Chapter 7: multi-unit cascading, Multi-unit overview – Universal Audio Apollo Software User Manual
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Apollo Software Manual
Chapter 7: Multi-Unit Cascading
101
Chapter 7: Multi-Unit Cascading
Multi-Unit Overview
Two Apollo or two Apollo 16 units can be cascaded together in a multiple-unit configuration
(Apollo Twin cannot be used with multi-unit cascading). When two units are connected, both
units are controlled within a single Console Mixer window, and the I/O complement of both units
are available to the DAW via the device drivers. Operating a multi-unit system is nearly identical
to that of a single-unit system for seamless expansion when more I/O is needed.
Note: Combining Apollo with Apollo 16 is an unsupported configuration.
Console Integration
When multi-unit cascading, the number of Console inputs is increased to match the increased
hardware inputs. Both units share the same monitor and send buses for integrated mixing con-
venience.
Monitor and Expander Units
To facilitate Realtime UAD Processing and the mix bus integration within Console, one device
must be designated as the monitor (master) unit and the other as the expander (slave) unit. In
driver I/O list ordering, the monitor unit I/O precedes the expander unit I/O.
All Console mix bus outputs (monitor, auxiliary, headphone, cue) are available on the monitor
unit only. The designated monitor/expander units can be switched within Console if desired.
Hardware Setups
In all multi-unit setups, specific hardware wiring connections are required, and only the monitor
unit is connected to the host computer system. The expander unit is connected to the monitor
unit, not the host computer.
The specific connections differ for Apollo and Apollo 16, and they differ depending on whether
FireWire 800 or Thunderbolt is used for the host computer connection. Diagrams for all hard-
ware setups are in this chapter starting on
Note: The inter-unit optical cable is required for mix bus integration and when multi-unit
cascading.
Constraints
Depending on the specific configuration, certain features and/or I/O streams are reduced when
multi-unit cascading. See
for details.
Driver I/O Tables
Driver I/O availability and numbering changes when multi-unit cascading and when PT Mode is
enabled. For a complete list of all possible I/O states, see
“Driver I/O Tables” on page 118
.