Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkIIFrom real comments

Name: Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII
Rating: 2.7 (13 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 13 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment46%

PROS 46%

CONS 54%

Rank based on 13 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want studio-grade preamps and UAD plugin emulations (Neve, 1176, LA-2A) for professional-sounding recordings
You're upgrading from an entry-level interface like a Scarlet 2i2 and want a noticeable quality jump
You need low-latency DSP-powered monitoring while tracking vocals or instruments

What users love

Preamp and conversion quality0 mentions

Strongly positive

Bundled UAD plugins0 mentions

Strongly positive

DSP-powered low-latency monitoring0 mentions

Widely praised

Cross-platform compatibility0 mentions

Widely praised

Talkback mic feature0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You need ADAT output or multiple Thunderbolt ports for a larger studio setup
You're on a tight budget and don't need Unison preamps or UAD plugin processing
You're worried about Thunderbolt port fragility and repair costs down the line

What users complain about

Clicky, cheap-feeling buttons0 mentions

Generally negative

Single Thunderbolt port limitation0 mentions

Generally negative

No ADAT output0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Thunderbolt port fragility and repair cost0 mentions

Strongly criticized

Unit reliability and support delays0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Plugin gain bug in Unison slot0 mentions

Frequently criticized

No USB option for non-Thunderbolt PCs0 mentions

Generally negative

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31Premium

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII

Preamp and conversion qualityBundled UAD pluginsCross-platform compatibilityClicky, cheap-feeling buttonsNo ADAT outputNo USB option for non-Thunderbolt PCs

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII

Preamp and conversion quality

Bundled UAD plugins

Cross-platform compatibility

Clicky, cheap-feeling buttons

No ADAT output

No USB option for non-Thunderbolt PCs

Driver stability
1. RME Babyfacearrow_upward10
2. RME Fireface UFXarrow_upward10
3. RME Fireface UCX IIarrow_upward9
Low latency
1. RME Babyfacearrow_upward8
2. RME Babyface Pro FSarrow_upward7
3. PreSonus Quantum 2arrow_upward4
Long term support
1. RME Fireface UCX IIarrow_upward9
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Totalmix fx
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2. RME Babyface Pro FSarrow_upward7
Totalmix routing
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Channel expansion
1. RME Digifacearrow_upward8
2. RME Digiface USBarrow_upward4

Overall Impression

The Unison preamps and bundled UAD plugins deliver studio-quality results that surprise clients. One long-time user with a Sphere L22 mic modeling system described combining the Apollo's Neve 1073 and UA 610 A/B Unison preamps with Neumann and AKG mic models, plus UAD Pultec, SATIN tape, and 1176/LA-2A compression plugins, getting client feedback mistaking it for analog studio hardware. Another reviewer called it a massive jump up from a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2, reinforcing that the conversion and preamp quality stand out clearly over budget interfaces.

Build quality and connectivity choices frustrate some owners despite strong audio performance. One user loved the unit overall but disliked the cheap-feeling, noisy clicky buttons and the single Thunderbolt port that forces it to sit last in a Thunderbolt chain, calling it problematic on modern Macs. Another pointed out the missing ADAT output as a huge missed opportunity given available internal space, while a Windows user wished for a USB 3.0 port option for non-Thunderbolt PCs.

Hardware reliability and support experiences vary, with some users hitting real failures. One owner reported their Mac's Thunderbolt port failing after two years, an expensive repair, and being unable to use accumulated UA plugins without a new rig, warning others to carefully orient the Thunderbolt plug. Another said their unit died after purchase and had a long, frustrating wait for a replacement part despite having spent heavily with the company, suggesting inconsistent long-term reliability and support responsiveness.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

graphic_eqPreamp and conversion quality

2 mentions

Strongly positive

Multiple users praise the Unison preamps and analog-to-digital conversion as a big step up from budget interfaces, with one describing it as a massive jump from a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2. Another achieved client-fooling studio-quality vocal recordings using the Neve and UA Unison preamp models.

@xaosnox

Nice walkthrough. Every studio, home or otherwise, should have at least one Apollo device and a Townsend Labs Sphere L22 mic modeling system, especially if you don't have a huge budget. These are the best investments I've ever made. This combo is literally like having hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of very hard to find equipment and for a couple grand. 80% of my work is voice over recording, and it's very unforgiving. It also is a great way to find out just how good your equipment really is. Since getting my Apollo Twin and Sphere L22. I've sent files to clients and producers using the Neve 1073 or UA 610 A/B Unison preamps on the Apollo with a combo of the Neumann M49 and AKG C12 mic models. I use the UAD Pultec emulations for EQ, a tape emulation (usually SATIN) and either the UAD 1176 or LA-2A plugins for compression, and I get a huge amount of positive feedback. The first time I did this, I got a text from the produce that said (in all caps) \"WHAT DID YOU USE TO RECORD THIS?!?!\" I thought I'd really messed something up. Turns out, that client and many since thought I'd recorded through an analogue board with a world class mic and hardware processors and wanted to use the studio for other work. They are just so used to getting files recorded on a RØDE NT1-A through some crappy preamp with the only processing being a stock compressor and normalization that the files I've been sending really stand out. It's brought me a lot of work. (Voice actors, don't normalize your files even if that's what the client asks you to do. They usually don't even know that's not what they want. Use an expander to raise levels above a threshold that leaves the noise floor alone, and use the gain in your compressor to get the RMS and peak values to the requested specs. Normalizing is the hallmark of an amateur.)

smart_display

February 15, 2020

@jondarling7933

That was a great review, I'm picking one up next week. Will be a massive jump from my focusrite scarlet 2i2.

smart_display

July 20, 2017

extensionBundled UAD plugins

1 mentions

Strongly positive

The included UAD plugin emulations (Neve 1073, 1176, LA-2A, Pultec, SATIN tape) let one voice-over professional produce recordings clients mistook for analog studio hardware output, generating extra work. This plugin ecosystem is described as a key differentiator from cheaper interfaces.

@xaosnox

smart_display

February 15, 2020

speedDSP-powered low-latency monitoring

1 mentions

Widely praised

The onboard DSP allows plugin processing during tracking without adding noticeable latency, which one prospective buyer specifically weighed against a Focusrite Clarett when planning a home studio.

@eddietyre9784

Looking for a bit of advice. I’m putting together a home studio to write/record on (will mostly be doing guitar layers then programming everything else just for demoing ideas- in other words - pretty much just doing one maybe two tracks at a time)but am also looking into recording some bands within the next year. And will need more gear to handle drums. Do you think it’s worth it to go for the Apollo twin duo now to get the great plug-ins and low latency and eventually get something like the Focusrite Clarett 8pre when I’m ready to do more? Or should I get the clarett now, and still be able to do guitar tracks etc... but miss out on the plug ins? I’m kind of clueless in this department and on a budget. Thanks for any help and for a great video!

smart_display

July 6, 2018

devicesCross-platform compatibility

1 mentions

Widely praised

A user appreciated that a single Apollo Twin model works on both Mac OS and Windows, even while wishing for additional connectivity options.

@djcvmusic1

Too bad they not add a usb 3.0 port on the back so you can run it with it too if you dont have thunderbolt on your Windows computer... But its a great updates I like the fact that one model can run on the two OS: Mac OS and Windows

smart_display

January 20, 2017

micTalkback mic feature

1 mentions

Widely praised

One user cited the built-in talkback mic as a meaningful differentiator that made the Twin more appealing than getting another rack-mounted Apollo unit.

@oscarportillo4814

I was going to consider getting another rack unit apollo mainly for the dsp and the fact that if i was to get a twin i didnt really want another hardware in my desk but, but the whole talk back mic makes a big difference for me. Im guessing im opening up some space for the twin soon!

smart_display

October 20, 2017

touch_appClicky, cheap-feeling buttons

1 mentions

Generally negative

A user who otherwise loved the unit called out the buttons as feeling cheap relative to build quality, with an annoyingly loud click that they felt was a poor design choice for an audio interface.

@xaosnox

I love everything about it but the clicky buttons and the single Thunderbolt port. The buttons feel cheap relative to the rest of the unit, and the noise is really annoying. A silent click would have been much better, especially for an audio interface! And the single Thunderbolt port means it has to be the last thing on the Thunderbolt chain, which is kind of problematic with modern Macs needing everything to go through that one port. 11:45 The rotary knob on the old unit used to let you switch between controls on the Unity plugins, but they moved that functionality to the Preamp button. It's less intuitive and convenient, but I bet too many people were accidentally pushing the rotary button and not knowing how to get it back to its basic functionality. Just a guess on why they changed something that was a nice feature.

smart_display

March 21, 2019

cableSingle Thunderbolt port limitation

1 mentions

Generally negative

The single Thunderbolt port forces the unit to be last in a Thunderbolt daisy chain, which one user found problematic on modern Macs that route everything through one port.

@xaosnox

smart_display

March 21, 2019

warningNo ADAT output

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

A reviewer called the lack of ADAT output a huge missed opportunity, noting the internal space existed and it would have added only nominal cost.

@Kkidzz

What's not to love..?!!!! Try, NO ADAT OUT. \n\nHuge missed opportunity on UA's part. \nInternally, the space is there and would have added nominal cost to the unit. \n\nDisappointing..

smart_display

February 14, 2017

buildThunderbolt port fragility and repair cost

1 mentions

Strongly criticized

One user reported their Mac's Thunderbolt port failing after two years of use, citing widespread reports of poorly soldered, fragile ports, with repairs costing around 700 dollars and leaving accumulated UA plugins unusable without new hardware.

@benjammin1128

Yes, well its all great fun until the Thunderbolt ports on your Mac go out. In researching, I found many people have the same problem; shitty poorly soldered, fragile ass Thunderbolt ports. Oh it can be repaired for about $700 or if you are fortunate enough to have bought a new mac with Apple Care. But after 2 years I had accumulated many of the UA (expensive) plug ins, and now I cant even use those unless I buy a new rig and start over. UA needs to make some type of workaround for this. I'm out over $1500 with the box and the plugins and cant use it. I bought a fairly cheap USB interface to continue recording audio. But I miss the UA box, tho. Very high quality audio. ADVICE: Be Extremely careful and gentle when connecting the UA to the Thunderbolt ports on your mac. Be absolutely sure you orient the plug correctly in the port. It WILL go in both ways, so make sure its inserted correctly. Happy recording!

smart_display

February 18, 2019

errorUnit reliability and support delays

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

A user reported their unit died and described a long, frustrating wait to receive a replacement part despite significant prior spending with the company.

@jmgmarcus808

Bought mine around the time this vid came out. It died 2 months ago. Trying desperately to get part to repair ASAP. Spent over 10k with company and have no idea when I'll receive part. Instead of worrying about the Ukraine...worry about your customers you disingenuous pieces of crap.

smart_display

March 26, 2022

bug_reportPlugin gain bug in Unison slot

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

One user described a persistent bug where the Ampeg B15 plugin loses 10dB of gain in the Unison slot after being toggled off and on, requiring a full shutdown of Mac and Apollo to fix, and said UA support was unable to resolve it after months.

@Monoteur

Its funny that you use for demonstration the Ampeg B15 plugin in the unison slot. I struggling months with the UA support about a major bug in the gain stage of this plugin in the unison slot. If you start you mac put the plugin into the slot and switch the plugin off, you get 10db less gain after you switch it back on. You have to shutdown mac and apollo to get it back in the normal gain mode...I'm curious if you noticed this bug...

smart_display

March 23, 2017

usbNo USB option for non-Thunderbolt PCs

1 mentions

Generally negative

A Windows user wished the interface included a USB 3.0 port so it could be used without a Thunderbolt connection.

@djcvmusic1

smart_display

January 20, 2017

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkIIchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Driver stability

Low latency

Long term support

Totalmix fx

Totalmix routing

Channel expansion

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkIIFrom real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression