Apollo Solo USB
Shape your recordings into records, on Windows.
- Experience class-leading 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
- Enjoy clear, detailed monitoring with the best-sounding headphone amplifier in its class
- Create on-the-go using a sonically superior bus-powered interface with rugged all-metal construction
Details & Downloads
What’s Included
Includes the Realtime Analog Classics Bundle
Shape your Recordings into Records, on Windows
What They Say
Fab Dupont
Shakira, Santigold, Jennifer Lopez
Jonathan Wilson
Father John Misty, Dawes, Roger Waters
Terry Lewis
Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Prince
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Reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 88 Total 4 star reviews: 16 Total 3 star reviews: 8 Total 2 star reviews: 7 Total 1 star reviews: 14
78%would recommend this product
133 reviews
- JJeriahVerified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 stars2 weeks agoAmazing for artists on the go
I have had the Apollo arrow (older version of the solo) since 2020 and it has never let me down. The conversion, the portability, and the fact that I can track high quality vocals on the go is a huge win for me. I use it all the time with my sm7b and the C-Vox plugin. With this I can record high quality audio anywhere. This interface really has been a game changer for me!
- CMC. M.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars12 months agoOutstanding Apollo Solo
I absolutely love this piece of gear. I would never had the opportunity to get my hands on the real world hardware. UA is a dreame come true for me. Thank you for taking my work to the next level.
- GVG. V.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1 year agoPerfect
This is the absolute perfect interface for professional studio or home ...
- SAS. A.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1 year agoApollo Solo - one chip wonder
If you record through the Console and commit with LA-2 and guitar amps etc. It can be rewarding. It teaches you to mix with its limitation. For me the limitation has actually been a good thing! If you’re a punk rocker like me, the Fender 55 Tweed, Ampeg, Marshall amp and Teletronix compressors are all you need. Precision delay to the vocals, maybe Realverb Pro to the bus for drums and guitars and you’re almost ready. Some mastering plugin for the master fader. I’ve released 70 songs in two years and surprisingly I don’t even know if I need more, especially when I use the Console and Unison amps. The amp plugins are better than my real amps! Which is ridiculous! Apollo Solo is like the Fender Blues Jr. of recording interfaces. Punk rockers don’t need any more than this. That’s what I think.
- ARA. R.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1 year agoApollo solo usb - 5 star !
I read a lot of negative reviews, but gave this little guy a chance. I don’t regret the purchase, in my opinion, I got even more than I expected! For a month of use, I did not notice any disadvantages in the work. After SSL+, I was pleasantly pleased with the capabilities of this device! The only negative is that the kit does not include a USB 3.0 cable.
Apollo Solo USB for windows, I definitely recommend buying it!
Best in class!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Apollo Solo USB is worth it for Windows-based producers who want professional-grade audio conversion and realtime tracking through iconic analog preamp emulations. It's the only desktop USB interface that combines Unison preamp technology, onboard UAD DSP processing, and access to a library of hundreds of classic plug-ins. For Windows producers without Thunderbolt, it brings everything that makes Apollo worth it to a USB-C connection.
Apollo Solo USB is the only desktop USB interface for Windows that lets you record vocals, synths, and instruments through accurate emulations of Neve, API, Manley, SSL, and other classic hardware preamps in realtime, with near-zero latency. Other interfaces in this price range offer solid conversion but leave all the processing to your computer. Apollo Solo USB runs UAD plug-ins on its own onboard DSP chip, so your CPU headroom and buffer size don't dictate what you can monitor through while tracking.
Unison technology on Apollo Solo USB means the interface's mic and instrument preamps physically change their impedance, gain structure, and circuit behavior to match the hardware model you load. When you pull up a Neve preamp or an API Vision emulation, the front end of the interface responds the way that preamp would — not just the sound of it, but the feel of the input stage. That's what separates a Unison-enabled preamp from a standard mic input running a digital plug-in.
Apollo Solo USB is built exclusively for Windows 10 and 11 users over a USB 3 connection. If you're on a Mac, or if you want to link multiple Apollo units together for larger I/O configurations, the Thunderbolt version is the better choice since Thunderbolt models support both macOS and Windows and allow you to chain up to four units. For Windows users who want a focused, portable, high-quality interface, Apollo Solo USB delivers the full Apollo experience without requiring a Thunderbolt port.
Apollo Solo USB records and plays back at up to 24-bit / 192 kHz, using conversion technology that has made Apollo interfaces the standard in professional studios for years. The analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog stages are engineered for low noise, wide dynamic range, and flat frequency response across the audible spectrum. You don’t have to compromise on conversion quality to get portability and onboard DSP at this price.
Apollo Solo USB includes two plug-in bundles: the Realtime Analog Classics bundle and the Heritage Edition bundle. Together, they cover the UA 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ, Teletronix LA-2A compressors, UA 1176 limiter collections, Pultec EQ collections, Ampeg SVT-VR, Precision Mix Rack tools, UA Pure Plate Reverb, and more. Beyond the included titles, you can purchase additional plug-ins from the UAD DSP plug-in library or get access to 50+ native plug-ins through a UAD Spark subscription.
These names refer to the number of UAD-2 SHARC DSP chips inside each unit. Apollo Solo USB carries one SHARC processor, which is enough for realtime UAD processing while tracking vocals, instruments, and other sources through plug-ins. A DUO core has approximately twice the processing headroom, and QUAD and HEXA scale further from there. If you regularly run dense UAD plug-in chains across multiple inputs simultaneously, stepping up to a higher DSP tier gives you more room to work.
Apollo Solo USB is designed for Windows 10 and Windows 11 only and does not support macOS. Mac users who want an Apollo interface should look at the Thunderbolt Apollo lineup, which is fully compatible with macOS, including Apple Silicon.
Apollo Solo USB works with any ASIO-compatible DAW on Windows, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Cubase, Studio One, and Reaper. LUNA, UA's own DAW, is compatible with both Windows and Mac and integrates tightly with Apollo's Console application. If your DAW supports ASIO on Windows, Apollo Solo USB works with it.
Apollo Solo USB requires a Windows 10 or 11 PC with a USB 3 port. The USB 3 Type-C cable connects the interface to your computer and is sold separately. For current full system requirements, visit UA's downloads and compatibility page.
Yes. Apollo Solo USB uses its onboard SHARC DSP chip to process UAD plug-ins in realtime, independent of your computer's CPU and audio buffer size. This means you can monitor through an 1176 compressor, a Neve 1073 preamp emulation, or a Fender amp emulation while recording, and your buffer setting has no effect on what you hear. That's the core advantage of having dedicated DSP hardware built into the interface.
You can connect a UAD-2 USB Satellite to Apollo Solo USB to add more UAD plug-in processing headroom in your DAW, with a maximum of two UAD-2 USB devices connected at once. Note that a Satellite expands your mix-time plug-in capacity but does not add realtime DSP for Apollo input monitoring in UAD Console. You can also add Thunderbolt Satellites to a USB Apollo setup for up to six total UAD-2 devices combined.
Apollo Solo USB is bus-powered over USB, so it draws power directly from your laptop without needing a separate power supply or wall adapter. Its all-metal body travels well and fits easily in a laptop bag. For Windows-based producers who need professional conversion and UAD plug-in access outside the studio, it's a portable setup without any sonic trade-offs.
Yes, DSP-based interfaces like Apollo Solo USB are still worth buying in 2026, particularly if realtime tracking through analog hardware emulations matters to how you work. The onboard processor runs UAD plug-ins independently of your computer, delivering near-zero latency regardless of session complexity or CPU load. For producers who want to commit character to a recording at the source rather than fix it in the mix, dedicated DSP still offers something native-only systems can't fully replicate.
UAD DSP plug-ins run on the SHARC processor inside Apollo Solo USB, which offloads the work from your computer and enables realtime monitoring through UAD plug-ins when tracking. UAD native plug-ins run on your computer's CPU and don't require an Apollo or any DSP hardware. Both draw from the same catalog of analog hardware models, and many titles are available in both formats. Many producers end up using both — DSP when tracking latency matters, native when more flexibility is needed.
Yes. UAD Spark is UA’s native plug-in subscription that gives you access to over 50 UAD titles for a monthly fee. It's a practical way to explore the wider UAD library before purchasing individual titles. You can try UAD Spark at a discounted rate at uaudio.com.