Apollo x8 Interface

From Help Wiki

We have Apollo x8 interfaces installed in the four Music Tech Labs, both Audio Mixing Benches and the 5.1 room.

Intro

  • We have Apollo x8 interfaces installed in the four Music Tech Labs, both Audio Mixing Benches and the 5.1 room.
  • They are multichannel interfaces with
    • HI-Z inputs for guitars
    • Mic inputs with XLR jacks
    • Line inputs with 1/4" jacks
  • The interfaces and software were configured to work in the various labs.
  • The Music Tech labs make use of more inputs and outputs of the interface.
  • The Audio Mix Benches are set up in a similar way to make moving between labs easier.
  • Not all of the inputs and outputs are connected in the various labs.

Inputs

  • On the front there are two HI-Z inputs inputs (labelled HI-Z 1 and HI-Z 2)
    • Theses are for low level signal like electric guitars.  Only use mono 1/4 cables.
  • There are 4 XLR mic inputs on the back of the interface.
    • There is a panel with 4 XLR jacks below the interface.
    • These are connected to the 4 mic inputs.
    • Microphones can be connected to these inputs using XLR cables (not included in the room).
    • Each input has:
      • Trim control knob for setting input levels
      • Pad for reducing input levels
      • 48V Phantom Power for powering condenser microphones
      • Low cut filter.
  • There are eight 1/4" line level inputs on the back.
  • The four microphone inputs and the eight line inputs share only 8 channels of analog-to-digital conversion, so the first four channels can only be set to either mic or line, not both at the same time.

Selecting Inputs

  • Press the Preamp knob to toggle between inputs 1-4.
  • The number over the corresponding input on the LED display will light up.
  • Press the INPUT button to toggle between MIC and LINE for the current input.
  • Connecting a cable to HI-Z 1 or HI-Z 2 will force the input switch to HI-Z

Input Controls for Inputs 1-4

  • Input: toggles between MIC and LINE for the current input.
  • Low Cut Filter: Enables a filter with a cutoff frequency of 75 Hz with a slope of 12 dB per octave.
    • Affects Mic, Line and HI-Z inputs
  • +48V: Press to turn on phantom power.
    • When pressed the light will flash red.
    • When the red light is solid phantom power is enabled.
    • Only use with condenser mics.
  • Pad: When enabled, the channel’s XLR Mic input signal level is attenuated by 20 dB.
    • Does not effect the Line or Hi-Z inputs.
  • Polarity: Inverts the phase of the input by 180 degrees.
    • Leave off
  • Link: Links the preamp controls of adjacent preamp channels together.
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
    • Only the same types of inputs can be linked.
      • Mic/Mic or Line/Line
      • Does not work HI-Z inputs

Outputs

  • There are 8 line outputs on the back.
  • Not every lab is using all 8 outputs.

Labeling

  • The various audio applications may refer to the inputs and outputs with slightly different names.
  • We have tried to set the preferences to meaningful names but sometimes they may revert back to the default names.  
  • Below are table with the list of the inputs and outputs  
  • Some are physical inputs and outputs and others and virtual connections from the UA Console app.  

Inputs

Software Label Notes
Mic/Line/Hi-Z 1 Switches between HI-Z, Mic and Line jacks
Mic/Line/Hi-Z 2 Switches between HI-Z, Mic and Line jacks
Mic/Line 3 Switches between Mic and Line jacks
Mic/Line 4 Switches between HI-Z, Mic and Line jacks
Line 5 Line Input 5
Line 6 Line Input 6
Line 7 Line Input 7
Line 8 Line Input 8
AUX 1 L Aux 1 from the Console app
AUX 1 R Aux 1 from the Console app
Virtual 1 Virtual connection between audio apps
Virtual 2 Virtual connection between audio apps
Virtual 3 Virtual connection between audio apps
Virtual 4 Virtual connection between audio apps
AUX 2 L Aux 2 from the Console app
AUX 2 R Aux 2 from the Console app

Outputs

Software Label Notes
Line 1 Line Output 1
Line 2 Line Output 2
Line 3 Line Output 3
Line 4 Line Output 4
Line 5 Line Output 5
Line 6 Line Output 6
Line 7 Line Output 7
Line 8 Line Output 8
MON L The monitor output of the Console app. The headphone jacks get their signal from this output.
MON R The monitor output of the Console app. The headphone jacks get their signal from this output.
Virtual 1 Virtual connection between audio apps
Virtual 2 Virtual connection between audio apps
Virtual 3 Virtual connection between audio apps
Virtual 4 Virtual connection between audio apps
CUE 1 L Cue 1 from the Console app
CUE 1 R Cue 1 from the Console app