Universal Audio Apollo Software User Manual
Page 76
Apollo Software Manual
Chapter 5: Unison
76
Unison Features
Unison technology enables these Apollo features, all with Realtime UAD Processing:
•
Alternate microphone preamplifier sound – Apollo’s ultra-transparent mic preamps inherit
all the unique sonic and input characteristics of the emulated hardware preamp, includ-
ing the mic, line, and Hi-Z inputs.
•
Realistic tandem control – Unison facilitates seamless interactive control of Unison
preamp plug-in settings using Apollo’s digitally-controlled hardware and/or the plug-in
interface. All equivalent preamp controls (gain, pad, polarity, etc) are mirrored and bi-
directional. The preamp controls respond to adjustments with precisely the same inter-
play behavior as the emulated hardware, including gain levels and clipping points.
•
Hardware input impedance – All Apollo mic preamps feature variable input impedance in
analog hardware that can be physically switched by Unison plug-ins for physical, micro-
phone-to-preamp resistive interaction. This impedance switching enables Apollo’s pre-
amps to physically match the emulated unit’s input impedance, which can significantly
impact the sound of a microphone. Because the electrical loading occurs on input, prior
to A/D conversion, the realism is faithful to the original target hardware preamp.
•
Tactile gain staging – Apollo’s front panel preamp knob can independently adjust all gain
and level parameters available within the Unison plug-in via
stage being adjusted can be remotely switched via Apollo, so multiple gain levels and
their associated colorations can be tuned from the hardware knob for precise physical
tactile control, all without using the Unison plug-in’s software interface.
Unison Plug-Ins
Unison-enabled UAD preamplifier plug-ins are uniquely coded for Unison integration. Only UAD
preamp plug-ins that are Unison-enabled can be loaded in Console’s PREAMP inserts.
Note: In all descriptive text, “Unison plug-in” is defined as any Unison-enabled UAD
preamp plug-in.
Activating Unison
Unison technology is activated when a Unison plug-in is loaded in the special PREAMP insert
slots within Apollo’s Console application. Console PREAMP inserts are only available on Apollo’s
mic preamp channel inputs.
Note: Unison is unavailable with Apollo 16, which does not feature microphone pream-
plifiers.
Unison plug-ins in standard insert slots
Unison plug-ins can be loaded and used in any standard insert slots available on all Console
input channels and/or within a DAW via VST/AU/RTAS/AAX (like any UAD plug-in). However,
there is no physical or electrical hardware interaction in standard insert slots, so Unison plug-
ins operate like other (non-Unison) UAD plug-ins in this scenario.
Important:
Unison features are available only when Unison-enabled UAD preamp plug-
ins are loaded within Console in the PREAMP insert slots.