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Post by Drew @ UA on Sept 15, 2018 8:20:59 GMT -6
It's just a recommendation. If you find a system that works for you, go for it. For example, we never supported TB2 on PCs and yet there countless users that have made it work. This is what I would like to do with my Win7 rig X's are different, they appear to NEED TB3. I've encountered one PC user that had MKIIs working with their TB2 rig, but tried an X and it did not. And of course it'll never be a supported setup.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Sept 15, 2018 8:36:01 GMT -6
@drew I hear you saying X’s think, they are special ?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2018 18:02:21 GMT -6
I feel like I'm in audio limbo, it's going to be a rough ride until Tuesday.! On a side note I've been looking deeper into the Apollo X6.
> 123dB line in / 122dB -115 dB THD+N pre-amps / 127 + 129 dB on the line outs / monitors / 125dB Headphones.. Awesome spec's across the board, whether one can tell much difference or not.. Definitely a "keeper" interface.
> Really interested in the Ampeg SVT emulation, I get an awesome large sounding bass signal out of the Shelford DI / comp.. So I normally just "top it off" with a sansamp / IR plugin.
> I do like the 610-B HW, I don't need emulations (or pre-amps) but if it sounds good why not?
> In terms of DSP, not really sure what all the kerfuffle is about (reading on multiple forums), it's cool for scratch mixes which I really enjoy doing when tracking.. It's not like the interface restricts you from using native plugins as well, especially in terms of mastering limiters (which seem to improve on a quarterly basis) you need options.
I do really like the UA LA-2A emu's for "top off's" so I'll make sure I'm updated there, I also really like the Softube / NI plugs for the rest.
> Mixer from what I've seen looks nice and straight forward, looking forward to it testing it out.
> Being able to daisy chain 6 over TB is cool..
If latency ain't too bad (which I doubt it will be in conjunction with HW monitoring) the rest should be fine..!
It's all down to sound now.! T-3 days and counting.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Sept 15, 2018 18:52:03 GMT -6
If you are thinking x16, remember no unison functionality. You can load unison plug ins in the non unison slots to use their non pre features.
The X’s specs are approaching as good as they are going to get , so I agree with probsblyva long term buy.
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Post by jtc111 on Sept 15, 2018 19:43:39 GMT -6
I think I'll eventually go the X16 route. It's a huge upgrade from my Apollo Firewire.
UA Apollo Firewire ADC Dynamic Range: 117dB ADC ADC THD+N: -107dB DAC Dynamic Range: 118dB DAC THD+N: -106dB Monitor DAC Dynamic Range: 115dB Monitor DAC THD-N: -103dB
UA Apollo X16 - ADC Dynamic Range: 124dB ADC THD+N: -115dB DAC Dynamic Range: 127dB DAC THD+N: -123dB Monitor DAC Dynamic Range: 133dB Monitor DAC THD-N: -129dB
Losing the unison capability isn't a big deal to me. I have four preamps that I really like (Demeter, Hardy, Hendy, Sebatron). I have 4 racked compressors and another on the way. I'm good without the unison so may as well swing for the seats.
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Post by kcatthedog on Sept 15, 2018 20:09:14 GMT -6
If you don’t want Unison plugs and don’t need pres 16x, is the way to go.
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Post by LesC on Sept 15, 2018 21:46:33 GMT -6
If you are thinking x16, remember no unison functionality. You can load unison plug ins in the non unison slots to use their non pre features. Yes, UA touts the quality of their unison preamps, but unison isn't available with their best conversion. You have to chose either unison or best conversion, I just find that weird. I'm in the market for an interface, and I'm considering an otherwise-unneeded PC upgrade to get Thunderbolt for use with a UA x-series. If there was a model with unison and their top-of-the-line conversion, that would make the choice a lot easier.
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Post by Quint on Sept 15, 2018 21:58:51 GMT -6
If you are thinking x16, remember no unison functionality. You can load unison plug ins in the non unison slots to use their non pre features. Yes, UA touts the quality of their unison preamps, but unison isn't available with their best conversion. You have to chose either unison or best conversion, I just find that weird. I'm in the market for an interface, and I'm considering an otherwise-unneeded PC upgrade to get Thunderbolt for use with a UA x-series. If there was a model with unison and their top-of-the-line conversion, that would make the choice a lot easier. I think it just comes down to a price point target. If you look at the x16, they upped the price by $500 over the previous Apollo 16s to pay for better conversion there. How many people who are in the market for a $2000 or $2500 interface would complain if UA instead was charging $2500 or $3000, respectively, to pay for better converters in those 8 channel Apollos? I'm sure UA has done their research and determined that there was more profit and a larger customer pool if they charged what they are charging for the 8 channel Apollos instead of charging more to pay for better conversion in those units.
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Post by LesC on Sept 15, 2018 22:07:53 GMT -6
Yes, UA touts the quality of their unison preamps, but unison isn't available with their best conversion. You have to chose either unison or best conversion, I just find that weird. I'm in the market for an interface, and I'm considering an otherwise-unneeded PC upgrade to get Thunderbolt for use with a UA x-series. If there was a model with unison and their top-of-the-line conversion, that would make the choice a lot easier. I think it just comes down to a price point target. If you look at the x16, they upped the price by $500 over the previous Apollo 16s to pay for better conversion there. How many people who are in the market for a $2000 or $2500 interface would complain if UA instead was charging $2500 or $3000, respectively, to pay for better converters in those 8 channel Apollos? I'm sure UA has done their research and determined that there was more profit and a larger customer pool if they charged what they are charging for the 8 channel Apollos instead of charging more to pay for better conversion in those units. I'm sure you're right, it's a marketing thing. On some people it will have the opposite effect though, you're paying $2,000 or $2,500 and not even getting their best conversion. Personally, I'd rather pay the premium but that's just me.
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Post by Quint on Sept 15, 2018 22:19:04 GMT -6
I think it just comes down to a price point target. If you look at the x16, they upped the price by $500 over the previous Apollo 16s to pay for better conversion there. How many people who are in the market for a $2000 or $2500 interface would complain if UA instead was charging $2500 or $3000, respectively, to pay for better converters in those 8 channel Apollos? I'm sure UA has done their research and determined that there was more profit and a larger customer pool if they charged what they are charging for the 8 channel Apollos instead of charging more to pay for better conversion in those units. I'm sure you're right, it's a marketing thing. On some people it will have the opposite effect though, you're paying $2,000 or $2,500 and not even getting their best conversion. Personally, I'd rather pay the premium but that's just me. I'm with you. I'd rather pay more as well to get the best. I guess there are just more people who wouldn't want to pay more. Luckily I don't need Unison and do need 16 channels. So it's a no brainer for me to go with the x16.
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Post by nudwig on Sept 15, 2018 22:32:38 GMT -6
> Really interested in the Ampeg SVT emulation, I get an awesome large sounding bass signal out of the Shelford DI / comp.. So I normally just "top it off" with a sansamp / IR plugin. I love the Ampeg SVT emulation. Fed the signal from a Zod I don't really bother firing up and micing my SVT3Pro as I can get crazy tones from that plugin. I like all the virtual mic options for the cab too, basically use them as eq to fit the track.
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Post by jtc111 on Sept 15, 2018 22:41:42 GMT -6
If you don’t want Unison plugs and don’t need pres 16x, is the way to go. I never use the four unison inputs on my Apollo Firewire. I like my outboard preamps better than the unison stuff. I do agree with the folks saying its silly for UA to not offer unison with their best conversion, especially since it's a 16 channel unit. Unless there's a technical reason why it's not possible, I don't understand the logic of not having four unison pres on that box. For my own uses, I could've done with an 8 channel box with the better conversion, but it is what it is. I'll probably never wire up channels 9-16 ...or maybe there's a 500 chassis in my future. For feck's sake... talking to you guys costs me a lot of money.
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Post by LesC on Sept 15, 2018 22:51:00 GMT -6
I'm sure you're right, it's a marketing thing. On some people it will have the opposite effect though, you're paying $2,000 or $2,500 and not even getting their best conversion. Personally, I'd rather pay the premium but that's just me. I'm with you. I'd rather pay more as well to get the best. I guess there are just more people who wouldn't want to pay more. Luckily I don't need Unison and do need 16 channels. So it's a no brainer for me to go with the x16. In your situation the x16 seems ideal. I don't need sixteen channels, I rarely record more than 2 tracks at a time and the x6 has all the IO that I need. I also have external preamps. The only reason I'm interested in unison is for the amp models to monitor while DI'ing guitar and bass. It would save buying additional hardware such as a Line 6 Helix or a Boss GT1000 to replace my (sold) Kemper Rack.
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Post by Quint on Sept 15, 2018 23:01:49 GMT -6
I'm with you. I'd rather pay more as well to get the best. I guess there are just more people who wouldn't want to pay more. Luckily I don't need Unison and do need 16 channels. So it's a no brainer for me to go with the x16. In your situation the x16 seems ideal. I don't need sixteen channels, I rarely record more than 2 tracks at a time and the x6 has all the IO that I need. I also have external preamps. The only reason I'm interested in unison is for the amp models to monitor while DI'ing guitar and bass. It would save buying additional hardware such as a Line 6 Helix or a Boss GT1000 to replace my (sold) Kemper Rack. You could just get an external impedance control like the Radial Dragster to essentially do the same thing Unison is doing. That's what I do with my current 16.
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Post by LesC on Sept 15, 2018 23:22:53 GMT -6
Do you mean the Dragster directly into a line input on the Apollo 16? Or the Dragster into a DI input on one of your preamps, then into a line input on the Apollo 16? And then use an amp model on the Apollo 16? You've given me food for thought. I didn't realize you could load a unison-enabled plugin into a slot without a unison pre, but on reflection it seems obvious. Thank you!
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Post by Quint on Sept 15, 2018 23:33:27 GMT -6
Do you mean the Dragster directly into a line input on the Apollo 16? Or the Dragster into a DI input on one of your preamps, then into a line input on the Apollo 16? And then use an amp model on the Apollo 16? You've given me food for thought. I didn't realize you could load a unison-enabled plugin into a slot without a unison pre, but on reflection it seems obvious. Thank you! Yes, I meant guitar>Dragster>LL IBP DI>outboard preamp>Apollo line in>Amp Sim.
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Post by LesC on Sept 15, 2018 23:45:19 GMT -6
Do you mean the Dragster directly into a line input on the Apollo 16? Or the Dragster into a DI input on one of your preamps, then into a line input on the Apollo 16? And then use an amp model on the Apollo 16? You've given me food for thought. I didn't realize you could load a unison-enabled plugin into a slot without a unison pre, but on reflection it seems obvious. Thank you! Yes, I meant guitar>Dragster>LL IBP DI>outboard preamp>Apollo line in>Amp Sim. Thanks again, this is certainly a possibility that I hadn't considered.
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Post by kcatthedog on Sept 16, 2018 4:38:42 GMT -6
I too would like the option of the best converters but as Quint has said above, I think UA sees the 16X for people with console and OB. Also in a way one can have unison with a 16X by having a twin in your system too.
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Post by indiehouse on Sept 16, 2018 5:44:56 GMT -6
I too would like the option of the best converters but as Quint has said above, I think UA sees the 16X for people with console and OB. Also in a way one can have unison with a 16X by having a twin in your system too. Can a Twin control the volume for the main outs on a 16x? The idea being using the Twin as a monitor controller while using the better DA of the 16x.
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Post by Drew @ UA on Sept 16, 2018 6:01:15 GMT -6
I too would like the option of the best converters but as Quint has said above, I think UA sees the 16X for people with console and OB. Also in a way one can have unison with a 16X by having a twin in your system too. Can a Twin control the volume for the main outs on a 16x? The idea being using the Twin as a monitor controller while using the better DA of the 16x. Yes it can.
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Post by kcatthedog on Sept 16, 2018 6:03:42 GMT -6
Supposed to as long as everything is on tbolt, you can rack the 16X and have the twin on your desk where you mix. In the console set up screen/tabs, it will see both interfaces, you just drag the master to the top position, so the OS knows it will do all the controlling.
Maybe Drew can chime in re: clocking etc as the 16X must have the better clock , running monitors off the 16x etc.. ??
A twin can add another 4 sharc chips ( for tracking or for mixing).
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Post by Quint on Sept 16, 2018 6:46:47 GMT -6
If I just HAD to have Unison and/or was wanting to have an all in one monitoring solution, adding a Twin to my 16 is probably what I would be doing.
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Post by kcatthedog on Sept 16, 2018 7:08:17 GMT -6
It’s nice to have options and you can run I think 6 devices. I had my bf8 within arm’s reach sova twin didn’t make much sense but those that use them as a monito controller seem to really like the workflow, plus you are getting more sharcs so increasing your dsp capacity.
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Post by Guitar on Sept 16, 2018 10:37:10 GMT -6
With a Thunderbolt Satellite you can use "LiveTrack Mode" to track through unison plugins like the amp sims for example.
I guess a question for @drew @ UA is can you do the same thing on the Apollo 16?
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Post by Drew @ UA on Sept 16, 2018 12:21:42 GMT -6
You can, but it's not Unison since that's exclusive to Apollos with mic pres.
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