UA Blog

Discover your new secret weapon plug-in for vocals, drums, and more. Join Universal Audio’s Drew Mazurek as he takes you through the ins and outs of UAD A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer , a faithful emulation of an era-defining piece of hardware. Complete with five modes, explore the time-tested tricks of the original as well as modifications that unlock the full potential of this iconic processor.  Beginning its life as a simple noise reduction device, the sonic signature of this unit can be heard on everything from Queen to Stevie Wonder.   00:56 User interface walkthrough Understand A-Type’s push buttons, meter, and other controls. 02:48 What is A-Type, and getting started fast with the default preset and basic operating buttons Know the difference between A-Type and other classic processors. 03:41 Excite Mode Add amazing clarity and sparkle to any source. 05:27</...

Learn how J. Todd Wines delivers studio sound in arenas over Dante. For over seven years, J. Todd Wines has been sculpting country superstar Miranda Lambert's live sound as her front-of-house engineer. It's a role that's "been a dream come true on many levels," he says."Her music along with the musicianship, arrangements, and personalities in the touring camp make mixing her shows an honor and delight." Wines' dedication to his craft stems from two-plus decades behind the console, honing his skills across diverse genres before landing with Lambert. Having explored various solutions in the search for studio-grade sound on the road, Wines found his answer in Apollo x16D interfaces and UAD plug-ins, all running over a Dante audio network. Apollo x16D: Uncompromised Live Sound "I was a long-time UA Live Rack user," says Wines. "But after it was discontinued, I tried a few other solutions — they were cumbersome and unreliable." So when Apollo x16D was announced, Wines was eager to try it. “I ordered two units within the first week and haven’t looked back. They’ve earned their keep and are sticking around.”   Todd Wines' Apollo x16D units deliver studio-grade processing and reliability on the road for Miranda Lambert's tours. At first, Wines was cautious about switching up his workflow mid-tour. “I was fairly satisfied with the mix I was delivering for Miranda’s shows,” he says. “But during a rehearsal I st...

Explore our free DAW update with Voice Control, Instrument Detection, and Smart Tempo tools. With new AI-powered tools that streamline your workflow and keep you in the zone, LUNA is more than a DAW — it’s your personal studio assistant. From tracking a band to building beats or jamming in your home studio, LUNA’s newest features make recording easier, so you can sound like the records you love. Try LUNA v1.9 Free   Record Hands-Free Whether you’re behind the mic or drum kit across the room, Voice Control * helps you stay in the creative zone without going back and forth between your instrument and computer keyboard. Just say “Hey LUNA…” and a command like “start recording” or “stop.”  It’s like having a studio assistant at the controls, so you can capture inspiring takes without breaking your focus.   Keep Your Session Organized Instrument Detection helps organize your session automatically, for one less thing to think about while tracking — and a huge help when it’s time to clean up, comp, or mix. Here’s how it works: <sp...

Learn how to dial in iconic ODS tones with three legendary guitarists. From robust clean tones to smooth overdrive sounds, Dumble Overdrive Special amps are legendary.* The key to their iconic status however, is the fact that each amp built by the elusive Howard Dumble was fine tuned to perfectly match its owner.  In this star-studded tone summit, guitarists Tim Pierce ( Jason Mraz, Kelly Clarkson ), David Ryan Harris ( John Mayer, Dave Matthews ) and  J oey Landreth ( The Bros. Landreth, Luke Combs ) join UA's James Santiago to show you how to get stunning tailor-made ODS sounds with the UAFX Enigmatic '82 Overdrive Special Amp pedal.   Part 1: Tim Pierce ( 0:40 ) Armed with a Gibson ES-335, Pierce requires a touch-sensitive breakup for his vocal style of guitar playing. From clean to distorted, all with the change of picking intensity, watch as Santiago harnesses a combination of power tube and preamp grit to find the perfect sweet spot for a huge, open overdrive sound that cleans up easily with a lighter pick attack.   Part 2: David Ryan Harris ( 27:48 ) Opting for a slightly cleaner setup to better handle pedals, Harris’s ODS setup features lower master gain as well as no input boost. Completed with the Rock EQ and Sk...

Volt is the perfect companion for mobile recording, content creation and beyond. If you already own a Universal Audio Apollo interface, you know the power of pristine conversion, realtime UAD plug-in processing, and seamless integration with LUNA and other DAWs. You’ve experienced studio-grade sonics in a compact, professional unit that’s at the center of your workflow. Here’s a curveball: what if we told you there’s still a place in your setup for a Universal Audio Volt ? It might sound redundant, but the Volt line isn’t here to compete with Apollo — it’s here to complement it. Whether you’re traveling, working remotely, building out a mobile rig, or simply looking to expand your creative setup with minimal effort and cost, Volt brings undeniable utility to even the most advanced studio workflows. In this article, we’ll explore why thousands of professionals and hobbyists alike are pairing Volt interfaces with their Apollos, and why you might want to as well.   What Is Volt? Volt is Universal Audio’s line of USB-C audio interfaces designed for creators, producers, and musicians who demand UA sound quality without the higher investment of an Apollo. Available in multiple configurations (from the portable Volt 1 to the studio-ready Volt 476P ), each unit combines class-leading audio specs, intuitive design, and signature analog character in a rugged, desktop-friendly form.</...

Explore the best strategies for your "amp-less" onstage guitar rig. For many guitarists, the days of lugging around heavy tube amps is over. Amp emulators have gotten to the point where they sound indistinguishable from the real thing. Want proof? Amp emulators are on the stages of some of the biggest acts in the world, from U2 to Metallica, Polyphia to Iron Maiden to name just a few.  Advantages of an amp-less rig are less size and weight, consistent sound, and controllable stage volume. UAFX amp emulators are revered for their spot-on tones of classic tube amps from the '50s to the '90s, and although they excel at no-fuss, album-ready studio tones, they do just as well onstage. Here we'll show you how to take your UAFX amp emulator to your next gig and beyond. Direct to the PA You can run your UAFX amp emulator's outputs straight to a mixer or an onstage snake. For longer cable runs, a direct box is highly recommended. It will ensure a strong signal with long unbalanced cable runs, eliminate ground loop hum, and best of all, make the FOH engineer very happy.  A direct box or DI — especially if your main rig is an amp emulator — is good to keep in your gig bag, just in case. If you're running stereo out of your UAFX amp emulator, make sure you have a stereo DI. Running your UAFX amp emulator straight to the PA is certainly the easiest way to go, but remember, you're at the mercy of the sound engineer to hear yourself in the monitor mix. Which leads us to our next section… Monitor with a FRFR Standing for "full range, flat response," a powered FRFR monitor gives you control of your stage volume in much the same way a traditional guit...

Craft bold sounds with a vintage‑inspired VST synth for the ages.  In this Getting Started video, Matt Petersen gives you a walkthrough of UAD Anthem Analog Synthesizer – a powerful virtual instrument plug-in that's designed for bold, analog-style sound design.  From raw, gritty basses to evolving sequences and lo‑fi textures, Anthem gives you fast workflows and massive tone straight out of the box. Learn what makes this plug-in so special, and how to get the most out of it in your productions.      Step 1: Start with Big Oscillators At the core of this VST synth plug‑in are two analog‑modeled oscillators, great for dialing in classic waveforms with a modern twist. Try this: Start with the default saw wave for immediate impact Adjust the Oscillator Shape knob to sweep through triangle, saw, square, and pulse waves  Use the outer ring to add movement from the filter envelope or LFO   Step 2: Shape Your Tone with Anthem’s Filter Anthem's analog-modeled low‑pass filter delivers squelch, warmth, and personality. Try this:  Use MIDI Learn to map cutoff and resonance controls to your hardware for real‑time sweeps Use the Drive control to add harmonics and analog grit while smoothing harsh highs Use Growl to introduce grunge and heavy analog tones   “Drive, Growl, and Resonance are deeply interactive. It's best to experiment to find unexpected textures.”   Step 3: Add Movement with Modulation Anthem makes modulation easy — perfect for evolving pads or vintage PWM effects. <stron...

Learn how Grammy-winning producer Jacquire King recreates the essence of OG Hip-Hop drum tones. In this Modeling Microphone Masterclass, Jacquire King brings the grimy vibe of drum-machine driven hip-hop to the acoustic realm with the help of session musician Logan Todd. Emulating the crisp and clear samples of early genre-defining albums, King employs an out of the box approach to create those iconic electronic percussion sounds with the feel and energy of a real drummer.   Eclectic Acoustic Drum Kit As is the case with anything you put a microphone in front of, a great recording starts with the right source. With sounds in the room as close to the final product as possible, less processing is needed in the mix stage. Aiming to recreate synth-esque drum tones with a real pair of sticks, Todd employs a diverse mix of percussion instruments and dampening techniques to create a quirky genre-specific kit. Beginning at the center of the setup, he opts for a suitcase paired with a traditional kick-drum pedal to recreate the enhanced low end thump needed for the genre. Flanked by a pair of Congas and a Pandiero drum, Todd muffles with a combination of tape and towels to recreate the pitched percussion and bass sounds of the infamous Roland TR-808. The most traditional part of the kit is a shallow snare drum, tuned high and lightly muffled to create plenty of snap and a cutting tone.   <b id="docs-internal...