Using Avid HD IO with UA Apollo

[mnpcunha]

I recently purchased and Avid HD I/O 888 and some good preamps and will begin setting up my pro studio in a couple of weeks. Nonetheless I still have my UA Apollo which I won't really need as an interface anymore now that I have the HD rig.

I was just wondering if I can hook it up via ADAT to the digital card in the HD I/O so that its inputs and outputs don't go to waste.

[JFreak]

Hi, welcome to the community.

Avid HD interface accepts whatever standard digital feed you can provide. However I don't know how Apollo works, can you use it standalone on the same computer... but if you can make the Apollo output something in AES/SPDIF/TDIF/ADAT you can get it in to Avid HD interface.

I'm sure you know that you need to have HDN or HDX to get that interface connected to computer? And a HD license, and a DigiLink license (that should have been provided with the HD interface purchase)

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by mnpcunha

I was just wondering if I can hook it up via ADAT to the digital card in the HD I/O so that its inputs and outputs don't go to waste.

Absolutely. I do this at my studio. "virtual outboard gear" I call it and it's amazing. UA's Unison pres and models are the best out there and will make your recordings MUCH better from the get go and make mixing more enjoyable.

[quantise]

Yes, like Drew, I do this every day running PTHD with an 8x8x8 also. The Apollos work as outboard and you can use the wonderful Unison technology just like you would any other outboard gear.

Universal Audio have page on their website explaining how to set this up:
https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/art...ools-HD-System

Hope this helps.

[mnpcunha]

Thanks for all the help guys!

[mnpcunha]

Is there any way I can do it without connecting the Apollo through thunderbolt to my computer?

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by mnpcunha

Is there any way I can do it without connecting the Apollo through thunderbolt to my computer?

A single Apollo will remember its settings if disconnected from TB, but you need Console connected to set it up or change anything.