Ultimate UA Apollo I/O setup in my Home Studio (with External Preamps)

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[AndrewMasters]

Didn't realize you could take advantage of those ADAT inputs without another interface. So awesome.

[OffShiftProductions]

This is precisely why I got the 4 710d. The 4 line ins and the ADAT make it super versatile. Got an awesome deal on a demo model from Sweetwater. You could pick up the 4 channel Warm Audio preamp and run that sucker in to the line ins of the 4-710d. I've considered that. Love this kind of video!

[BeauStephenson]

You've probably already been bombarded with this, but definitely separate those two apollos so they aren't stacked. I had my X8p stack with my 16, and the X8p burned out! Had to get the board swapped. It works great now, but I definitely keep that spacing. It looks like one of them could easily go between those compressors, since fets don't run hot and I believe aren't as deep at the apollos. Just a friendly tips to hopefully save you the headache I went through!

[wilkeymusic]

Been doing this for 15 years or so using the Focusrite ISA 428 pre with the optional Digital card. Has been great when needing many inputs at once like band tracking. Came up with it the same way that you did trying to milk a few extra ins without coughing up coin for one more interface. I thought ppl knew about this hack, but so many here are new to it. Glad that you shared it for the community 🙌🏾

[RicShaa]

I went down that same rabbit hole, even though just in theory from reading the pdf manuals of all of these units and im also in love with this UA routing idea.

[mcoffey]

I had a 710d, but the pre's weren't my thing for my remote rig. I went to the Audient ASP 880 and like the pre's much better. I ADAT into my X8 for 12 channels, and then patch my API 3124MV for another 4 if needed. So basically I have 16 channels for remote stuff in a 3U case. I use 2 Apollo x16 for I/O into my API for my home studio, and love the routing flexibility it gives me along with the two Flock Patch 64 for outboard and added I/O. You want something that will change your life? Get a Flock Patch 64. I only use them for line level stuff. No mic input pass throughs. Best money I ever spent next to my API. Love your vids and really fun watching you discover more and more ways to do things. Very informative too.

[mattmelodymusic]

Yes Laxcity with the intro music!! Love that dude, so underrated.

[millerlightmoose]

Did not know the Apollo line ins worked that way! This changes everything

[avincentphotography]

As a home studio owner and equipment freak I have to say I love your videos! Thanks!

[evanmorgan]

I have an apollo 8 as my main racked interface and a Twin, which can actually act as a monitor controller for your rack mounted apollos. All my speakers are plugged into the racked apollo, but I can control the volume, speaker switching, mute mono and dim with the desktop twin, even though there only a thunderbolt connected!

[davidmaraisthecampfireguit]

Great video, Andrew. I have two Apollo x8ps, each with an external preamp/channel strip going into each channel at line level. The 14 outboard preamplifiers I use going straight into the 2 8p Apollos at line level are:

Neve 1073dpx preamp and Eq (2 x channels)
UA LA619 channel strip
UA6176 dtrip
Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel
Manley Core channel strip
Warm Audio 273 EQ (2 channels)
Warm Audio 412 (4 x API-sty;e pres)
SSL Six (with 2 x superanalog channels)

It's fun to have 14 devoted channels of various preamps, each with different tonal characteristics, depending on the material.

I still need to learn more about the adatI/IO. I don't use any of those ports.

Thanks for an other excellent video, Andrew, Cheers.

[jimmyrigs]

I love the Expandability of the UA stuff. I have two rack Apollo quads, with adat expansion from a focusrite octo-pre. Gives me 16 mic ins, and 24 line ins

[kenbousquet]

Next four should be the WA412! Get some API style pres in there!

[julesborges]

Thank you for this video. I'd been planning to buy a UA Apollo X8p (it's literally arriving today) but knowing that I could run my lunchbox into a That did it, I just purchased a 4-710 as well. This gives me everything I wanted for my little studio. Oh, a pre you might want to check out is the Sunset Sound 'Tutti'.

[jordanwalker]

Great explanation! Felt like that explanation didn’t need to longer video unless you really wanted to go into the exact ways and practical setup. Great stuff as always

[morbidmanmusic]

4-710 is so nice. I have it on kick snare and overheads usually. The snare being driven is amazing.

[christophpetersart]

Spanish comment mode ON. Estos videos son re buenos, siempre los veo . Un monton de informacion util y soy un amante de los fierros.

[DMV-SaxTv]

Ok Drew ... "I'm new" ... to your channel and UA Apollo's glory! Well, I've been drooling over the 710d, but decided to go Apollo before more outboard gear overload. With this video, I'm feeling great this "April Fools Day 2022" ... knowing that I'm headed down the right UA "rabbit" hole of Glory ... thx man, I'm excited!!

[charlesrocks]

I've been using Universal Audio gear my entire career, and I have never EVER been disappointed with their gear. I am still extremely disappointed that they discontinued the 2-610, but the 6176 is so amazing that it really doesn't matter too much. YOU NEED TO ADD 2 RUPERT NEVE DESIGNS SHELFORD CHANNEL STRIPS, A MANLEY VOX BOX, AND A UNIVERSAL AUDIO 6176.

[PonderosaSoundStudio]

I don't have any outboard preamps, but I just learned today that I can use my Apollo x8p's DB25 8 outputs (i.e. via a DB25-to-TRS 8-cable snake), to drive a series of powered stereo headphone amplifiers (I have an AKG HP4E 4-channel Headphone Amplifier on order from Sweetwater). With that, alone, for tracking, I can route up to four musician-specific, stereo mixes to cue/monitoring (i.e. to other musicians) in my home studio, as set up through UAD Console. So each musician can have a customized, "More me" mix sent to their individual headphones. What's cool as well is that the AKG unit has 4 balanced input jacks (i.e. 2 separate channels, each with Left and Right inputs)so it can simultaneously carry 2 different stereo mixes, . I plan to get two of the AKG units, so that I could have one unit driving headphones for (say) drummer and bass player, and the other unit driving (say) guitar and vocals, each receiving their own, customized mix. I have an Axe-FX III, so that could be used to route bass or guitars directly into the recording interface for a mic-less setup, and then record drums live (or alternatively vocals live) simultaneously without worrying about mic bleed. I love that level of functionality!!!