Presonus Quantum VS UA Apollo x8p

[Amberience]

Hey gang,

I currently have an Apollo x8p from Universal Audio. I've had it since 2018. I've mainly been using the 1073 preamp model, the Distressor compressor, the 1073 EQ very occasionally, but for the most part have been recording completely raw.

I record acoustic drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and vocals. Everything else is in the box.

Typically at home I need 2-4 inputs. In the studio we have an AMEK Angela console patched into an Antelope Audio Orion 32+ and what I've done in the past when I needed to track 16 channels of drums was send the audio straight back out of the Orion into the ADAT inputs on the Apollo x8p, giving me the 8 built in preamps as well as the desk preamps (usually the first .

But the majority of my recording is done in my home studio. I'd say 80/20 split. I wouldn't really miss any of the DSP features of the Apollo.

So I'm contemplating moving to the Presonus Quantum. I like the idea of lower latencies for using soft-synths, amp simulators, and I like the idea of doing everything within the DAW and not using a separate mixing application. I also like the idea of reselling my Apollo and using some of the money on the Quantum and some of the money on a Kemper Stage profiling amp.

Has anyone done this move? Pros and cons? What do I need to be thinking about?

[shawshawraw]

Has anyone done this move? Pros and cons? What do I need to be thinking about?

Bumping it up after 2 years I'm doing this now, jumping from Apollo x8 to Presonus Quantum 2 + Antelope Discrete 4 SC. I record the same things as you except drums.

Have you already switched over yours, in the end?

My primary motivation is, as you said, doing everything in the DAW and MAKE PRESETS It's just clumsy to manage presets across two places.

Contrary to advertised, using UAD plugins in the DAW actually does not require additional latency, so long as the UAD chips run on Thunderbolt to make it possible to click on the "Live Track" mode.

For example:
- UAD Fender 55 Tweed Deluxe is reported 2.1ms of additional latency under 96kHz by Logic, and it's totally because of the plugin's inherent latency of 201 samples / 960000 = 2.09ms.
- A zero-latency plug such as the Brigade Chorus Pedal is reported as 0.0ms. I think it's a real zero too - I tried stacking 5 of this and it was snappy in the same way.

It's just awesome to pack native + UAD into a single channel preset. The UAD reverbs on AUX channels do what they should, which is a nightmare with Console, and still an inconvenience in LUNA.

Of course Quantum doesn't sound as good, so I ordered an Antelope and linked them digitally to use the best of both sides. Antelope really has flaky software, however. Mine's firmware update failed out of box and its outputs began to do all the weird stuff after a power cycle. But when it was working everything was awesome and as expected - the on-board routing as well as DSP effects was a nice backup in case I can't maintain low native buffer (or too lazy to freeze). I'd wish Logic to offer a dual-buffer mode like Studio One, though, but MainStage can get me almost there.

Waiting on an Antelope tech to remote connect now, and in the meantime I really love Quantum's outputs clocked under Antelope - stable and clear, almost like the Antelope itself!

I actually got into Apollo two years ago - around the time when you posted - partly because the computer noise was driving me crazy running under low buffer. Apple M1 has been the total game changer since then!! Really looking forward to what M2 can do.

[jancivil]

I have the Quantum 2626. Aptly named, the difference in latency is so huge. I don't need any 26 in- or outputs, that's for sure but this is the interface. There have been no real cons. Initially internet audio wouldn't respond, I don't know what fixed it exactly. It's a somewhat tricky installation, this is one device that uses dedicated drivers, not plug 'n play.

[Amberience]

Has anyone done this move? Pros and cons? What do I need to be thinking about?

Bumping it up after 2 years I'm doing this now, jumping from Apollo x8 to Presonus Quantum 2 + Antelope Discrete 4 SC. I record the same things as you except drums.

Have you already switched over yours, in the end?

Heya! Only just spotted this. I actually didn't no. I sold the Apollo and got an Axe FX III to mess around with. I'm gonna get a Quantum soon.