Universal Audio UAD Plug-Ins

UAD plug-ins are Universal Audio's emulations of the hardware that built modern recording — the 1176 and LA-2A compressors, Pultec and Neve EQs, Studer and Ampex tape machines, Lexicon and EMT reverbs, and the rooms at Capitol, Ocean Way and Sound City. They have a reputation for accuracy because UA licences the original circuits and models them end to end rather than approximating the result.

We sell the software. Individual plug-ins, bundles, upgrades and crossgrades, all delivered as a serial number and download — nothing is shipped. We do not stock Apollo interfaces, UAD-2 Satellites or any other Universal Audio hardware. If you already own an Apollo, everything here works with it; if you do not, read the next section, because it is probably the answer you came for.

Do UAD plug-ins need an Apollo interface?

Not any more. This is the single most common misconception about UAD, and it dates from a time when it was true.

Universal Audio now publishes most of its plug-ins in two formats:

• UAD Native — runs on your computer's CPU. No Apollo, no UAD-2 Satellite, no PCIe card. Install it and it appears in your DAW like any other plug-in.
• UAD DSP — runs on Universal Audio's own DSP chips and does require UAD-2 hardware such as an Apollo interface.

Two things worth knowing. First, UA states plainly that the two formats sound identical — the difference is where the processing happens, which affects monitoring latency and CPU load, not the audio. Second, where a plug-in exists in both formats, one purchase licenses both versions. You are not choosing a format at checkout, and you are not locked out of DSP later if you add an Apollo down the track.

The practical upshot: if you are on a Mac or PC with no UA hardware, the UAD Native bundles on this page will run on your machine today. Our UAD Native line — Native Classics, Native Producer, Native Studio and Native Pro — is built specifically for that case.

One exception to flag honestly. UAD Complete is UA's everything bundle and includes partner-developed titles from Antares, Tube-Tech, Shadow Hills, Softube, Brainworx and Sonnox. UA positions Complete around Apollo and UAD systems, and not every partner title has a native version. If you have no UA hardware, check the individual listing before buying Complete, or ask us and we will confirm.

Which UAD bundle should you buy?

The range is confusing by design — there are a lot of overlapping bundles. In practice it comes down to how much of the library you want and whether you own UA hardware.

• Starting out, no UA hardware. UAD Native Classics is the entry point: twelve of the most-used processors in recording — the 1176 collection, LA-2A collection, LA-3A, Fairchild and the Pultec EQs. If you only ever own one UA purchase, this is the one that earns its keep.
• Building a full native toolkit. UAD Native Producer, then Native Studio, then Native Pro — each widens the same library. Native Pro is the complete native set at 60+ titles, including the instruments, amps, tape machines and studio room emulations.
• You want breadth at the best rate. Signature Edition V3 is 60+ titles running natively on Mac or PC in any compatible DAW. Ultimate 14 takes it to 120+ and is close to every UA-developed plug-in there is.
• You already run Apollo and want everything. Complete 4 — 200+ titles including the partner-developed catalogue.
• You want specific plug-ins, not a bundle. The Custom Bundles let you pick 2, 3, 6 or 10 titles of your choosing at a bundle rate. Often better value than buying three individually.
• You already own UAD plug-ins. Check the crossgrade and upgrade listings before buying a bundle outright — they exist to credit what you already have.

Individual titles start around $44 for a single effect. Bundles run from about $120 for Native Classics to the full Complete library. If you tell us what you already own and what you are trying to do, we will tell you which route costs least — that is usually a crossgrade, not a new bundle.

What UAD plug-ins are good at

• Vocals — the 1176 and LA-2A collections, the Manley VOXBOX and Avalon VT-737 channel strips, and Topline Vocal Suite for modern pitch and tuning work.
• Drums and bus compression — API 2500, SSL 4000 G bus compressor, Empirical Labs Distressor, dbx 160.
• Character and glue — Studer A800 and Ampex ATR-102 tape, Oxide, Verve Analog Machines, and the A-Type multiband enhancer.
• Reverb and space — EMT 140 plate, EMT 250, Lexicon 224, Pure Plate, and the room emulations of Capitol Chambers, Hitsville Chambers, Sound City and Ocean Way Studios Deluxe.
• EQ — the Pultec collection, Manley Massive Passive, Neve 1073, Helios Type 69, API 550A and 560.
• Guitar and amps — Dream '65, Lion '68, Ruby '63, Woodrow '55, Showtime '64 and the Paradise Guitar Studio.
• Instruments — Moog Minimoog, Anthem, PolyMAX, Opal, Ravel grand piano, Waterfall B3 organ and Electra 88.

Buying UAD plug-ins in Australia

Everything on this page is priced in Australian dollars with GST included, so there is no exchange-rate surprise and no import duty at the door. Licences are delivered by email as a serial number and download link after your order is processed.

UAD plug-ins run on macOS (Big Sur 11 through Tahoe 26, Intel or Apple silicon) and Windows 10 and 11 64-bit, in VST-3, AU and AAX on Mac and VST-3 and AAX on Windows. That covers Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One, FL Studio, Reaper, Bitwig and LUNA.

Browse the full range below, or see our other software and plug-ins.