if the following things could be revised and fixed though (don´t know if it´s possible). When using the mono button, there should be a change in gain so that the output doesn´t distort, which happens now when using a limiter for example(this could be included as an option in the console). Also I experience problems when using uad plugins in conjunction with tempo dependent plugins, sidechain effects, compressors etc, which means I can´t use sidechain on a track that has uad plugins. But overall I love the unit and I´m glad I bought it, definitely worth!
F. Binninger
perfect for using amp plug-ins
this badboy provides the perfect latency for my fuchs amp plug-in‘s! easy to handle and easy to use.
T. Yuill
So Far So Good
Very easy to set up and activate, I wish it was compatible with Garage Band. The tutorials are extremely helpful. More later.
S. Boies
Qualité de son
L'apollo twin MkII a des meilleurs préamp et convertisseur mais la grosse différence est le système d'écoute améliorer, oui l'enregistrement et le mixage avec les pugins super ! Mais j'ai du plaisir à juste jouer avec.
S. Holmlund
So far so good
This is the best sound card I have ever owned, the quality is flawless and the sound is nice and crisp. Its so easy to use and with the software that follows make it a dream when it comes to zero latency when you are using your daw. In my case Cubase 9 pro.
I recommend it strongly
A. Del Busto
Fantastic
Absolutely love it, only thing I would say is a solo or duo don't make much sense to sell because the plugins people really want to use will be too much as is. I can't return mine for a quad anymore but I wish I could. I will be saving for the satellite starting now. Other wise fantastic product and plugins. I would advice anyone interested to only buy a quad. I regret not doing it
J. LEE
It's good and warm!
I received Apollo twin mk II quad 3weeks ago. And I've tried several projects which have over 50 tracks. Apollo has been very stable to work for professional projects. There was not any kind of crashes.
But I should pay attention to the temperature of the machine. Because Its surface is getting pretty hot after I use it for few minutes.
I think there is no fan inside this machine.
Anyway the preamps sound great. And every control is cery easy to use.
Good product!
C. Pagonis
Good gear! But...
...but I would have definitely preferred a version that works without external power supply. Maybe this is not possible yet, but this way the UAD universe remains clumsy and hardly portable...can't they just sell small dongles that one could use just to run the plugins if needed?
S. Arts
Apollo twin mkII
Recently bought the Apollo Twin mkII for my mobile recording setup.
Coming from the more cleaner pre-amp designed brands and da/ad conversion interfaces. This little one is delivering nice subtle human ear colouration and the da/ad conversion is just right!
Also as a big system PC user the thunderbolt works flawless.
Highly recommended to play with the insert and unison fx, make a sound, record pre or post with your favorite Uad plug-ins.
V. Vogt
State of the Art
I've tried different audio interfaces for example: Spl, RME, Motu, Apogee but the Apollo Twin is the best sounding unit. Minus one Star because the Consoll 2 is good but not good enough. They want too much with it and it's to complicated. You have to watch a 15 min tutorial to know how to create Headphone mixes. Sorry guys but you have to work on it.
M. Kemaloglu
superb
beautiful design, perfect sound, everything is amazing but why no midi input?
H. Hansson
Superb quality, expensive plugins.
Superb quality, expensive plugins.
A. Del Giulio
Portable workhorse
I switched from Apollo 8 Quad to Apollo Twin Quad and I'm quite happy since I can use the same DSP power in a portable solution. The overall interface looks robust and well designed. My Macbook Pro has only one Thunderbolt port, so a second TB port in the interface would have been a good solution for chaining other devices, such a monitor, without the need use a TB dock.
T. Dixon
Great piece of equipment as always, but...
The power supply leaves a little to be desired. A few times the unit has powered down after feeling very securely plugged and operational (and not moving at all). Not sure why UA went for wall wart style with a standard 9v plug (apart from saving space on the rear of the unit) when the UAD Satellite has a 5 pin input with IEC from mains to transformer...
K. Nielsen
Brilliant small interface
Being an owner of an apollo 8 also, the apollo twin was an easy step forward for me. However some things are a bit of an inconvenience. I had to buy a new thunderbolt hub, because the apollo twin only has 1 thunderbolt output, and i thought that it was possible to daisy chain that interface, the same way as the larger ones. That together with the high price of the Quad version, makes it a bit hard to give this product 5 stars, even though it deserves it
P. Duff
Simple, Clean and Nice Sounding
This is my second Apollo Twin and I was convinced to get the MkII because of the overall improvements and updated feature set. The original still sounds as good and I'm hard pressed to hear big difference but the talkback mic, mono switch and mute are really great features. It looks really good in the studio and fits nicely under the 27" iMac.
J. Davis
Must have for mobile!
I originally bought this for my mobile set up but I do also like to use it along with my Apollo 8, but since my computer only has one thunderbolt output and I have two displays I was forced to buy a Thunderbolt dock because this unit does it have a in and out Thunderbolt port. I'm very happy with my Apollo products