Universal Audio Apollo x8p Gen 2 Essentials+
Product information "Universal Audio Apollo x8p Gen 2 Essentials+"
Rackmount 16 x 22 Thunderbolt audio interface with eight Unison™ mic preamps, Apollo X Gen 2 elite-class audio conversion, Auto-Gain, Apollo Monitor Correction, up to 7.1 surround with bass management, HEXA Core DSP plug‑in processing and a premium software suite.
UA's next generation of Apollo x8p interfaces is here for producers and engineers who need high‑resolution audio conversion, eight Unison™ mic preamps and HEXA Core DSP processing to record and mix large sessions with top‑tier UAD plug‑ins from Auto‑Tune, Neve, Manley, Avalon, SSL and hundreds more.
Used by top producers and engineers around the world, the Apollo x8p is the proven audio interface for professional productions, bringing timeless sound and legendary UA craftsmanship straight into your rack.
Key benefits:
- Hear the next generation of audio conversion with the greatest dynamic range and lowest distortion of any Apollo model
- Experience authentic analogue tone with Unison™ preamps that let you record in real time through models of Neve, API, Avalon, Fender and more
- Access the full library of 200+ UAD DSP and Native plug‑ins, including award‑winning titles such as Capitol Chambers, Sound City Studios, the EL8 Distressor and more
- Mix with confidence in any room or on headphones with Apollo Monitor Correction powered by Sonarworks®*
- Use Auto‑Gain to set your levels across multiple inputs in seconds so you never miss a take
- Hear every detail in your mix’s low end by adding a subwoofer to your monitor setup
- Set up low‑latency cue mixes, plug‑in Scenes and immersive audio monitoring in seconds with the UAD Console app
- Receive award‑winning UAD plug‑ins from Auto‑Tune, Fairchild, Teletronix and more worth thousands of Euros with a selection of Essentials+ or Studio+ editions
Expand your rack with the world’s proven interface
Universal Audio built the Apollo x8p for pro engineers and producers who demand the highest audio quality and expanded analogue inputs for larger sessions. With its award‑winning Apollo X sound — now with unprecedented dynamic range and improved D/A monitoring — the Apollo x8p brings authentic analogue character straight into your rack.
Record through eight Unison preamps
With Unison™ technology, the Apollo x8p enables real‑time tracking with the tone of classic preamps and channel strips from Neve, Manley, API and dozens more, delivering the same rich analogue textures heard on the most important recordings of our time.
Unleash authentic analogue tones
The Apollo x8p gives you, right out of the box, the tools used by the world’s best engineers. Alongside the included Teletronix LA‑2A compressors, Pultec EQs and amps from Marshall and Ampeg, you can access the entire library of 200+ UAD plug‑ins and unlock proven, hit‑ready sounds like Ocean Way Studios, Capitol Chambers and many more.
Hear details like never before
Now in a Gen 2 design, the Apollo x8p features UA's highest‑resolution D/A converters paired with Apollo Monitor Correction powered by Sonarworks®. That means when you play back your recordings through monitors or headphones you’ll hear an uncompromised representation of your work and avoid surprises when checking your final mix or master.
Find your flow in the UAD Console app
Much like an analogue studio where the console is the heart of the workflow, the Apollo x8p includes a powerful digital mixing engine that lets you control plug‑in routing and monitoring. With modern features like Auto‑Gain, bass management, 7.1 surround and plug‑in Scenes, it’s easy to build a workflow that fits your needs.
A hybrid system built for your mission
Combine the Apollo x8p’s HEXA Core DSP with the native processing power of your host computer to handle large sessions with complex plug‑in chains — a powerful hybrid workflow that outperforms purely native recording setups.
Grow your studio as you evolve
Build your studio by connecting up to four Thunderbolt Apollo interfaces for up to 128 channels of premium I/O to your DAW, and control everything from your desktop with an Apollo Twin or x4. Wherever your music takes you, an Apollo will always be within reach.
Main features:
- 16 x 22 Thunderbolt audio interface with HEXA Core DSP plug‑in processing
- Eight Unison™ mic preamps, two Hi‑Z instrument inputs, DB‑25 input (Line 1–8), two optical Toslink I/O (ADAT S/MUX or S/PDIF), Wordclock I/O (BNC)
- Two 1/4" monitor outputs, DB‑25 output (ALT / 7.1 Surround), two 1/4" TRS headphone outputs
- Apollo X Gen 2 elite‑class D/A converters with 24‑bit / 192 kHz resolution and dual‑crystal clocking for extremely low jitter at all sample rates
- Improved D/A for critical monitoring and playback with 130 dB dynamic range and an impressively low distortion of ‑127 dB
- Calibrate your main monitors and headphone outputs with Apollo Monitor Correction powered by Sonarworks® (requires Apollo Monitor Correction add‑on and SoundID Reference licences)
- Full‑featured monitor controller with speaker switching and built‑in talkback for easy communication with performers
- Updated UAD Console app with Auto‑Gain, plug‑in Scenes, subwoofer integration with bass management, immersive audio support and more
- Built‑in DSP supports over 200 UAD plug‑ins in VST, AU and AAX‑64 formats across major DAWs
- Includes up to 50+ UAD plug‑ins with Essentials+ or Studio+ editions
- Compatible with LUNA, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton Live and more
- Expandable with Thunderbolt Apollo interfaces or select models over Dante
Plug‑ins included in the Essentials+ edition:
Channel Strips & Preamps (6):
- Century Tube Channel Strip
- CS‑1 Channel Strip
- Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ
- Precision Channel Strip
- UA 610‑A Preamp & EQ
- UA 610‑B Preamp & EQ
Compressors / Limiters (7):
- Fairchild 670 Legacy
- Teletronix LA‑2A Classic Leveler
- Teletronix LA‑2A Gray Classic Leveler
- Teletronix LA‑2A Silver Classic Leveler
- Teletronix LA‑2A Legacy Leveling Amplifier
- UA 1176LN Legacy
- UA 1176SE Legacy
Equalizers (6):
- Helios Type 69 Legacy EQ
- Pultec EQP‑1A Legacy EQ
- Pultec EQP‑1A Passive EQ
- Pultec HLF‑3C Passive EQ
- Pultec MEQ‑5 Passive EQ
- Pultec Pro Legacy EQ
Special Processing (4):
- Auto‑Tune Realtime Access
- Oxide Tape Recorder
- Precision Enhancer Hz
- Verve Analog Machines Essentials
Instruments (1):
- PolyMAX Polyphonic Synth
Delay & Modulation (3):
- Galaxy Tape Echo
- Precision Delay Mod
- Precision Delay Mod L
Reverbs & Rooms (3):
- Precision Reflection Engine
- Pure Plate Reverb
- RealVerb Pro Custom Room Modeler
Guitar & Bass (3):
- Ampeg SVT‑VR Classic Bass Amplifier
- Marshall Plexi Classic Amplifier
- Raw Distortion
- ADAT-In: Yes, 2 (up to 8 Mono Channels)
- ADAT-Out: Yes, 2 (up to 8 Mono Channels)
- AVB: no
- BNC Word Clock: 1 In / 1 Out
- Dante: no
- Design: Rack Enclosures
- Direct Monitoring: Yes (Software)
- Displays: LEDs
- Dynamic Range: 129 dB
- Headphone Output: 2x 6,3 mm Stereo Jack
- Hi-Z Input: 2x 6,3 mm Jack (Ch 1-2)
- Includes: Interface, Power Supply, Software
- Input channels that can be used simultaneously: 16
- Line in: 8x XLR/Jack -Combo (Ch 1-8), 25-Pin Sub-D (Ch 1-8)
- Line out: 2x 6,3 mm Jack (balanced), 25-Pin Sub-D (8 Ch)
- MADI: no
- Mic-In: 8x XLR/ Jack -Combo (Ch 1-8)
- Onboard Effects: ja, digital
- Power Supply: External Power Adapter
- Rack mounting: 19"/1U
- Resolution: 24-Bits
- S/PDIF Coaxial I/O: no
- Sampling Rate: 192 kHz
- Subcategory: Thunderbolt Interface
- Supported Operating Systems: macOS 10.14 (and later), Windows 10 (and later)
- Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt 3
- USB: no
- combinable with up to 4 Apollos with Thunderbolt and a total of six UAD-2 devices
- with 6 SHARC DSP for UAD-2 plug-ins (also usable in DAW)
- Unison Technology
- Plug-in scenes via MIDI
- iEssentials+ Plugin Bundle included
Pioneer in audio recording for more than 50 years
Founded in 1958 by Bill Putnam Sr., Universal Audio has long been synonymous with innovative recording equipment. As the favourite engineer of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles and others, Bill was a passionate innovator who is regarded as the father of modern audio recording. Many of his legendary studio and equipment designs are still in use today. B. Putnam was the inventor of the modern mixing console, the multiband audio equaliser and he was the first engineer to use artificial reverb on commercial recordings. Alongside his friend Les Paul, Bill was also involved in the early development of stereophonic recording.
Putnam, known as a driven entrepreneur, founded three audio product companies during his long career: Universal Audio, Studio Electronics and Urei. All three companies built devices that were widely adopted after their introduction and would shape the studio sound for generations. The boutique compressors LA-2A and 1176 and the 610 tube console are among these legends. Artists such as Sinatra, the Beach Boys and Van Halen recorded their studio albums on the 610 console.
Universal Audio was re-established in 1999 by Bill's sons James Putnam and Bill Putnam Jr. The plan was twofold: on the one hand to faithfully reproduce classic analogue recording gear in their father's tradition; and on the other to bring the sound and spirit of vintage analogue technology into the new digital recording tools .
By now impressive effects pedals for guitarists and specialised guitar-recording tools such as the Universal Audio OX are also part of the range and are extremely popular with fans of outstanding tone.
