One of the big hits at the recent Winter NAMM trade show in Anaheim, California, was the announcement of the Apollo Twin by Universal Audio. With the Apollo Twin, UA brings all the cool features of the Apollo audio interface to a new compact, portable format. I had a chance to put the Apollo Twin through its paces in my studio, and here’s what I found.

The Apollo Twin is a desktop-format audio interface that connects via Thunderbolt — plus, it has a built-in UAD DUO processor that provides DSP for running UAD plug-ins, both while you’re tracking and while you’re mixing/mastering. The unit feels solid and well built; its front panel is dominated by a large multifunction knob and input and output LED meters. Despite its clean layout, the Twin offers all the control you need for recording and monitoring audio.

Connections include two 1/4″/XLR combo inputs for mic or line-level signals, an instrument-level input, stereo monitor outs, an additional pair of outputs, and a headphone jack. An optical input allows you to use ADAT or S/PDIF digital devices to feed the Apollo Twin.

Like the Apollo and Apollo 16 audio interfaces, the Apollo Twin uses UA’s Apollo Console software to provide latency-free monitoring along with real-time UAD plug-in processing during tracking and control over headphone mixes, cue mixes, I/O settings, and more.

In use, the Apollo Twin is fast and easy to install and get up and running. It’s a breeze to navigate, and with Universal Audio’s analog circuitry, it sounds great. The preamps are clean, dynamic, and detailed, while the outs are transparent. It makes a great centerpiece for a small studio or for a mobile rig — being able to use UAD plug-ins during tracking for location recordings is an awesome benefit!

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Hands On: Universal Audio Apollo Twin

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