Best/preferred input for UA Apollo interface: high-Z or xlr?

[smatanovic]

I recently upgraded from a Focusrite Scarlet to a UA Apollo interface at home. I use a smallish pedalboard, including buffers, when playing. At the end of the signal chain is a Sushibox Finally V2 (a tube-driven DI), with both a XLR and 1/4 inch out. When playing into my amp, I take the 1/4" out and connect to the input for the amp. When playing silently and/or recording, I connect the Finally to the Apollo, and can use either the DI (via XLR) or an instrument-level connection into the high-z input. The Apollo is able to emulate amplifiers and/or preamps using Unison DSP.

What is the best/preferred way to connect to the Apollo? The cable run is less than 3 ft in any instance, so signal loss should not really be an issue. What, if any, are the advantages of XLR vs 1/4" for this application? UA recommends using the high-z input for its guitar amp emulations, but doesn't say why, and their literature is silent as to how best to connect for Unison bass amps and/or preamps.

Thanks in advance!

 

[silky smoove]

I connect the Finally to the Apollo, and can use either the DI (via XLR) or a line-level connection into the high-z input.

When you say "line-level" do you just mean a 1/4" output? Is it putting out instrument/mic level or is it actually line level. If it's line level then you don't want to put that in the hi-z input. Regardless, if you're sending a low impedance signal as a result of going through a series of buffers, I wouldn't use the hi-z anyway. Ultimately you could compare both and see which you prefer, and that will be the correct answer. I doubt you'll hear much of a difference. If you've got a convenient XLR from the Finally then you might as well just use it.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

If you're using your normal pedal board and signal chain with a DI output, I would just plug into the XLR input on the Apollo and everything will be happy. You *could* certainly use the 1/4" Hi-Z input, but you won't gain anything from it. It's designed to plug your passive guitar (or bass) straight in without the buffers/pedals/DI/etc.

Chances are that the Apollo preamps are lower noise than boosting the DI gain.

 

[smatanovic]

When you say "line-level" do you just mean a 1/4" output? Is it putting out instrument/mic level or is it actually line level. If it's line level then you don't want to put that in the hi-z input. Regardless, if you're sending a low impedance signal as a result of going through a series of buffers, I wouldn't use the hi-z anyway. Ultimately you could compare both and see which you prefer, and that will be the correct answer. I doubt you'll hear much of a difference. If you've got a convenient XLR from the Finally then you might as well just use it.

Sorry, I meant instrument level, not line level. I just corrected my original post.

 

[smatanovic]

If you're using your normal pedal board and signal chain with a DI output, I would just plug into the XLR input on the Apollo and everything will be happy. You *could* certainly use the 1/4" Hi-Z input, but you won't gain anything from it. It's designed to plug your passive guitar (or bass) straight in without the buffers/pedals/DI/etc.

Chances are that the Apollo preamps are lower noise than boosting the DI gain.

This is helpful, thanks. I wonder why, then, they recommend the high-z input for the guitar amps?

 

[silky smoove]

This is helpful, thanks. I wonder why, then, they recommend the high-z input for the guitar amps?

Can you provide an example of this recommendation? The hi-z input on any interface is there to accommodate a high impedance signal, which is typically just a passive 1/4" connection, without sacrificing high frequency content.

 

[smatanovic]

Can you provide an example of this recommendation? The hi-z input on any interface is there to accommodate a high impedance signal, which is typically just a passive 1/4" connection, without sacrificing high frequency content.

Invalid Link Removed recommends using the hi-z input for guitar and bass Unison plugins, as opposed to the XLR-in.

 

[silky smoove]

That's a curious inclusion by UA. I suspect their intent was to say "if you're using a passive guitar or bass and want to sound best while plugged into one of these amp sims, use the hi-z input like it's the front of an amplifier." The reality of using the device is more nuanced than that. As I, and others, have stated; You're already going into the unit at a lower impedance than the hi-z input is looking for in its spec, so I would just use the XLR out from your Finally into the XLR input of the Apollo.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

If you're plugging in your bass or guitar to then go straight into the amp model, you should use the Hi-Z input. If you're coming out of a DI (inherently low-Z), you should use the XLR input and gain it up accordingly.

But if your intent is to use it like an amp with your pedal board in front of it, there's no reason you can't come out of the 1/4" output of the Finally into the Hi-Z input and then on to the amp model of your choosing. Experiment and see what feels/sounds best and is most intuitive to you.

 

[smatanovic]

If you're plugging in your bass or guitar to then go straight into the amp model, you should use the Hi-Z input. If you're coming out of a DI (inherently low-Z), you should use the XLR input and gain it up accordingly.

But if your intent is to use it like an amp with your pedal board in front of it, there's no reason you can't come out of the 1/4" output of the Finally into the Hi-Z input and then on to the amp model of your choosing. Experiment and see what feels/sounds best and is most intuitive to you.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help!

Good luck and have fun with it!

As to my comment about trying things, I found a significant difference between the 1/4" output and XLR output on one particular preamp/DI that I own. The XLR has a very noticeable HPF set much higher than I would ever use for recording. The 1/4" output does not exhibit any noticeable high pass filtering. If I use that preamp for recordings (and I do), I don't even bother with the XLR output, but instead go into another DI like a Manley Tube DI, and from there into my RME. I could instead go into one of the Hi-Z inputs and that would also sound great, without the tube/transformer flavor of the Manley.

Anyway, try both inputs/outputs and see what feels best when you listen back to a mix. Sometimes the one that sounds better solo falls apart in the mix, so YMMV.

 

[TOOL460002]

I recently upgraded from a Focusrite Scarlet to a UA Apollo interface at home. I use a smallish pedalboard, including buffers, when playing. At the end of the signal chain is a Sushibox Finally V2 (a tube-driven DI), with both a XLR and 1/4 inch out. When playing into my amp, I take the 1/4" out and connect to the input for the amp. When playing silently and/or recording, I connect the Finally to the Apollo, and can use either the DI (via XLR) or an instrument-level connection into the high-z input. The Apollo is able to emulate amplifiers and/or preamps using Unison DSP.

What is the best/preferred way to connect to the Apollo? The cable run is less than 3 ft in any instance, so signal loss should not really be an issue. What, if any, are the advantages of XLR vs 1/4" for this application? UA recommends using the high-z input for its guitar amp emulations, but doesn't say why, and their literature is silent as to how best to connect for Unison bass amps and/or preamps.

Thanks in advance!

Don't own one but the local community college is somewhat "sponsored" by UA so I have done things both ways into an Apollo and either is fine. Plug straight in or a DI through snakes into XLR. Did both simultaneously once. I can't say I know enough to say one was better than the other if that is even true. Both ways worked fine.

 

[Aloe]

that’s a matter of personal choice as it’s always when you prefer one DI to another.

the Apollo has a decent DI, that’s what you will use if plug a 1/4” cable to a hi-z input. I bet, the Sushibox is also a nice DI (to use it as a DI, use the XLR out). which you prefer with your bass — depends on your taste. both will do the job, but likely will sound a bit different.

 

[smatanovic]

But if your intent is to use it like an amp with your pedal board in front of it, there's no reason you can't come out of the 1/4" output of the Finally into the Hi-Z input and then on to the amp model of your choosing. Experiment and see what feels/sounds best and is most intuitive to you.

This is where I am going to end up this weekend. I have some experimenting to do...

 

[Ben Clarke]

I have recorded using both the XLR and 1/4" out from my Noble into a UAD Apollo Twin X.

I did not notice any difference between the two completely dry, but I wasn't listening critically for it.

The reason I'd do that was that I would send the 1/4" into a Unison SVT or B15, often with a touch of 176 comp and Ocean Way room tone. The XLR would go into a Neve or API preamp Unison plugin. Both would typically get Ampex ATR102 in the daw, as well as any safe sweetening that traditionally would have been printed to tape in tracking.

This is a great way to deliver an "amp" and DI track to a client, or to use yourself.

 

[smatanovic]

I have recorded using both the XLR and 1/4" out from my Noble into a UAD Apollo Twin X.

I did not notice any difference between the two completely dry, but I wasn't listening critically for it.

The reason I'd do that was that I would send the 1/4" into a Unison SVT or B15, often with a touch of 176 comp and Ocean Way room tone. The XLR would go into a Neve or API preamp Unison plugin. Both would typically get Ampex ATR102 in the daw, as well as any safe sweetening that traditionally would have been printed to tape in tracking.

This is a great way to deliver an "amp" and DI track to a client, or to use yourself.

This makes so much sense!!!

 

[Ben Clarke]

This makes so much sense!!!

Thanks! Glad it's helping!