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Apollo Twin X
Create music with timeless analog sound.
- Produce music with elite-class Apollo X Gen 2 audio conversion, and hear every detail with unprecedented dynamic range
- Use dual Unison™ preamps to get the tone and feel of iconic analog gear from Neve, API, Manley, Fender, and more
- Record through UAD plug-ins in realtime with onboard DUO or QUAD Core DSP
- Work faster with new UAD Console features like 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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What’s Included
Available Plug-In Bundles
Create Music with Timeless 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
Apollo Twin X is worth it if you want professional-grade conversion and the ability to record through analog hardware emulations in realtime, right from a desktop interface. The Gen 2 design delivers 129 dB of dynamic range and -120 dB THD+N — figures that compete with dedicated outboard converters costing far more. For producers who want the actual sound of classic gear on the way in, not just in the mix, the onboard DSP and Unison preamp technology make that possible without a full rack of hardware.
Apollo Twin X stands apart from other desktop interfaces by pairing elite audio conversion with onboard DSP processing, letting you track through high-accuracy emulations of classic hardware with near-zero latency. Most interfaces in this category handle conversion only and pass plug-in processing to your computer's CPU. Apollo Twin X runs UAD plug-ins on dedicated UAD-2 SHARC DSP chips at sub-2ms latency, independent of your DAW buffer size. That distinction matters most during tracking, when you need to hear yourself through a preamp or compressor without delay throwing off your take.
Unison technology lets Apollo Twin X's mic and instrument inputs match the impedance, gain structure, and circuit behavior of the analog hardware being modeled. When you load a Unison-enabled UAD plug-in on the input channel, the preamp itself behaves the way the modeled hardware would, rather than just shaping the output signal. The result is that you're capturing the interaction between the source and the input stage, which is where the character of a classic preamp actually lives.
The DUO and QUAD designations refer to the number of onboard SHARC DSP processors available for realtime UAD plug-in processing. Apollo Twin X DUO has two processors and handles moderate realtime plug-in loads comfortably for most home studio and project studio workflows. Apollo Twin X QUAD has four processors and is the better choice if you plan to stack multiple Unison preamp emulations, run channel strip plug-ins on every input, or use Apollo Twin X as part of a larger Thunderbolt-linked Apollo system with higher processing demands. Either way, you’re getting the same converters, I/O, and sound quality.
Apollo Twin X (Thunderbolt 3) works with both Mac and PC and supports linking up to four Thunderbolt Apollo interfaces for expanded I/O. Apollo Twin X USB connects via USB 3.0 and is designed specifically for Windows, making it the right choice if Thunderbolt ports aren't available on your machine. Both versions use the same Apollo X elite-class audio conversion and realtime DUO Core DSP, so you’re not giving up sound quality or performance either way. The Thunderbolt version adds expandability and macOS compatibility; the USB version is the straightforward choice for Windows machines without Thunderbolt.
Apollo Twin X Gen 2 features completely redesigned A/D and D/A conversion to give you a massive 129 dB dynamic range and ultra-low -120 dB THD+N. These are the same specs found in the Apollo X rackmount interfaces used to track thousands of hit records. The Gen 2 D/A converter is UA's highest-resolution monitoring path ever, which pays off when you're mixing and need to trust what’s coming out of your speakers. Plus, Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks dials in your monitoring chain and turns any space — even one that isn't acoustically treated — into a studio.
Apollo Twin X ships with the Essentials+ or Studio+ edition bundle, each including a collection of award-winning UAD plug-ins from Fairchild, Helios, Teletronix (LA-2A), Pultec, UA (1176, 610-B), and others at no extra cost. Beyond the included titles, the full UAD library of over 200 plug-ins is available for purchase. How many plug-ins you can run simultaneously depends on the DSP tier: DUO Core handles a moderate channel load, while QUAD Core doubles the available processing. You can also combine onboard DSP with native processing from your computer's CPU for a hybrid workflow that extends session size significantly.
Apollo Twin X works with both macOS (including Apple Silicon Macs) and Windows via Thunderbolt 3 or 4. You also get access to the LUNA Recording System, UA's integrated recording application built for the Apollo workflow. On Windows, Apollo Twin X connects via Thunderbolt and works seamlessly with UAD Console and all major DAWs. If your PC doesn’t have Thunderbolt, the Apollo Twin X USB is a great choice since it’s designed specifically for USB 3.0 connectivity on Windows machines.
Apollo Twin X works with all major DAWs, including Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One, and others, running UAD plug-ins in VST, AU, and AAX 64 formats. If you want the deepest integration, UA’s LUNA Recording System is built specifically for the Apollo workflow, giving you built-in Neve summing, Studer tape extensions, and Accelerated Realtime Monitoring. Outside of LUNA, Apollo Twin X works with any DAW for recording and playback, with UAD Console handling monitoring, routing, and realtime plug-in processing independently.
Apollo Twin X is designed to simplify your tracking workflow. You plug in a microphone or instrument, load a Unison preamp emulation on the input, and monitor through it in realtime with sub-2ms latency using UAD Console. To keep the session moving, Assistive Auto-Gain helps you set input levels quickly, while Plug-In Scenes let you save your favorite signal chains for recurring sessions. The front-panel Hi-Z input handles guitar and bass direct, and the headphone output has its own level control for independent monitoring. For solo artists or singer-songwriters, the Apollo Twin X’s two-input setup offers a clean way to track and overdub without tech getting in the way.
Apollo Twin X is built to grow right along with your studio. First, the optical Toslink input lets you add up to eight extra channels of digital input via ADAT (or stereo input via S/PDIF), which pairs well with outboard preamps or expanders equipped with digital outputs. Second, you can link up to four Thunderbolt Apollo interfaces together for up to 128 channels of combined I/O, all managed through a single UAD Console instance on your desktop. Apollo Twin X can serve as the control interface in a larger linked system or as the primary interface in a simpler two-preamp setup that grows over time.
With Apollo Twin X Gen 2, you can run Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks directly on the hardware DSP. This applies pro calibration profiles to your signal in realtime, so what you hear through your headphones or monitors includes a corrected frequency response to make it more accurate. Paired with the Apollo Twin X Gen 2 D/A converters — our highest-resolution D/A converters ever in a desktop unit — you get a monitoring chain that’s incredibly clean and detailed. For anyone mixing in a bedroom or untreated space, this combination of accurate conversion and room correction makes Apollo Twin X a reference tool you can actually trust, not just a tracking interface.
Short answer: yes. The core advantage of DSP-based interfaces like Apollo Twin X — sub-2ms latency — hasn’t changed with the rise of faster computers. Onboard DSP runs UAD plug-ins at sub-2ms latency no matter what your DAW buffer is doing. That’s a huge deal when you need to hear a compressor or reverb in your headphones without the distracting “echo” of a latency buffer. Native processing on a modern CPU can get close in terms of raw power, but it’s still tied to your computer’s buffer, which can add audible delay. With Apollo Twin X and UAD plug-ins, you get a hybrid model where DSP and native processing run together, so you get the best of both worlds without having to choose.
UAD Spark is Universal Audio's native plug-in subscription service that gives you access to a rotating collection of over 50 UAD titles for a monthly fee. Apollo Twin X does not require a Spark subscription: your interface ships with a bundle of UAD plug-ins and works with any UAD titles you own outright. Think of Spark as a way to browse the wider UAD plug-in library without committing to individual titles. It’s perfect if you want variety across genres and use cases, but the core Apollo workflow, including realtime processing through UAD Console, functions fully with the included plug-ins.
Apollo Twin X is a full hardware redesign compared to the older Apollo Twin MKII, not just a software tweak. Apollo Twin X Gen 2 features completely rebuilt A/D and D/A converters with a 129 dB dynamic range and -120 dB THD+N — both a significant step up from the MKII generation. You’re also moving from the older Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. On top of the hardware upgrades, Apollo Twin X gives you access to newer UAD Console features like Assistive Auto-Gain, Plug-In Scenes, and Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks. If you're running an MKII today, the conversion and monitoring improvements in the Twin X are the primary reasons to upgrade.
It’s arguably the gold standard for home setups. Apollo Twin X gives you professional conversion quality and realtime plug-in processing in a compact, desktop-sized unit that doesn’t hog your desk space. The two Unison preamps cover the most common home studio recording scenarios: vocals, acoustic guitar, direct instruments via Hi-Z, and anything else running into a single stereo or dual-mono chain. If you need to track a full band, you can easily expand with ADAT or link other Apollo interfaces as you grow. Between the included UAD plug-ins and Apollo Monitor Correction, Apollo Twin X is a complete production toolkit that’s ready to go right out of the box.