The Apollo and Volt lines of audio interfaces from Universal Audio are among the best and most popular desktop interfaces available on the market today in their respective price ranges. While both of these interfaces offer extremely high quality audio recording capabilities, there are a few differences between the two that you should be aware of before deciding which model is right for you. In this guide, I compared the Apollo Twin against the Volt to help you decide which interface suits your needs best.
Apollo Twin vs Volt: Which Audio Interface is Better?
The short answer is the Apollo Twin offers higher quality preamps and converters compared to the Volt interfaces. The Apollo Twin also offers onboard signal processing, meaning your audio is processed within the unit itself rather than by your computer. The Volt does not offer onboard signal processing, meaning this processing will need to be done by your computer.
That is the fundamental difference between the 2 interfaces. That said, the next question becomes: is the Apollo Twin worth $700+ more than the Volt interface line? The answer to that depends on exactly what you're looking for from your audio interface, which we'll dive into in the article below.
After you’re done reading, don’t forget to check out our Bedroom Producer Essentials guide where you'll learn about all the necessary gear you need to get started on your music production journey.
With all that said, let's get into our comparison of the Apollo Twin vs Volt.
Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3
Inputs: 2 combo mic/instrument inputs, 1 Hi-Z instrument input
Outputs: 2 sets of Left/Right Line Outputs, 1 Headphone output
Cost: $989
The Apollo Twin is without a doubt one of the best desktop audio interfaces available for a (somewhat) reasonable price. Universal Audio is known for its incredibly high quality audio gear used in professional studios around the world, and the Apollo Twin is no exception.
So, is it worth almost $1,000? Let's get into what this interface has to offer.
First, the quality of the preamps and converters are top notch, meaning your recordings will sound pristine and more professional than recordings made through a budget interface. This alone may convince you that the Apollo Twin is right for you, but we haven't even gotten to its processing power yet.
One of the most valuable aspects of this interface is its UAD Core Processing, which allows all the audio signal processing to be done within the unit itself instead of on your computer. This helps to free up processing power on your computer which is especially useful when dealing with large DAW projects, third party plugins, sample libraries, and all the other storage-related functions that go hand-in-hand with making music on your personal computer.
Additionally, your Apollo Twin purchase comes with over $1,000 worth of plugins via the UAD plug-in bundle, which consists of many legendary plugins you can track through via your interface or use within your DAW. Classic EQs, compressors, and more will help give your recordings a warm and vintage feel, which is tough to replicate with today's digital recordings.
All of these features add up to a great desktop interface that will help to level-up your home studio. Regarding the question of is it worth $700+ more than the Volt? - it depends.
If you're a more experienced producer who is looking for an interface upgrade after using a budget interface and identifying some of the shortcomings, I'd say go for it. However, if you're just starting out and don't necessarily need the top-of-the-line equipment and instead just need an interface capable of decent quality audio recordings, I'd recommend starting out with a cheaper interface (like the Volt) and work your way up from there.
Connectivity: USB 2.0
Inputs: Depends on model
Outputs: Depends on model
Cost: $139 - $239
Volt is the more affordable line of audio interfaces from Universal Audio, consisting of the Volt 1, Volt 2, and Volt 4. These interfaces connect to your computer via USB and unfortunately do not offer the same onboard signal processing offered by the Apollo series. That said, they still contain incredibly high quality preamps and converters for the price range that will produce clean and professional recordings.
Take a look at the chart below to learn about the amount and types of inputs and outputs offered by each type of Volt interface:
Aside from the differences in inputs/outputs, the Volt 1, Volt 2, and Volt 4 offer the same performance when it comes to audio recording quality and controls. These interfaces contain a Vintage button which allows you to emulate a preamp with tube circuitry present in lots of classic analog gear, giving your recordings a more open and transparent feel.
Similar to the Apollo series, the Volt series also comes with a suite of UAD plugins that on their own would cost hundreds of dollars, so it's a really nice value-add for your purchase. The Volt interfaces are also much more portable than the Apollos since they are powered by your computer as opposed to a dedicated power bank.
While there are some potentially significant shortcomings of the Volt series compared to Apollo, the Volt interfaces are still top-of-the-line within their price range and are an excellent option for someone purchasing their very first audio interface or looking for a slight upgrade from a similarly priced model.
Final Thoughts
Both of these Universal Audio interfaces will produce incredibly high quality recordings from the comfort of your home studio. The Volt series is perfect for a beginner producer while the Apollo Twin is perfect for upgrading your current budget interface setup. The Apollo Twin's onboard signal processing is the main differentiator between the 2 lines, and it's an incredibly powerful feature. However, it's up to you to determine if it's worth the extra $700+ more you'll need to spend for the Apollo.
In addition to this comparison, we also have a full guide comparing various audio interface options, so go check that out if you still need some guidance.
Enjoyed this guide? Make sure to check out our Bedroom Producer Essentials Guide or some of our reviews/buyer's guides.
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