UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3
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Get the rich analog sound of UAD plug-ins over Thunderbolt.
The UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt is a powerhouse DSP accelerator that gives Mac and Windows 10 users complete access to the world’s most detailed and authentic analog emulation plug-ins, available exclusively on the UAD platform.
Bolstered by next-generation connectivity, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 lets you run large professional mixes with the rich analog character of award-winning UA-developed plug-ins, including exclusive titles from Neve, Fender, Lexicon, Studer, and many more. Plus, it’s backward-compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 UA devices.Run UAD Powered Plug-Ins on compatible Thunderbolt Mac or Windows 10 systems
Get a massive DSP boost for powering large professional mixes
Access over 100 plug-ins from Ampex,® Lexicon,® Helios,® Studer,® Neve,® Manley,® Capitol Studios,® API, and more
Start mixing right away with the included Analog Classics Plus plug‑in bundle
Get the sound of a professional analog studio “on the road,” courtesy of UAD plug‑ins
Combine with other UAD-2 devices, including UAD-2 PCIe card(s) and Thunderbolt-equipped Satellites and UA Audio Interfaces
UAD: 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 15 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 UAD library features over 100 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 packages, or you can buy UAD plug-ins à la carte from UA’s Online Store.
Learn More About UAD Plug-Ins ›
Powerful, Expandable Processing
UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 is available in QUAD or OCTO models with either four or eight SHARC processors, respectively. It can also be integrated alongside UAD-2 PCIe DSP Accelerator cards and Thunderbolt-equipped UA Audio Interfaces, including Arrow, Apollo Twin, and Apollo X interfaces for truly scalable mixing power.
UAD Plug-In Craftsmanship: The Science Behind the Scenes
In developing UAD plug-ins, UA’s acclaimed engineers undertake intensive physical modeling of classic audio hardware — “rebuilding” vintage analog gear in the digital world, component by component. UAD plug-ins replicate the exact, sometimes quirky behavior of the most prized analog hardware in existence, bringing you rich, three-dimensional sound and harmonics "in the box.”
What Makes UAD Plug-Ins Different? ›
“UAD plug-ins are amazing...
I’ve used them on all my projects
for the last few years.”
– Dan Auerbach The Black Keys
“UAD-2 is the first plug-in set that replaces hardware I own – that's a big deal.”
– Vance Powell (The Raconteurs, Jars of Clay)
“The sonic quality of UAD plug-ins is unrivaled
— I use them in every mix.”
– Jaycen Joshua (Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Jay Z)
“UAD plug-ins are always my first choice. Now with the UAD-2 SatelIite, I can have them all the time.”
– Darrell Thorp (Beck, Radiohead, Charlotte Gainsbourg)
“My UAD-2 Satellite is quickly becoming a classic piece of outboard gear. I'm using it on every mix.”
– Joe Chiccarelli (Jason Mraz, Beck, The Strokes, Morrissey)
“UA gear really helps bring the tradition of classic recording to the modern workflow.”
– Fab Dupont (Shakira, Santigold, Jennifer Lopez)
“UAD is my new secret weapon in the studio. I get everything to sound the way I always wanted, way before the mixing. ”
– Ivan Barias (Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Estelle)
“The UAD-2 Satellite gives me access to the 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.”
– Ryan West (Eminem, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z)Customer Reviews
J. Vierra
September 7, 2023
No longer flying in coach. I'm in first class with the legroom I need.
As my mixing sessions got larger and I needed more DSP to deal with some of the DSP hungry plugins, the UAD-2 satellite is just what I needed to get the job done. I no longer worry about...
Read Morem. sedie
August 30, 2023
UAD Satellite
So nice having some fire power to fall back on knowing my ship will sail smoothly and never enter the troubled waters of computer speed issues. Well done UA!
Read MoreP. Vincent
August 7, 2023
Essential to run UA Apollo/Unison plugins
I ran out of DSP power on my Apollo Twin Dual Thunderbolt when I loaded Capitol Chambers, so I bought a UAD-2 Satellite TB3 and now have 8 processors to share the load for other plugins or...
Read MoreM. Vinten
August 7, 2023
Love it !
Gives me so much more "headroom" in the plugin area., and it's so easy to get up and running. I just loved it from day one.
Read More -
Analog Classics Plus Bundle
With the Analog Classics Plus plug-in bundle, you’re ready to start mixing with legendary tube gear like the Fairchild® 670 and the Pultec® EQP-1A EQ. You also get a dedicated suite of powerful mixing plug-ins and UA’s landmark 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ plug-in.
- UA 610‐B
- Fairchild 670 Legacy
- Teletronix LA‐2A Legacy
- UA 1176LN Legacy
- UA 1176SE Legacy
- Pultec EQP‐1A Legacy
- Pultec Pro Legacy
- Precision Channel Strip
- Precision Reflection Engine
- Precision Delay Modulation
- Precision Delay Modulation L
- UA Precision Enhancer Hz
- RealVerb‐Pro
UA 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ
Impart your tracks with the iconic warmth and character of the classic hardware used to track everyone from Duke Ellington to Coldplay. By emulating the entire signal path, including tube amplifiers, transformers, and circuit nonlinearities, the 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ plug-in injects organic detail and saturation to any signal.
Fairchild® 670 (Legacy)
The world’s most coveted compressor, the classic Fairchild 670 tube limiter will give your tracks and mixes unmistakable tube warmth and character. Whether you’re looking for subtle compression on a lead vocal, or grittier textures that can work on guitars, bass, or a drum bus, the Fairchild 670 plug-in adds a classic “glow” to anything you run through it.
Teletronix® LA-2A Classic Leveling Amplifier (Legacy)
With its gentle, program dependent optical compression and meticulously designed tube amplifier, the LA-2A is the go-to compressor for professional mixers around the world — especially for vocals. Incredibly easy-to-use Peak Reduction and Gain controls gives you the ideal optical compression sound for guitar, bass, drums, and more.
1176SE/LN® Classic Limiting Amplifiers (Legacy)
Get classic, ultra-fast FET compression from the world’s most recognized compressor. The 1176 will impart punch, presence, and character as well as its signature distortion overtones on drums, vocals, guitars, and bass. The 1176LN has graced countless recordings, from Led Zeppelin, to the White Stripes and Michael Jackson.
Pultec® Pro Equalizers (Legacy)
Mix with two of the most sought-after hardware EQs ever made — the MEQ-5 Midrange Equalizer and the EQP-1A Program Equalizer. Both of these tube-based icons deliver offer smooth and silky EQ curves with an abundance of warm analog character.
Precision Mix Rack Collection
Featuring the Precision Channel Strip, Precision Reflection Engine, and Precision Delay Modulation plug-ins, the Precision Mix Rack Collection offers four modern, high-fidelity plug-ins for recording and mixing. Powerful and intuitive, Precision Mix Rack Collection gives you an impressive tool set — perfect for beginners and seasoned professionals alike.
UA Precision Enhancer Hz
Expertly dial-in your music’s low-end frequencies with the Precision Enhancer Hz plug-in. Able to yield exacting results with minimal adjustment, the Precision Enhancer Hz can add weight to kick drum samples, fatten up a synth bass, or simply make the low-end of your tracks more audible on smaller speakers.
RealVerb Pro
RealVerb Pro is a flexible, natural sounding reverb based on UA’s own unique set of algorithms. Allowing you to design the room just as you hear it, the RealVerb Pro goes beyond simply big/small or dark/bright, giving your sources distortion-free, smoothing diffusion control and ultra-long reverb tail.
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Key Features
Run UAD Powered Plug-Ins via Thunderbolt 3 on modern Mac and Windows 10 systems (backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2 devices)
4 (QUAD) or 8 (OCTO) SHARC processors provide a massive DSP boost for running large professional mixes
Access over 100 plug-ins from Ampex, Lexicon, Studer, Neve, Manley, SSL, EMT, Helios, and more
Includes Analog Classics Plus bundle featuring Legacy editions of LA-2A Classic Audio Leveler, 1176 Classic Limiting Amplifiers, Pultec EQP-1A, Pultec Pro, and Fairchild 670 plug-ins, plus 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ, and more
Compatible with Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Cubase, Live, and more
Combine with other Thunderbolt-equipped UAD-2 devices including PCIe card(s), UA Audio Interfaces, and additional Satellites
Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy-chaining of Thunderbolt peripherals
Also available with Custom software packages featuring user-selectable plug-ins
To see full system requirements, click here.
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Customer Reviews
UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3
E. Azari
EliAzariofficial
I produce UAD
J. Vierra
No longer flying in coach. I'm in first class with the legroom I need.
As my mixing sessions got larger and I needed more DSP to deal with some of the DSP hungry plugins, the UAD-2 satellite is just what I needed to get the job done. I no longer worry about using the plug-ins on busses as the only solution. I can pretty much use plugins as needed. I am very happy with this device.
m. sedie
UAD Satellite
So nice having some fire power to fall back on knowing my ship will sail smoothly and never enter the troubled waters of computer speed issues. Well done UA!
P. Vincent
Essential to run UA Apollo/Unison plugins
I ran out of DSP power on my Apollo Twin Dual Thunderbolt when I loaded Capitol Chambers, so I bought a UAD-2 Satellite TB3 and now have 8 processors to share the load for other plugins or instances I need to have in my sessions. A must have.
M. Vinten
Love it !
Gives me so much more "headroom" in the plugin area.,
and it's so easy to get up and running.
I just loved it from day one.R. Studio
Works great!
Does the job if you need to use more plugins.
B. Bartley
Must Have Item!
The UAD-2 OCTO Satellite is a must have item while using plugins when recording in LUNA. We use two OCTO satellites linked together for superior DSP management.
A. Lee
Couldn't live without it
More plugins available without taxing the computer - amazing
D. Ho
Perfect for touring!
I work in the world music genre, which often requires recording in different countries. With the Satellite Octo, I can actually mix and master an album without compromise, with a system that fits in my backpack (laptop, Twin, Satellite)!
D. Ho
Perfect for touring!
I work in the world music genre, which often requires recording in different countries. With the Satellite Octo, I can actually mix and master an album without compromise, with a system that fits in my backpack (laptop, Twin, Satellite)!
J. Norato
Amazing plugin external processor!
I love my new UAD-2 Satellite ! It helps the interface to run the plugins and is perfect to save RAM on laptops. Really would like that one day could use the DSP in te console to increase the cores when recording! . Without a doubt, with Satellite, mixing music is easy and powerful.
:)K. Neill
Really opens things up!
I actually have the thunderbolt 2 octo version but other than the connectivity I don’t knew how much difference there is. I use it in conjunction with my Apollo Twin X and I’m recording almost exclusively in Luna now. Sessions that used to run 80-90% of my dsp on the twin alone are now using 8-9% with the satellite. It’s a game changer. Some of the hungrier plugs are ones that are used on the input when recording. I used to have to disable a bunch of plugs I had on monitoring tracks if I wanted to record a new track. Now I can just load up a new track with what ever I need. A huge boost to my workflow… what else is there to say? 10/10!
A. Mancino
Top
Top
R. Rockenschaub
Mit UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt - ERROR -38
Ich hab mir 2 UAD Octo gekauft um für mein Apollo X16 mehr DSP-Power zu bekommen. Mit den Satelliten (einer oder zwei) wurde das System total instabil. Das Arbeiten mit der stetigen Fehlermeldung Code-38 (Kommunikationsproblem zw. Computer und Uad) ist unmöglich. Ich habe Stunden verbracht um den Fehler zu finden. Mit Support, Computertechniker , weil ich es nicht glauben konnte. FAZIT: Die Geräte funktionieren nicht.
C. Cameau
Sound engineer
Still the best
W. Knittel
Tolles Gerät! Super Sound :-)
Die „ZauberBox“ ist absolut zuverlässig und nimmt dem iMac eine menge Arbeit ab!
U. Millan
Octo errors galore
Bought the unit, after thousands of dollars invested on UAD hardware and licenses l cannot use the unit because of the infamous -38 error.
Reached out to UA to no avail, and l am not alone on this ....K. Woods
Think… The Sound Of The Room
UAD Accelerator
Part of any recording is the planning and implementation of the recording format and capabilities. Whatever limitations you are working with will affect the overall outcome.
I started recording in high school in the early 80s using two cassette recorders. First pass all the music was recorded live to the stereo cassette. Then we set up to overdub all the vocals live as we bounced from one to other. When you have little to work with you get inventive and resourceful.
As time went on I moved on to a four track real to real, then to an eight track real to real, and then added a sixteen track real to real with sync lock. By the late 90s I was mastering professionally with a Tube Tec Multiband compressor, TC electronics and much more with a digital/analog hybrid setup. Early 2000s sold everything.
In 2022 I got back into music production because my son started making music. My setup now has a great analog front end to capture vocals including a pair of Universal Audio tube preamps. Once things are in the box I mix and master all in one pass with my setup. There are many advantages to mixing and mastering all at once, but in order to do it successfully you need processing power. My setup consists of a 28 core system. 12 on the host computer and 8 and 8 on my two UAD accelerators.
Every computer setup will have its limitations. Yours will be different from mine so I will just share what I see. Although I see I can have as many tracks as I could ever dream of now on a DAW, the limitations are in the implementation of plug-in processing.
As I got back into this I noticed that I was once again making compromises because of processing power. If you want to use a really good modeled reverb it is going to use a good percentage of computer processing power. I found that I couldn’t use my best reverb at all because of all the processing power it’s sucked from the computer.
The solution was the UAD Accelerators. Now I can run the most advanced reverb models ever made. I have mixed tracks using the Ocean Way studio plugin, the Capitol Records underground chambers and a recent dance track with the Hitsville attic chambers. These models give your mixes the life they need. Remember people traveled from all over to record and mix their records at these locations specifically for their unique room sound. Now you can have that same space and sound in your setup! These plugins alone have completely improved the sound quality of my mixes. To me this is the number one reason to add an accelerator to your existing system, the reverb models.
Reason number two is just the quality of all the plugins. I like watching these plugin review videos on YouTube and the guy who does the “Snake Oil” videos just does native plugin reviews and it’s fun to get his views and feedback. Many of these reviewers not just him, are very helpful. So one time he got the chance to review UAD plugins with an accelerator and his mouth dropped and he was speechless! He said he was hearing the best plug-ins he had ever heard! And he is right! There is a reason these plugins need more horsepower. They are better period.
If you are on the fence about taking the UAD accelerator plunge, think reverb, think about transforming your studio with big studio room models. Or like me with my experience, think mix and master all in one pass.
If you want the big boy “sound” you will need to get the gear the big boys use, Universal Audio.L. Chandler
I had to buy this to replace a UAD-2 Satellite TB Octo that failed
Support request unsolved since opening March 23, 2023. "Customer Service," and I use the term loosely, has not responded since March 30, 2023
P. Singh
Smooth Sailing
Once I finally bought the satellite is when the light bulb went on....... (power switch).... now my mixes contain everything I need to get it done without DSP resources popping up left and right. At first I was hesitant but glad I upgraded my dsp chip count with a new box. Went from "WHAT.....THE.....f"or that time to now sayin YEEEEEAH after I got it. Hypersonic Speed Super Power with Laser like Precision. Now my music is like honey mixed with sugar, SWEEEEET!
