Advice On Audio Interface Purchase

I'll give a bit of advice regarding interfaces; random thoughts:

I have an Apollo 6x and I love it. Not cheap compared to some interfaces out there (but not ridiculous, either) but the price point reflects my level of seriousness. All the same, it's not even their top of the line rackmount Apollo (it's actually the bottom tier rackmount).

UA as most know has been around forever and are legendary with their studio equipment. LA-2A, 610 preamp, 1176, etc...

They also sell the desktop Apollo Twin (there was an X4 at one time; I don't keep up with their stuff everyday), and the budget Volt.

Looks like the lowest priced unit is the single-channel Volt for $139

Now the difference between the Volt series and the Apollo series is the Apollo has SHARC chips in them (less or more depending on the model), which allow you to offload UA plugin processing instead of bringing your PC to its knees (the Volt lineup is simply an interface).

The latest big thing from UA in regards to the above is they have been offering their (killer, I must add) plugins in Native format, meaning you don't need UA hardware to run to them. And they keep releasing more as time goes on. In the past, people used to complain about the UA "ecosystem" and how you *had* to have an Apollo (with SHARC chips) to run *any* of their plugins; not anymore.

Here's a current list of all of UA's UAD Native plugins:


Which UAD plug-ins are available natively and in UAD Spark?​


Below is a list of UAD plug-in titles that are available to run natively (i.e. without an Apollo or Satellite device) and are also included in Spark subscriptions.

Compressors​

Reverbs, Delays, & Modulation​

Preamps, EQ & Tape​

*Neve® 1073® Preamp and EQ is included in the Spark subscription but is only available to purchase for registered Apollo/UAD-2 owners.

UAD Instruments​

UAD Microphone​

Note: The UAD Microphone plug-ins require a UA Standard Series microphone or a UA Sphere microphone to operate with the following plug-ins, respectively:
For more information about UA microphones, visit this page.
Important note: Capitol Mastering Compressor, Electra 88 Vintage Keyboard Studio, Moog Minimoog®, Opal Morphing Synthesizer, PolyMAX Synth, Ravel Grand Piano, Waterfall B3, Waterfall Rotary Speaker, Sound City Studios, and Verve Analog Machines are only available as native UAD plug-ins and there are no UAD-2 DSP counterparts for them. All other plug-ins listed in this article are both available natively and as UAD-2 DSP plug-ins.
 
Sascha Franck said:
Fwiw, Presonus has 4 new of their Quantum series interfaces. Looking pretty good IMO.
Click to expand...
I have a Quantum 2 that has served me well for 5 years (and is just getting replaced by an RME UCX II). Lowest latency I ever encountered and excellent driver support. But… the newly released interfaces don't have much in common with the original devices and why they were (and still are) so good: extremely low latency due to Thunderbolt and minimalist software (e.g. no direct monitoring).
 
jazzarian said:
Seems to be going the way of the dodo, like Firewire.
Click to expand...

How do you figure spdif is obsolete? It's the most common way to digitally connect multi fx processors to audio interfaces, and a standard feature on audio interfaces above entry level units. Maybe you're thinking of thunderbolt?
 
Blix said:
The new ones are a downgrade if you care about latency though, the thunderbolt quantum 2626 verion had a RTL at 2ms, while the new ones clocks in at almost 5ms. Still good but...
Click to expand...

Where did you read about that? I thought nobody did a proper test so far...
 
LP59 said:
How do you figure spdif is obsolete? It's the most common way to digitally connect multi fx processors to audio interfaces, and a standard feature on audio interfaces above entry level units. Maybe you're thinking of thunderbolt?
Click to expand...
NO I am not thinking of Thunderbolt.

The world is ready to move beyond 48 KHz/24 bit. S/PDIF is a very slow interface. You can read about its shortcomings here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF#:~:text=The name stands for Sony,(IEC 958 before 1998).

I will admit my stereo equipment (and TV) still depends on S/PDIF, both coax and fiber.

Most of the music gadgetry is moving to USB. My MOTO M4 does not have S/PDIF. My Helix Stomp doesn't have it either but my FM3 does. I'll bet the FM4 won't have S/PDIF.
 
LeftyLoungeLizard said:
I'll give a bit of advice regarding interfaces; random thoughts:

I have an Apollo 6x and I love it. Not cheap compared to some interfaces out there (but not ridiculous, either) but the price point reflects my level of seriousness. All the same, it's not even their top of the line rackmount Apollo (it's actually the bottom tier rackmount).

UA as most know has been around forever and are legendary with their studio equipment. LA-2A, 610 preamp, 1176, etc...

They also sell the desktop Apollo Twin (there was an X4 at one time; I don't keep up with their stuff everyday), and the budget Volt.

Looks like the lowest priced unit is the single-channel Volt for $139

Now the difference between the Volt series and the Apollo series is the Apollo has SHARC chips in them (less or more depending on the model), which allow you to offload UA plugin processing instead of bringing your PC to its knees (the Volt lineup is simply an interface).

The latest big thing from UA in regards to the above is they have been offering their (killer, I must add) plugins in Native format, meaning you don't need UA hardware to run to them. And they keep releasing more as time goes on. In the past, people used to complain about the UA "ecosystem" and how you *had* to have an Apollo (with SHARC chips) to run *any* of their plugins; not anymore.

Here's a current list of all of UA's UAD Native plugins:


Which UAD plug-ins are available natively and in UAD Spark?​


Below is a list of UAD plug-in titles that are available to run natively (i.e. without an Apollo or Satellite device) and are also included in Spark subscriptions.

Compressors​

Reverbs, Delays, & Modulation​

Preamps, EQ & Tape​

*Neve® 1073® Preamp and EQ is included in the Spark subscription but is only available to purchase for registered Apollo/UAD-2 owners.

UAD Instruments​

UAD Microphone​

Note: The UAD Microphone plug-ins require a UA Standard Series microphone or a UA Sphere microphone to operate with the following plug-ins, respectively:
For more information about UA microphones, visit this page.
Important note: Capitol Mastering Compressor, Electra 88 Vintage Keyboard Studio, Moog Minimoog®, Opal Morphing Synthesizer, PolyMAX Synth, Ravel Grand Piano, Waterfall B3, Waterfall Rotary Speaker, Sound City Studios, and Verve Analog Machines are only available as native UAD plug-ins and there are no UAD-2 DSP counterparts for them. All other plug-ins listed in this article are both available natively and as UAD-2 DSP plug-ins.
Click to expand...
Most people wouldn't need an Apollo 6X except to have something to brag about on the internet. I'd consider one if I were opening a commercial recording studio.

If I were recording a single track at a time, but bragged about owning an Apollo 6X, I'd be ridiculed, and rightly so. I'd bet most here would be more than well served with a $300 MOTU. Not very sexy, but as pragmatic as can be.

My Mac M1 has no problems handling any load I can throw at it, like multiple simultaneous tracks of Session Horns, Kontakt 7 and ToonTrack in Logic Pro. Not very sexy but works like a champ.
 
Sascha Franck said:
Where did you read about that? I thought nobody did a proper test so far...
Click to expand...
Disregard what I wrote.

But check out this, the new ones has a custom driver apparently, but this guy didn't do a proper RTL test. But doesn't look to be near the thunderbolt ones.

 
Blix said:
But check out this, the new ones has a custom driver apparently, but this guy didn't do a proper RTL test. But doesn't look to be near the thunderbolt ones.
Click to expand...

The numbers he's talking about are higher than on my Motu M2 at least. No idea whether he did a proper RTL test (most people actually don't, they just rely on the numbers whatever driver dialogs throw out - which, unfortunately to this day, sometimes are wrong).
 
Sascha Franck said:
The numbers he's talking about are higher than on my Motu M2 at least. No idea whether he did a proper RTL test (most people actually don't, they just rely on the numbers whatever driver dialogs throw out - which, unfortunately to this day, sometimes are wrong).
Click to expand...
Yeha he just read out the numbers his daw reported. For the previous version Presonus really hammered down the fact they had super low latency, not it's not mentioned with a word. BUT they can inform us it has:

"front-facing instrument inputs co-developed by industry-leading experts at Fender®" :rolleyes::ROFLMAO:
 
Well, guess the jury's still out on what the true latency figures are then. I only knew the old ones were doing quite great, so it'd be kinda weird if they did a step back.
 
jazzarian said:
NO I am not thinking of Thunderbolt.

The world is ready to move beyond 48 KHz/24 bit. S/PDIF is a very slow interface. You can read about its shortcomings here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF#:~:text=The name stands for Sony,(IEC 958 before 1998).

I will admit my stereo equipment (and TV) still depends on S/PDIF, both coax and fiber.

Most of the music gadgetry is moving to USB. My MOTO M4 does not have S/PDIF. My Helix Stomp doesn't have it either but my FM3 does. I'll bet the FM4 won't have S/PDIF.
Click to expand...

SPDIF is a clocked interface. It is neither fast nor slow. USB Is for a totally different application than spdif. The reason your M4 doesn't have spdif is because that is priced at the low end of MOTU's product line. Their higher end audio interfaces do have spdif. Same goes for your Helix Stomp which is Line6's cheap Helix. The proper Helix has spdif. No, spdif is not obsolete ;)
 
Really enjoying the Audient id14 MKII. Running as an aggregate device with the FM3. Tracking Stereo out of S/PDIF with a DI via USB. Plenty of inputs to spare. Having the FM3 along with Hellix Native, and various other plugins, tones are limitless. Now just trying to decide on mics.
 
Blix said:
"front-facing instrument inputs co-developed by industry-leading experts at Fender®" :rolleyes::ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
I was waiting for this when I saw the videos. :grin I knew the forumites would get a kick out of that tidbit of info. :ROFLMAO:
Although I do wish Studio One could add a Tonemaster native at some point. Maybe by then all the hiccups will be worked out.
 
LP59 said:
SPDIF is a clocked interface. It is neither fast nor slow. USB Is for a totally different application than spdif. The reason your M4 doesn't have spdif is because that is priced at the low end of MOTU's product line. Their higher end audio interfaces do have spdif. Same goes for your Helix Stomp which is Line6's cheap Helix. The proper Helix has spdif. No, spdif is not obsolete ;)
Click to expand...
I don't see spdif going away anytime soon because it's a convenient connection between digital gear, old and new. Either in coaxial or optical.
 
LP59 said:
SPDIF is a clocked interface. It is neither fast nor slow. USB Is for a totally different application than spdif. The reason your M4 doesn't have spdif is because that is priced at the low end of MOTU's product line. Their higher end audio interfaces do have spdif. Same goes for your Helix Stomp which is Line6's cheap Helix. The proper Helix has spdif. No, spdif is not obsolete ;)
Click to expand...
Sorry, but I disagree. If you think 48 KHz/24bits will last into the future, you should be looking into grave sites.
 
LP59 said:
Your posts read like a textbook example of the Dunning Kruger effect.
Click to expand...
What can I say? Some of us have degrees in technical fields.

Did I mention my fingerprints still circle the earth on what was once 200 million dollars worth of satellite?

Yours?
 
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