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Post by Quint on Jul 17, 2024 15:44:50 GMT -6
Agreed, its so sad. Just look at this convoluted mess trying to integrate this x16d with a modern digital mixer, setting up a bunch of inserts, separate computer to control the UAD console, midi to control the scenes.... blah, blah, blah:  However ill conceived the x16D may be, it's basically meant to be a replacement for the previous UAD Live Rack, which came out in 2018, I think. The Live Rack thing, and now the x16D, have always felt like something UA just slapped together because they already had the pieces lying around, and could assemble it without much effort. Kind of like those bowls of shit they sell at fast food joints like KFC. It's all the leftover shit nobody was buying, but that the company still wants to try to find a way to sell to somebody. So I don't necessarily see the new x16D as an automatic indication that we won't see any advancement on a new Apollo generation any time soon. There could still totally be a new Apollo generation released next year, all while leaving the x16D to service the live market for the foreseeable future. Studios and live are two different markets, and people aren't clamoring for the bleeding edge of sound quality in the live world, like they are in the studio market. So the x16D may be an Apollo in name, but I don't necessarily think of it as an Apollo in spirit. It's just a Live Rack with a different name, and Dante instead of MADI. That's basically it. So I'm not reading too much into the x16D, as far any implications go on a new generation of Apollos. But I still agree that the x16D is a bit WTF? |
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Post by andersmv on Jul 17, 2024 16:18:18 GMT -6
They are going to have to compete with The Galaxy by Antelope and that’s a tall order especially with the current economy, most people aren’t going to be spending $3000+ on converters that sound like ass that are underpowered with less features. I personally like a unit that does one thing the best and all those other options are useless! The game is over! Sorry to be so negative, but certain pieces bring it, and most pieces fail miserably, especially when you are trying to pack all this shit into one box. I would like to customize a box that works for my setup up and workflow. They don’t make that box and probably never will. I have a lot of great ideas, I should’ve got in the manufacturing game long ago, I could’ve designed a product that would’ve killed it. Maybe if things turn around it will be worth it to delve into this madness a little deeper, but I’m busy out of the studio currently and enjoying the live stage environment more as of now while I’m focusing on tweaking my rooms I've always wished that they would just make a DSP box, sans converters. Basically, their version of a HDX card. Then run whatever converters you want, connected to said DSP box via whatever connection protocol makes sense (TB, Dante, whatever). Ya, I always thought that would be cool as well. Even doing a 500 series unit with a few knobs and a scribble strip under each so you can load different plugins on it... You can technically run an Apollo as a sort of pass through device, I've worked with few people over the years doing it on TDM/HDX setups. You go into the Apollo, set up your chain on each channel inside the Console App, and then output each channel to a physical output in the console. Physical outputs to the inputs on your other interface, go go gadget UAD/HDX. There's going to be some "slight" delay issues if you try to combine UAD passthrough channels with other straight channels on the HDX interface (you couldn't really spread drums across them in a hybrid setup, too many phase issues). I did consider doing this with an Apollo 16 when the Avid Carbons first came out, but the Carbons ended up having way too many problems... It's doable, but it's a little more work. |
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Post by Quint on Jul 17, 2024 20:29:11 GMT -6
I've always wished that they would just make a DSP box, sans converters. Basically, their version of a HDX card. Then run whatever converters you want, connected to said DSP box via whatever connection protocol makes sense (TB, Dante, whatever). Ya, I always thought that would be cool as well. Even doing a 500 series unit with a few knobs and a scribble strip under each so you can load different plugins on it... You can technically run an Apollo as a sort of pass through device, I've worked with few people over the years doing it on TDM/HDX setups. You go into the Apollo, set up your chain on each channel inside the Console App, and then output each channel to a physical output in the console. Physical outputs to the inputs on your other interface, go go gadget UAD/HDX. There's going to be some "slight" delay issues if you try to combine UAD passthrough channels with other straight channels on the HDX interface (you couldn't really spread drums across them in a hybrid setup, too many phase issues). I did consider doing this with an Apollo 16 when the Avid Carbons first came out, but the Carbons ended up having way too many problems... It's doable, but it's a little more work. Yeah, if I was running an old school all analog studio, with a LFAC and everything, but still needed digital reverbs, delays, and modulation, and didn't want to shell out for or couldn't find still functioning old school rack mount digital reverb/delay/modulation boxes, I'd totally just rig up an Apollo and use it on inserts as a one stop shop for all of my FX needs. |
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Post by andersmv on Jul 17, 2024 23:28:35 GMT -6
If you’re just wanting to run reverbs, get one of the Satellite DSP boxes and run them right off your computer. There’s going to be a “little” bit of a delay, but who care if you’re running them on sends completely wet. Just think of it as a slight pre delay 😂. I know a few people running their small live shows off of Apollos, you can pretty much do it as is with them…
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083 
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Post by ericn on Jul 18, 2024 10:34:49 GMT -6
Old live guy over drinks last night “ wasn’t the big thing about digital consoles that it would streamline FOH & we wouldn’t have to carry delicate outboard? Now I have 5 crappy laptops at FOH !
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