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Apollo x8p
Record big sessions with authentic analog sound.
- Produce music with elite-class Apollo X Gen 2 audio conversion, and hear every detail with unprecedented dynamic range
- Use eight Unison™ preamps to capture large sessions with the sound of iconic analog gear from Neve, API, Manley, Fender, and more
- Record through UAD plug-ins in realtime with onboard HEXA Core DSP
- Work faster with new UAD Console features including Auto-Gain, Plug-In Scenes, Monitor Controller, Immersive Audio, and more
- Mix with confidence in any room or through headphones using Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks®
- Get included UAD plug-ins from Auto-Tune, Fairchild, Teletronix, and more with Essentials+ or Studio+ Editions
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Record Big Sessions with Authentic Analog Sound
What They Say
Jacquire King
Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Cold War Kids
Vance Powell
Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs
Fab Dupont
Shakira, Santigold, Jennifer Lopez
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Apollo x8p is worth it for producers, engineers, and bands who need eight simultaneous Unison mic preamps, realtime HEXA Core DSP, and elite-class conversion in a single 1U rack unit. Eight Unison mic inputs means you can record a full drum kit or large live ensemble with the character of vintage preamps from Neve, API, Manley, and more without leaving UAD Console. If large session recording is a regular part of your workflow, the x8p is a great choice.
The Apollo x8p Gen 2 stands apart from other rackmount interfaces because all eight mic preamps use Unison technology, allowing the hardware front-end to physically respond to classic preamp emulations in realtime. Most interfaces at this I/O count route signal through generic circuits, but the x8p's input stage actively changes its character, impedance, and gain structure when you load a Unison plug-in. The Apollo X Gen 2 converters, realtime HEXA Core DSP, and built-in Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks make it a recording platform that goes well bey++++ond a standard rackmount.
Unison technology makes the Apollo x8p's mic preamps physically recreate the impedance, gain structure, and circuit behavior of the modeled hardware. When you load a Unison-enabled plug-in like the Neve 1073 or Manley VOXBOX, the hardware input stage responds the way the real unit would, shaping the signal before it's ever touched by a plug-in in the box. That physical interaction between mic and preamp is what separates Unison from a standard emulation.
The Apollo x8p gives you eight Unison mic preamps across every input channel, while the Apollo x8 provides four Unison preamps alongside additional line-level inputs on the remaining channels. The x8p is the right choice when you need full Unison coverage across a large mic setup, such as a drum kit or band recording. Both share the same HEXA Core DSP, Apollo X Gen 2 conversion, and compatibility with the full UAD DSP plug-in library.
The Apollo x8p uses Apollo X Gen 2 converters running at 24-bit / 192kHz with Dual-Crystal Clocking for ultra-low jitter at every sample rate. The enhanced D/A monitoring stage delivers 130dB dynamic range and a THD of -127dB. The Gen 2 converters provide improved monitoring resolution over the original Apollo X, particularly for critical mix work.
HEXA Core means the Apollo x8p has six onboard UAD-2 SHARC DSP processors dedicated to running UAD plug-ins in realtime with near-zero latency. That's substantially more headroom than a QUAD Core or DUO Core system, which matters when you're tracking eight simultaneous sources through complex Unison preamp chains. You can also combine the onboard HEXA Core with your computer's CPU for a hybrid approach that handles large sessions with deep plug-in chains across the final mix.
Yes, the Apollo x8p supports both UAD DSP plug-ins running on its onboard HEXA Core processors and UAD native plug-ins running on your computer's CPU. UAD native plug-ins run in any host DAW alongside third-party plugins and don't draw from the onboard DSP. The x8p lets you combine both: realtime UAD DSP during tracking and UAD native plug-ins throughout your mix.
The Apollo x8p works with both Mac and Windows PC, including Apple Silicon Macs. The interface connects via Thunderbolt 3, which operates with Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports on current Mac and PC systems. For the latest supported OS versions, check UA's compatibility documentation.
The Apollo x8p works with all major DAWs including Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, and Ableton Live. UA's LUNA Recording System offers the deepest integration with the Apollo x8p on both macOS and Windows, including tape machine emulation and low-latency tracking features such as Accelerated Realtime Monitoring (ARM). UAD DSP and native plug-ins also work with all major DAWs through VST, AU, and AAX 64 plug-in formats.
The Apollo x8p handles large sessions through eight simultaneous Unison mic preamps, two Hi-Z instrument inputs, a DB25 input for switchable eight line-level channels, and two optical Toslink ports for ADAT or S/PDIF expansion at high sample rates. The UAD Console app manages monitoring, plug-in routing, and talkback via a built-in monitor controller. Assistive Auto-Gain levels your inputs automatically, and Plug-In Scenes lets you save and recall complete signal chain parameters for the ultimate in-session flexibility.
The Apollo x8p is expandable via local optical Toslink I/O to an external digital device such as the Volt 876, or over Thunderbolt, letting you link up to four Thunderbolt Apollo interfaces for up to 128 channels of premium I/O in your DAW. Dante networking is available by adding an Apollo x16D to the chain, opening the door to larger analog and AoIP rigs. The x8p's DB25 connectors and dual S/MUX-capable ADAT Toslink ports already give it significant, patchbay-ready I/O in a single 1U space, and Thunderbolt linking lets you grow without disrupting what you already have.
DSP-based interfaces like the Apollo x8p are still worth buying, and the case for them in tracking situations is as strong as ever. Realtime monitoring through UAD plug-ins with near-zero latency is something native-only systems still can't fully replicate, particularly when you're tracking vocalists or live musicians through complex signal chains. The x8p functions as a hybrid system, pairing its onboard realtime HEXA Core DSP with your computer's native processing, so you're not choosing one or the other.
Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks is a room and headphone calibration system built directly into UAD Console. It corrects the frequency response of your monitors or headphones in partnership with Sonarworks SoundID Reference, to create a more accurate, neutral listening environment without adding latency to your monitoring chain. For engineers working in untreated rooms or mixing across multiple headphone pairs, Apollo Monitor Correction makes it easier to trust your ears and make mix decisions that hold up and translate.
The Apollo x8p performs as a fully featured hub for professional sessions, combining elite audio conversion, eight Unison preamps, realtime HEXA Core DSP, and Apollo Monitor Correction in one unit. Its 16 x 22 I/O, patchbay-ready DB25 connectivity, and Thunderbolt expansion make it capable of handling complex multi-source recordings that would require multiple devices from other manufacturers. The Gen 2 versions include meaningful improvements in monitoring resolution and added UAD Console features specifically designed for professional session workflows.
The Apollo x8p is a strong home studio choice when you regularly record multiple sources at once, need full Unison coverage on eight channels, or want the headroom of HEXA Core DSP for complex tracking sessions. If you primarily work alone or track one or two sources at a time, a smaller Apollo like the x4 or Twin X gives you the same conversion and UAD ecosystem in a more compact package. The x8p earns its place in a home setup when your sessions regularly fill those eight preamp channels.