Universal Audio Apollo x6 16x22 Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface with UAD DSP

Elite Audio Conversion with New HEXA Core Processing and Surround Sound.

Apollo x6 allows music producers and post-production studios to track, overdub, and mix with new world-beating A/D and D/A conversion, HEXA Core UAD plug-in processing, and 5.1 surround sound monitoring* — all in a sleek rackmount Thunderbolt 3 audio interface for Mac** or PC. 

Built upon UA’s 60-year heritage of audio craftsmanship, this 16 x 22 interface easily outperforms everything in its class with two Unison™-enabled mic preamps, providing authentic emulations of preamps from Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and more, plus all-new HEXA Core processing — yielding 50% more DSP for running UAD Powered Plug-Ins in real time. 
 

**Mac Pro (Late 2013 “black cylinder” model) compatibility for Apollo X coming Q4 2018.

Record with elite-class A/D and D/A conversion — nearing the widest dynamic range and lowest noise available, at any price

Mix with powerful HEXA Core processing, featuring 6 UAD DSP chips for running more UAD Powered Plug-Ins in real time

Track with near-zero latency through Unison™ preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Helios, Fender, and more†

Integrate with high-end commercial systems, via 5.1 surround sound monitoring and selectable +24 dBu headroom

Elite-Class A/D and D/A Conversion

With thousands of hit songs and hundreds of Grammy-winning albums under their belt, Apollo interfaces are no strangers to tracking stellar-sounding records. To improve on the previous generation Apollo interfaces’ class-leading audio conversion, UA engineers obsessively auditioned the latest A/D and D/A converters — ultimately pairing elite-class 24-bit/192 kHz converters with all-new analog circuitry for an ultra-pristine signal path. 

With 129 dB dynamic range and -119 dB THD+N, Apollo x6’s open, natural sound rivals any dedicated high-end converter on the market — regardless of price — and is the perfect starting point for applying UAD processing.

Realtime UAD HEXA Core Processing

Apollo x6 features HEXA Core processing, with six DSP chips and 50% more UAD plug-in processing power than previous Apollos. This lets you run more UAD plug-ins, whether you’re tracking in real time with channel strips from Neve, Manley, or API, or running high UAD plug-in counts when mixing in your DAW. 

From the tube warmth of Pultec EQs on guitars to the musical tube limiting of the LA-2A on vocals, or the pump of a genuine 1176 or Fairchild 670 tube compressor on drums, your recordings will take a giant leap forward with a rich, three-dimensional analog sound that UAD plug‑ins provide.

Unison Technology: The Genuine Sound of Neve, API & Manley Preamps

Perfect for electronic musicians and post production professionals who don’t require tons of mic inputs, Apollo x6 features two Unison-enabled mic preamps, letting you track through exacting mic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Helios, SSL, and Universal Audio. A Universal Audio exclusive, Unison technology nails the tone of these sought-after tube and solid state mic pres — including their input impedance, gain stage “sweet spots,” and the component-level circuit behaviors of the original hardware. 

The secret to Unison is its hardware-software integration between Apollo’s mic preamps and its onboard HEXA Core DSP Acceleration. Simply place a Unison preamp plug-in on your mic input in Apollo Console software, and it physically reconfigures the Apollo interface's impedance — so you can tap into the classic sounds of the world’s most recorded mic preamps.

A Full Suite of Classic Analog Processing Onboard

A hallmark feature of Apollo is its Realtime UAD Processing, letting you run the full library of UAD plug-ins with near-zero latency. Apollo x6 includes the Realtime Analog Classics Plus plug-in bundle, so you can record and mix with the world’s only authentic Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, and Fairchild compressors, the Unison-enabled UA 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ, and iconic guitar and bass amps from Marshall and Ampeg.

Access the World of UAD Powered Plug-Ins

Going beyond the included Realtime Analog Classics Plus plug-ins, Apollo x6 lets you tap into the full UAD Powered Plug-In library of legendary vintage EQs, compressors, reverbs, tape machines, channel strips, and more — at near-zero latency, regardless of your audio software’s buffer size and without taxing your computer’s CPU. 

With exclusive emulations from Neve, Studer, Manley, Helios, API, Ampex, SSL, Lexicon, Fender, and more,† it’s like having a studio full of iconic analog gear, in a single rack space. And unlike competing interfaces, these award-winning DSP-powered plug-ins are also available in your DAW for mixing.

Surround Sound Monitoring and More

With comprehensive 5.1 surround monitoring support, Apollo x6 is a boon for engineers and producers working on audio and music for video games, television, and the web. In addition, Apollo x6 offers selectable +24 dBu operation for out-of-the-box compatibility with professional mixing consoles and other high-end pro audio equipment.

*Surround Sound Support for Apollo X Coming Q4 2018.

Build an Expanded Studio System Over Thunderbolt

Apollo x6 offers 16 x 22 simultaneous inputs/outputs (6 x 6 analog I/O) and two built-in Thunderbolt 3 ports. This allows users of any Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo Twin or Apollo rackmount audio interfaces to easily combine up to four Apollos and six total UAD-2 devices — adding fast, high-bandwidth I/O and DSP as your studio grows.

Realtime Analog Classics Plus Bundle

With the Realtime Analog Classics Plus plug-in bundle, you not only get legendary compressors such as the Fairchild® 670 and EQs like the Pultec® EQP-1A, but also stunning guitar and bass amp emulations from Softube, and UA’s landmark 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ plug-in.

• UA 610‐B

• Marshall Plexi Classic Amplifier

• Fairchild 670 Legacy

• Teletronix LA‐2A Legacy

• UA 1176LN Legacy

• UA 1176SE Legacy

• Pultec EQP‐1A Legacy

• Pultec Pro Legacy

• Ampeg® SVT-VR Classic Bass Amp

• Precision Channel Strip

• Precision Reflection Engine

• Precision Delay Modulation

• Precision Delay Modulation L

• UA Precision Enhancer Hz

• Raw Distortion

• RealVerb‐Pro

Apollo x6 Features & Specs

• 16 x 22 Thunderbolt 3 audio interface with class-leading 24-bit/192 KHz conversion (backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 1 & 2 on Mac**)

• Realtime UAD HEXA Core Processing for tracking through UAD plug-ins at near-zero latency, regardless of audio buffer size

• Record through 2 Unison-enabled mic/line preamps — giving you fully authentic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and more†

• Surround monitor controller up to 5.1 format*

• Includes “Realtime Analog Classics Plus” UAD plug-in bundle featuring UA 610-B Tube Preamp; Legacy Pultec EQ, LA-2A, and 1176 compressors; Marshall Plexi Classic; Ampeg SVT-VR Classic and more

• UAD HEXA Core processing onboard for additional mixing horsepower for Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, and other major DAWs

• Combine up to 4 Thunderbolt-equipped Apollos and 6 total UAD devices

• Selectable +24 dBu operation for easy compatibility with professional mixing consoles and tape machines

• Convenient front panel monitoring functions including Alt Speakers, Talkback mic, and assignable Dim or Mono

• Free, industry-leading technical support — on the phone and online — from knowledgeable audio engineers

• *Surround Sound Support for Apollo X Coming Q4 2018.
  **Mac Pro (Late 2013“black cylinder” model) compatibility for Apollo X coming Q4 2018.

Interface Specifications

Apollo X Series System Requirements

ALL:

• Thunderbolt 3 cable (not included)

• Internet connection to download software and authorize UAD plug-ins

• 6 gigabytes available storage

• Quad Core i7 or better processor recommended

• For additional compatibility information

MAC:

• Available Thunderbolt 1, 2, or 3 port

• Thunderbolt 1 and 2 connections require an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (not included)

• macOS 10.12 Sierra or 10.13 High Sierra

• Mac Pro (Late 2013 “black cylinder” model) compatibility for Apollo X coming Q4 2018

PC:

• Available Thunderbolt 3 port

• Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (64-Bit Edition)