Product Profile: Universal Audio Apollo x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface The Universal Audio Apollo x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface (Ax8G2) stands out as a flagship choice for professional music producers, engineers, and recording artists seeking a high-end audio interface with cutting-edge features. Designed for professional studio setups, the Ax8G2 offers class leading AD/DA conversion, real-time UAD processing, and an abundance of connectivity options. The Ax8G2 is housed in a road-worthy 1U rack-mountable chassis. The Ax8G2’s elegant metal finish and sturdy construction reflect Universal Audio’s commitment to premium build quality. The Ax8G2 features four Unison-enabled preamps which allow users to emulate the exact impedance, gain staging, and behavior of classic preamps from Neve, API, Manley, and other legendary brands. The front panel includes essential controls such as a high-resolution metering display, preamp gain knobs, headphone outputs, and input selection buttons. The LED meters provide real-time feedback on input, output, and overall level, ensuring precise monitoring during your tracking and mixing sessions.All of the converters on the Ax8G2 have been upgraded to Universal Audio’s elite-class 24-bit/192kHz converters that offer superior dynamic range and ultra-low distortion. These converters offer the sharpest stereo image and most detailed playback of any Apollo interface to date. The Ax8G2’s converters provide an impressive 130 dB dynamic range on the DA side and 123 dB on the AD side, ensuring pristine sound reproduction. The upgraded Ax8G2 monitor and headphone outputs now have significant improvements in dynamic range and total harmonic distortion.The Ax8G2 features Hexa Core DSP processing powered by six SHARC processors dedicated to running Universal Audio’s extensive library of UAD plug-ins. This provides plenty of real-time processing capability to allow you to confidently track and mix high track count sessions with Universal Audio’s analog-modeled plugins, such as classic compressors, EQs, reverbs, and tape machines, without taxing your computer’s CPU and with zero latency.The Ax8G2 is built for home and commercial studio environments and includes 4 Unison-enabled mic/line preamps, eight line inputs and eight line outputs (both with balanced TRS) two Hi-Z instrument inputs (which are located on the front panel), dedicated monitor outputs (stereo TRS), two independent headphone outputs, optical ADAT and S/PDIF I/O Word Clock I/O (BNC), and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.The inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 ensures ultra-low latency operation and high-bandwidth communication between the interface and your Mac or PC. This makes the Ax8G2 an excellent choice for large-scale recording sessions and high-track-count projects.Like the Apollo x8 Gen 1, the Ax8G2 can support up to 7.1 surround sound monitoring. This is particularly beneficial for producers working in film, TV, and game audio production. The Ax8G2 dedicated monitor control functionality allows users to seamlessly switch between different speaker configurations, control volume levels, and manage multiple monitoring setups.All Apollo interfaces from the Twin x to x16 come with full monitor controller functionality. Let’s say you started your journey with Universal Audio’s interfaces with a desktop version of Apollo—like the Twin x or x4—that unlocks the ability to use the Universal Audio’s DSP plugins and allows you to experience real-time workflows like I mentioned earlier. The Twin x or x4 interfaces also have a built-in talkback mic, and you can talk directly to an artist or collaborator just like you would in a pro studio. If you add an Apollo rack interface into your studio rig (like Apollo x6, x8, or x8P), that Apollo Twin x or x4 will now become your remote monitor controller which you can use to switch between your loudspeakers connected to the rack unit, sum to mono, dim and talk back to speak with someone you’re helping to record. In an expanded system where you’re integrating your Ax8G2 and Apollo Twin in the same setup, you will be able to leave your Ax8G2 in the studio, pick up your Twin X or X4 desktop unit, and head out to your remote session. Apollo Monitor Correction, which was introduced in X8 Gen 1, now incorporates Sonarworks Sound ID Reference room correction software, which integrates directly with the Ax8G2. Sound ID Reference helps you hear your music more accurately by checking how different speakers sound in a room and fixes any problems such as room modes and standing waves which can cause peaks and dips in the frequency response of your listening environment. This enables you to create, mix, and master all of your music with the same confidence and accuracy that you might have if you had rented a pro studio for your project.There’s also a useful new bass management tool in the Ax8G2. This isn’t a part of the Sonarworks software but it’s especially helpful if you are looking to manage complex speaker setups. The bass management tool allows you to configure the correct crossover, slope, and trim without having to awkwardly fiddle with the controls from behind the unit. The bass management is available for Apollo x Gen 1 and Gen 2 interfaces and does not require any further purchase or third-party software. Assistive Auto Gain is a brand new feature that’s exclusive to Ax8G2 interfaces and it takes the guesswork out of gain staging. Assistive Auto Gain, accessible through UAD console, will automatically set all your levels—even across classic recording console unison emulations such as API, Neve, and SSL20—all of which makes setting for high channel count tracking sessions (like recording drums) a breeze.Today, many popular UAD plug-ins are available natively and work even when you’re not plugged into your Apollo. This means you now have even more flexibility in how you mix and master; it also means you’re no longer required to use UAD-2 versions when tracking and mixing. If you want to collaborate with other musicians who don’t own Apollo’s or mix when you’re away from your Apollo, you have the flexibility of using native plugins, which sound just as good as the UAD-2 versions. One of the biggest changes with the Ax8G2 is the added-value software packages that are included with your purchase. Apollo x8 Gen 2 comes with the Essentials + version. You get auto-tune real-time access, plus over 25 more plugins like the LA-2A, Pultec, UA-610B, and much more. Apollo Twin x, x4, x6, x8, and x8P Gen 2s come with the option for the Studio Plus version and includes the flagship Auto-Tune Real-Time X. Plus, you get 50 more plugins including the legendary Avalon VT-737, 1176s, Fairchild 660 and 670, Lexicon 224, Studer A800 tape machine, and so much more. There is a ton of value in this bundle, and it includes Unison UAD-2 and native plugins. The Ax8G2 is a versatile and powerful professional tool for recording, mixing, and monitoring professional level projects. The Unison preamps and new elite-class 24-bit/192kHz converters provide exceptional tonal flexibility, allowing users to shape their sound with precision. The Hexa Core DSP ensures that even large sessions with multiple plugins run smoothly, freeing up your computer resources for other tasks. The Ax8G2 is a solid choice for professional home and commercial recording studios. If you’re in the market for a new recording interface or are looking for an upgrade, the Ax8G2 is well worth checking out. Highly recommended!The Universal Audio x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface is available now starting at $2,899. Find out more at uaudio.com.The post Product Profile: Universal Audio Apollo x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface  first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.