Get the hit-making color and tone of API's iconic 212L preamp.
From Fleetwood Mac's classic Rumours to Radiohead's In Rainbows, API preamps have shaped hit albums with stunning punch, presence, and color for over 50 years.
Now, you can easily add that same clarity, character, and musically complex tone of this proven, hit‑making mic preamplifier in a simple Unison‑equipped plug‑in, perfect for Apollo owners.
- Get the world's only authentic plug-in emulation of the legendary Class-A, API 212L mic preamp, with added features from API's flagship Vision console
- Record "through" the legendary API preamp in real time using Apollo interfaces, with low DSP use
- Easily color your tracks with musical punch, clarity, and character with an unequaled emulation of complex, nonlinear circuit behaviors
- Control Apollo mic preamp gain staging and impedance directly from the the API Preamp plug-in via Unison™ technology
Capturing a Legend with Unison
The classic API 212L preamp's forward attitude, low-end punch, and detailed-yet-warm high end is famous for giving vocals, drums, and more a satisfying tone with rich character. Harnessing UA's groundbreaking Unison technology, the API Preamp plug-in is the only complete emulation of API's hallowed preamp circuit, giving you the vintage hardware's gain staging "sweet spots," and nonlinear circuit behaviors. The secret is Unison's bi-directional control and communication from the API Preamp plug-in to the digitally-controlled mic preamps in Apollo interfaces.
Give Your Tracks the Sound of Legendary Albums
Like the original, sought-after hardware, the API Preamp plug-in adds characteristic punch and musical definition. Plus, you get the same features found in API's flagship Vision Console, including a Mic/Line switch, dedicated cut filter, and -6 dB Line pad. Simply drop the API Preamp into the Unison slot of UAD Console software or LUNA channel strip to add instant character to vocals, acoustic guitars, drums, and more with the hit-making tone that can only come from API.
Add Punch and Character to Any Source
Of course, the API Preamp plug-in isn't just for Apollo interface owners. UAD hardware owners can harness the color of the API Preamp plug-in for mixing and tone shaping — without ever leaving the box. Thanks to its lower DSP usage, you can easily place the API Preamp plug-in instances across multiple channels, turning your favorite DAW into a classic API analog desk.
API Preamp Controls
Unison Integration |
The API Vision Channel Strip Collection plug-ins feature Unison technology for integration with the mic preamp hardware in Universal Audio's Apollo audio interfaces. With Unison interfaces, the ultra-transparent mic preamps inherit all of the unique sonics, input characteristics, and features of emulated preamps.
Note: Unison is active only when the plug-in is placed in a dedicated UNISON insert within UAD Console or LUNA applications. For complete details, see Unison.
With Unison, the hardware preamp adapts to the modeled preamp's physical input impedance. Combined with UA's transparent analog amplification, this provides the plug-in's full gain and tone range from clean to clipped — with broad, musical sweet spots in-between.
Realistic Tandem Control
Unison facilitates seamless interactive control of plug-in settings using both the digitally-controlled panel hardware on Apollo audio interface and the graphical UAD plug-in interface. All equivalent preamp controls (gain, cut filter, polarity, pad) are mirrored and bidirectional. The preamp controls respond to adjustments with precisely the same interplay behavior as the modeled preamp, including gain levels and clipping points.
Hardware Input Impedance
All Unison mic preamps feature variable input impedance in the analog hardware that can be physically changed by Unison-enabled UAD plug-ins for physical, microphone-to-preamp resistive interaction. This impedance switching enables Unison preamps to match the input impedance of the emulated hardware, which can significantly impact the sound of a microphone. Because the electrical loading occurs on input, prior to A/D conversion, the realism is faithful to the emulated hardware preamp.
Tactile Gain Staging
Apollo's hardware preamp knob can independently adjust the gain and level parameters available within the Unison plug-in via Gain Stage Mode. The gain stage being adjusted can be remotely switched via the interface hardware, so the gain levels and their associated colorations can be tuned from the hardware knob for precise physical tactile control, all without using the Unison plug-in's software interface.
The outlined gain controls as they appear when in Unison Gain Stage Mode
About Unison Interactions |
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Some control descriptions begin with the "Unison Interaction" heading and icon. Descriptions in these sections apply only when the plug-in is placed in a dedicated UNISON insert on an Apollo preamp channel within the UAD Console or LUNA applications. When the plug-in is used in standard (non-Unison) inserts, these descriptions do not apply. |
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Input Select
The INPUT button switches between the mic and line input gain knobs. Press the button to toggle the active selection.
Tip: Click an input selection LED (at left of the MIC/LINE gain knobs) to select the input.
The active setting is indicated by an LED next to the input's gain knob. When the mic input is active, the red LED at left of the MIC gain knob is lit. When the line input is active, the green LED at left of the LINE gain knob is lit.
Unison Interaction |
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Software and hardware control is mirrored and can be changed within the plug-in interface, with UAD Console/LUNA software controls, or with Apollo's hardware button (MIC/LINE on Apollo rackmount models, or INPUT on Apollo Twin models). |
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Mic Gain
This knob adjusts the amount of gain applied to the mic input signal. The available range is 30 dB to 65 dB. The default value is 40.5 dB (unity gain).
Tip: Click the API logo at upper left of the plug-in to return mic gain to its default value.
Unison Interaction |
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Apollo's hardware preamp knob can be used to adjust this parameter when Input Select is set to Mic, and/or when this parameter is selected in Gain Stage Mode. |
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Line Gain
This knob adjusts the amount of gain applied to the line input signal. The available range is 0 dB to 12 dB. The default value is 0 dB (unity gain).
The available Line Gain range is adopted from API VIsion Console's dedicated Line input functions and is not present on the original 212L hardware module.
Unison Interaction |
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Apollo's hardware preamp knob can be used to adjust this parameter when Input Select is set to Line, and/or when this parameter is selected in Gain Stage Mode. |
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Pad
PAD can be engaged to reduce signal levels when undesirable overload distortion is present at low preamp gain levels. PAD is engaged when its red LED is lit. Click the PAD button or its LED to toggle the setting.
Mic Pad
When PAD is enabled with mic input, the input signal level is attenuated (lowered) by 20 dB.
Line Pad
When PAD is enabled with line input, the input signal level is attenuated by 6 dB. The Line Pad is adopted from API VIsion Console's dedicated Line input functions and is not present on the original 212L hardware module.
Unison Interactions |
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PAD is unavailable when LINE input is selected. Software and hardware control is mirrored and can be changed within the plug-in interface, with UAD Console/LUNA software controls, or with Apollo's hardware button. |
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Phase
The Phase (ø) button inverts the polarity of the signal. The polarity is inverted when the green LED is lit. Leave the button off (unlit) for normal polarity.
Polarity inversion can help reduce phase cancellations when more than one microphone is used to record a single source.
Unison Interaction |
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Software and hardware control is mirrored and can be changed within the plug-in interface, with UAD Console/LUNA software controls, or with Apollo's hardware button. |
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Cut Filter
This button activates a 50 Hz low cut filter that has a slope of 6 dB per octave. This rumble filter is adopted from the API Vision console's dedicated Line input functions and is not present on the original 212L hardware module.
Unison Interaction |
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Software and hardware control is mirrored and can be changed within the plug-in interface, with UAD Console/LUNA software controls, or with Apollo's hardware button. |
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Meter
The LED ladder VU Meter indicates the signal level at the output of the preamp.
Output
This control provides -24 dB to +12 dB of clean uncolored gain at the output of the plug-in. The default value is 0 dB.
Tip: Click the "0" text label to return Output to the 0 dB position.
Unison Interaction |
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Apollo's hardware preamp knob can be used to adjust the output knob when this parameter is selected in Gain Stage Mode. |
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Power
The plug-in is active when the POWER switch is engaged and its associated LED is lit. Click the POWER button or its LED to toggle the state.
When this button is off, all plug-in processing is disabled and the UAD DSP load is reduced (unless DSP LoadLock is enabled in the UAD Meter & Control Panel application).
All visual and aural references to the API Vision Console and all use of API's trademarks are being made with written permission from Automated Processes, Inc. Special thanks to Paul Wolff, Larry Droppa, Todd Humora, Jeffrey Richards, and Paul Wolff.