Universal Audio is making big moves in pro audio again. This time, they’re bringing their legendary UAD plug-ins and high-end recording tools straight into the live world with the Apollo E Series. If you’ve been dreaming of a way to integrate real-time UAD processing into your Dante network, it’s here.
Apollo E Series At a Glance:
- Studio-Grade Processing, Now for Live Sound – The Apollo E Series lets you run UAD plug-ins on Dante networks, bringing pro-quality audio to live performances, broadcast, and multi-room studios.
- Two New Devices, Total Flexibility – The Apollo e1x adds Unison™ mic preamps, while the Apollo e2m gives you personal monitoring and flexible I/O.
- Works with Any Dante System – You don’t even need an Apollo interface to use these—just plug them into your Dante network and go.
What’s the Apollo E Series?
UA has dropped two new devices built to expand Dante audio networks: the Apollo e1x and the Apollo e2m. These aren’t just another set of I/O boxes. They’re packed with real-time UAD plug-in support, flexible power options (hello, Power over Ethernet), and enough versatility to fit anywhere from front-of-house to a home studio.
The Apollo e1x is all about mic preamps. It gives you remote-controllable Unison™ mic/line preamps that model legendary gear from API, Neve, Manley, and SSL. If you’re running an Apollo x16D, the e1x integrates seamlessly, making high-end studio sound available on stage.
The Apollo e2m focuses on monitoring. It’s a stereo headphone amp and line interface that lets you place personal monitoring anywhere on a Dante network. Plug in headphones, IEMs, powered monitors, or even analog outboard gear like synths and drum machines. Whether you’re dialing in a live mix or setting up a flexible studio workflow, the e2m has you covered.
Why This Matters
For years, engineers and musicians have wanted an easy way to bring UAD plug-ins into live sound and networked studios. The Apollo E Series finally makes that possible.
- Remote Preamp Control: Adjust preamps from anywhere, even mid-performance.
- UAD Processing for Live Sound: Run classic Neve, API, and SSL plug-ins in real-time over Dante.
- Scalable and Flexible: Whether you need one unit or a full system, these devices integrate seamlessly.
And here’s the best part—you don’t even need an Apollo x16D interface to use them. If you’re running any Dante system, you can drop these into your setup and start expanding your network’s capabilities immediately.
Pricing and Availability
The Apollo E Series is already up for pre-order and ships worldwide in May 2025. Pricing starts at $399 for the Apollo e1x and $499 for the Apollo e2m. If you’re running a Dante-based system or want to bring UAD-quality sound to live performances, these could be a game-changer.
Want to learn more? Head over to Universal Audio’s official page to check out all the details.
Universal Audio keeps pushing pro audio forward, and the Apollo E Series is another step in the right direction. Whether you’re mixing live, tracking in a studio, or expanding a Dante network, these tools give you high-end sound with serious flexibility. If you’ve been waiting for an easy way to bring UAD plug-ins into your live workflow, this might just be it.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
