The Apogee Mini-Me marked a return to the company’s roots in portable digital conversion, following the earlier AD-1000, which had established a reputation among recording and mastering engineers. Although its distinctive purple controls and rugged extruded aluminium enclosure recalled the AD-1000, the Apogee Mini-Me was an entirely new design, incorporating contemporary 24-bit conversion, integrated microphone preamplification and computer connectivity into a compact, self-contained unit.
At the heart of the Apogee Mini-Me are two independent analogue input channels, each accommodating microphone, line or instrument-level signals. The microphone preamplifiers were developed by the engineering team responsible for Apogee’s Trak2 preamplifiers, providing a gain range of 12 to 65 dB. Combination XLR/TRS input connectors accommodate different signal sources, automatically selecting the high-impedance instrument input when a TRS jack is connected. Switchable 48V phantom power supports condenser microphones, while independent input gain controls allow each channel to be adjusted individually.
Both input controls incorporate a fully anticlockwise calibration position that switches to a preset line-level setting. These settings can be adjusted using dedicated multi-turn trim controls, allowing the converter to be matched to external line-level equipment. Between the two main gain controls, LED indicators display input headroom, providing immediate visual feedback when establishing recording levels.
One of the Apogee Mini-Me’s most significant features is its integrated dynamics processing. Apogee’s established Soft Limit technology allows incoming signals to approach maximum digital recording levels while reducing the risk of digital overload. This is complemented by Push-IT, a three-curve stereo compressor/limiter designed to control dynamic peaks during recording. The three selectable compression curves provide different processing characteristics, making the circuitry useful for controlling unpredictable levels during live performances and location recording sessions.
The converter supports 24-bit operation at sample rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz. A single front-panel rotary selector controls both sample rate and output word length. Alongside full 24-bit operation, the Apogee Mini-Me offers 16-bit and 20-bit output modes at 44.1 and 48 kHz, using Apogee’s UV22HR technology for word-length reduction. This allows recordings to be prepared for digital systems requiring lower bit depths without the need for a separate conversion process.
Digital audio connectivity is provided through AES/EBU on XLR and coaxial S/PDIF on RCA, with both outputs available simultaneously. The digital outputs are clocked by an internal high-stability crystal oscillator, allowing the Apogee Mini-Me to provide a digital clock reference to connected equipment. This arrangement makes it suitable for use as a standalone converter feeding professional digital recorders, mixing consoles and other recording systems.
The optional USB interface extends the Apogee Mini-Me’s capabilities to direct computer recording. Supporting two channels of audio at resolutions up to 24-bit and sample rates up to 48 kHz, the USB connection carries digital audio to a computer while also accepting a return signal for monitoring. Compatible operating systems of the period included Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 and XP, along with Macintosh OS 9 and OS X. ASIO drivers were supplied for reduced-latency operation, while supported operating systems could also use standard USB Audio functionality.
The USB system incorporates automatic sample-rate conversion when the Apogee Mini-Me and recording computer operate at different rates. Where the converter is configured for 24-bit operation but the recording software requires 16-bit audio, UV22HR processing can be applied automatically to the USB output. These capabilities helped integrate the converter with the recording applications and computer systems available during its production period.
For monitoring, the Apogee Mini-Me provides a headphone output with independent level and mix controls. The monitoring section allows the user to balance the direct input signal against audio returned from the computer through USB. A mono/stereo monitoring option adds flexibility when recording individual sources or stereo material. The headphone amplifier delivers 0.3W RMS per channel, providing an integrated monitoring solution without requiring an external mixer.
Portability was a central part of the Apogee Mini-Me’s design. Its low-power circuitry operates from an external 12V DC supply but accepts a wider input range of 6 to 16V DC, allowing operation from suitable external battery systems. With a power consumption of approximately 5.5W, the converter was designed for use beyond conventional studio environments, including mobile recording rigs and field recording applications.
The Apogee Mini-Me brought together professional analogue-to-digital conversion, microphone amplification, dynamics processing and digital interfacing in a compact package. Its combination of standalone AES/EBU and S/PDIF outputs, optional USB connectivity, flexible analogue inputs and battery operation made it a versatile recording front end during the transition towards increasingly computer-based production systems.
Features
- Two-channel, 24-bit analogue-to-digital conversion with sample rates up to 96 kHz.
- Integrated microphone and instrument preamplifiers with 12 to 65 dB gain range.
- Combination XLR/TRS inputs supporting microphone, line and high-impedance instrument signals.
- Independent input gain controls, adjustable line-level calibration and LED headroom indicators.
- Apogee Soft Limit processing for controlling signal peaks during digital recording.
- Push-IT three-curve stereo compressor/limiter for integrated dynamics control.
- UV22HR technology for 16-bit and 20-bit word-length reduction.
- Simultaneous AES/EBU and coaxial S/PDIF digital outputs with internal crystal-based clocking.
- Optional low-latency USB audio interface with computer return monitoring and automatic sample-rate conversion.
- Integrated headphone monitoring with direct/USB mix control and low-power operation for portable or battery-powered recording.