UAD-2 (PCIe Card) Support Page
This page is dedicated to UAD-2 PCIe compatibility & support. The following information is subject to change and may not always be up to date due to OS updates, or other factors beyond our control.
Last Updated: May 17, 2012
Jump to: General Information | System Requirements
Specifications | Motherboard Compatibility
Thunderbolt Chassis Compatibility | Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Get Started
- Create Your my.uaudio.com Account
- Installation Videos
- Registration and Authorization
- Offline Authorization
Performance
Troubleshooting
- Troubleshooting Basics
- UAD-2 LED Key
- Complete Uninstall/Reinstall (Mac)
- Complete Uninstall/Reinstall (Windows)
Other Information
- UAD-2 Powered Plug-ins Basics & FAQ
- UAD User Guide
- Software Updates
- UAD Version History & Release Notes
Minimum System Requirements - UAD v6.2.0
Windows (x86 and x64):
- Windows XP (Home, Professional, or x64 Edition),
Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
Mac OS X (32-bit and 64-bit):
- Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard or 10.7.3 Lion (or higher)
- Processor upgrade cards are not officially supported
All Platforms:
- Available PCIe (PCI Express) x1/x4/x8/x16 slot for each UAD-2 card
- 1024 x 768 or higher resolution monitor
- CD-ROM drive or internet connection for software installation
- 1 GB available hard drive space
- Internet connection required for registration and plug-in authorization
- Compatible VST, Audio Units, or RTAS plug-in host application software
Discontinued Platforms:
- Prior UAD versions for older operating systems are available in the UAD Software Archives
UAD-2 Specifications
- High-bandwidth x1 PCI Express card (PCIe 2.0 compatible)
- UAD-2 SOLO: low-profile, half-height, short PCIe card
- UAD-2 DUO/QUAD: full-height, short PCIe card
- 1, 2 or 4 Analog Devices SHARC 21369 floating-point processors
- Multi-card support for up to 4 UAD-2’s in one computer
- Cross-Platform for Mac OS X 10.6/10.7, Windows XP/x64, Vista32/64, 7 32/64
- Supports VST, RTAS, and Audio Units plug-in formats
- 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz sample rate support for all plug-ins
- Drivers optimized for modern multi-thread and multi-processor architectures
- Real-time and faster than real-time processing for mix bounces
- LoadLock™ ensures resource availability on loaded plug-ins
- 14-day full function demo for all plug-ins; try before you buy
- Powered Plug-Ins™ available 24/7 from UA's Online Store
Motherboard Compatibility
Listed below are all currently known PC motherboard compatibility issues with the UAD. No other hardware issues are known at this time. For information on PC software issues, please review the UAD software release notes.
Note: If you already have one of the below motherboards, we recommend trying the latest BIOS update to find out if any incompatibility issues have recently been fixed.
Dell Precision Series 4xx / 6xx (specifically 470 / 670) are incompatible with UAD-2 PCIe
Symptom: Inability to recognize UAD-2 Hardware ID preventing registration and major performance issues preventing any use of the cards.
The UAD-2 is incompatible with the Dell Precision Series 4xx / 6xx (specifically 470 / 670) systems. We do not recommend using the UAD-2 with these systems.
Lenovo X200 / LCS2 is incompatible with UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop
Symptom: Complete system freeze.
We've had user reports of incompatibilities with SOLO/Laptop and this system. We are looking into the issue, and currently do not recommend this configuration until a resolution is found.
Intel DX58SO motherboard is incompatible with UAD-2 PCIe
Symptom: Opening the UAD Meter & Control panel application, or attempting to open a UAD plug-in while a UAD-2 is installed, will completely freeze the system or cause a BSOD.
The UAD-2 is incompatible with the Intel DX58SO motherboard. We recommend choosing a different motherboard for use with UAD-2, as there are currently no workarounds.
Thunderbolt-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis Compatibility
About Thunderbolt-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis Compatibility
UAD software v6.1.1 (and higher) contains driver changes that enable the operation of UAD-2 PCIe cards in Thunderbolt-to-PCIe expansion chassis products. Although these devices are not yet officially supported, preliminary testing indicates UAD-2 cards are functioning in some, but not all, Thunderbolt chassis models as detailed below.
Tested Thunderbolt-to-PCIe Expansion Chassis Models
The specific Thunderbolt-to-PCIe expansion chassis models below have been minimally tested with UAD-2 PCIe cards. The results of these tests are listed beneath each specific model.
Preliminary tests indicate UAD-2 cards function properly in this chassis.
Note: The one-slot "Echo Express" model from the Sonnet product line was tested. The two-slot "Echo Express Pro" model has not been tested in-house.
- Magma ExpressBox 3T Three-Slot Thunderbolt to PCI Express Expansion Chassis
Preliminary tests indicate UAD-2 PCIe cards DO NOT FUNCTION in this chassis. We are investigating compatibility with this model.
UAD-2 PCIe Frequently Asked Questions
Are UAD-2 products compatible with Mac OS X 64-bit kernel mode?
Yes! 64-bit driver support for all UAD-2 devices was added in UAD Powered Plug-Ins v5.8.0.
Note: For further information on 64-bit operating systems read the following UA Support Report: 64-bit Operating Systems: Separating Fact from Fiction
Are UAD products compatible with Windows 64-bit OS?
Yes! 64-bit driver support for all UAD-2 devices under Windows 64-bit operating systems (XP, Vista, 7) was added in UAD Powered Plug-Ins v4.5.1.
Note: For further information on 64-bit operating systems read the following UA Support Report: 64-bit Operating Systems: Separating Fact from Fiction
Are UAD Powered Plug-Ins 64-bit?
Currently the UAD plug-ins are all 32-bit format, so when they are used in 64-bit host applications they require the use of a 64-bit bridge adapter. These bridge adapters are usually supplied by the manufacturers of the 64-bit host application you are using. We are aware of our user's concerns and requests for full 64-bit plug-in support, and we have announced that all UAD-2 plug-ins will be fully 64-bit compatible in 2012. Any changes or new announcements regarding full 64-bit plug-in support will be posted on the UA website.
Do UAD-2 DSP Accelerators and UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins work better on Mac or PC? And what DAW software works best?
UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins, and all of our PCIe DSP Accelerators*, are equally compatible with both Mac and PC. The UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins library will run well in all major VST/RTAS/AU-compatible audio software including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Nuendo, Digital Performer, Live, and more, whether on Mac or PC.
*Note: UAD-2 Satellite and Apollo are compatible with Intel-based Mac computers only — not PCs. For complete compatibility details about these products, please visit the UAD-2 Satellite support and Apollo support pages.
Can I run multiple UAD-2 DSP Accelerator hardware devices (including Apollo, Satellite, and PCIe card models) simultaneously?
Absolutely. You can combine up to (4) UAD-2 DSP Accelerators within the same system, depending on your available PCIe / ExpressCard slots and/or FireWire ports / bandwidth. Doing so will let you run even more UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins at the same time.
Which type of UAD-2 hardware should I choose: PCIe or FireWire?
That really depends on your needs, and your system’s connections. If you’re running a desktop “tower” with available PCIe slots, and plan to use that as your primary system, then our PCIe-based UAD-2 DSP Accelerator cards are your best options.
If you’re working on a newer, Intel-based iMac or MacBook Pro, the Apollo and UAD-2 Satellite offer portable “plug-and-play” FireWire 800/400 solutions. Beyond iMacs and MacBook Pros, the Apollo and UAD-2 Satellite are for anyone who has filled their existing PCIe card slots and/or wants a portable UAD-2 solution.
Note that Apollo and UAD-2 Satellite can be added to existing UAD-2 systems, and you can combine up to four UAD cards/devices in a single system. So the UAD-2 Powered Plug-In Platform lets you mix and match a selection of dedicated UAD-2 DSP Accelerators to meet your needs.