UAD-2 Satellite DSP Accelerator (FireWire)

Overview

Key Features

Run UAD Powered Plug-Ins via FireWire 800/400 connection
Access nearly 60 plug-ins from Ampex, Lexicon, Roland, Studer, Neve, Manley, SSL, EMT and more (sold separately)
Includes portable DSP Accelerator unit (FireWire format), plus a choice of Core, Custom or Ultimate UAD plug-in packages
Available in DUO and QUAD models w/ 2 or 4 SHARC processors
Gives native systems a DSP boost for running larger mixes,
Allows taking UAD plug-ins “on the road,” mixing on Intel-based Macs and Windows 7 PCs*
All packages include “Analog Classics” bundle featuring LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler, 1176LN / 1176SE Classic Limiting Amplifiers, Pultec EQP-1A, and Realverb Pro plug-ins
Compatible with Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Live, Digital Performer and more
Combine with other UAD-2 devices, including UAD-2 PCIe card(s), and Apollo audio interface
VST, AU, RTAS support

Serious analog sound for MacBooks, iMacs, and Windows 7 PCs.
A simple FireWire connection is all it takes to plug your Intel-based Mac or Windows 7 PC* into the world’s finest analog hardware emulations. The UAD-2 Satellite DSP Accelerators offer full access to UAD Powered Plug-Ins, including exclusive titles from Studer, Ampex, Lexicon, Neve, Manley, Roland, SSL and more. UAD-2 Satellite packages feature a sleek, ultra-portable FireWire 800/400-based processing unit, plus the “Analog Classics” plug-in bundle (VST/AU/RTAS), giving you massive analog character, right out of the box.

Watch the overview video.

UAD-2: The industry’s most respected collection of audio plug-ins.
From serious home recordists to multi-platinum mix engineers, UAD Powered Plug-Ins have been winning over audio professionals for more than 10 years. The reason is simple. No other plug-ins so faithfully capture the sound and behavior of classic analog equipment — from rare compressors and equalizers, to vintage reverb processors and tape machines.

The award-winning UAD library features nearly 60 plug-ins, co-developed with the biggest brands in audio. These plug-ins can be purchased with UAD-2 hardware from retailers as part of bundled “Custom” and “Ultimate” packages, or you can buy UAD plug-ins à la carte from UA’s Online Store.

Workhorse DUO or Professional QUAD processing power, wherever you go.
UAD-2 Satellite DSP Accelerators are available in two processing levels: DUO or QUAD, with either two or four individual Analog Devices SHARC processors, respectively. This outboard processing can provide a big mixing horsepower “boost” for your host computer — letting you run larger mixes, filled with rich, sonically complex plug-ins — no matter what the rest of your system is doing.

The UAD-2 Satellite can be integrated alongside UAD-2 PCIe DSP Accelerator cards and the UAD Apollo interface, for truly scalable mixing power. And because it’s portable, the UAD-2 Satellite lets you travel with your UAD plug-ins, wherever you mix on an Intel-based Mac or select Windows 7 PC* with an available FireWire port.

Available as Core, Custom, and Ultimate software packages.
UAD-2 Satellite DSP Accelerators are available as “Core,” “Custom,” and “Ultimate” software packages. The Core package includes the Analog Classics plug-in bundle (see contents above right). The Custom package includes Analog Classics bundle, plus it lets you pick any three individual UAD plug-ins at registration. The QUAD Ultimate is UA’s flagship Satellite package, and includes more than 55 UA-developed plug-ins up to and including UAD software v6.3.

UAD plug-in craftsmanship: The science behind the scenes.
Most people don’t immediately think of audio software when they hear the word “craftsmanship.” But that’s what separates UAD plug-ins from the rest. One of the most common responses we hear from UAD users is, “Wow, I didn’t know plug-ins could sound this good.” That’s because in developing UAD-2 plug-ins, UA’s engineering group undertakes a thorough physical modeling of classic audio hardware. This process means that we essentially “rebuild” vintage analog gear in the digital world, component by component. It’s how UAD plug-ins replicate the exact, sometimes quirky, behavior of analog hardware — bringing its rich, three-dimensional sound and harmonics "in the box."

* Requires Windows 7 64-bit edition operating system and a qualified PCIe-to-FireWire adaptor. Learn more here.

Compare UAD-2 packages, read UAD-2 FAQs, Specifications, Videos, or Customer Reviews.

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All UAD-2 Satellite models are compatible with Intel-based Macs w/ FireWire 800/400.

MODEL

PROCESSOR

USER

INCLUDED PLUG-INS

UAD-2 Satellite
DUO Core

2 x SHARC processor

Project Studios

Analog Classics bundle*

UAD-2 Satellite
DUO Custom

2 x SHARC processor

Project Studios

Custom Bundle*
Analog Classics bundle*

UAD-2 Satellite
QUAD Core

4 x SHARC processor

Professional Users

Analog Classics bundle*

UAD-2 Satellite
QUAD Custom

4 x SHARC processor

Professional Users

Custom Bundle*
Analog Classics bundle*

UAD-2 Satellite
QUAD Ultimate

4 x SHARC processor

Professional Power Users

Ultimate Bundle: 55+
UA Developed Powered
Plug-Ins, up to and including
software v6.3.

* The Analog Classics bundle includes the LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler, 1176 LN & SE Limiting Amplifiers, Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer, RealVerb Pro Room Modeler, and CS-1 ChannelStrip

* The Custom package includes The Analog Classics bundle, plus it lets you pick any three individual UAD plug-ins at registration.

Interested in running UAD-2 plug-ins over PCIe? Compare UAD-2 PCIe DSP Accelerators here.

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FAQ

What is the UAD-2 Satellite?

UAD-2 Satellite is a FireWire 800/400 DSP accelerator that runs the growing library of UAD Powered Plug-Ins. UAD plug-ins are widely recognized as the highest quality tools for mixing and mastering, with an emphasis on emulations of classic analog gear. The UAD-2 Satellite ships with the Analog Classics bundle, which gives you vintage compression, EQ and reverb tools, right out of the box.

How is the UAD-2 Satellite different from UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Cards?

The UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Cards are made for PCIe slots in a desktop computer or expansion chassis. UAD-2 Satellite, on the other hand, is an external DSP unit (with power supply) that connects to Intel-based iMacs, MacBook Pros and 64-bit Windows 7-based PCs via a FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 connection. (Note that Windows 7 PCs require an additional PCIe-to-FireWire adaptor.) Both the UAD-2 PCIe and UAD-2 Satellite systems can run the full library of UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins. The differences between the two products are primarily their different connection protocols. PCIe has greater bandwidth and lower latency than FireWire, but FireWire is more convenient and portable.

I already own a UAD-2 PCIe system, can I add UAD-2 Satellite to that system?

Yes, UAD-2 Satellite works just like any other UAD-2 PCIe card, whereby you can add a card to your My.Uaudio “system” and the UAD plug-ins will be authorized for all UAD devices in that system. Systems can contain up to four UAD-2 devices. By adding a UAD-2 Satellite to your system, you can "take your plug-ins with you" and mix your sessions in other studios, etc.

Can I use multiple UAD-2 Satellite units together in the same system?

Yes. Connecting two UAD-2 Satellite units together in a single system is a supported configuration. We are actively investigating support for more than two UAD-2 Satellite units.

I have a computer that has both FireWire 800 and PCIe slots, should I buy the PCIe card or the FireWire version?

We developed UAD-2 Satellite to give our customers access to UAD Powered Plug-Ins on Intel-based Macs and 64-bit Windows 7 PCs with FireWire connections. Of course, UAD-2 Satellite will work in and alongside UAD-2 PCIe systems as well. The major difference between PCIe and FireWire is bandwidth and latency. In this regard, UAD-2 PCIe systems have inherent advantages over UAD-2 Satellite. For customers who want UAD-2 plug-in portability, a UAD-2 Satellite system is a great choice. But for customers with both PCIe and FireWire, more plug-ins can theoretically be run on the UAD-2 PCIe card system with less latency.

What UAD-2 Satellite hardware / software packages are available, and what do they include?

Click here to compare Satellite DSP Accelerator packages

How many plug-ins can I run on a UAD-2 Satellite?

The number varies depending on the sample rate you're using, as well as how many FireWire devices are on the bus. For a complete breakdown of UAD Powered Plug-Ins instance counts, check out the UAD Instance Chart.

Does UAD-2 Satellite allow for daisy chaining to other FireWire devices?

Yes, you can connect any mixture of FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 devices to UAD-2 Satellite. To run the greatest number of plug-in instances, a direct FireWire 800 connection should be made between UAD-2 Satellite and the host computer.

Does the FireWire bandwidth go down if I daisy chain a FireWire 400 device to the FireWire 400 port on UAD-2 Satellite?

No! You can enjoy full use of the FireWire 800 bandwidth, even when daisy chaining FireWire 400 devices. Just connect UAD-2 Satellite first in your chain.

Can UAD-2 Satellite be bus powered over FireWire 400 or FireWire 800?

No, the UAD-2 Satellite requires use of the included power supply. The power supply includes removable AC connectors for use in different regions of the world, so UAD-2 Satellite can work anywhere.

Does daisy-chaining other FireWire devices limit the amount of UAD plug-ins I can run?

Yes, all FireWire DSP accelerators are limited by the amount of available FireWire bandwidth. Any FireWire bus has a fixed amount of bandwidth, and all the devices on the bus compete for that same bandwidth. For best performance, limit the amount of FireWire devices connected to the computer.

To help you get guaranteed performance out of UAD-2 Satellite, there are settings in the UAD Meter & Control Panel (in the FireWire tab) that let you allocate the fixed amount of FireWire bandwidth that UAD-2 Satellite will consume. This ensures the same number of plug-in instances are available from session to session.

So why can’t I run as many UAD plug-ins on my UAD-2 Satellite QUAD as my UAD-2 QUAD PCIe? A QUAD is a QUAD, right?

This is purely a FireWire bandwidth issue. Assuming you don’t run out of DSP to run the plug-ins you want, it all comes down to the available bandwidth of the FireWire bus. Think of a two-lane highway versus a seven-lane freeway; on the seven-lane freeway, more cars can get through simultaneously. Similarly, plug-ins require their own I/O stream in order to be heard, and FireWire has a limited amount of streams compared to PCIe.

The available FireWire bandwidth can also become constrained depending on other FireWire devices on the FireWire bus (such as an audio interface). The more devices using the FireWire bus, the less bandwidth available to the UAD-2 Satellite. All that said, the UAD-2 Satellite can run a large number of plug-ins, more than enough for an average session.

I understand that the processing of the UAD plug-ins is done on UAD-2 Satellite. Does that mean I can’t use the freeze features of my DAW?

You absolutely CAN use freeze on your DAW with UAD-2 Satellite; just hit the freeze button and the audio channel gets processed faster than real-time, just like any other AU/VST plug-in.

Does UAD-2 Satellite work on WIndows operating systems?

Yes! It works on select Windows 7 operating systems. See compatibility info here.

What is the lowest hardware buffer setting I can use with UAD-2 Satellite for stable operation?

UAD-2 Satellite natively runs at a 512 sample buffer or higher. All FireWire DSP accelerators require a buffer limit to operate reliably; this is inherent in how fast data can be transferred over FireWire. In designing the UAD-2 Satellite driver, we were able to implement dynamic buffering that enables lowering the audio interface hardware buffer setting (128, 64, etc) while using UAD-2 Satellite at a higher setting. Specifically, when the hardware buffer is set lower than 512, UAD-2 Satellite continues to work at a 512 sample buffer — allowing for critical low latency tracking workflows. Note that UAD-2 Satellite plug-ins should not be placed on the input or master output path during tracking, to insure the lowest possible throughput latency when tracking. UAD-2 Satellite can, however, be used on reverb send/return tracks because, typically, those paths are not timing critical.

Will UAD-2 Satellite work for tracking with UAD plug-ins on input in real time?

The latency will probably be too high for most users. This is a very common issue with FireWire DSP accelerators, as the buffer settings required in all DAWs for stable operation are too high to be used in a tracking workflow. Therefore, we recommend using UAD-2 Satellite in the mixing and mastering stages of your workflow, where latency is less of an issue.

I've heard about Intel's Thunderbolt technology. How does this affect UAD-2 Satellite?

Universal Audio is one of a handful of developers in the audio community for Thunderbolt, a high-speed I/O connection from Intel. One of the great things about Thunderbolt is its full backward compatibility with many protocols, including FireWire. The UAD-2 Satellite can connect to Thunderbolt ports using the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter.

Where can I see UAD-2 Satellite specifications, system compatibility, and further details?

Glad you asked! Our UAD-2 Satellite Support page is the comprehensive resource for all the details.

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Reviews

Reviews

Joe Chiccarelli
(The Shins, My Morning Jacket, The Killers)
"My UAD-2 Satellite is quickly becoming a classic piece of outboard gear. I'm using it on every mix."

Jacquire King
(Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Cold War Kids)
"Anywhere I go, I always use effect plug-ins while I'm tracking. The UAD-2 Satellite has been working so good I've forgotten I'm not using an internal card."

Ronnie Vanucci
The Killers
"The UAD plug-ins allow us [The Killers] to get into the wheelhouse of the sounds of yesteryear. It's another instrument in the band these days."

Jim James
My Morning Jacket
"The UAD Powered Plug-ins collection is such a great tool kit. So many tools under one roof and all at your fingertips in a fraction of a second."

The Glitch Mob

"The UAD-2 Satellite has really given the mobile producer the ability to move around and still have your favorite plug-ins without having to lug around your desktop."
Ivan Barias
(Musiq Soulchild, Faith Evans)
“The UAD-2 is the 21st century musician's best friend."

Sandy Vee
(Rihanna, Katy Perry)
"Coast to coast I can open my sessions whenever I'm away from my studio, the UAD-2 Satellite is a dream come true."

Kevin Becka
Mix Magazine
"Using a Satellite QUAD was nothing short of an epiphany with regard to what can be mixed natively on a laptop....This is an exponential bonus in power and flexibility."

Larry Crane
Tape Op Magazine
"I've been a very happy user of UAD plug-ins for a while now, and the UAD-2 Satellite is one small, powerful and useful device."

Rik Simpson
(Coldplay)
"I'm really blown away by the performance of the UAD-2 Satellite Quad. Mixing on the go has never been so enjoyable and productive."
Vikter Duplaix
(Musiq Soulchild, Jazzanova)
"The best part of the UAD-2 Satellite is being able to put that premium sizzle and warmth on laptop mixes anytime, anywhere."

Jono Buchanan
Future Music (UK)
"Not only will you be given access to plug-ins of exceptional quality, but none of the plug-ins you use will test your CPU in any way. It's a killer combo..."

Darrell Thorp
(Beck, Radiohead, Charlotte Gainsbourg)
" UAD-2 Powered plug-ins are always my first choice. Now with the UAD-2 SatelIite, I can have them all the time."

Ryan West
(Eminem, Kanye West, Kid Cudi)
"The UAD-2 Satellite QUAD gives me access to the same world-class plug-ins I've come to rely on, with way more power, and in a package that I can toss in my suitcase or backpack."

Bo Boddie
Sonicscoop.com
"...The dizzying array of analog emulations that Universal Audio has developed...all sound fantastic, and have made a noticeable difference in my ability to more easily pull off great sounding ITB mixes."
Bo Boddie
Sonicscoop.com
"A friend recently asked me if I thought the Satellite would be a good addition to his TDM Pro Tools system, as he had run out of PCI slots. After seeing how solidly the Firewire interface has worked I can say yes!"

Darrell Thorp
(Beck, Radiohead, Charlotte Gainsbourg)
"Knowing the abilities of the DSP and the incredible quality and tonality of the plug-ins, the UAD-2 has become such a first response tool in my everyday recording and mixing."

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."

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."

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'."
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?"

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!"

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

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!"

Greg Parkin
(Capitol Studios & Mastering)
“It is fitting that UA continues to provide a platform for our engineers to innovate."
Jono Buchanan
Future Music (UK)
"The accuracy & quality of [UA's] recent additions [shows] their recreations of classic hardware are only improving."

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."

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

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."

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

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."

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."

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."

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

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."

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

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"
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."

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."

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."

Gavin Monaghan
(The Twang)
"I'd never even think of tackling a session without UAD plug-ins."
Rik Simpson
(Coldplay)
"The sound of the UAD software is the closest thing in analog modeling ... it actually sounds like the real gear."

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"

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."

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."
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"

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."

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

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."

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

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."

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

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

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."
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."

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."

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"

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

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

Roy Davis Jr.

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

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.”

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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

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]."

Future Publishing
(MusicRadar.com)
"Offering several times the power of the UAD-1, this powered plug-in system is very impressive."
Andy Hong
(TapeOp)
"I'd have to say that the UAD plug-ins blow similar TDM plug-ins out of the water"

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."

David Riggs

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

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."

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"
Carmen Rizzo

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

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 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."

User Ratings

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Average Rating (60 Reviews)

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by C. Asker (Monday 30 July, 2012)
Thanks to the awesome UAD-1 trade-in deal, I can now use all my powerful UAD plug-ins on my new iMac with this incredibly solid device. Installation was a breeze, and it works fine and gives me access to even more top-of-the-line plug-ins! The Satellite unit also enables me to put more emphasis on … Read More
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by J. Downing (Thursday 12 July, 2012)
As a UAD-1 (two cards) owner with a G5 I was a little skeptical at first about updating to a Macbook Pro and UAD-2 Satellite Duo system with latency performance concerns over firewire. After getting the new system that fear is long gone, it performs beautifully. More than surpasses my old system. Wo … Read More
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by J. Spencer (Wednesday 15 June, 2011)
Well I am sure the plugins are great but you should write on the label in big letters; FOR MIXING AND MASTERING ONLY!! NO LIVE TRACKING! Tell me how one uses and Echo on guitar without intuiting the way it sounds... not something you want to add on as with a lot of the plugs. After crashing several … Read More
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by D. Mizuta (Thursday 7 June, 2012)
I think its to early to have a solid opinion about the product. But I can say the plugins sounds really good, specially Pultec Pro and Fatso Sr. I got a crash once or twice, just by opening some instances of Fatso. Which was quite weird, because it was a small project... actually i was only maki … Read More
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Best plugins I have
by L. Hughes (Wednesday 26 September, 2012)
I've never used most of the devices that UAD emulate, however I can honestly say that the plugins are the best I have. Still early days but this thing definitely has had a positive impact on my mixes. … Read More

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Artists

Paul Blakemore, Grammy-Winning Mastering Engineer

Paul Blakemore's experienced ear for solving mastering "puzzles" has earned him multiple Grammys. Read More

Ken Lewis Crafts Hits for Fun, Kanye West

Top acts call on Ken Lewis to turn their musical ideas into platinum hits. Read More

Nashville Producer Jay Joyce Brings the Rock Edge

Producer, engineer, and musician Jay Joyce has developed a thriving career in both the rock and country recording scenes. Read More
Damian Taylor Brings "The Weirdness"

The Grammy-nominated producer explains how he got Battle Born, The Killers' latest album, battle-ready with Universal Audio. Read More

Ryan Hewitt

In this UA Artist Tips & Tricks video, Ryan Hewitt demonstrates how he used UAD Powered Plug-In favorites on The Avett Brothers' latest album. Read More

Top Engineers Top "Desert Island" Plug-Ins

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Capturing '60s Soul with UAD Plug-Ins

Learn how Culture Club producer Steve Levine used UAD Powered Plug-ins to recreate the classic sound of 1960s soul. Read More

R&B Engineer Tremaine Williams

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Audio Legend Joe Chiccarelli

The Grammy-winning producer, mixer, and engineer is responsible for capturing some of modern times’ most beloved sounds. Read More
Joe Chiccarelli

See and hear Producer/Engineer Joe Chiccarelli demonstrate UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins on Young The Giant's, "My Body". Read More

Producer/Engineer Billy Bush Mixes Garbage

Bush uses UA tools extensively while sculpting the band’s edgy guitars, driving percussion grooves, and glistening electronics. Read More

Tony Maserati

Tony Maserati’s renowned chops has had him mixing everyone from Lady Gaga, Sting, and Mariah Carey, to The Notorious B.I.G. and Alicia Keys… Read More

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