Hey Barry, love the channel. Also have to admit you're on a roll as of lately. I think it's going to be really interesting to see what UA does. I absolutely hate the subscription model, BUT I understand why they had to do it. I have been thinking for several months about investing in an apollo quad, but I keep talking myself out of it. For me, I love the look and functions of the desktop units. It's just the whole DSP thing and also I'm not sure how much I'd like switching between console and my DAW. Decisions, decisions. Really been enjoying the channel.

UA giving away Townsend Sphere with new Apollos recently was a clear sign that new products are coming next year.

This is a great prediction and is definitely the reason I am holding out for a new home studio interface. I am hoping for this to happen. But I want to see a full lineup. I also do not want them to try and place a “pro” tag on any interface as every unit is used in “pro” situations. In/outs should be the only thing different.

Thanks Barry, I’ve been looking at the x6 for some time. I might hold off just a little longer after seeing this video. Cheers mate. 👍

appreciate you Barry! Great insight!

Ayyyyye! Barry’s back!!! The fact that UA if has dropped the Apollo Twin down to $999 instead of $1199, and that they are giving away free Townsend mic with a purchase is a giveaway for me.

I would LOVE for UA to release a Dante/AES67 card for the rack mount Apollos

Barry, good points. In my case I was going to buy an apollo 8xp to add more dsp and tracks on my Apollo Twin x and its Console, but I learned from Drew at UA that the Twin’s Dsp is not used in combination with the 8xp. In addition, I also considered getting an Octo satellite. But after much research, and hearing your views, I purchased a Mac Studio with Apple M1 Max with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine 64GB unified memory 4TB SSD. That being said I really like all the UA products. See you at NAMM April 2023. So I hope that UA does well for a long long time.

RIP Live Rack I will never give up hope for a new useful live sound integration with MADI/AVB/AES connectivity

It would be great if UA would offer internal upgrade for existing Apollo interfaces.

I have been on UAD train seance they came out. Appolos were a game changer for me. I do agree with you and makes seance and hope you're right. I have two appolos x8 amd x16 for summing. Love the set up but would love love to see what you're predicting. I would have no issue with an upgrade. I would be all in.

I had Black Lion put a freakin Hemi in my X6. XB sub-pico clock, complete signal path overhaul, etc. not cheap, but my God.. Nothing I’ve heard sans-Burl can even touch it.

I’m hoping to see more use of A.I in plugins and DAWs. Native processing is not the future but the new era. The next generation of DSP based work flow is the last we will see. The new CPU architectures have increased memory bandwidths and capacity for both cache and RAM which improves latency and buffer settings.

Together with your suggestions, l would hope they partner with sonarworks/arc 3 or have their own room correction on the interface together with superior conversion.

Great discussion, I tend to agree with you. A DIY 5000 series AMD cpu is dirt cheap with the recent release of their new AM5 chipset and Black Friday deals. BUT, at the same time simple quality of life scenarios such as tracking with preamp saturation, dynamics, basic EQ and or tape emulation (my favourite) it’s really nice to have these options recorded straight to the disc without having to , easily, route it through a send and bounce it live in your DAW. But I agree , upgrade your PC! DSP, as you put it, I feel like it’s all technically DSP, but I digress, I think DSP is targeted towards laptop “producers” .

hey barry...have a happy and safe thanksgiving and so you and your viewers know i just noticed you can get the spark deal...99 cents for three months !! im gonna try it out.

I hope you’re right!! But the X4 is a fairly new addition, the solo is new, the spark stuff going native, the new microphone lineup etc, I hope they’ve had time to completely redesign the Apollo lineup, but I don’t see it coming in as a 1 for 1 replacement, if they do they’ll probably keep their current lineup available and have an up charge on the new Apollos with more modern features

Hopefully they can start by upgrading the Apollo preamps. They're good, but hoping for something closer to quality to those of external preamps. It would be hard though with the unison, as they would be limited to the digitally controlled type preamps. oh well, just hoping for an improved preamp/unison technology.

Fwiw, I sold all of my UA dsp hardware several months ago. I've been fairly "loud" on YT, reddit(!), etc discouraging people from buying UA dsp hardware, suggesting investing in a Mac Studio as having far better ROI. When / if UA releases high performance dsp hardware that reflects technology of 2022, I would strongly consider buying it and recommending it. I think 2023 almost has to be the year UA releases new hardware with very significant upgrades. So, Barry, I agree with your crystal ball 100%.

I picked up and still run X6 daisy chained Best bang for the Buck as it has the same 6 dsp’ HEXA as the more expensive racks I/O solutions are a pretty easy logistical chore these days so having the same horse power as the big brothers was an easy sell for me Running the last gen iMac 5k intel maxed in every category no silicone m1 for me yet, still waiting for more than a year to see if they don’t implode, explode, de-load or erode with time I’ve not had any processing problems with Protools, logic, studio one or Ableton with only the occasional PTs errors we all get a love regardless of choice of machine Old timers have our work arounds and always have So it would take something pretty amazing at namm from UA to get more hardware $$ out of me Just got some of the stomps for stage use

I love Universal Audio. My favourite brand that I support by far. My only worry is that they're focusing on too many things at once and hope they have the appropriate teams to focus on each area. They now have their hardware, guitar FX pedals, microphones, pro line interfaces, budget interfaces, LUNA and Spark. I still think Spark is growing at a snails pace with some of their biggest hitters still not on the subscription and the value compared to other subscriptions is still not worth the price. LUNA has also slowed in development and hasn't seen any major updates or new cool features for over a year. Their DSP plugin prices are still super bloated and we can tell that they're struggling to sell plugins due to some of their biggest and never seen before sales ever at the moment. I feel like they could fall into the same pit that the Steven Slate companies fell into and had to sell their plugin company to another investor because I think they started focusing on too many things at once.

I can’t wait for more GPU options!

Would really like to see an interface with 32x32 i/o and better converters!

I think you nailed it, feels like that is the ultimate direction. Question: do you think the same principles apply when using this for a live performance? **MBP M1 Max 64G- I've been using Ableton for my backing tracks which I route to Console's virtual input and use a loaded up guitar input channel and a Unison vocal mic preamp, vx chain, AT etc on my Apollo Twin Duo. I've had my apollo for 5 years and the no latency thing has been a night and day difference as far my creative expression goes when it comes to writing and performing. Today being Cyber monday, I got the Apollo X4 in the cart. Bases loaded. Safety off. What say you, Barry Johns?

Barry don't miss. I'll be back for this one.

I think you’re totally right

the point will be if they increase the dsp power to handle a few more plugins

the record arm enabled dsp seems like maybe a Luna feature...idk if that would be possible on other daws....how would the plugins communicate with the record button? idk my 2 cents.

Hey there nice channel! I disagree on one aspect only and that's the UNISON technology which actually relies on variable impedance in order to reproduce in the most "accurate" way the signal flow through their plugin emulations. That gives you significant standards while tracking with an "analog" mindset in the digital domain. But that's just my opinion.

The thing I really wish UA would do is license the dual path IP from Apogee. To me, that is a no brainer and Apogee would be smart to license it to all their competitors for a healthy fee. It is doubtful that the processors on the Apollo units will get more powerful, unless they somehow move to Intel chips, but offering the ability to completely bypass the need to interact with the Console app altogether when tracking (which is what Apogee’s dual path allows for) would be incredibly appealing. I’m a little surprised that aspect of Apogee’s product line isn’t more well known and that more of their competitors aren’t taking a page from that strategy.

I hope UA implements MADI and AVB in their new Apollo interfaces.

Really would love solid backwards compatibility regardless of where UA goes with their stuff! Either way love the brand.

Unison plug-ins are still the unique thing of uad! So fantastic to use

I'm betting on that as well. I'm hoping for improved convertors, and higher quality preamps. I unfortunately discovered this year, after a weekend recording session that the sound you hear live off the interface is not the same quality as what gets recorded. I started noticing that the very open, hi res and 3D sound you hear out of the Apollo headphones or monitors doesn't get fully captured in the recording. And yes, console was set to rec. I was really quite disappointed. I hope there is a way to change that.

Your Right

This music thing is like crack, you always want more of something. I remember wanting an Apollo for the Apollo and introduction into their plugins. Instead I got a Motu and a Control Surface. Now I have sub to UA Spark and LOVE my Motu. Lol. Patience is a virtue! The future is bright to be in music!

If I could integrate an Apollo into a Dante studio environment, I'd pull the trigger.

It would be great if the improve the converters

The DPS issue is a huge one. Computers and tech is so far advanced now compared the power of each DSP core. The price ratio to DPS is absurd. I bought a new Mac studio ultra for sound and video and cannot fathom the cost of a satellite OCTO and how limited the DSP still is AU2000$. I'm super happy about the subscription model and the fact I'll be able to use my purchased plugins for free natively.

Interesting. I am an UAD User since years, when the computer power was much lower than today. Maybe i would change to another system. But i don´t know which. For me a big reason to use UAD is the ability of having a very good mic pre simulation in the first row of the single chain. Where are the alternatives in your opinion? Thanks and greetz. Awesome channel here. *subscribed* ✌🏼

Agreed Barry

I Love Universal Audio, I personally have the Apollo X4 and I Love It.

I’m going to hold out to buy a rack mount until NAMM 2023. I have a solo write now and would like something to work with outboard gear. RME fire face ucx ii is pretty compelling, for 1600, but I would like to stick with UA. I really hope UA puts at least 70 db gain range in the new preamps. 55 db is not enough for my sm7b.

UAD dont have to copy Avid carbon work flow by disabling dsp plugin when not in record mode. UAD and Luna started this way. ARM mode in luna does exactly that.

I still have a silver face Apollo quad with thunderbolt card and as much I love using it, I find my self using the DSP less and less for two main reasons. 1. The UAD plugins are way too expensive and other manufacturers have caught up. 2. I can't use the plugins without being tethered to the hardware, I like to mix on the go with my MBP, but find UAD plugins counter productive here.

I'm waiting to upgrade my interface, but I will wait for UA to make something with 768khz like the RME ADI, but I want it with 64 bit and 32 channels. something that will have the converters of a LYNX, clocking like the Antelope and great mic pres, that is what I want from my next interface.

You might be right about Townsend labs it’s the same thing I predict, but I hope you’re wrong about the Apollo, I just bought an X4 🙃

I love my Antelope Zen Tour Synergy Core simply because I don't have to turn on my computer to make music. That said, other customers might want more tech.

I would like to have better conversion and master grade headphones amp in the news apollos.

I think you're right Barry... UA forgot so long about the OX Box. Maybe this is another indication for a new Apollo line. What I would like to see is: 1. LUNA without a Apollo 2. New Apollo line with NO SHARCS in it. 3. New OX That would be a happy day.

Not sure if you are gonna be right but I hope so. I just pumped a crapload of money into them with x6 two octos and ultimate in 2020 right before the m1 generation. I love it and don’t complain cause I it’s still so good. And I bought an M1 Max as well. Won’t be able to afford it anyway.

Hope there will be a good one for Windows 11. USB

Hey Barry when is Focal going to update their Shape line?

I work at Long&McQuades and follow UAD trainings, and I assure you, you're 100% right about Townsend and the future of DSP.

I wish they would update Console to be able to only print certain plugins while recording. Sadly it’s all or nothing (aside from the unison preamps of course)

I hope they come out with a new Apollo twin x4 but with more processing power, and native ability. I just need a small interface but want access to their plugins. Also allow USB 3.2, jerks.

Something like a UA daw controller would be amazing 😅 … Logic compatible, of course

Can u run extra plugins natively on spark if you run out of dsp from your apollo? Like use dsp and native at the same time?

you might be right😀

New Apollo will have network audio and updated conversion. New version of console more customizable and let’s hope Luna for windows.

If they make their new interfaces to align with the what Avid did, I wonder if the costs will reduce?

Completely agree with Carbon playbook. I think this has been the game plan from the moment LUNA came out. You can tell watching office hours that they want LUNA to have similar shortcuts to PT, and the actual concept with its deep Apollo integration is very Carbon-like. Edit: would be great if they took over as the industry standard from PT.

If I’m not mistaken, LUNA can do this now. ARM can be enabled for any channel. In fact, AVID copied LUNA (kinda) with the Carbon’s ability to have the DSP dedicated for a channel and then go back to Native.

Apollo sounds great i go back to the silver face, and it sounds great. The problem I had was apollo 8, I did an ab comparison of the flatness. And the silver face was better than the 8 series, When X series came out I did a A B comparison with the original source, I could not tell the difference between the original source and the recorded copy The problem with avid is the support, and the units are expensive and expensive. My concern is will we see a carbon in 10 years . I still have great support with my 10 year old silver face.

I hope your right. been waiting for years.

An Apollo X12P would be a winner!

I bought a Burl Mothership running on Dante and haven’t looked back. I’m getting great results. UA Apollo’s we’re great when they first came out, but they haven’t aged well. The tone I get from the Burl is outstanding. I loved my Apollo, but Burl is where it’s at. I will never forget where I came from, Tascam Midi Studio and 4 Tracks, then my first DAW (nTrack), then moved to a ProjectMix I/O and Pro-Tools in 2006 where I stayed until I bought the Apollo Quad in 2010, and in 2022 I moved to a Mac Studio with Reaper and Burl. I still use my Apollo and play around with LUNA, but I’d love to see a high end transformer based interface running on Dante from Universal Audio. I love the Burl because the inputs are all transformer based and the BX5 circuit is amazing for Mixdown/Mastering.

Maybe I should wait to get an interface.

What I would like to see is LUNA being able to run on any audio interface

Acustica audio makes the best plugins available today.

As some one who loves the DSP concept with two 8ps and two satellites. What I would love to see is ua announce the ability to run any AU pluggin on a shark. Like for instance running Steven state drums 5 Au or a Logic Pro x synth while tracking at the highest buffer and minimal latency. This would be the only (game changer) I can think of. You can already use plugs natively while using UA there is no reason to add a feature that already exists. But process 3rd party’s that’s a real game changer. It would make my life a heck of a lot easier. I would never have to touch the buffer and that would be epic! That coupled with maybe a more powerful processor. Maybe I need a new computer lol but I’m running an i7 with 32gb or ram on a retina. Unless the apple silicon is like 8 times faster? If I’m adding a midi intrument 50 -100 tracks in, I don’t want to mess with the buffer and I only see shark native 3rd party support doing that. Currently I’ll decrease to the lowest buffer and deal with the horrific audio while tracking midi notes.

I would like to see more DSP on the next Apollo with much better converters.

Why doesn’t UAD also partner with a room adjustment company like SONARWORKS so that you can get a bit of flattening a room as we work more remotely?!?!?? Ugh!!!!

I just bought a new X6. Primarily to be able to use the outputs to do 5.1 monitoring. I was waiting to see if new Apollo's would come out, but needed the ability for 5.1 now. I got a free Sphere L22 so it was'nt all bad, but I expect Uaudio to come out with new Apollo hardware with more than 7.1 monitoring, maybe 7.1.4, or dolby atmos possibly. Cannot be done with current gen uAudio hardware (Limited to 7.1 with X8 or above)

I think you’re missing the addition of Dolby Atmos. I see an interface to compete with focusrite and the MTRX studio in the Atmos market at the top end

I think they will keep developing until they can ditch softube and brainworx, then gradually move over to the new concept until all the UA plugins have 2 versions. NAMM I would agree with you, because they can use their older sharc processors for their pedals and have to keep being in peoples minds for one more year.

Very good perspective. Their converters are fine but they are not really quite as good as the converters in the $200 Audient iD4.

I'd like the solo, twin and x4 to have the same clock as the x6, x8, x8p. That way when you use them as your controller, there is no theoretical loss in quality.

I'm waiting for any news with the L22

if you're right.. do you think it's a smart move to sell my X8P and my X4 now or in January?

I’m hoping for Dante, and Atmos 7.1.4 monitoring. I’d like them to tripple their DSP

Invest in a New Mac next year and use stock plugins, that's the way it will be for most home studios. As you say, there is no need to invest in DSP processors atm. UAD will need to show that this isn't the case at NAMM or lose a substantial market. I'll be interested to see what happens next.

I predict an upgrade to console. More than 4 headphone mixes is needed and adding SPDIF to all Apollo interfaces would be great. More hardware based advancements like the unison too. Actual impedance matching etc.

I believe if UA make “quality” the focal point on “all” their products, they’ll win. For one thing, their converters! If a company offered the best converters on everything, then you wouldn’t be concerned about some of your high end gear being compromised. Everyone is chasing, (and selling), “world class!” I’ve been a professional musician for 43 years, and only recently started my own studio and like a lot of people, bought a Apollo twin mk11 quad, and as I’m learning more, Im personally looking for the best signal chain, period. If the Apollo 16 has superior converters, then my twin is a compromise. I’d rather it be me as the weakest link.

These dudes at UA have board meetings and play your videos to decide what to do next.

I find it strange that UA never released any 500 series Modular hardware given how popular that format is now today.

Im not sure I understand your prediction really…other than that they will “revise” their interface?

UA upgrade Shark processors please... long time fan and user.

Just hope I don’t need to sell all my Apollo’s 🤔😬.

I recently wanted to buy an Apollo x8P, I ended up buying a Apogee Ensemble thunderbolt, same features at half the cost. I don’t care about onboard DSP, I care about the physical features of the interface. The entry price for an 8 pre UA interface is ridiculous.

I wish UA was a little cheaper for their "pro" interfaces lol can't afford a 3-4 Grand interface

For my money DSP has to stay in some capacity… Tracking with unison is THE reason to buy UA. That old school workflow in a box is their USP, if they drop that, they’re just like everyone else. T

As a long time UAD user, I have loved the platform. However I find myself wanting for more features tailored to the live sound world. I do about half and half studio and live sound work. Sometimes it's both where I'm going out on location to do live recording for a band or orchestra. I have thought about the potential that UAD has to build a console surface with their plugins running onboard. I think this could be a game changer in studio world too for small to medium format studios where you might need more than 4 units connected at distance. For example - a physical control surface running a modified version of the UAD Console software that natively connects and interacts with Luna. UAD if you're listening, here's the main points of a proposed feature set. See any flagship live console for more details. - 24+2 or 36+2 fader control surface with modular DSP slots and digital IO card slots (fader banks of 12 or 16 preferred, extra 2 faders set to be assignable) - Console has large touch screen, iPad app, onboard RTA, 96+ input channels, 24+ bus/matrix outs (bonus points if the DSP is software configurable to change the number of ins and outs needed) - Modular DSP using existing UAD PCIe cards - or next-gen proprietary DSP cards. - Add functionality to UAD Console app to be able to program an entire system without being connected to the hardware - System can operate at different sample rates - 44.1-192k (potentially based on DSP allocation, 192 is a stretch, but full function and digital IO at 96k would be a minimum requirement) - Release digital IO option cards for existing 8ch apollo units - Dante/Madi/AVB (Dante preferred in my case) or even a proprietary network protocol over cat6 or fiber. All 3 of these protocols support control and audio data so I dont think its too much of a stretch to swap over all of it - Thunderbolt 4 from console to computer for recording/playback/DAW control - Apple silicon compatible audio drivers - 16, 32, 48, 64ch IO boxes (with enough DSP onboard for unison preamps. No need for a whole plugin chain, just one slot for unison) built like apollos, but without the ADAT, headphone and all the buttons and knobs. Use modular digital cards in the IO boxes - These also would have next-gen 32bit/192khz converters - Bonus points if the IO boxes can operate in stand alone mode without a console control surface - for record only jobs where a computer running UAD Console app can control preamps and simple routing - Luna implementation with transport/edit/mix functions (but please open up hardware functionality to other major DAW's via MCU or HUI) -Double bonus points if a 64ch system can be priced around $60-70k. I think this is a realistic price point given the feature set when compared to other systems in this price range Basically take some features of the Avid S6 and S6L - or in Yamaha world the Nuage and Rivage systems - and mix that up into a smaller format modular system with UAD inside. It just seems to me that UAD has so may of the pieces in place already that it wouldn't take a ton of R&D to make this happen. The existing UAD hardware and software is so close to having these features, I feel like it wouldn't take a whole lot for them to put something like this together. A system like this would be an absolute GAME CHANGER for me. I could use the same tool for every job - Studio and Live - and it would just make everything much much easier. PS - I know Presonus and behringer make stuff with some of these features, but I want UAD quality and plugins onboard. PLEASE UAD. If you're reading this - I'll be your first beta tester

Thanks for the perspective Barry! It would make sense to follow Avid in this case like you say, it would honestly be a really good thing for UA customers and make Luna more attractive as a recording platform. Best of both worlds, DSP/Native.

I don’t think that it’s you expect it to be updated but a 4 thousand dollar piece of equipment is very expensive to be left behind and not considered at all. Idk

So... do I buy an Apollo Twin this year or wait?

🙂❤️‍🔥🙌🙏🏼

They did update the Apollo rack mounts from 4 to 6 cores from the black edition. One more thing. I don’t think that UA cares a wink about avid and the carbon. I don’t think avids sales are anywhere near what UA did with the apollos plus it’s only one unit. UA has several versions of the Apollo and now their volt line. If anything avid came out with the carbon to compete with the Apollo because everyone knows protools is losing sales for years and not just because of UA but because of many other interfaces and daws. The Apollo is being labeled as a industry standard in the audio world just because they are widely popular. Everyone knows about the Apollo. The carbon is like what who? One thing they UA should add is support for Dante and come out with a control surface. It would be cool to see them come out with more dsp cores but that would mean their units will get up over 4 and 5k and it won’t be that affordable for home studio users.

4 input non dsp thunderbolt 4 interface that works with LUNA 🍀

I not a subscription guy… I’ll go hardware any day over subscriptions.