UAD-2 QUAD DSP Accelerator Package

Overview

UAD-2 QUAD DSP Accelerator Package

The Ultimate in UAD Powered Plug-Ins, with QUAD Processing Power. Includes Analog Classics Software Bundle.

The UAD-2 QUAD is Universal Audio’s most powerful processing package, giving producers and engineers full access to award-winning UAD Powered Plug-Ins on Mac or PC. This DSP accelerator package includes several of Universal Audio’s most popular “analog classic” plug-ins — the LA-2A and 1176 Compressors/Limiters, and the Pultec EQP-1A — for rich, vintage sound quality right out of the box. Thanks to its PCIe card with four SHARC processors, the UAD-2 QUAD provides four times the processing boost of the UAD-2 SOLO, allowing for the largest professional mixes. Better still, it gives users full access to the UAD Powered Plug-Ins library, including some of the best-reviewed plug-ins of all time.

Flagship quad-processor DSP Accelerator Card for UAD Powered Plug-Ins on Mac or PC
Includes “Analog Classics” plug-in bundle, featuring LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler, 1176LN / 1176SE Classic Limiting Amplifiers, Pultec EQP-1A and Realverb Pro plug-ins.
High-bandwidth PCIe card w/ (4) Analog Devices SHARC floating-point processors
Includes $50 voucher for plug-in purchases via UA’s Online Store
Also available as QUAD Flexi package with $500 UAD Plug-In voucher
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Specifically, the UAD-2 QUAD provides access to popular UAD plug-in titles from Manley, Empirical Labs, Neve, Roland, BOSS, EMT, Fairchild, Harrison, Helios, Little Labs, Pultec, SPL, Teletronix and more (sold separately). Whether you use Cubase, Nuendo, Logic, Digital Performer or Pro Tools, these UAD-2 plug-ins can inject the character and quality of classic hardware into your mixes, while freeing up your computer’s internal processor for other mixing duties.

Mac- and Windows-compatible, with support for VST, Audio Units and RTAS, the UAD-2 QUAD is easy to use. Just install the software, install the card, and start mixing.

Developed by the industry’s finest engineering team, and backed by frequent new software and plug-in releases, the UAD-2 is the processing platform of choice for many of the world's top musicians, producers and engineers.

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Features & Specs

UAD-2 QUAD DSP ACCELERATOR PACKAGE

Features:

Flagship quad-processor DSP Accelerator Card for UAD Powered Plug-Ins on Mac or PC
Includes “Analog Classics” plug-in bundle, featuring LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler, 1176LN / 1176SE Classic Limiting Amplifiers, Pultec EQP-1A and Realverb Pro plug-ins.
Access the complete UAD Powered Plug-Ins library, including: Manley, Empirical Labs, Neve, Roland, BOSS, EMT, Fairchild, Harrison, Helios, Little Labs, Pultec, SPL, Teletronix and more (sold separately)
Run complex, professional mix processing in Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Digital Performer and more — without taxing host computer CPU
Free UAD software upgrades, plus access to more plug-ins at UA’s Online Store
High-bandwidth PCIe card w/ (4) Analog Devices SHARC floating-point processors
VST, AU, RTAS support; Mac OS X Leopard/Snow Leopard and Windows XP/Vista/7 compatible
Use up to 4 UAD-2(s) in one system; can be combined with UAD-1 cards
Includes $50 voucher for plug-in purchases via UA’s Online Store
1-year Limited Warranty

See the UAD Instance Chart here

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 and 4 UAD-1’s in one computer
Cross-Platform for Mac OS X 10.5/10.6, 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 @ my.uaudio.com

Minimum System Requirements (as of v5.8.0):

Windows:

Microsoft Windows XP (Home, Professional, or x64 Edition), Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista (x86 or x64), Windows 7 (32 or 64)

Macintosh:

Mac OS X 10.5.x “Leopard” (32-Bit Mode), or 10.6.x "Snow Leopard" (32-Bit or 64-Bit Mode)
Processor upgrade cards are not officially supported

General:

1 available PCIe (PCI Express) x1/x4/x8 or x16 slot
256 MB RAM (512 MB is strongly recommended)
1024 x 768 or higher resolution monitor
CD-ROM drive or internet connection for software installation
125 MB available hard drive space for UAD-2 or UAD-1 installation
250 MB available hard drive space for combined UAD-2 plus UAD-1 installation
Internet connection required for registration and plug-in authorization
Compatible VST or Audio Units plug-in host application software. See compatibility page for more details.

Reviews / Ratings

Reviews

Ivan Barias
(Musiq Soulchild, Faith Evans)
“The UAD-2 is the 21st century musician's best friend."

11/2011

Peter Kirn
Create Digital Music
"It’s difficult to describe UA’s plug-ins until you’ve tried them. It’s a bit like having chocolate sauce at your disposal, sonically speaking."

Review
01/2011

Garrett Haines
(Tape Op Magazine)
"Universal Audio’s achievements in capturing the sonics of equalization, transformers, and control interaction need to be recognized. This goes beyond software models; they’re getting to the heart of the gear."

Review
11/2010

Matt Knobel
(Lenny Kravitz)
"The family of effects that I have with my UAD-2 is incomparable with any other when it comes to working in the box yet having an 'out of boxy experience'."

10/2010

Garrett "Jacknife" Lee
(R.E.M., The Cars)
"Wow! How did i do without it [UAD-2]? The 1073 EQ! 1176LN! Dimension D! The EMT reverbs! Fairchild 670!"

08/2010
Garrett "Jacknife" Lee
(R.E.M., The Cars)
"I @#$%ing love my UAD-2 card! Doing my first proper mix [The Cars] with it. Wow! How did i do without it?"

08/2010

Paul Moak
(Third Day, Matthew Mayfield)
"The flexibility is priceless and has won me over on UAD for life. Thanks for making a great product!"

08/2010

Jose Cancela & Amy Marie Beauchamp
(HBO Sports, NFL, NBA)
“The UAD-2 has time and time again given sterile samples warmth, depth and brilliance."

08/2010

Hank Shocklee
(Public Enemy)
“I like to use the UAD plug-ins to their extremes and push them to get the crazy sound I use to set my productions apart."

Review
07/2010

Ryan Hewitt
(Red Hot Chili Peppers)
"So now I have my UAD on everything, and I'm using the EMT 140 and the EMT 250 as effects. It's so much easier."

Review
07/2010
Greg Parkin
(Capitol Studios & Mastering)
“It is fitting that UA continues to provide a platform for our engineers to innovate."

Review
07/2010

Jono Buchanan
Future Music (UK)
"The accuracy & quality of [UA's] recent additions [shows] their recreations of classic hardware are only improving."

07/2010

Hans Zimmer
(The Dark Knight)
"I personally only have the one big UAD-2 QUAD in my computer. It's holding up great and covers all my needs... So far."

Review
05/2010

Ivan Barias
(Musiq Soulchild)
"UAD is my new secret weapon in the studio. I get everything to sound the way I always wanted, way before the mixing."

04/2010

Ivan Barias
(Keyshia Cole, 2Pac)
"Before UAD life in the studio was like television before HD. Everything sounds incredibly detailed now."

04/2010
Future Music UK
(Future Music UK)
"Genuinely allows you to turn each channel of your DAW into a virtual Neve channel strip."

02/2010

Mick Glossup
(Van Morrison)
"There is a common character in [UAD plug-ins], which I would describe as rich, warm, full-sounding, and inspiring to use."

01/2010

Mick Glossup
(Frank Zappa, Van Morrison, UFO)
"I have to say that [UAD Powered Plug-Ins] are better than any other plug-ins I've used."

01/2010

John Paterno
(Los Lobos, Bonnie Raitt)
"This [UAD-2] is a 'game changer' for me ... The sound, responsiveness, and detail [of the plug-ins] are great!"

01/2010

Nathaniel Kunkel
(Lyle Lovett, Nirvana)
"With the UAD-2, UA has provided something that I have been missing from my plugs for a long time: inspiration."

12/2009
Gareth Jones
(Grizzly Bear, Depeche Mode)
"When I'm mixing in the box I turn to my UAD-2 QUAD Core & the extensive plug-ins ... clients love it too."

11/2009

J.J. Blair
(Rod Stewart, George Benson)
"I was never into mixing completely in the box until I started using UAD cards ... I'm loving it more and more."

10/2009

Jim Dalrymple
(The Loop)
"My UAD-2 QUAD is one of the best investments I’ve made for my music. I have all of the plug-ins."

Review
09/2009

Jim Dalrymple
(The Loop)
"[I use] the Fairchild Compressor, Neve 1081, Neve 1073, LA-2A and the 1176 Compressor. They all give you something different."

Review
09/2009

Jim Dalrymple
(Macworld)
"While there are a lot of plug-in choices [on the market], I have found none better than Universal Audio."

05/2009
Eli Janney
(Wilco, Wheat)
"I’m heavily into the [UAD-2] cards. They just sound really, really good ... the new cards give you a lot of horsepower."

Review
05/2009

Vance Powell
(The Raconteurs, Jars of Clay)
"The UAD-2 is the first plug-in set that replaces gear I own, hardware-wise, and that's a big deal."

03/2009

John Baccigaluppi
(TapeOp Magazine)
"[With the UAD-2] ... everything worked perfectly with the sonic quality we’ve come to expect from the UAD series."

Review
10/2008

Ulrich Wild
(Pantera)
"The new UAD-2 cards are extremely powerful ... I completely abandoned analog gear for mixing and I rely heavily on this system"

Hank Shocklee
(Public Enemy)
"I can surely say that working with the UAD family of plug-ins has greatly increased the sound of my projects"
David Grissom
(Mellencamp, Buddy Guy)
"The UAD-2 plug-ins have become the backbone of my mixes ... I've been able to eliminate my console altogether."

Gavin Monaghan
(The Twang)
"I'd never even think of tackling a session without UAD plug-ins."

Frank Filipetti
(Carly Simon)
"I go to my UAD plug-ins just as naturally as I do any hardware ... UAD is now an essential part of my mixing arsenal"

Nathaniel Kunkel
(Sting)
"I use my UAD cards every time I mix ... the quality of the plug-ins make mixing 'in the box' not only easier, but really fun."

Elliot Mazer
(Neil Young)
"I can mix anyplace with my UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop. I get to use the same UAD plug-ins on my portable that I use on my big MacPro."
Gavin Monaghan
(The Twang)
"Thanks to my UAD-2 quad, I can have a vintage Neve 1073 on every channel without mortgaging my house."

Stuart Price
(The Killers)
"You judge [the UAD-2] by how many people you recommend it to, and everyone I have worked with has now gone and got one."

Review

Frank Filipetti
(Carly Simon, Korn)
"I don't need anything else to mix with, other than the UAD plug-ins. Everything else I use is hardware."

Rik Simpson
(Coldplay)
"The sound of the UAD software is the closest thing in analog modeling ... it actually sounds like the real gear."

Ryan West
(Kanye West, T.I., T-Pain)
"I'm not sure what mathematical voodoo they do over there [at UA], but I like it and I won't mix without it."
Nathaniel Kunkel
(James Taylor, Lyle Lovett)
"The thing that I feel no one's really talking about is that this [the UAD-2] is a paradigm shift."

Frank Filipetti
(James Taylor, Rod Stewart)
“I wish more companies paid attention to what you guys are doing at UA ... it's right on the money."

Charlie Clouser
(NIN, "Saw" Soundtracks)
"The UAD-2 provides so much DSP that I can really lay the plug-ins on thick without giving it a second thought"

Paul Moak
(Third Day, Matthew Mayfield)
"As an analog junkie and an audiofile, this [UAD-2] is the best of both worlds for me."

08/2010

Aziz Ibrahim
(Simply Red, The Stone Roses)
"The UAD-2 QUAD is just what I need to run all the plug-ins for a session."

Review
05/2010
Neil Mclellan
(TapeOp)
"I've recommended the UAD platform to all of my friends, and once they heard it, there was no looking back."

Review
04/2010

John Paterno
(Los Lobos, Bonnie Raitt)
"The sound of these [UAD Powered Plug-Ins] will definitely change the way I approach mixing in the computer."

01/2010

D. James Goodwin
(The Bravery)
"When I finally decided to try the UAD platform, I was immediately floored by the realism. These things sounded amazing."

10/2009

D. James Goodwin
(The Bravery)
"I decided to sell my hardware SPL TD4, and my vintage dbx 160 rack, because the UAD became my go-to choice. Bravo to UA"

10/2009

Paul White
(Sound On Sound)
"UA has given their UAD-2 platform extra appeal with yet more accurate recreations of classic studio hardware ..."

10/2009
J.J. Blair
(Rod Stewart, George Benson)
"Way to go, Universal Audio! Thanks for helping me achieve the sounds in the box that I really want to hear."

10/2009

Ed MacFarlane
(Friendly Fires)
"[I use] the 6176 as my preamp & compressor, and I've been using the UAD plug-ins once the track's in the computer."

Review
10/2009

D. James Goodwin
(The Bravery)
"UAD plug-ins are my new benchmark for how processors should sound, look, and function.”

10/2009

Paul White
(Sound On Sound)
"[Cooper Time Cube, EMT 250, or FATSO] ... for the real vintage character, I don't think UA have any rivals at the moment."

10/2009

JR Hutson
(Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild)
"[Once] I got the UAD Powered Plug-Ins, I can get things so much closer to what they're supposed to sound like."

09/2009
Jim Dalrymple
(The Loop)
"I find that the UA plug-ins allow me to control that [dynamic] range of frequencies better than anything else."

Review
09/2009

Justin Niebank
(Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts)
“[W]hen you came out with the UAD-2, I jumped on that, even before the software came out. I adore it.”

08/2009

Frederick Norén
(Sound on Sound)
"[For DSP-based systems]...the UAD2 platform is a good alternative, with great-sounding, humanely priced plug-ins."

Review
08/2009

Roy Davis Jr.

"A mix is not complete without UAD Powered Plug-Ins on it!!!"

08/2009

Eli Crews
(Electronic Musician)
"With the UAD-2, Universal Audio has made one of the most attractive plug-in families even harder to live without."

Review
04/2009
Cian Ciaran
(Super Furry Animals)
"[With the UAD-2] It's like having the right tools to do the right job ... Because you know all the gear's quality."

12/2008

Jason Blum
(Remix Magazine)
"The only thing better than UAD plug-ins is more of them."

Review
12/2008

Craig Anderton
(EQ Magazine)
"The UAD concept [is] the 21st century equivalent of a rack of special-purpose processors ... maybe even an entire mixer."

Review
11/2008

Paul Vnuk, Jr.
(Recording Magazine)
"The UAD-2 ... is a huge improvement over everything that made the UAD-1 the leader in its class."

Review
11/2008

Mike Senior
(Sound On Sound)
"UAD-2 is an enormous leap forward from the UAD-1"

Review
11/2008
Craig Anderton
(Keyboard)
"The UAD-2 is much more powerful than the original ... the UAD concept is no longer to just replace a few cool pieces of gear"

11/2008

Mike Senior
(Sound on Sound)
"Universal Audio are a force to be reckoned with in terms of the quality of their audio processing"

11/2008

Barry Rudolph
(Mix Magazine)
"The UAD-2 breaks all the UAD-1's limitations ... it's a dream come true for all DAW users.”

Review
10/2008

Rob James
(Resolution Magazine)
"[UAD Powered Plug-Ins] have more character than many native or TDM plug-ins, while being a great deal more affordable."

10/2008

Craig Anderton
(EQ Magazine)
"It's the strikingly realistic, and musical, emulations of vintage (and not so vintage) gear [that hooks people on the UAD-2]."

10/2008
Future Publishing
(MusicRadar.com)
"Offering several times the power of the UAD-1, this powered plug-in system is very impressive."

Review
09/2008

Andy Hong
(TapeOp)
"I'd have to say that the UAD plug-ins blow similar TDM plug-ins out of the water"

03/2008

Jono Buchanan
(Future Music UK)
"It's now possible to turn your DAW into a full Neve console, for a fraction of the cost of a real desk."

10/2008

David Riggs

"There is a God and he uses the UAD plugins. The best set of plug-ins anywhere. Period."

12/2005

Matt Knobel
(Lenny Kravitz)
"With the UAD-2 , you put it on and it sounds like a Fairchild. It makes it so much easier to get what you're looking for."
John Cuniberti
(Joe Satriani, The Meters)
"I was able to plug-in the Neve 1081 and the 1176LN on 32 channels with room to spare for the fantastic EMT 140."

Carmen Rizzo

"I make a living with the UA plug-ins, because I use them every single day on every session."

Mike Senior
(Sound on Sound)
"The UAD-2 gives access to some of the best-sounding analogue emulation plug-ins available ... a mouth-watering prospect."

Geoff Sanoff
(Pro Sound News)
"I keep saying to people that plug-ins are only going to get better, and UAD keeps proving me right."

Matt Boudreau
(Keith Urban)
"The bottom line is, it's got so much more power ... it allowed me to use whatever plug-in I wanted, whenever I wanted"

User Ratings

Write a Review

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Average Rating (103 Reviews)

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by Scott Parker(Saturday 14 January, 2012)
Hi my name is Scott Shavoni Parker's owner of Shavoni Entertainment Group I'm a songwriter producer/engineer I have produced three Grammy award-winning albums one on Kirk Franklin one on Yolanda Adams one on God's property several of my other projects have been nominated for Grammys like the Prince … Read more
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by Roy Campanella III(Friday 23 September, 2011)
The UAD-2 Quad and the plugs that run on it are AWESOME! I've always loved mixing "in the box" but the UAD system gives my mixes extra dimension and character that simply can't be beat. I've been lucky enough to have access to the best plug-ins available from every manufacturer but time and time aga … Read more
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by Tony Belcastro(Friday 5 August, 2011)
Got this after a dispute with Waves over their old update plan and haven't looked back. Very stable, even on 64 bit systems running SONAR X1. UAD plugins help take mixing and mastering to new levels. After trying almost every brand of highly rated VST plugin, these just have a certain magic to the s … Read more
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by Tony Belcastro(Friday 5 August, 2011)
Got this after a dispute with Waves over their old update plan and haven't touched a Waves plugin since. The sound quality is excellent and the plugins are very stable on a 64 bit system running SONAR X1: took the mixing and mastering experience to a whole new level. The only thing that keeps it fro … Read more
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by Christoph Kahse(Thursday 28 July, 2011)
Making music with my DAW is not the same anymore since I have installed my first UAD Card a few years ago. UAD Plug-Ins breathe life into my tracks and make them sound as they should. My music now has the punch, the warmth and the detail I was missing. … Read more

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Artists

Grammy-Winning Engineer Darrell Thorp

Marsha Vdovin hears how UA hardware and UAD Powered Plug-Ins are instrumental in his high profile engineering projects. Read more

Rik Simpson

Rik Simpson has engineered, produced, or mixed hit artist such as Jay Z, PJ Harvey, and Portisthead, but his latest project was producing Coldplay's latest album, Mylo Xyloto. Read more

Phil Tan

With more than 24 #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, 3 Grammys®, and nearly 300 album credits, there are few engineers that can touch Phil Tan’s recent track record. Read more
Ampex ATR-102 Trailer

For more than three decades, the Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder has turned music recordings into records. Read more

Thievery Corporation's Chris “Stone” Garrett on UA

Chris Garrett an integral part of Thievery Corporation's tight productions, which emphasize a unique blend of spacious organic elements and electronic grooves. Read more

The Glitch Mob

UA sits down with edIT, Boreta, and Ooah of The Glitch Mob to hear about their latest release, their life on the road. and their studio workflow with UAD Plug-Ins. Read more
Dave Isaac

Three-time GRAMMY® Winner Dave Isaac Shares Tips for Widening Tracks with UAD Powered Plug-Ins... Read more

Jacknife Lee

An Irish musician, remixer, producer, and engineer, Jacknife Lee has worked with legendary rock bands... Read more

Miles Walker

Jay Sean’s “Hit the Lights,” Mixed by Miles Walker… Read more
Michael Brauer

Michael Brauer has enjoyed an illustrious 30-year music career, mixing chart-topping albums by artists including Aretha Franklin and The Rolling Stones. Read more

Josh One & Ian Boxill

DJ/Producer Josh One and engineer Ian Boxill walk us through their grooving, slickly-produced new single, "After It," featuring Julie Walehwa. Read more

UA NAMM 2011 Artists

A short collection of interviews with various platinum-selling producers and engineers at UA's NAMM 2011 booth… Read more
Ryan Hewitt

Few people are lucky enough to grow up in the music business. Ryan Hewitt had the fortune of being raised in and around recording studios. Read more

Alan Meyerson

Mixing film scores for Hans Zimmer—one of Hollywood’s most sought-after film composers—sounds like a dream job, and Alan Meyerson is living that dream. Read more

Mike Shipley

GRAMMY®-winner Mike Shipley is one of the music industry’s top mixers; his hit-making career spans over thirty years. Read more
Steve Levine

Steve Levine is perhaps best known as the producer behind mega-acts such as Culture Club and the Beach Boys. Read more

Malcolm Toft

What is the secret behind the distinctive sound of British rock in the 1960s and ‘70s?… Read more

Elliot Mazer

Elliot Mazer is the man responsible for the sound of some of the most beloved classic rock records of all time, including Janis Joplin’s In Concert (live album)... Read more
Vance Powell

Vance Powell accepted the GRAMMY® award for The Raconteurs album, Consolers of the Lonely. Read more

Rik Simpson

It was a great treat to interview UK producer/engineer Rik Simpson on his use of UA gear with the band Coldplay. Read more

John Nowland

This month I spoke to John Nowland, Neil Young’s longtime engineer and big Universal Audio fan. Read more
Bruce Swedien

You can’t think of the Harrison console without thinking of Bruce Swedien and the fantastic records he made on it. Read more

Cian Ciarán

This month I interviewed Cian Ciarán [kee-AHN kir-ON], keyboard player and sound sculptor for the Welsh band Super Furry Animals... Read more

Nathaniel Kunkel

I met Nathaniel Kunkel several years ago at an audio conference and was impressed by how self assured and outspoken he was for his young age. Read more
Bill Putnam, Jr.

I realized this month that I’ve never interviewed Bill Putnam, Jr., for the Heritage column. Read more

Matt Boudreau

I know — we interviewed Matt Boudreau back in March about his racks of UA outboard gear and four UAD-1 cards... Read more

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