Axe-Fx III + Apollo Twin + Logic routing question

M

Miseria

Member
Hey all -

Is there a benefit to running the Axe FX III direct into Logic via USB for recording? I currently have it running via XLR into the L/R on my Apollo Twin and then from the Twin to Logic. I also have my studio monitors hooked up to the Twin for playback (system sounds/Logic or the Axe FX). Is that the correct way to set it up?

Thanks!
 
Benefit is you don’t need to buy an interface if you don’t have one. You have one, so that works too.
 
I would go direct from Axe to Logic. The Twin's main benefit is recording using the Unison slot which reduces latency (allot). For example, using a UAD guitar amp plugin or using a SSL or other Channel Strip.

I think if you go Axe, then Apollo, you will have a higher latency.

I'm still getting my head around using UAD/Logic/Axe and everything else. Life was so much simpler with my Tascam For-Track, Atari 1040St running Notator.
 
Apollo Mon L/R into Input 2 L/R of Axe FX (my monitors on Output 1 of FX3/or use headphones on Apollo or FX3). I Use my Apollo Twin exclusively as Mic Pres nowadays. I mainly did this so I can route Input 2 of FX3 to Output 1 of FX3 so I could use my studio mics in something like Discord. Otherwise, if I don't make a new patch in FX-Edit, I'll just add a quick input2->output2 for something like XY mic'ing an acoustic with the pizeo pickup from Input 1.

If I'm serious about a project, I like to record DI's for rhythm guitars and bass guitar, so having Input 5/6 from FX3 to DAW for DI tracks is amazing. I would have to otherwise route a SPDIF from FX3 to Apollo Twin due to lack of analogue inputs on Apollo from Output 3 or 4 from FX3. I only really do this if I want to edit the takes, then I'll re-amp the DI's with the edits to avoid artifacts.

I can't detect any latency from Apollo to FX3, but I'm sure it adds something incredibly small like 2ms or smaller. I think it really comes down to how low your HW buffer size is. The Mac Mini 2018 can handle HW Buff 64 with no issues when tracking. Keep in mind, you always want to monitor your instrument from hardware and not from your DAW. I use Pro Tools, so I keep Low Latency mode turned on so I don't hear playback when I've armed a track.

So in short: I route microphones (panned) from Apollo to Input 2 of FX3, powered monitors on Output 1 of FX3 (I keep monitors on a separate power strip so I can turn them on/off easily), track with FX3 Input 1 Input 2 L/R and DI's simultaneously if I really wanted to. I always record Input 2 L/R on their own separate mono tracks.

I used the setup you posted about first, and it works just fine. This new way is an easier for me to mic acoustics or vocals without swapping cables on the Apollo Twin.
 
Miseria said:
Hey all -

Is there a benefit to running the Axe FX III direct into Logic via USB for recording? I currently have it running via XLR into the L/R on my Apollo Twin and then from the Twin to Logic. I also have my studio monitors hooked up to the Twin for playback (system sounds/Logic or the Axe FX). Is that the correct way to set it up?

Thanks!
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I use Axe FX III into Apollo Twin into ProTools 12. The main reason being, I use a lot of the UAD Plugins. I have made several 1176 presets that work really well with my Axe FX III presets. The benefits I get from all that surpass any latency (that I don’t feel anyway).
 
camilovelandiamusic said:
I use Axe FX III into Apollo Twin into ProTools 12. The main reason being, I use a lot of the UAD Plugins. I have made several 1176 presets that work really well with my Axe FX III presets. The benefits I get from all that surpass any latency (that I don’t feel anyway).
Click to expand...


I just picked up an Apollo twin. I’m running spdif out in axe to toslink in on Apollo. Is there a way to still reamp or get a DI signal at the same time? Is there any benefit to this method vs straight axe usb our to DAW?
 
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