HIGH-RESOLUTION INTERFACE with Realtime UAD Processing Apollo 16 mkII Hardware Manual Manual Version 150408 Customer Service & Technical Support: USA Toll-Free: +1-877-698-2834 International: +1-831-440-1176 www.uaudio.
A Letter from Bill Putnam Jr. Thank you for deciding to make an Apollo High-Resolution Interface part of your music making experience. We know that any new piece of gear requires an investment of time and money — and our goal is to make your investment pay off. The fact that we get to play a part in your creative process is what makes our efforts meaningful, and we thank you for this.
Table Of Contents Tip: Click any section or page number to jump directly to that page. A Letter from Bill Putnam Jr................................................................... 2 Introduction.......................................................................................... 4 What is Apollo 16 mkII?...................................................................................... 4 Apollo 16 mkII Features.....................................................................................
Introduction What is Apollo 16 mkII? Thunderbolt Audio Interface with QUAD Processing The new Apollo 16 is an elegant update to UA’s premium audio interface — delivering enhanced sound with the tone, feel, and flow of analog recording. Perfect for professional studios, this 18 x 20 Thunderbolt interface offers twice the analog connectivity of the Apollo 8/8p, making it ideal for pairing with mixing consoles and outboard processors.
Apollo Expanded and Console 2.0 Thanks to Apollo Expanded software, users of Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo Twin, Apollo 16, Apollo 16p, and Apollo 16 audio interfaces can combine up to four Apollos and six total UAD-2 devices — adding I/O and DSP as their studio grows. Apollo Expanded also provides seamless integration with previous generation Apollos over Thunderbolt. With Apollo 16’s Console 2.
Monitoring • • • • • Independently-addressable stereo monitor outputs (in addition to 16 line outputs) Digitally-controlled analog monitor outputs maintains highest fidelity Front panel control of monitor levels and muting Front panel pre-fader metering of monitor bus levels Digital AES/EBU outputs can mirror the analog monitor outputs UAD-2 QUAD Inside • • • • • Four SHARC® DSP processors Realtime UAD Processing on all of Apollo 16’s analog and AES/EBU inputs Same features and functionality as other UAD
About Apollo 16 Documentation Documentation for all Apollo components is extensive, so instructions are separated by areas of functionality. Each functional area has a separate manual file. An overview of each file, and how they are accessed, is provided in this section. Note: Extensive Web Documentation, including technical information not available in other publications, is also available. Apollo Manual Files Note: All manual files are in PDF format.
Installed Documentation Location All documentation is copied to the startup disk during software installation: • Macintosh HD/Applications/Universal Audio Accessing Installed Documentation Any of these methods can be used to access installed documentation: • • • • Navigate the file system within the Mac OS X Finder Choose “Documentation” from the Help menu within the Console application Click the “View Documentation” button in the Help panel within the UAD Meter & Control Panel application Manuals are al
Technical Support Universal Audio provides free customer support to all registered Apollo 16 users. Support specialists are available to assist you via email and telephone during normal business hours, which are from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time. Email Support To request online support via email, click the link below for a direct link to the help ticket form: • https://www.uaudio.com/my/support/create/ Alternately, visit the main support page at www.uaudio.
Front Panel This section describes the features and functionality of all controls and visual elements on the Apollo 16 front panel. Note that most front panel functions can be controlled remotely with the Console software application. 1 METER 2 3 HOST RATE CLOCK 44.1 INT 48 EXT 88.2 METER 96 IN 176.
Clock Apollo 16’s clock source and status are displayed with these indicators. Either internal (INT) or external (EXT) is displayed. The clock source is set within the Console application; see the Apollo Software Manual for details. Internal Clock When Apollo 16 is set to internal clock, the INT indicator is illuminated white. External Clock Apollo 16 can use an external clock from the Word Clock, AES/EBU, or ADAT inputs.
Input Channel Meters When set to INPUT, the channel meters display the signal peak input levels for analog channels 1 – 16 at the input to the A/D converters. Avoid digital clipping at the channel’s A/D converter by reducing the output level of the device connected to the channel’s input. Output Channel Meters When set to OUTPUT, the channel meters display the signal peak output levels for analog channels 1 – 16 at the output of the D/A converters.
Monitor Output Gain Bypass By default, monitor output levels are continuously variable. However, the monitor outputs can be set to completely bypass the monitor level circuitry and operate at a fixed reference level. This feature is set with the MONITOR OUTPUT GAIN menu in the Hardware panel within the Console Settings window.
Monitor State Indicator The color of the indicator ring indicates the current state of the monitor outputs: Green (variable) – The main monitor outputs are active with variable level control Green (fixed at maximum) – MONITOR OUTPUT GAIN is set to BYPASS in the Hardware panel within the Console Settings window Red – The main monitor outputs (and ALT monitor outputs, if configured) are muted Orange – The ALT 1 monitor outputs are active* Amber – The ALT 2 monitor outputs are active* Flashing – The monitor DI
Rear Panel 1 8 AES/EBU OUT AES/EBU IN MON OUT (R) 2 MON OUT (L) 1 2 3 LINE OUT 9-16 LINE IN 9-16 LINE OUT 1-8 LINE IN 1-8 PUSH Apollo 16 rear panel – analog I/O (1) Left & Right Monitor Outputs These balanced XLR jacks are line-level analog outputs typically used for connection to a stereo loudspeaker monitoring system. The signal levels at these outputs are controlled with the Monitor Level & Mute knob (#7). The Monitor Outputs can be configured to use an operating level of 14 dBu or 20 dBu.
(3) Line Inputs 1 – 16 The 16 analog inputs are accessed via dual female DB25 connectors. Each DB25 jack carries eight balanced line-level channel inputs using standardized Tascam pinouts. Note: See DB25 Wiring for connector pinouts. The Line Inputs can be configured to use -10 dBV or +4 dBu reference levels. This function is configured within the input channel strips in the Console application. 4 5 6 7 POWER 1 8 AES/EBU OUT AES/EBU IN PUSH UNIVERSAL AUDIO, INC.
(6) Word Clock Out This BNC connector transmits a standard (1x) word clock when Apollo 16 is set to use its internal clock. The clock rate sent by this port matches the current system sample rate, as specified within the Console application. When Apollo 16 is set to use external word clock as its clock, Apollo 16 is a word clock slave. If the incoming external word clock is within ±0.5% of a supported sample rate (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.
Mirror Monitor Outputs The AES/EBU output can be configured to mirror the Monitor outputs, for routing the stereo Monitor signal to the stereo AES/EBU input of other devices. This function is configured in the Hardware panel within the Console Settings window. (9) Thunderbolt Ports Apollo 16 has two Thunderbolt 2 ports. One port is used to connect Apollo 16 to a Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 port on the host computer.
Installation & Configuration Note: Items on this page are detailed in the Apollo Software Manual. See About Apollo 16 Documentation for related information. System Requirements All system requirements must be met for Apollo 16 to operate properly. Before proceeding with installation, see the system requirements in the Apollo Software Manual. Software Installation The software must be installed to use the hardware and UAD plug-ins.
Interconnections Installation Notes • • Apollo 16 may get hot during normal operation if it doesn’t receive adequate airflow circulation around its chassis vents. For optimum results when mounting Apollo 16 in a rack, leaving at least one empty rack space above the unit to allow adequate airflow for cooling is recommended.
Typical Setup This diagram illustrates a basic Apollo 16 system. In this example, only analog devices are connected; digital I/O is not used.
Apollo Expanded: Multi-Unit Wiring The diagram below illustrates how to interconnect multiple Apollo units and the host computer via Thunderbolt. Important: For complete details about system operation when multi-unit cascading, see the Apollo Software Manual.
Specifications All specifications are typical performance unless otherwise noted, tested under the following conditions: 48 kHz internal sample rate, 24-bit sample depth, 20 kHz measurement bandwidth, with balanced output.
ANALOG I/O Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.1 dB Line Inputs 1 – 16 Connector Type Two Female DB25, Tascam wiring Dynamic Range 119 dB (A–weighting) Signal-to-Noise Ratio 119 dB (A–weighting) Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise –112.5 dB @ -1 dBFS Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) 75 dB (10’ cable) Input Impedance 10K Ohms Input Reference Level +4 dBu (fixed) Maximum Input Level (+4 dBu setting) +20.2 dBu Maximum Input Level (-10 dBV setting) +6.
DIGITAL I/O AES/EBU Connector Type XLR Format IEC 60958 Type I MADI (Not Implemented) Connector Type Dual Optical SC-Plug (ISO/IEC 9314-3) Word Clock Connector Type BNC Lock Range ±0.
Apollo 16 mkII Hardware Manual 26 DB25 FEMALE DB25 FEMALE PAD +4 dBu / -10 dBV SELECT A/D 75 Ω BNC BNC OPTO MADI OUT TB THUNDERBOLT PORTS TB THUNDERBOLTTM 2 OPTION CARD PCIe OPTION CARD SLOT SYSTEM CONTROL CLOCKING / SYNC MIXER WORD CLOCK I/O WC TERM ON/OFF ø OPTO XLR MALE Apollo 16 mkII Hardware Block Diagram V02 9 - 16 1-8 LINE INPUTS 1 - 16 MADI IN AES/EBU OUT AES/EBU IN XLR FEMALE DRAM DRAM SHARC® DSP SHARC® DSP ARM® PROCESSOR DRAM SHARC® DSP D/A DRAM Pad Works on St
DB25 Wiring Apollo 16’s analog I/O is accessed via 25-pin D-sub female connectors. Each DB25 jack carries eight balanced line-level audio channels on the standardized Tascam pinouts also used with Digidesign and Avid products. DB25 Connector Pin Numbers The pin numbers for female DB25 connectors are shown in the diagram below. When facing the Apollo 16 rear panel, pin 1 is the upper rightmost pin.
Troubleshooting If Apollo 16 isn’t behaving as expected, here are some common troubleshooting items to confirm. If you are still experiencing issues after performing these checks, contact Technical Support.
Notices Important Safety Information Before using this unit, be sure to carefully read the applicable items of these operating instructions and the safety suggestions. Afterwards, keep them handy for future reference. Take special care to follow the warnings indicated on the unit, as well as in the operating instructions. Water and Moisture – Do not use the unit near any source of water or in excessively moist environments.
Warranty Universal Audio provides a warranty on all hardware products. To learn more, please visit www.uaudio.com/support/warranty.html or contact Technical Support. This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary by state or country. Maintenance Apollo 16 does not contain a fuse or any other user-replaceable parts. The unit is internally calibrated at the factory. No internal user adjustments are available.
Disclaimer The information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice. Universal Audio, Inc. makes no warranties of any kind with regard to this manual, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Universal Audio, Inc. shall not be liable for errors contained herein or direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Universal Audio, Inc. 4585 Scotts Valley Drive Scotts Valley, CA 95066 USA Customer Service & Technical Support: USA Toll-Free: +1-877-698-2834 International: +1-831-440-1176 www.uaudio.