|
|
Post by wiz on Jul 16, 2015 16:28:53 GMT -6
So, whats the word?
Haven't really seen anything on them.
Anyone got one?
whats the AD/DA performance and sound like?
you know, give us the skinny...
8)
cheers
Wiz
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 16, 2015 16:51:09 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 16, 2015 18:51:59 GMT -6
two things to keep in mind that ua used two different converters , the 16 has better new conversion than the new 8 cat5 has a new bf apollo so maybe he will chime in but the comments I have read indicated that the new 8 is more linear, finer resolution , depth and soundstage and the 16 even more so essentially UA has significantly redesigned the apollo, there are the new converters, doubled signal path and doubled converters to improve S/N, improved PSU and 100 tweaks to optimize the sonics and apparently they have taken a page from the BLA mod , as ua has upgraded the analog components and decoupled the converters. ( 2 parts of the bla mod to the original apollo now referred to as the SF silver face or classic as opposed to the bf (blackface)  One odd thing with the 8 is they lost the xlr inputs so it doesn't play so nice with a patchbay one other cautionary note with the new 16 there is a known bug , which ua is working on and can replicate in house, the first ua sharc chip in console ( its gui) can quickly become over loaded ( not correctly) and causes a cascade of uA plugs to be turned off, not good. A couple of guys on the ua forum have had this happen and helped UA diagnose the situation, so its seems a fix is close people who have the new 16 seem to feel that its sonics have been very significantly improved Cat5 has had a stock and bla modded SF apollos and now has a bf 8 so could provide an actual user experience commentary if he'd s just stop screwing around with mike caps |
|
|
|
Post by warrenfirehouse on Jul 16, 2015 19:30:18 GMT -6
I just got a blackface 8 a couple weeks ago. So far so good. Never had a silver so cant compare the two.
Ive only had one recording session with it, a drum session. I used my sparrow for overheads and outboard pres for kick and snare through apollo. Used the apollo pres with api vision for toms and rooms. Came out beautiful, my best raw capture to date.
Ive been doing alot of mixing. Coming from a 002 obviously the d/a is night and day. Ive been learning a new computer, os, ua console, pt12 and a ton of new plugs so its all a little overwhelming. I will soon do some converter comparisons though and report back. One of my friends has a silverface so maybe ill shoot them out with some tracks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 16, 2015 19:44:17 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Guitar on Jul 17, 2015 15:52:10 GMT -6
Curious MK I user here, nice feedback kcatthedog and warrenfirehouse. I've been sleeping on the unison preamps. I think I should probably give them a fair shake.
I'm a bit optimistic about them because I keep getting really good bass DI tracks with the front panel 1/4" inputs, makes me think the preamps might have more to offer than I assumed.
|
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 17, 2015 18:51:37 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by category5 on Jul 19, 2015 22:40:28 GMT -6
I still have a BLA modded silver Apollo and have a few of the new blackface 8s. Yes, the improvement is audible, based on comparison with my BLA Apollo. I do not thin the BLA has a distinct advantage over the new version. The BLA version is very detailed and particularly smooth in the upper end of the spectrum, but is comparatively smaller down low than the new version. The AD is using parallel conversion which improves dynamic range and helps them achieve a real world spec equivalent to the theoretical maximum of the chip, The converters themselves are the same on the AD side, which was never really been the common complaint of Apollo owners. The DA has changed from an older (albeit respected and popular) Cirrus chip to AKMs newest flagship 32-bit chip. IMO this isn't entirely the reason for the audible improvement. The originals used the same 5532 op-amps as the new versions (which I never disliked) but they have switched to TI branded parts in place of the low cost (lower quality) JRC version. Yes, the converters are DC coupled now, which was a major selling point of the BLA premium mod. I think folks who find the originals to be aggressive in the midrange will like the new unit better. As a multichannel converter I think the new Apollos have improved upon their model admirably, for a version 2. The 16 channel one-ups the Apollo 8 on the DA side by using the 8 channel ESS chips that is one of the best regarded DA chips of the current gen. Yes, it's the one from the symphony and the new ensemble. I have yet to get my hands on it so I can't confirm that's the only difference.
If you have a silverface version and you feel the conversion is a barrier then the new version will probably be worth the upgrade (if you like the Apollo workflow and real time DSP benefits). If you have a BLA modded version 1, the decision to upgrade is not as clear. I do like the new version better than the BLA, but we are talking very fine differences.
In fact, I am still inclined to believe that the original version sounds great and probably isn't a real barrier for the majority of users. Of course, this forum isn't populated with guys like that so I'm sure a lot of you will value the improvement. I bought the new versions to build a live setup around. I will likely keep my BLA Apollo for the time being. I like it and it's familiar. I sold my Aurora which I always liked, and have been toying with the idea of getting a Hilo. In other words, I think the conversion on the Apollo is super, but there are still inches to be gained. Johnken, I don't think you'd miss your symphony as much this time around, especially if you moved up to the 16. Hopefully UA will get me a test unit sooner than later and I can see what's changed in their flagship interface.
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 20, 2015 19:14:41 GMT -6
Great review, category5. Have you been following @svarts build? I thought the RM1794 was a more accurate DA than the Symphony and the. I thought Svart's box was an improvement over that. |
|
|
|
Post by category5 on Jul 21, 2015 8:05:38 GMT -6
Great review, category5. Have you been following @svarts build? I thought the RM1794 was a more accurate DA than the Symphony and the. I thought Svart's box was an improvement over that. I have been following that closely. I was planning to get one but it turned out to be birthday month for the kiddos and financially it wasn't in the cards right now. I was also still hesitant because of the clocking limitations, which will obviously affect some more than others. It looks like Svart's box has turned out to be a stellar option though, and I may still get one from a future batch when funds and necessity align. |
|
|
|
Post by drsax on Jul 21, 2015 23:11:45 GMT -6
I still have a BLA modded silver Apollo and have a few of the new blackface 8s. Yes, the improvement is audible, based on comparison with my BLA Apollo. I do not thin the BLA has a distinct advantage over the new version. The BLA version is very detailed and particularly smooth in the upper end of the spectrum, but is comparatively smaller down low than the new version. The AD is using parallel conversion which improves dynamic range and helps them achieve a real world spec equivalent to the theoretical maximum of the chip, The converters themselves are the same on the AD side, which was never really been the common complaint of Apollo owners. The DA has changed from an older (albeit respected and popular) Cirrus chip to AKMs newest flagship 32-bit chip. IMO this isn't entirely the reason for the audible improvement. The originals used the same 5532 op-amps as the new versions (which I never disliked) but they have switched to TI branded parts in place of the low cost (lower quality) JRC version. Yes, the converters are DC coupled now, which was a major selling point of the BLA premium mod. I think folks who find the originals to be aggressive in the midrange will like the new unit better. As a multichannel converter I think the new Apollos have improved upon their model admirably, for a version 2. The 16 channel one-ups the Apollo 8 on the DA side by using the 8 channel ESS chips that is one of the best regarded DA chips of the current gen. Yes, it's the one from the symphony and the new ensemble. I have yet to get my hands on it so I can't confirm that's the only difference. If you have a silverface version and you feel the conversion is a barrier then the new version will probably be worth the upgrade (if you like the Apollo workflow and real time DSP benefits). If you have a BLA modded version 1, the decision to upgrade is not as clear. I do like the new version better than the BLA, but we are talking very fine differences. In fact, I am still inclined to believe that the original version sounds great and probably isn't a real barrier for the majority of users. Of course, this forum isn't populated with guys like that so I'm sure a lot of you will value the improvement. I bought the new versions to build a live setup around. I will likely keep my BLA Apollo for the time being. I like it and it's familiar. I sold my Aurora which I always liked, and have been toying with the idea of getting a Hilo. In other words, I think the conversion on the Apollo is super, but there are still inches to be gained. Johnken, I don't think you'd miss your symphony as much this time around, especially if you moved up to the 16. Hopefully UA will get me a test unit sooner than later and I can see what's changed in their flagship interface. Great info Category5 - thanks man I'll be looking forward to hearing more real world experiences as time goes on. I have been pretty satisfied with the original Apollo AD. But the DA is not at the same level. When I run individual tracks through outboard while mixing, I feel like my Lavry Blue is still superior for the full AD/DA round trip and it's a pretty old converter |
|
|
|
Post by Guitar on Jul 22, 2015 8:51:12 GMT -6
Category5, wow good infos. I'm already supplementing my silver Apollo with SPDIF and ADAT conversion that is higher quality, so I don't really feel the urge to upgrade. Like you said, it pretty much does what it needs to for me, and I've got other things hooked up when I need something different. Might be a different story if Apollo was the only interface I had. I'm getting a lot of mileage out of my standalone DACs and portable desktop interfaces. But the nut in me is still curious about these new Apollos. I'm just happy that the need to upgrade doesn't seem to be desperate, I'll probably take my time on this one. What, I'm satisfied with my gear? Someone call an ambulance!
|
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 22, 2015 14:53:25 GMT -6
FYI UA does now have a fix for the new 16 first chip cascade problem and the user reports their system is working fine. It seemed an isolated incident, but good to know that UA has a fix.
|
|
|
|
Post by warrenfirehouse on Jul 22, 2015 15:01:00 GMT -6
So I got an email from UA today regarding a recall. Heres what the message said:
Thanks for your recent purchase of an Apollo 8 or Apollo 8p audio interface. And once again, welcome to the Universal Audio family.
At Universal Audio, we take great pride in our craftsmanship — from audio performance to customer service. Today, we are writing you with some important news that will help ensure the utmost quality for your Apollo 8/8p recordings.
Based on your Apollo 8/8p serial number, we are recommending a component update to the DI circuitry in your interface. This update improves audio performance when using the ¼" front panel DIs (Hi-Z inputs). This is a minor component update, but it must be performed by a qualified UA technician.
In order to prevent any downtime for your studio, we will be sending you an Apollo 8 or Apollo 8p advanced replacement unit, free of charge. And to apologize for the inconvenience, we will be giving you two $100 UAD plug-in coupons for use in the UAD online store.
Below you will find a link to claim your Apollo 8/8p replacement unit, and instructions for returning your existing unit
So....I dont use the DI's and probably never will but, I could certainly use 200 at the plug store! Pretty solid customer service if you ask me! Im impressed!
|
|
|
|
Post by warrenfirehouse on Jul 22, 2015 15:05:26 GMT -6
Hmmmmmmmm....but do I get the dbx160 or the harrison eq?
|
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 22, 2015 15:09:49 GMT -6
neither pultec mk ii and demo the new neve 88rs channel strip, if you can use both coupons in one purchase; you get it for $90 ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Guitar on Jul 22, 2015 15:15:35 GMT -6
Do you have Ampex already? I think that's my favorite one so far, super impressed. I just got it this month though so the excitement is still running high.
|
|
|
|
Post by drsax on Jul 22, 2015 16:14:46 GMT -6
The new Neve 88rs is gorgeous sounding... That EQ is awesome
|
|
|
|
Post by warrenfirehouse on Jul 22, 2015 17:42:33 GMT -6
My problem is I'm only on a duo  Im afraid to demo the more dsp intensive plugs because then Ill end up with an octo satellite and another bill I cant afford lol |
|
|
|
Post by warrenfirehouse on Jul 22, 2015 17:44:27 GMT -6
I am really diggin the legacy pultec on the 2bus. How much better is the mkii? Night and day or subtle?
|
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 22, 2015 17:52:26 GMT -6
sorry to say more like night and day, remember that the P mk ii comes with more than 1 eq !
yes a twin is nice but the duo can be limiting but you should be able to run 2 88 rs ; one on each channel/chip while tracking, plus you are getting the neve unison pre and comp and gate
very usable on busses for mixing too ?
yes you will want an octo in time but wait for one of ua's sales !
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2015 17:52:43 GMT -6
It's really good. The top end is very smooth. Can't speak to how it compares with the old one though.
|
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Jul 22, 2015 18:16:16 GMT -6
So, the Apollo 8 & 16 got a conversion upgrade. What about the Twin? Still on the 'Classic' converters? I've got a silverface Quad, but thinking sometime in the future I might go for the 16, but would maybe pick up a Twin to still utilize a couple of channels of the unison pre's.
|
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 22, 2015 18:59:57 GMT -6
yes twin has not been upgraded yet ?  16 has best DA but no pres. |
|
|
|
Post by Guitar on Jul 23, 2015 8:57:57 GMT -6
My problem is I'm only on a duo Im afraid to demo the more dsp intensive plugs because then Ill end up with an octo satellite and another bill I cant afford lol I'm starting to run into that problem with my Duo. I hope I don't get mad when I start running low on DSP, haha. |
|
Im afraid to demo the more dsp intensive plugs because then Ill end up with an octo satellite and another bill I cant afford lol
