In the Pro Tools Expert 2017 Christmas Competition, we offered the chance of winning a Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII worth over $800, as one of 31 great prizes on offer worth over $16,000 in total. We can announce that Steve Hickman is the lucky winner.
The Apollo Twin MkII is a total redesign of one of the world’s most popular desktop recording interfaces for Mac and PC and features two Unison-enabled mic preamps, allowing you to track through UAD-2 plug-in mic preamp emulations from the likes of Neve, SSL, API, Manley, and Universal Audio. Unison technology recreates the tone of those sought-after valve, and solid state mic pres including characteristics like impedance, gain stage sweet spots and component-level circuit behaviours of the original hardware.
The secret to the Unison Technology is its hardware-software integration between Apollo’s mic preamps and its onboard UAD-2 QUAD or DUO Core DSP acceleration. Simply place a Unison preamp plug-in on your mic input in the 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 without filling your studio with gear and emptying your bank account of cash.
Connectivity
For such a small unit the Apollo Twin MKII really can be the centre of your studio world. Around the back, there are 2 of those stunning Unison mic pres which double as line inputs. You then have a pair of monitor outs over TRS-Jack and a second set of line lineouts over TRS-Jack which can act as a second pair of monitors outs or be configured to be an extra set out outputs for headphones. Next is the Thunderbolt port and input for an extra mic pre via ADAT optical connection. Lastly, there is the connection for the locking power supply unit and the power switch.
Around the front, there is the Headphones output and the high-Z instrument input.
Included UAD-2 Plug-Ins
Straight out of the box, Apollo Twin MKII provides a raft of analog emulation plug-ins including the Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, Pultec EQs, and the Unison-enabled UA 610-B Tube Preamp.
From the tube warmth of the Pultec EQ on guitars, to the gentle limiting of the LA-2A on vocals, your recording projects will simply sound better.
Developed by Universal Audio's team of algorithm engineers, these real-time classic plug-ins are some of the finest in the industry and can be heard on countless hit records.
You can check out Technical Editor James Ivey's review of the Apollo Twin in the video below.
Also check out our video using the Apollo Twin MKII in action recording singer-songwriter Richard James Poll and in one pass applying EQ, Dynamics and Reverb effects to get back to the "Old School" way of working.
Winner
Congratulations to Steve Hickman of Cattanooga, TN, USA for being the winner of the Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII in our Christmas 2017 competition.
Steve has been a professional keyboardist since graduating from university in 1981. He began producing in the mid 80's working with MIDI gear in a home studio then moving to "real" studios for overdubs, vocals, & mixing.
"The 90's brought MIDI sequencing software (MOTU Performer), ADATs at the home studio, and eventually a DAW (Digital Performer). With some microphone upgrades, I began recording mostly at home and leaving the big studios behind. Currently, I continue to play keyboard, produce, engineer and mix at my home studio. In 2018 my wife and I plan to build a new home with my 2,000 square foot dream studio attached."
"I'm not sure yet sure how the Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII will fit into my studio rig. I have Metric Halo interfaces and a UA OCTO now with a lot of UA plugins. I'm definitely looking forward to trying out the Unison channel strip plugins with the Apollo. Currently, I own the UA 610, the API Vision, & Neve 88RS along with the Neve 1073 plugins. With the Apollo I'll be able to use them fully with all the benefits of UA's Unison technology. And I'll definitely check out UA's guitar and bass amp models, too."
Many congratulations to Steve once again and if you would like to take part in any of our competitions head over right now to our WIN page to see what is on offer.