Apogee’s FX plug-ins are a small but growing range of plug-ins offering dynamics and EQ in both modern and vintage forms and until now have been available as FX Rack plugins running as DSP accelerated plugins in Apogee interfaces like the highly rated Ensemble Thunderbolt. Apogee have now announced native versions of these plug-ins in AAX, VST and AU formats for macOS only. This combination of DSP and native versions of these plug-ins means that the flexibility of dual path monitoring is now possible.

Why Is DualPath Monitoring Useful?

Previously Apogee FX plugins could only be used in their DSP versions and therefore only when the Apogee interface was present. Now the DSP versions can be substituted for the native versions seamlessly when the Apogee hardware isn’t present, and having either a native or a DSP version of the plug-in available means that you can use DSP for what its best suited for and native for what it’s best suited for. Apogee call this DualPath:

Direct monitoring – where a second audio path is routed through a separate mixer while recording – is a well-accepted and popular way to experience low latency even when your DAW buffer is set high for maximum plug-in processing. The only downside? You’ve got two windows in two different apps to manage. Adding plugins only makes the workflow more counterintuitive.

In DualPath Monitoring mode, you set up and control everything – Apogee FX Rack’s, direct monitoring level, even mic pre gain – right from the Apogee FX Rack in your DAW. No need to bounce between mixer windows, the ApogeeFX system transparently applies and updates plugin processing where needed. Plus, there’s no need to print plugins – you can dynamically shape your sound all the way to the final mix.

The FX Plug-ins

The plug-ins offer a modern compressor and EQ and a vintage optical compressor and two vintage Pultec style EQs which are officially endorsed by Pulse Techniqes.

Audio Device Control Integration with Logic Pro X

Logic Pro X users can access deeper integration between Apogee FX Rack and DualPath Monitoring thanks to unique hardware-software integration features, such as the Logic Pro X Direct button and Audio Device Control view, and it can all be controlled from a single window in Logic, no need for an additional mixer or console app. This sounds like a very flexible solution, we look forward to trying it soon.