Symphony Desktop | Reviews
Why Logic Pro Rules
Symphony Desktop
Walkthrough & Review - Video Series
Chris Vandeviver at Why Logic Pro Rules rolled out a new 3-part video walkthrough of the Apogee Symphony Desktop. Chris takes us on a deep dive into how he uses Symphony Desktop, Apogee hardware DSP and native Plugins and Apogee’s Control 2 software to create an effective and efficient workflow for music production in Apple’s Logic Pro X. Chris also pairs his Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt with Symphony Desktop as an optical expander for drum recording.
Chris Vandeviver of Why Logic Pro Rules
Series Introduction
Apogee Symphony Desktop - Review Update!
The 3 videos explain how to track vocals with Apogee’s Alloy Mic Preamp Emulations, utilize the 8 digital inputs of the Symphony Desktop to record drums, and configure sends and returns for recording vocals with reverb using the Apogee Control 2 software. The lessons are explained clearly and can also be applied to your DAW of choice.
Series Video 1
Tracking Vocals with Symphony Desktop 1.2 Release - Apogee’s Hardware DSP + Native plugin workflow
In the first video, Chris shows us how to track vocals with Symphony Desktop. We learn how to synchronize the Apogee Control 2 software and the Symphony Desktop with DualPath technology using the Channel Link feature in the Channel FX plugin. Chris walks us through the setup with the onboard hardware DSP plugins for near zero latency recording.
Chris also covers the 3 Apogee Alloy preamps included with the Symphony Desktop:
- SD-MP Symphony Mic Pre (pristine and clean flagship preamp)
- AP-66 British Solid State (silky and classic console sound)
- AP-57 American Tube (lush and sounds great overdriven)
Series Video 2
Drum recording - With Ensemble Thunderbolt using the optical inputs and printing hardware DSP through Symphony Desktop
In video 2 of the series, Chris demonstrates how he records a full drum set by connecting the optical output of Apogee’s Ensemble Thunderbolt interface to the optical input of Symphony Desktop. He uses Apogee hardware DSP effects on each of the drum tracks and demonstrates how the effects can be recalled to the Control 2 software with Apogee’s DualPath workflow. This is a great way to expand your Symphony Desktop based workstation and tap into the hardware DSP available on all inputs.
Series Video 3
Vocal recording - Set Up Reverb Send & Return with Symphony Desktop for recording and playback
Video 3 describes the process of setting up send and return effects with Symphony’s DSP. Chris configures Apogee Control 2 to act as a loopback system by routing his vocal signal from Control 2 to Logic and then back to Control 2. Watch this video to see how you can use effects sends on your input signals, all while preserving the low latency on the Symphony Desktop.
