Calibrated Bass Management with UA Apollo X integration

How to apply subwoofer calibration and enable Bass Management on multichannel and stereo speaker systems with Monitor Correction in UAD Console. 

In this article:

• Calibrated Bass Management with UAD Console
  • Calibrating multichannel systems
  • Calibrating bass-managed stereo systems
• Setting up Bass Management on stereo setups
  • Important to know

Calibrated Bass Management with UAD Console

Calibrating multichannel systems

Calibrated bass management is easily available for 2.1-9.1.6 multichannel setups measured with SoundID Reference for Multichannel (subwoofer on a separate channel). Simply apply your multichannel profile to Apollo X to calibrate the frequency response and Listening Spot (channel level and delay compensation).

Calibrating bass-managed stereo systems

With the UA Apollo X integration, Bass Management is now also available for stereo setups, compatible with a regular  SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones (stereo) license (Multichannel license not required). From a newly measured 2.0 speaker profile, UAD Console will collect information from the profile and output the lower frequencies separately to a dedicated subwoofer channel. 

To set this up, the subwoofer has to be connected to a separate channel with Bass Management enabled in UAD Console, and then measured as “2.0 (Stereo)” with the  SoundID Reference Measure app. Follow the instructions below. 

Note: Previously measured setups with the sub daisy-chained will have to be remeasured to enable Bass Management.

Setting up Bass Management on stereo setups

BASS MANAGEMENT (including the crossover and filter settings) has to be enabled and configured before measuring your speakers. The Bass Management data is saved and stored in the calibration profile during speaker measurements, and enabled automatically when applying the profile to Apollo X.

To set up Bass Management for stereo systems, follow these steps:

1. Connect the subwoofer to a separate channel on the Apollo X. Use the dedicated channel on your device (for example, use LINE OUT 4 on Apollo Twin X, or OUTPUT 8 on Apollo x8). Note: The dedicated subwoofer channel is the last output channel on most Apollo X devices, except for Apollo x16 and x16D (use channel 8 instead).Check the dedicated subwoofer channel of your device here.
   
   
2. DISABLE Apollo Monitor Correction if you already have a calibration profile applied, and ENABLE BASS MANAGEMENT
3. Set MONITOR MODE to STEREO and adjust your crossover and filter settings
   
   
   
   
4. Launch the SoundID Reference Measure app and measure your speakers. The correct speaker configuration is automatically detected and selected, “2.0 (Stereo)”
   
   
   
   
5. Once completed, open the SoundID Reference standalone app and load your calibration profile in the Integration Mode, learn more here: Applying calibration on UA Apollo X devices (profile integration)
6. Click Apply profile to Apollo X

Note: The Bass Management data (including the crossover and filter settings) are now imprinted in the calibration profile. To adjust the Bass Management settings, the process has to be repeated.

Important to know

• The bass-managed stereo solution calibrates the LFE frequency response only. The Listening Spot features (LFE channel delay and overall channel level correction) are only possible with SoundID Reference for Multichannel.
• 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 UAD Console, so any such built-in features on the subwoofer (cross-over, built-in DSP) should be disabled or bypassed.