For Windows
Apollo Twin X USB
Record with the world's best desktop interface for Windows.
- Experience elite-class Apollo sound — as heard on hundreds of hit records
- Record your vocals and synths in realtime through classic mic preamp emulations from Neve, API, Manley, Avalon, and more*
- Capture inspiration in realtime using Console and UAD processing with near-zero latency
- Mix with UAD plug-ins like the included Teletronix LA-2A and 1176 compressors, Pultec EQs, and 610-B Preamp
Details & Downloads
What’s Included
Includes the Realtime Analog Classics Bundle
Record with the World's Best Desktop Interface for Windows
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Frequently Asked Questions
Apollo Twin X USB is worth it for Windows-based producers who want professional audio conversion and realtime analog hardware emulations in a single desktop interface. The UAD-2 DUO Core processor lets you track through compressors, preamps, and EQs with near-zero latency, and the redesigned 24-bit / 192 kHz converters deliver the clarity and dynamic range you’d expect from a professional studio interface. For anyone serious about recording in a Windows environment, the combination of conversion quality, Unison preamp technology, and included plug-ins is difficult to match at this price point.
Apollo Twin X USB stands apart by pairing studio-quality 24-bit / 192 kHz conversion with onboard UAD-2 DUO Core DSP processing. Where other interfaces convert and route audio, Apollo Twin X USB runs full hardware emulations in realtime through its built-in processors so you can track vocals through a Neve or API preamp emulation with near-zero latency. The Unison technology and depth of the UAD plug-in library put it in a different category from typical USB interfaces.
Unison technology lets the Apollo Twin X USB's mic and instrument inputs physically match the impedance, gain structure, and circuit behavior of classic analog preamps and amplifiers. When you load a Unison-enabled UAD plug-in, the hardware input stage responds the way the modeled preamp would. The result goes beyond digital emulation — the input stage is shaped by the model before the signal ever reaches the converter.
Apollo Twin X USB is the right choice if you're on a Windows PC without a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port, or if USB connectivity is simply more practical for your rig. The USB version is Windows only, connects via USB-C (USB 3.0), and comes in a DUO Core DSP configuration. The Thunderbolt Twin X supports both macOS and Windows, is available in DUO and QUAD Core configurations for more DSP headroom, and supports chaining up to four Apollo units together. If you're on Mac, Thunderbolt is your only path.
Apollo Twin X USB features completely redesigned A/D and D/A converters compared to the original Apollo Twin USB, with improved dynamic range and lower total harmonic distortion at 24-bit / 192 kHz. The conversion gives recordings an open, detailed character on par with high-end dedicated converters. For tracking vocals, acoustic instruments, and anything where capture quality matters, the conversion quality delivers at a professional level.
Apollo Twin X USB's DUO Core contains two UAD-2 SHARC DSP processors dedicated entirely to running realtime UAD plug-ins separate from your computer's CPU. DUO Core delivers twice the processing capacity of a SOLO Core system, which in practice means you can run simultaneous compressor, EQ, and reverb plug-ins on your inputs during tracking. The DSP works independently from your DAW, so heavy sessions stay stable regardless of buffer size.
Yes. Apollo Twin X USB supports UAD DSP plug-ins running on its onboard processors and UAD native plug-ins running on your computer's CPU at the same time. UAD native plug-ins don't require hardware DSP and work in any compatible DAW, so you can mix DSP instances for realtime tracking and native instances for CPU-based mixing in the same session. Both formats draw from the same analog models and deliver the same sound quality.
Apollo Twin X USB is a Windows-only interface and does not work with Mac systems. It connects via USB-C (USB 3.0) and is designed specifically for Windows PCs. For Mac users, or anyone who works across both platforms, Universal Audio's Thunderbolt Apollo line (Twin X, x4, x6, x8, x16) supports both macOS and Windows via Thunderbolt 3 or 4.
Apollo Twin X USB is compatible with all major Windows DAWs, including Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Studio One, Cubase, Reaper, and FL Studio. LUNA, UA’s own DAW, offers the deepest integration on Windows when paired with an Apollo interface. UAD Console runs realtime tracking and monitoring alongside any compatible DAW.
Apollo Twin X USB has two Unison-enabled mic / line preamps and a front-panel Hi-Z instrument input, covering vocals, acoustic instruments, electric guitar, and bass. You run UAD Console while tracking, load a preamp emulation from the plug-in library, and monitor through it in realtime with near-zero latency. The built-in talkback mic handles communication with talent in the room, and the front headphone output gives performers a dedicated monitor mix.
Apollo Twin X USB supports up to eight additional channels of digital input via optical ADAT or S/PDIF, so you can add an ADAT-compatible mic preamp expander like the Volt 876 to add inputs without replacing the interface. For more DSP headroom in the DAW, you can pair a USB UAD-2 Satellite with Apollo Twin X USB (up to two total USB UAD-2 devices). The Satellite expands plug-in processing capacity for mixing but doesn’t increase realtime DSP to Apollo inputs.
Yes, Apollo Twin X USB handles live performance and streaming well. UAD Console's realtime processing lets you monitor through UAD plug-ins with near-zero latency, so you hear a processed signal while you perform. The front-panel headphone output and Hi-Z instrument input make it practical for solo performers, and UAD Console's flexible routing with virtual channels lets you send separate mixes and loopback feeds to different outputs simultaneously, which is useful for streaming setups that need independent monitor and broadcast feeds.
DSP-based interfaces like Apollo Twin X USB are still the right call for producers who want to track in realtime through analog hardware emulations without putting the load on their computer's CPU. Recording at low buffer sizes already stresses your CPU, and adding complex plug-in processing on top can cause instability. Apollo Twin X USB's DUO Core DSP handles that processing on dedicated UAD-2 SHARC chips, keeping your tracking sessions stable and your computer free to manage the rest of the session. If you care about what you hear in your headphones while recording, DSP still matters.
UAD DSP plug-ins run on Apollo Twin X USB's onboard processors, which is what makes realtime tracking through complex hardware emulations possible at near-zero latency. UAD native plug-ins run on your computer's CPU, don't require the hardware DSP, and work in any compatible DAW even without an Apollo connected. Both formats use the same UA models and deliver the same sound quality. The DSP advantage shows up specifically during tracking, where low-latency stability matters most and CPU resources are stretched thin.
UAD Spark is a native plug-in subscription that gives you access to over 50 UAD plug-ins, covering compressors, preamps, EQs, reverb, tape machines, and more. It runs through UA Connect alongside any plug-ins you own outright. A UAD Spark subscription lets you explore a large portion of the UAD library before committing to individual purchases. UAD DSP plug-ins that run on your Apollo in realtime are available separately, both as perpetual bundles and individual titles.
For Windows producers who want the full UA ecosystem in a compact desktop unit, the Twin X USB is the natural starting point, covering recording, monitoring, and mixing from a single interface. The included Heritage Edition and Realtime Analog Classics bundles give you professional-quality compression, EQ, reverb, and amp emulations, and the UAD plug-in library is there to expand your toolkit as your needs grow.
Apollo Twin X USB gives you access to Unison-enabled preamp emulations from the UAD plug-in library, including the Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ, API Vision Channel Strip, Manley VOXBOX, Avalon VT-737sp, and many others. The Heritage Edition bundle comes with the UA 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ, which captures the character of the classic UA 610 console. The Neve 1073 is a popular starting point for vocals, the API Vision is a go-to for guitars and drums, and the 610-B or V76 Preamp cover anything that benefits from tube warmth.