UA Blog

Discover the benefits of a low-latency, high-quality digital audio network. In the high-stakes world of live sound engineering, front-of-house (FOH) mixing has become more important than ever. Gone are the days of clunky analog setups featuring huge — and expensive — XLR cable snakes with limited channel counts loomed up into analog consoles and racks of gear.  Major tours and concert venues, as well as large houses of worship like Mt. Bethel Church in Atlanta, Georgia rely on Dante® to streamline workflows, reduce stage clutter, and increase reliability.  Here, we’ll explore how Dante is transforming FOH mixing and why it’s become the go-to solution for live audio professionals worldwide. What is Dante and How Does it Work for FOH Mixing? Dante (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet) is an audio-over-IP networking protocol developed by Audinate. It allows the transmission of multiple channels of uncompressed, low-latency digital audio over a standard Ethernet network.  Dante-enabled devices, such as digital mixers, audio interfaces and realtime processors like Apollo x16D , speakers, and other audio equipment, can send and receive high-quality audio signals over a network, eliminating the need for traditional analog cables. Apollo x16D connects to your front-of-house or monitor console and let's you use UAD plug-ins in low-latency over Dante. With Dante, audio signals are transmitted via a standard Ethernet connection, and each device on the network communicates with others seam...

Learn how the UAD A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer plug-in gives you the classic sound used by Queen, The Cars, Fleetwood Mac, and more. For modern music producers, the name “A-Type” conjures images of analog recording studios and ancient equipment used for workhorse tasks like noise reduction and tape transfers to digital. But such associations don’t tell the whole story. The legacy of the Dolby A-Type noise reduction system* isn’t just about preservation — it is also a story of transformation. What began as a groundbreaking noise reduction circuit in the golden age of magnetic tape quietly shaped the sound of some of the most iconic records of all time as a creative effect. Now, reimagined as a modern tool for music producers and engineers working in DAWs, the A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer plug-in brings this forgotten “studio secret” back into the spotlight. We sat down with Universal Audio Product Designer Will Shanks to uncover what makes this mythical machine so special.   A pair of vintage noise reduction units with removable CAT-22 A-Type encoding/decoding cartridges. These iconic studio staples were originally used to reduce tape hiss and were later repurposed for their distinctive analog enhancement.   What intrigued you about the A-Type system? Like everyone else, I thought about it as a tool for noise reduction — namely magnetic tape hiss. I’d heard about engineers hacking A-Type systems for the “air trick” on vocals, but I never pieced it together until I noticed modern plug-in and hardware recreations. Then I became curious and started digging into classic records to hear exactly what A-Type was doin...

Learn how Apollo Monitor Correction improves your productions, no sound treatment required. Your listening environment is one of the most important elements to achieving the perfect mix. And while your space's acoustics are important for accurate playback, room treatment can be expensive and complicated, though still worthwhile. (More on that in a future blog.) So what can you do to ensure that your mixes translate? Room correction tools are a great place to start in understanding and optimizing the shortcomings of your studio space.  Universal Audio and Sonarworks teamed up to bring DSP-based room and headphone correction to Apollo X Gen 1 and Gen 2 interfaces. By combining the standalone Sonarworks SoundID Reference app, a measurement microphone and Apollo Monitor Correction running on your interface, you can fully calibrate your listening environment for the flattest frequency response and best mix translation.  Here are some of our favorite features of Apollo Monitor Correction to help level up your mixes. Custom-Tuned Profiles Using a specially designed measurement microphone, Apollo Monitor Correction creates a detailed profile of your listening environment. </s...

How the UA 610 console defined a sound and why Bill Putnam Jr. is rebuilding it. In this video, Universal Audio visits the legendary town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama — a hallowed place where musical giants like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and hundreds more cut timeless records. At the heart of those classic records was the Universal Audio 610 tube console. Whether it was at Fame Recording Studios or Muscle Shoals Sound, Bill Putnam Sr.'s groundbreaking modular console guaranteed these legendary sessions were captured with unmatched sonics. Watch Universal Audio CEO Bill Putnam Jr. embark on a journey of "audio archaeology," as he travels to Muscle Shoals — with a baker's dozen of vintage 610 channels previously owned by Neil Young — with the goal of rebuilding a UA 610 console and "make it a tool that will solve problems in a modern studio."   UA's Bill Putnam Jr. and Will Shanks discuss a vintage UA 610 console with Grammy-winning engineer Craig Alvin.   Along the way, Putnam Jr. digs into the history of the UA 610 in Fame's Studio B room with audio wizard Greg Pace of FunkWerkes, detailing its handmade EQ and tube preamp. Then, Putnam Jr. heads over to Noble Stead Studios in the heart of Muscle Shoals and talks to Grammy-winning engineer Craig Alvin, who was offered bongos at a garage sale — and went home with a ten-channel vintage 610 console instead! Both Pace and Alvin provide valuable insight into harnessing the magic of vintage 610 channels in a modern studio workflow. Finally, Putnam Jr., heads over to FunkWerkes where he and Pace discuss the vision for the rebuilt UA 610 and how it can seamlessly pair with Apollo interfaces and LUNA Digit...

Learn to dial in compressors like a pro. In this video, producer and engineer Drew Mazurek explains the Headroom (HR) screw — an often overlooked but incredibly useful feature found on many UAD plug-in compressors, like the  API 2500 Bus Compressor and Fairchild 670 Tube Limiter . This control helps you fine-tune the amount of compression, saturation, and coloration without needing to readjust other settings. Drew shows you exactly how it works, why it’s a time-saver, and gives you examples of how to use it effectively in your mixes.  

Producers reveal UAD plug-ins used to mix the world’s biggest vocalists. There are no rules when it comes to building a plug-in chain for lead vocals. But using certain combinations of effects can get you pro sound quickly. We enlisted award-winning producers to share the vocal chains used by some of the world’s biggest artists.  Looking for the best vocal chain for any style? Scroll down where we reveal the two best UAD plug-ins to buy when building your first vocal chain.   Adding UAD plug-ins to your vocal recordings gives you the same sounds used by top artists and producers.   What is a plug-in chain? A plug‑in chain is any combination of software effects added to a track in your DAW to achieve new sounds. In a recording studio, producers typically add multiple plug-ins and analog processors to tracks, depending on the genre and desired sound. For example: adding a preamp, compressor, and EQ is a classic combination for lead vocals.   Are UAD plug-ins worth it? UAD plug‑ins are authentic emulations of the same gear used on the greatest albums ever made. Just like the pros, you can add these effects to your vocals to get recordings that sound more professional.   Best UAD plug-ins for vocals. If you're building out your first setup, consider starting with legendary compressors like the  1176 Classic Limiter and Te...

Learn how to perfect your setup no matter the size with UA’s James Santiago. In this video, learn how to assemble the perfect pedalboard for your next gig or recording session. Join UA’s own guitar guru James Santiago along with Josh Fiden and John Clark from Voodoo Lab as they take you through two epic ampless rigs. Plus, they'll illuminate the often misunderstood guidelines of pedal order, gain staging, and powering your rig.  For their first setup, Santiago assembles an incredibly versatile guitar behemoth. At the heart of this setup lies two separate amp-in-a-box style pedals, the UAFX Enigmatic '82 Overdrive Special and Ruby '63 Top Boost amplifiers. These pedals supply both American and British voiced edge-of-breakup tones, laying a perfect foundation for the slew of overdrive and fuzz pedals that come before them in the chain. For studio-style space and ambience, Santiago follows up the amp emulators with a versatile array of reverb, delay, and modulation options. If keeping things simple is more your style, the second board may be for you. Still featuring two UAFX amp style pedals, this setup also contains a single overdrive pedal as well as a post-amp reverb. This time opting for a more classic model for the American-voiced platform, Santiago swaps the Enigmatic for the Dream '65 Reverb Amplifier . Perfect for gigging, this simple four pedal setup still offers plenty of sounds in a compact package.     00:00 - Introduction Meet UA’s James Santiago along wi...

Learn to add depth, space, and movement to your tracks. In this UAD Spotlight tutorial, Drew Mazurek unveils his favorite time-based effects for vocals — including delays, widening tools, modulation, and reverb. Whether you're chasing classic tape slap from the Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder , subtle pitch-shifting with the AMS DMX Digital Delay &amp; Pitch Shifter , or the vintage room sounds of  Capitol Chambers , this is your step-by-step guide for getting vocals to melt into any mix.  Watch part one of our Vocal Mixing series › Step 1: Start with a Slap Delay A go-to effect for adding space and width without washing out the vocal, a slap delay is often the first step in Drew’s time-based chain. He uses two main tools here: Ampex ATR-102: Set to 7.5 IPS with the HF repro EQ dialed down, this creates a dark, wide stereo slap with subtle movement. Cooper Time Cube MkII: For a brighter slap, Drew engages the high-pass filter to keep the vocal crisp and present. “These are great for adding width and energy, even when you want the vocal to still feel dry and upfront.”   Step 2: Widen with Subtle Modulation Widening effects can make a vocal feel bigger without crowding the mix. AMS DMX Digital Delay &amp; Pitch Shifter: With wet solo enabled, this plug-in delivers lush stereo widening without noticeable delay tails. EP-34 Tape Echo + AMS DMX: Because the EP-34 is mono, Drew pairs it with the AMS DMX or the Prec...