Universal Audio has started shipping the Apollo 16, a new audio interface for musicians. The gear supports throughput up to 24-bit/192kHz, and uses a 16×16 analog I/O arrangement. That includes support for for purely digital connection types however, such as FireWire and Thunderbolt. Two Apollo 16s can be cascaded via MADI, creating a unit with eight processors and 32×32 I/O.
The Apollo 16 costs $2,999. Thunderbolt support is Mac-only, and requires paying an extra $499 for the Thunderbolt Option Card. Accompanying the interface’s release is an update of the UAD Software, v7.0. The upgrade is needed for cascade support, and adds plugins for Ocean Way Studios, SPL TwinTube, and Sonnox Inflator.
The Console app has been redesigned with better visual feedback, and a new PT Mode attempts to simplify outboard hardware integration with Pro Tools. An added Virtual I/O feature permits real-time UAD processing of DAW content.
