This article explains the subwoofer/LFE calibration options and Bass Management feature for the UA Apollo X integration for owners of the Apollo Monitor Correction Add-on.
In this article:
Subwoofer/LFE calibration with UA Apollo X
There are two ways to set up a subwoofer with Bass Management and SoundID Reference + Apollo X integration. To set this up, a new speaker measurement is required. Choose the configuration that matches your setup and your SoundID Reference base license, and follow the instructions below.
- 2.0 stereo + subwoofer with integrated Bass Management. Designed and built specifically for the UA Apollo X integration, this feature enables separate subwoofer frequency response calibration and BASS MANAGEMENT within the 2.0 stereo environment, and is fully compatible with a regular SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones (stereo) license (Multichannel license upgrade not needed). This is the recommended workflow for Apollo X users with stereo + subwoofer setups.
- Multichannel (2.1–9.1.6). Subwoofer on its own discrete channel with fully independent frequency response, channel delay, and channel level calibration (the Listening Spot feature for subwoofer channel separately). Requires the SoundID Reference for Multichannel license.
Note: The Apollo X intgeration mode requires both the SoundID Reference base license, and the Apollo Monitor Correction Add-on. See full license requirements here: Applying calibration on UA Apollo X devices (profile export).
2.0 stereo + subwoofer with Bass Management
- Connect the subwoofer separately to the dedicated subwoofer output channel on the Apollo X. The dedicated subwoofer channel is the last output channel on most Apollo X devices (for example, use LINE OUT 4 on Apollo Twin X, or OUTPUT 8 on Apollo x8). For Apollo x16 and x16D, use OUTPUT 8 instead.
- Note: Check the dedicated subwoofer channel of your device here.
- Open the UAD Console app > MONITOR CONTROLLER, and adjust these settings:
- DISABLE the MAIN MONITOR CORRECTION, if you already have a calibration profile applied (bottom-right corner).
- Set the MONITOR MODE to STEREO.
- ENABLE BASS MANAGEMENT, and adjust your preferred crossover and filter settings.
- Navigate to UAD Console SETTINGS > I/O MATRIX, and set the matrix MODE to Default.
- Launch the SoundID Reference Measure app and measure your speakers. The integrated measurement mode will be engaged (indicated by the "🔗" symbol in the bottom-left corner), and the STEREO speaker configuration will be detected from the UAD Console settings automatically.
- With measurements completed, open the SoundID Reference standalone app and load your calibration profile in the Integration Mode as shown here: Applying calibration on UA Apollo X devices (profile integration).
- Click Apply profile to Apollo X.
Note: BASS MANAGEMENT (including the crossover and filter settings) has to be enabled and configured before measuring your speakers. The Bass Management data will be imprinted in the calibration profile during speaker measurements, and enabled automatically when applying the profile to Apollo X. To adjust the Bass Management settings, the process has to be repeated.
Important to know
- If the profile with Bass Management enabled requires ±6 dB or more of correction in the bass frequencies covered by the subwoofer, it is recommended to adjust your speaker and subwoofer levels to compensate and remeasure the profile
- While Bass Management is enabled, the subwoofer channel will become unavailable for routing. For the Apollo Twin X, it will disable both channels 3 and 4.
- Bass Management takes place in UAD Console, so any built-in crossover or DSP features must bedisabled or bypassed before starting measurements.
Multichannel (2.1-9.1.6) with Bass Management
- Connect the subwoofer separately to the dedicated subwoofer output channel on the Apollo X. The dedicated subwoofer channel is the last output channel on most Apollo X devices (for example, use LINE OUT 4 on Apollo Twin X, or OUTPUT 8 on Apollo x8). For Apollo x16 and x16D, use OUTPUT 8 instead.
- Note: Check the dedicated subwoofer channel of your device here.
- Open the UAD Console app > MONITOR CONTROLLER, and adjust these settings:
- DISABLE the MAIN MONITOR CORRECTION, if you already have a calibration profile applied (bottom-right corner).
- Set the MONITOR MODE for your multichannel setup (e.g. 2.1, 5.1, 7.1.6).
- ENABLE BASS MANAGEMENT, and adjust your preferred crossover and filter settings.
- Navigate to UAD Console SETTINGS > I/O MATRIX, and set the matrix MODE to Default.
- Launch the SoundID Reference Measure app and measure your speakers. The integrated measurement mode will be engaged (indicated by the "🔗" symbol in the bottom-left corner), and your multichannel speaker configuration will be detected from the UAD Console settings automatically.
- With measurements completed, open the SoundID Reference standalone app and load your calibration profile in the Integration Mode as shown here: Applying calibration on UA Apollo X devices (profile integration).
- Click Apply profile to Apollo X.
Frequently asked questions
"Bass Management Mismatch" error
If you see the Bass Management Mismatch error message when loading the calibration profile in SoundID Reference, it means the Bass Management setting is enabled in UAD Console, but the applied calibration profile doesn't contain the bass management data.
There are several potential reasons and solutions for this:
- An older/existing profile was used. The Bass Management feature requires a new speaker measurement to be made following the instructions and settings above - an older/existing profile will not work for this purpose.
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One of the required UAD Console settings in the MONITOR CONTROLLER wasn't configured correctly before starting the bass-managed measurement:
- The BASS MANAGEMENT setting wasn't ENABLED.
- The MONITOR MODE was set incorrectly. For example, a common mistake is using the 2.1 setting (multichannel) instead of STEREO when setting up Bass Management with a SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones (stereo) base license.
- A previously applied profile wasn't DISABLED. Make sure the ENABLE button in MAIN MONITOR CORRECTION (bottom-right corner of the MONITOR CONTROLLER), is turned OFF (grayed-out state).
- The integrated measurement mode wasn't engaged during the measurements. When creating a new bass-managed profile, check if the integrated measurement mode is engaged - it is indicated by the "🔗" (link) symbol in the bottom-left corner in the Measure app throughout the entire measurement process.
- Custom I/O Matrix mode was used, interfering with the expected routing configuration. Navigate to UAD Console SETTINGS > I/O MATRIX, and set the Matrix MODE to Default.
- The subwoofer wasn't connected to the dedicated subwoofer output on the Apollo. Check the dedicated subwoofer channel of your Apollo X here.
13 comments
I have a question about the calibration with the 2.0 sub and the 5.1 with the LFE. I have an Apollo x6.
To my understanding, I have to do two calibrations: one for the 5.1 and one for the 2.0 with a sub.
But since I’m using the sub for the 2.0 setup, is it better to calibrate using 2.1? Will the .1 be read as simply the sub?
I have the sub connected to the correct line out (LINE 2) on the Apollo for the LFE channel. If I want to switch between stereo with sub and 5.1, do I have to connect the sub to the sub line out too? (In my case, LINE6) and also the LFE LINE 2?
Thanks.
I followed this setup.
First enabled the bass management on 2.0 and adjusted volumes opened the referenece measurements seleceted 2.0 system and did the calibration.
Once I finished with the setup and loaded the file it said there is an output mismatch on sonarworks.
Also whenever I enable the calibration on apollo monitor section it disables the bass management on apollo ending up no sound going to the sub speakers from apollo x8
I have the same problem as Atilla on Apollo x4
Same here with Apollo x8, did the calibration as stated, applied it to the Apollo but the sub remains silent.
Same Problem here. Step by step following these instructions, although it seems a little strange to select "2.0 Stereo" for the measurement in this setup - but I can't select anything else - probably because I don't have a multi-channel license. But hey, that's what the instructions say, if it would still work - OK. But it doesn't work. When I insert the profile into the Apollo, the UAD Console says "bass management settings are managed by the monitor correction profile" and the subwoofer doesn't make any sound.
Same Problem here
Apollo x8 Gen2; UAD Console 1.2.1.371 - no subwoofer when enabling bass managment through 2.0 or 2.1 - I would like to set up through 2.1 so I can eventually upgrade to 5.1 and keep the UA SMPTE output settings (LFE coming out of Channel 2).
Thank you for leaving a comment here
Antonio Iengo Atilla Ural Mark Bass Nikola Sofranac I see that there are tickets created for/by you, either in progress or resolved. I’m glad to see that following the steps closely as in the article above and with our assistance has worked for your cases and bass management was set up successfully.
Thomas Werfl If an issue persists despite following the steps above, feel free to respond on our ticket and we’ll investigate further. We wil alsol keep you updated in your ticket with regard to the bug that affects some edge cases, where the Target Modes become unavailable in the Integrated mode. As soon as a fix is available, we’ll reach out on your ticket.
Sebastian Hauck Yes, only 2.0 is available as that is the license you own, and it is called like that as the measurement is actually a stereo profile with bass management. LFE is not measured individually in this scenario, which would require a Multichannel license instead. I have created a ticket for you, so we can investigate your case in depth.
Christian Hanlon created a ticket for you, so we can investigate, For true 2.1 a Multichannel license is required. If you currently own a SoundID Reference Speakers & Headphones license (stereo), re-measuring will be needed once you upgrade to Multichannel.
I use an Apollo X6 with a 5.1 setup. The bass management in the UAD Console works. However, when I apply the Sonarworks calibration, the bass management stops working. The LFE remains silent, and no bass content from L, C, R, LS, or RS is sent to the subwoofer. Why is this happening? The UAD integration seems useless and unusable…
I have apollo twin x usb-c and have the same problem “Bass management Mismatch”>>I tried to apply for a multi-channel trial license，but Apollo is also used for bassmanagement,there is no sound in the test sound Line4 output.I don't know if there is a problem with Apollo or sound id.I calibrated it completely according to the instructions.
I had the same problem, then I realized that the issue was the added output device on the ID reference app ( from an old measurement I did without the Apollo integration ); I also checked my audio settings ( on Mac utility ) and find out that the audio output wasn't assign to Audio Thunderbolt ( my Apollo interface ). Once restored I tried to remeasure again and this time It worked, integration and sound from my subwoofer. The only thing I don't understand Is that I can't see any curve on the graph but the “before” one and cannot select targets.
hey
I bought a Sonarworks multichannel system with AMC to be able to use it on my apollo x8. The system calibrates my speakers fine but the sub doesn't plays. I had activated Bass Management during the calibration.
The sub plays fine without Sonarworks correction but when activated the bass doesn't play on.
Can anyone help? Cheers Jonas
I had the issue of no apparent sub output with an Apollo x8 for a 2.1 setup. The instructions are unclear for those starting with the full multichannel license. I started by configuring a multichannel 2.1 setup, and the measurements went fine--the setup prompted for the sub out channel, which I had patched to Line Out 8. Measurements went fine for all 3 channels, but no sub output after applying the profile. 2nd I tried stereo 2.0 as for the partial license, but it didn't measure the sub at all (I may have had a setting wrong on this try). I did learn from Apollo bass management that any 3-channel setup with sub should generate 3 bars in the monitor meter instead of 2. Once I saw that I went back and tried 2.1. Again, sub was measured on Line 8 and I applied the profile but saw no signal routed to Line 8. This time though I saw the third bar on the monitor meter bouncing happily, so I went into my routings and saw that the x8 routed the sub to Line Out 2. I just repatched Line 8 to Line 2 and it worked--measure on one output, playback on another. The Apollo I/O matrix shows the (sub) routing so you can see it. Check your routings in advance.
It would be helpful to have setup instructions for Apollo owners who want to integrate multichannel from the start with the full license.
By the way, it was worth it – all 36 measurements 3 times. Now I have 7ms delay for tracking at 48kHz and the sound is just right.