UNIVERSAL AUDIO UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 OCTO Custom, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 QUAD Core, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 OCTO Core, UAD-2 Satellite USB OCTO Custom, UAD-2 Satellite USB QUAD Core UAD System Manual.pdf

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UAD System Manual

Software Version 9

Manual Version 200710

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Table of Contents

Tip: Click any section or

page number to jump directly to that page.

Introduction ......................................................................................... 6

The Authentic Sound of Analog ........................................................................... 6

Features ........................................................................................................... 7

UAD Documentation Overview ............................................................................. 8

Additional Resources & Technical Support ........................................................... 9

UAD Installation ................................................................................. 10

System Requirements ...................................................................................... 11

Installation on Windows Systems (FireWire and/or PCIe) ...................................... 13

Installation on Windows Systems (Thunderbolt and/or USB) ................................. 14

Installation on Mac Systems ............................................................................. 15

Installed Software Locations ............................................................................. 16

UAD-2 PCIe Card Installation ............................................................................ 17

Online Authorization ........................................................................................ 18

Ofﬂine Authorization ........................................................................................ 18

Verifying Installation ........................................................................................ 20

Software Removal ............................................................................................ 21

UAD System Overview ......................................................................... 22

The UAD Environment ...................................................................................... 22

The UAD Hardware .......................................................................................... 23

The UAD Software ........................................................................................... 26

The DAW Environment ..................................................................................... 28

UA Account & Store ............................................................................ 31

Account Overview ............................................................................................ 31

Store Overview ................................................................................................. 32

UAD Authorization Overview .............................................................................. 33

Demo Mode ..................................................................................................... 34

Buying UAD Plug-Ins ....................................................................................... 35

UAD System Manual 2 Table Of Contents

UAD Meter & Control Panel ................................................................. 37

Launching the Application ................................................................................ 37

UAD Meter Window .......................................................................................... 38

Meter Menu .................................................................................................... 40

UAD Control Panels ......................................................................................... 42

System Information Panel ................................................................................. 43

Plug-Ins Panel ................................................................................................. 46

Conﬁguration Panel .......................................................................................... 48

FireWire Panel ................................................................................................. 53

Help Panel ...................................................................................................... 58

Using UAD Plug-Ins ............................................................................ 59

Launching a UAD Plug-In ................................................................................. 59

The UAD Plug-In Interface ................................................................................ 60

UAD Toolbar .................................................................................................... 61

LiveTrack Mode ............................................................................................... 64

Adjusting Parameters ....................................................................................... 65

Shortcuts ........................................................................................................ 66

DSP Loading Information .................................................................................. 67

Automation ..................................................................................................... 68

External MIDI Control ....................................................................................... 68

Mono (m) UAD plug-ins .................................................................................... 68

Tempo Sync ....................................................................................... 69

Tempo Sync Plug-Ins ....................................................................................... 69

Sync Activation ............................................................................................... 70

Available Note Values ....................................................................................... 70

Entering Values ............................................................................................... 71

Precision Delay Modes with Tempo Sync ............................................................ 72

Galaxy Tape Echo & Roland RE-201 Sync .......................................................... 72

UAD System Manual 3 Table Of Contents

Latency & Delay Compensation ............................................................ 73

UAD Plug-Ins with Additional Latency................................................................ 74

Live Processing (without Apollo) ........................................................................ 75

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt ................................................................ 76

Hardware Setup ............................................................................................... 78

Hardware Connections ...................................................................................... 79

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt Operation .............................................................. 81

UAD-2 Satellite USB .......................................................................... 84

Hardware Setup ............................................................................................... 86

Windows Setup ................................................................................................ 88

UAD-2 Satellite USB Operation ......................................................................... 91

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire ..................................................................... 92

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Installation ................................................................. 94

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Operation ................................................................... 97

FireWire Bandwidth.......................................................................................... 99

Important UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Notes ........................................................ 100

FireWire Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP .................................................................... 102

FireWire Bus Power ........................................................................................ 102

FireWire Basics .............................................................................................. 103

Bus Powering Example ................................................................................... 107

UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop ......................................................................... 109

UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Features ......................................................................... 110

Software Installation ...................................................................................... 110

ExpressCard/34 to ExpressCard/54 Adapter ...................................................... 111

Inserting the UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Hardware .................................................... 111

Removing the UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Hardware ................................................... 112

Important SOLO/Laptop Notes ........................................................................ 113

Multiple UAD Devices ....................................................................... 114

Multi-Device Overview .................................................................................... 114

Multi-Device Constraints ................................................................................. 115

Multi-Device DSP Loading .............................................................................. 118

Power Requirements ...................................................................................... 119

UAD System Manual 4 Table Of Contents

History............................................................................................. 120

Bill Putnam Sr. .............................................................................................. 120

Pros Talk UA ................................................................................................. 127

Thank You ..................................................................................................... 131

Notices ............................................................................................ 132

Warranty ....................................................................................................... 132

Repair Service ............................................................................................... 132

Maintenance ................................................................................................. 132

Important Safety Information .......................................................................... 133

Technical Support ............................................................................. 136

Universal Audio Knowledge Base ..................................................................... 136

YouTube Support Channel ............................................................................... 136

Universal Audio Community Forums ................................................................ 136

Contact Universal Audio Support ..................................................................... 136

UAD System Manual 5 Table Of Contents

Introduction

The Authentic Sound of Analog

From project studios to multi-platinum mix engineers, UAD Powered Plug-Ins have been winning over audio professionals for more than 15 years with their stunning analog sound. The UAD library now features more than 100 plug-ins, co-created with the biggest brands in audio. Developed by UA’s world-renowned team of DSP engineers, UAD plug-ins set the standard by which all other audio plug-ins are judged.

The World’s Finest Analog Emulation Plug-Ins

From rare tube compressors and equalizers, to vintage reverb processors and tape machines, UAD Powered Plug-Ins inject three-dimensional “out-of-the-box” analog sound to your in-the-box mixes. Access over 90 plug-ins from Ampex, Lexicon, Fender, Studer, Neve, Manley, SSL, EMT, API, MXR and more.*

Ofﬂoad your Computer’s CPU with DSP Acceleration

With UAD Powered Plug-Ins, the actual processing is ofﬂoaded to UAD-2 hardware. This frees up your computer to do other things, like mixing audio and running samplers or soft synths.

Cross-Platform Compatibility with All Major DAWs

UAD Powered Plug-Ins are compatible with both Mac and Windows, and run smoothly in all major DAWs including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Ableton Live, and more.

UAD Plug-In Craftsmanship: The Science Behind the Scenes

In developing UAD plug-ins, UA’s engineering group undertakes a thorough physical modeling of classic audio hardware — “rebuilding” vintage analog gear in the digital world, component by component. That’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.”

*All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately.

UAD System Manual Introduction 6

Features

All UAD-2 Devices

• 1, 2, 4, or 8 Analog Devices SHARC ﬂoating-point processors

• Multi-device support for up to six UAD-2’s in one system

• Compatible with VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units plug-in formats

• Drivers optimized for modern multi-thread and multi-processor architectures

• Real-time and faster than real-time processing for mix bounces

• LiveTrack low-latency mode for monitoring, tracking, and performance

(not available with UAD-2 FireWire devices)

• L.O.D.E. (Live Optimizing DSP Engine) automatically balances DSP loads

• LoadLock ensures resource availability on loaded plug-ins

• UAD Toolbar for preset management and accessing information

• Award-winning UAD Powered Plug-Ins from Ampex, Lexicon, Neve, Manley, SSL, Studer, and more*

• 14-day full function demo for all UAD plug-ins; try before you buy

• UAD plug-ins available at the Universal Audio online store

UAD Meter & Control Panel application

• Conﬁgures global UAD-2 and UAD plug-in settings

• Facilitates automatic authorization of UAD plug-in licenses and UAD-2 devices

• UAD-2 resource meters for DSP and Memory loads

UAD-2 Satellite

• External form factor

• Thunderbolt: QUAD or OCTO in Thunderbolt enclosure

• FireWire: DUO or QUAD in FireWire enclosure

• USB: QUAD or OCTO in USB 3 enclosure

UAD-2 PCI Express Cards

• High-bandwidth x1 PCIe

• Full-height, short card form factor

• UAD-2 QUAD and OCTO card models available

*All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately.

UAD System Manual Introduction 7

UAD Documentation Overview

This section describes the various instructional and technical resources that are available for installing, using, and troubleshooting UAD Powered Plug-Ins. Documentation for the product line is available in written, video, and online formats.

Operation Manuals

Documentation for UAD-2 devices and UAD Powered Plug-Ins are separated by areas of functionality, as described below. The user manuals are placed on the system drive during software installation, and they can be downloaded at www.uaudio.com.

Note: All manual ﬁles are in PDF format. PDF ﬁles require a free PDF reader application such as Adobe Acrobat Reader (Windows/Mac) or Preview (Mac only).

UAD System Manual

The UAD System Manual is the operation manual for overall UAD functionality and applies to the entire UAD-2 product line. It contains detailed information about installing, conﬁguring, and operating UAD devices and plug-ins.

The UAD System Manual includes everything about UAD except Apollo-speciﬁc information, and individual UAD plug-in descriptions.

UAD Plug-Ins Manual

The features and functionality of all the individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins are detailed in the UAD Plug-Ins Manual. Refer to this document to learn about the operation, controls, and interface of each plug-in.

Direct Developer Plug-Ins

UAD Powered Plug-Ins includes plug-ins from our Direct Developer partners. Documentation for these 3rd-party plug-ins are separate ﬁles that are written and provided by the plug-in developers themselves. The ﬁlenames for these plug-ins are the same as the plug-in names.

Apollo Manuals

Apollo models have separate software and hardware manuals that document all the features and functionality of Universal Audio’s line of audio interface products. These manuals are installed along with the Apollo software. Arrow has its own manual.

Host DAW Documentation

Each host DAW software application has its own particular methods for conﬁguring and using plug-ins. Refer to the host DAW’s documentation for speciﬁc instructions about using plug-in features within the DAW.

Hyperlinks

Links to other manual sections and web pages are highlighted in blue text. Click a hyperlink to jump directly to the linked item.

Tip: Use the “back” button in the PDF reader application to return to the previous page after clicking a hyperlink.

UAD System Manual Introduction 8

Accessing Installed Manuals

To open the documentation folder, click the “Product Manuals” button in the Help Panel within the UAD Meter & Control Panel application.

File locations

The UAD and Direct Developer manual ﬁles are copied to the hard drive by the software installer to the following locations:

Windows

• Start Menu>All Programs>UAD Powered Plug-Ins>Documentation

Mac

• /Applications/Universal Audio/Documentation

Additional Resources & Technical Support

For additional instructional information or if you need to contact Universal Audio for assistance, see the Technical Support page.

UAD System Manual Introduction 9

UAD Installation

The UAD Powered Plug-Ins software must be installed to use UAD-2 devices. The UAD installer places all the software necessary to conﬁgure and use UAD-2 hardware and UAD plug-ins onto the computer’s startup drive. Complete details are in this chapter.

Additional Instructions

This UAD products below have unique connection and operation instructions. Refer to the chapters below for detailed procedures with these products:

• UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt

• UAD-2 Satellite USB

• UAD-2 Satellite FireWire

• UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop

• Apollo interfaces have their own installation procedures and system requirements. See the Apollo Manuals for speciﬁc details.

Windows & Mac

Software installation and removal for Windows and Mac platforms have their own particular procedures. Instructions for each platform are detailed separately.

Software Updates

The most recent UAD software is always recommended so you’ll have access to the latest UAD plug-ins and stability updates. The most recent software is available at the UA website. If the UAD software is already installed, the UAD Meter & Control Panel application has a convenient Check for Updates button that checks for the most recent version.

Firmware Updates

For optimum results, always update the ﬁrmware if prompted by the software. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process before attempting to use the software.

Preparation

Close all open ﬁles and applications before starting the software installation procedure. The installer requires a restart after installation.

If you are updating to a newer version of UAD software or installing additional UAD devices, it is not necessary to remove the previous UAD software or hardware from the system.

Technical Assistance

If you need help, see the Technical Support page.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 10

System Requirements

Note: For complete compatibility information, including operating system and storage requirements, visit help.uaudio.com.

All Platforms (Mac & Windows)

• Internet connection to download software and authorize UAD plug-ins

• Compatible VST, Audio Units, RTAS, or AAX 64 plug-in host DAW software

FireWire Systems (Mac & Windows)

• Available FireWire 800 port*

*Note: On Windows systems, a qualiﬁed PCIe-to-FireWire adapter card is required

Thunderbolt Systems (Mac & Windows)

• (Mac) Apple computer with available Thunderbolt port

• (Win) PC computer with available built-in Thunderbolt 3 port

Note: Thunderbolt cable and adapter not included

USB Systems (Windows only)

• Available built-in* USB 3 SuperSpeed port

• Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor*

• USB 3.0 SuperSpeed cable (included)

*Notes:

• 2-in-1 systems (notebook/tablet) are not recommended

• USB 3 adapters (such as PCIe-to-USB 3 expansion cards) are not tested for Apollo Twin USB connection

• Quad Core i7 or better processor recommended

UAD-2 PCIe Card Systems (Mac & Windows)

• Available PCI Express (PCIe) slot for each UAD-2 card

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 11

Compatible DAW Host Applications

UAD Powered Plug-Ins are compatible with VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units host DAW applications, and are widely used with a variety of major DAW software — including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Nuendo, Live, and more.

However, due to plug-in host differences between DAWs — and our own rigorous testing standards — Universal Audio only ofﬁcially tests the latest UAD software with:

• Avid Pro Tools 10, 11, and 12

• Apple Logic Pro X

• Steinberg Cubase 10

• Steinberg Nuendo 8

• Ableton Live 10

DAW Application Notes

• The most recent maintenance release of the DAW application is recommended.

• Pro Tools 10 is incompatible with UA Thunderbolt audio interfaces on Windows.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 12

Installation on Windows Systems (FireWire and/or PCIe)

Note: To install UAD-2 Satellite USB on Windows systems, see the next page.

Install UAD Software First

Note: For optimum results, install the UAD software before installing/connecting the UAD-2 hardware.

To install, register, and authorize UAD plug-ins:

Important: Verify the computer system date and time are set correctly before

installing the software and/or launching the UAD Meter & Control Panel application for the ﬁrst time.

1. Download the latest UAD software installer: www.uaudio.com/download

2. Open the downloaded installer application. The installer will guide you. Be sure to restart the computer when prompted.

3. Shut down (power off) the computer. If the UAD device(s) is already installed or you are updating to a newer version, bypass this step.

4. Install/connect and power on the UAD device(s) then start the computer.

Note: If prompted to update the ﬁrmware, see the procedure below.

5. After restarting, the default web browser launches and connects to the UA online store. Follow the instructions on the web pages to create an account, register the hardware, and authorize bundled UAD plug-ins.

6. After registration is complete, authorize the UAD device by following the instructions on the registration web pages. The system is ready for use.

If the device was already registered, when the computer restarts the UAD Meter & Control panel automatically opens and UAD plug-ins are automatically authorized in the background.

Tip: You can use the UAD Meter & Control Panel to verify installation. See

Verifying Installation for details.

Firmware Update Procedure

If prompted by the “Firmware Update” dialog window to update the UAD-2 ﬁrmware:

1. Click “Load” to begin the process. The “ﬁrmware is updating” window appears.

2. Wait for the “Power Off UAD Device” dialog window, which appears after the ﬁrmware is updated.

3. Power OFF the UAD-2 hardware, then power it back ON. The ﬁrmware update is complete.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 13

Installation on Windows Systems (Thunderbolt and/or USB)

Note: To install UAD-2 FireWire devices or PCIe cards on Windows systems, see the previous page.

Connect And Power Hardware First

Note: For optimum results, connect and power the UAD-2 Satellite USB hardware before installing the UAD software.

To install, register, and authorize Apollo and UAD plug-ins software:

1. Connect UAD-2 Satellite USB to a built-in USB 3 port on the computer with the included USB 3 cable, then power on UAD-2 Satellite USB.

2. Download the latest UAD software installer: www.uaudio.com/download

3. Open the downloaded installer program. The installer will guide you. Be sure to restart the computer when prompted.

Important: If prompted to update the ﬁrmware, see the procedure below.

4. After restarting, the default web browser launches and connects to the UA online store. Follow the instructions on the web pages to create an account, register the hardware, and authorize bundled UAD plug-ins.

5. After registration is complete, authorize the UAD device by following the instructions on the registration web pages. The system is ready for use.

6. Proceed to UAD-2 Satellite USB Windows Setup to complete the setup process.

If the device was already registered, when the computer restarts the UAD Meter & Control Panel automatically opens and UAD plug-ins are automatically authorized in the background.

Note: To authorize a UAD system that is not connected to the Internet, see “Ofﬂine Authorization Procedure” in the UAD System Manual.

Firmware Update Procedure

If prompted by the “Firmware Update” dialog window to update the ﬁrmware:

1. Click “Load” to begin the process. The “ﬁrmware is updating” window appears.

2. Wait for the “Power Off UAD Device” dialog window, which appears after the ﬁrmware is updated.

Power OFF UAD-2 Satellite USB, then power ON UAD-2 Satellite USB. The ﬁrmware update is complete.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 14

Installation on Mac Systems

Install/Connect UAD Hardware First

Note: For optimum results, install/connect the UAD-2 hardware before installing the UAD software.

To install, register, and authorize UAD plug-ins:

Important: Verify the computer system date and time are set correctly before

installing the software and/or launching the UAD Meter & Control Panel application for the ﬁrst time.

1. Shut down (power off) the computer.

2. Install/connect and power the UAD-2 device(s) then start the computer.

3. Download the latest UAD software installer: www.uaudio.com/download

4. Open the downloaded installer application. The installer will guide you. Be sure to restart the computer when prompted.

Note: If prompted to update the ﬁrmware, see the procedure below.

6. After registration is complete, authorize the UAD device by following the instructions on the registration web pages. The system is ready for use.

If the device was already registered, when the computer restarts the UAD Meter & Control panel automatically opens and UAD plug-ins are automatically authorized in the background.

Tip: You can use the UAD Meter & Control Panel to verify installation. See

Verifying Installation for details.

Firmware Update Procedure

If prompted by the “Firmware Update” dialog window to update the UAD-2 ﬁrmware:

1. Click “Load” to begin the process. The “ﬁrmware is updating” window appears.

2. Wait for the “Power Off UAD Device” dialog window, which appears after the ﬁrmware is updated.

3. Power OFF the UAD-2 hardware, then power it back ON. The ﬁrmware update is complete.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 15

Installed Software Locations

The UAD Meter & Control Panel application, UAD plug-ins, and UAD documentation are copied to the locations below on the system drive during installation:

Windows

• C:\Program Files\Universal Audio\Powered Plug-Ins

These can be accessed from the Windows Start Menu at:

• Start>All Programs>UAD Powered Plug-Ins

The DAW plug-in ﬁles are installed to these locations during installation:

64-bit VST plug-ins directory:

• C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VstPlugins\Powered Plugins\

32-bit VST plug-ins directory:

• C:\Program Files (x86)\Steinberg\VstPlugins\Powered Plugins\

Note: To ensure access to the mono (m) plug-ins, set the host application to use the directories above.

AAX 64 UAD plug-ins directory:

• C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Plug-Ins\

Mac

• Macintosh HD/Applications/Universal Audio

The DAW plug-in ﬁles are installed to the standardized OS X locations:

• VST: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/Powered Plug-Ins

• Audio Units: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components

• RTAS: /Library/Application Support/Digidesign/Plug-Ins

• AAX 64: /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 16

UAD-2 PCIe Card Installation

About PCI and PCI Express

PCI and PCI-X are different than PCI Express (also known as PCIe). UAD-2 PCIe cards are not compatible with PCI or PCI-X because PCIe uses a completely different connector (as shown at right).

UAD-2 SOLO, DUO, QUAD, and OCTO cards are all PCIe cards and will only work in PCI Express (PCIe) slots. Be careful to only install the UAD-2 card into a PCIe slot.

UAD-2 PCIe Speed

UAD-2 cards are “x1” PCIe cards. Although these cards can be installed into any speed PCIe slot (x1/x4/x8/x16), putting a them in any PCIe slot faster than x1 will not improve UAD performance.

PCIe Card Handling

PCI/PCI-X and PCIe

connectors are incompatible

Before handling the UAD card, discharge any static electricity by touching the metal casing of the power supply. Do not touch the gold edge connector contacts.

Installing UAD PCIe Cards

If necessary, refer to the computer manufacturer’s documentation for instructions about installing PCIe cards.

Important: Ensure the computer (and PCIe expansion chassis, if applicable) is

powered off before installing the UAD-2 PCIe cards.

1. Power off the computer system (and PCIe expansion chassis, if applicable), then open the computer case and remove the rear screw and cover of an available PCIe expansion slot.

2. Hold the PCIe card gently by the top edges, and line up its connector with the slot inside the computer.

3. When the connector and slot are aligned, press the card into the slot with ﬁrm, even pressure. The card should “pop” into place. The top of the slot on the motherboard should be ﬂush and parallel with the edge of the UAD card.

4. Secure the card with the previously removed screw and replace the computer case.

PCIe Installation is complete.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 17

Online Authorization

Note: UAD devices must be registered, and UAD plug-ins must be authorized, before they can be used.

After initial registration, UAD authorization is automatic. Simply restart the computer and authorization is accomplished automatically in the background by the UAD Meter & Control Panel application.

Whenever a new UAD-2 or Apollo device is connected (and the UAD software is already installed), registration will begin automatically via the web browser. Follow the instructions on the web pages to create an account, register the UAD device(s), and claim bundled UAD plug-ins.

Automatic authorization requires the UAD host computer to be connected to the Internet. To authorize a system that is not online, see the instructions below.

Ofﬂine Authorization

Note: UAD devices must be registered, and UAD plug-ins must be authorized, before they can be used.

If the UAD computer is not connected to the Internet, you will need to manually transfer the registration URL into the browser of a web-enabled computer, download an authorization ﬁle on the web computer, then transfer the authorization ﬁle back to the UAD computer.

To obtain and apply the UAD authorization ﬁle if not connected to the internet:

1. Install UAD Powered Plug-Ins software and the UAD hardware using the procedures detailed in this chapter (the system must be operating properly).

2. Launch the UAD Meter & Control Panel application and open the Plug-Ins Panel.

3. Click the Authorize Plug-ins button. The default web browser opens with the registration URL in the address bar (and you may get an error that the computer is not connected to the Internet).

(continued)

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 18

4. You must enter this exact URL into a web-connected computer, so either:

a. Drag the URL icon in the browser’s address bar to the Desktop to create a

weblink shortcut (preferred; avoids transcription errors) then transfer the weblink shortcut to the internet computer via a storage device or network, OR

b. Copy/paste the exact URL into a ﬁle that can be transferred (or carefully write

down the URL, EXACTLY as it appears in the address ﬁeld).

1. Click+Hold URL icon in browser address bar

2. Drag URL icon to Desktop or flash drive to create a link shortcut

Creating a web location shortcut on the ofﬂine UAD system

for easier transfer of the URL ﬁle to an online system

5. Go to the URL using a web browser on an Internet-connected computer. Doubleclick the transferred weblink shortcut, or enter the URL as previously noted.

• If you don’t already have a UA account, you are directed to create one. Follow

the instructions online.

• If you already have a UA account, login with your email address and password.

If your password is lost, the store can email password reset link to you.

6. Your device will be automatically registered and added to your My UA Hardware page, and your authorization ﬁle is generated.

7. The authorization ﬁle named “auth.uad2” should begin downloading automatically (if not, click the download authorization link).

8. Transfer the authorization ﬁle to the UAD computer via a storage device or network.

9. For optimum results, quit all open audio host applications (DAWs).

10. Double-click the authorization ﬁle. The authorization is loaded onto the UAD device(s) and after a few seconds the “Authorizations Status” window appears.

Ofﬂine UAD authorization is complete and UAD plug-ins are ready for use.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 19

Verifying Installation

The UAD Meter & Control Panel contains the System Information panel, where UAD software and hardware installation can be veriﬁed to ensure the system is working properly.

To conﬁrm proper UAD installation and operation:

1. Launch the UAD Meter & Control Panel application (see Launching the

Application).

2. Open the System Information Panel.

3. When the UAD device is displayed in the Hardware area and its status is “OK” then the UAD driver is communicating with the UAD device and the system is operating properly.

UAD-2 LED

The UAD-2 has an LED indicator. This LED provides certain indications about the operational state of the UAD-2. The location of the LED depends on the UAD-2 product. On UAD-2 PCIe cards, the LED is on the mounting bracket of the card. On SOLO/Laptop, the LED is next to the UA logo on the black housing. On UAD-2 Satellite, the LED is on the rear panel.

Alternating red and green

When the LED alternates between solid red and solid green, the device is powered up properly but the UAD driver is not yet loaded or communicating with the device. This is the expected state if the device is installed but the software is not yet installed, or after booting the system and the UAD driver is not yet loaded. The driver loads when the UAD Meter & Control panel or host DAW application is launched.

Solid green

When the LED is solid green, the UAD driver is loaded and properly communicating with the device. This is the normal state when using UAD Powered Plug-Ins.

Solid red or other blinking patterns

When the LED is producing any pattern other than the two conditions above, there is a problem with communication between the driver and the device. Try a cold reboot (complete power down) and/or reinstalling the UAD software before contacting customer support.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 20

Software Removal

Important: Power down the computer before removing any UAD cards.

To remove all UAD software from the computer:

Windows

1. Go to: Control Panel>Programs>Programs and Features

2. Select “UAD Powered Plug-Ins”

3. Click “Uninstall”

The UAD software is removed.

Mac

1. Go to: Mac HD/Applications/Universal Audio

2. Launch the “Uninstall Universal Audio Software” application

3. Click “Uninstall UA Software” in the application’s window

The UAD software is removed.

Learn More

After installation, registration, and authorization, you’re ready to use UAD Powered Plug-Ins. The Universal Audio Knowledge Base contains helpful videos that explain how to install the hardware and software, register, authorize, and use the product, obtain optional plug-ins, and more.

For additional instructional information or if you need to contact Universal Audio for assistance, see the Technical Support page.

UAD System Manual UAD Installation 21

UAD System Overview

The UAD Environment

UAD Powered Plug-Ins is a hardware-plus-software system that consists of one or more UAD-2 DSP accelerator devices and/or Apollo audio interfaces combined with the UAD Powered Plug-Ins software.

Various UAD-2 products are available to accommodate your particular computer system, processing needs, and budget. For the complete product lineup, visit the Universal Audio website at www.uaudio.com.

System Components

The complete UAD Powered Plug-Ins environment consists of various components. These components are:

• One or more UAD-2 DSP hardware accelerator devices

• The UAD plug-ins

• The UAD device drivers

• The host computer system

• The plug-in host application software (DAW)

• A computer audio hardware input/output interface and its drivers

• Your UA account and the UA store

All these components operate together simultaneously within one computer to form the complete UAD audio processing system. An overview of these components is provided in this chapter.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 22

The UAD Hardware

The UAD-2 DSP (Digital Signal Processing) hardware accelerator devices provide the power behind UAD Powered Plug-Ins. Most UAD plug-ins use extremely complex algorithms to provide the quality sound and accurate modeling Universal Audio is famous for. The UAD processor engines are signiﬁcantly more optimized to perform the complex DSP routines required for these algorithms than a standard desktop computer CPU can deliver.

All UAD-2 devices are Mac and Windows compatible unless otherwise speciﬁed. The cross-platform hardware is identical for both OS platforms.

Note: Multiple UAD hardware types can be used concurrently in the same computer system. For details, see Multiple UAD Devices.

UAD-2 Products

UAD-2 is UA’s second-generation UAD product line that offers many

improvements over the original UAD-1; most notable is signiﬁcantly increased DSP horsepower. Each UAD-2 DSP provides approximately 2.5 times the processing power of the UAD-1, therefore one UAD-2 OCTO offers approximately 20 times the processing power of UAD-1.

A variety of UAD-2 models are available to suit various processing and protocol needs. Each model is deﬁned by its number of SHARC DSP cores (1, 2, 4, 6, or 8) and its connection protocol (PCIe, FireWire, Thunderbolt, or USB 3). Up to six UAD-2 devices can be run concurrently in one system; see the UA Knowledge Base for speciﬁc details about compatibility with each model.

Note: UAD-1 is a discontinued product.

DSP Core Complement

The DSP core complement of UAD-2 devices is designated as SOLO, DUO, QUAD, HEXA, or OCTO. These designations indicate the number of SHARC® DSP (Digital Signal Processing) chips in each device.

SOLO devices have one DSP core, DUO devices have two DSP cores, QUAD devices have four DSP cores, HEXA devices (Apollo X Series audio interfaces only) have six DSP cores, and OCTO devices have eight DSP cores.

You can increase the amount of UAD DSP power by adding UAD devices to your system as your UAD processing needs grow.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 23

UAD-2 PCIe Cards

UAD-2 PCI Express (PCIe) cards are available in QUAD and OCTO core conﬁgurations. All UAD-2 PCIe cards use the PCIe x1 architecture, providing plenty of data bandwidth for even the most demanding audio processing requirements, such as four UAD-2 OCTOs (32 DSP cores) in the same system.

Note: UAD-2 PCIe SOLO and UAD-2 PCIe DUO are discontinued products.

UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop

UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop is a self-contained UAD-2 SOLO device housed entirely within an ExpressCard/34 expansion card for use with notebook computers. No external cables or power is required, for the ultimate in mobile DSP capability. UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop has special instructions for installation, connectivity, and use. For details, see UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop.

Note: UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop is a discontinued product.

UAD-2 Satellite

UAD-2 Satellite enables UAD plug-in QUAD or OCTO processing with a variety of modern computer systems. Three UAD-2 Satellite models are available, and each model uses a different connection protocol. All models are housed in rugged and attractive external enclosures.

• For Thunderbolt model details, see UAD-2 Satellite

Thunderbolt.

• For USB 3 model details, see UAD-2 Satellite

USB.

• For FireWire model details, see UAD-2 Satellite

FireWire.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 24

UA Audio Interfaces

Apollo are Arrow are UA’s line of high-resolution audio interfaces with class-leading sound quality, Realtime UAD Processing, FireWire, Thunderbolt, or USB 3 connectivity, and elegant hardware design and workﬂow.

The Apollo X Series is UA’s ﬂagship audio interface lineup. Apollo X rackmount models are the Apollo x6, Apollo x8, Apollo x8p, and Apollo x16, all of which feature HEXA core DSP processing onboard. Apollo X Series desktop models include the Apollo x4 with QUAD core processing, and Apollo Twin X with DUO or QUAD cores.

Other Apollo models include Apollo DUO/QUAD, Apollo FireWire, Apollo 8, Apollo 8p, Apollo Twin, Apollo Twin USB, Apollo Twin MkII, Apollo 16, and Apollo 16 MkII.

Arrow is UA’s entry-level audio interface model with professional features at an affordable price.

UA Audio Interface Documentation

UA audio interface products feature onboard UAD-2 processing. The UAD-2 functionality of UA audio interface UAD-2 processing is documented in this manual. However, functionality that is unique to UA audio interfaces is documented separately in the

Apollo Manuals.

Note: Throughout this manual, all mentions of “Apollo” refers to all Apollo models unless noted otherwise.

Universal Audio’s family of audio interface models

UAD-2 Packages

UAD-2 devices are available in a variety of retail conﬁgurations to best accommodate your budget and processing requirements. The products have various DSP core complements (SOLO/DUO/QUAD/HEXA/OCTO), form factors (internal, rack mount, desktop), connectivity (PCIe, Thunderbolt, FireWire, USB 3), and included plug-in bundles. For complete details about all available products, visit the Universal Audio

website.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 25

The UAD Software

The UAD Powered Plug-Ins software consists of the UAD installer, the UAD plug-ins, the UAD Meter & Control Panel application, the UAD device drivers, and the product documentation.

UAD Installer

The UAD Powered Plug-Ins software installers contain all the UAD software components (plug-ins, drivers, and documentation) and copies them to the system drive during installation. The UAD software installers support all variations of UAD-2 and Apollo devices.

UAD Powered Plug-Ins

UAD plug-ins are the VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units plug-in ﬁles that are loaded within the digital audio workstation application (DAW). The plug-ins are where the graphical user interface (GUI) is seen and where the various control parameters can be manipulated to achieve the desired sonic results.

The UAD software installer always installs the complete suite of all available UAD Powered Plug-Ins. However, all of the installed UAD plug-ins may not be licensed. The included licenses depends on the retail package’s Bundled Plug-Ins.

Optional Plug-Ins

Most UAD plug-ins require optional licenses to run without restrictions. Optional plug-in licenses are obtained at the UA online store. Plug-in licenses can be purchased separately or in bundles.

Demo Mode

UAD plug-ins that are unlicensed can be run in Demo Mode as a 14-day trial period without any functional restrictions.

Bundled Licenses and Coupons

The UA Account & Store is where bundled software and coupons are redeemed and where additional licenses can be purchased.

Note: When you purchase an optional license, you don’t download that individual plug-in. Instead, you download a newer authorization, which enables the plug-in ﬁle that is already installed.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 26

UAD Meter & Control Panel

The UAD Meter & Control Panel application is used to authorize UAD plug-ins after purchasing and to monitor/conﬁgure UAD device resources. It has two main windows: the UAD Meter, and the UAD Control Panel.

The UAD Meter Window displays the current DSP, program, and memory status of the UAD hardware. The UAD Control Panels has multiple panels that display and modify various system, plug-in, and global conﬁguration parameters.

UAD Drivers

The UAD device drivers are the low-level system software ﬁles that instruct the host computer system on how to communicate with the UAD hardware device(s). The UAD drivers are loaded during system startup so the UAD devices are ready to be used when the plug-in host DAW application is launched.

In addition to instructing the OS on how to control the UAD hardware, the driver acts as a software “middleman” between the host application and the UAD hardware. The host application uses the driver to route UAD signals in the DAW.

Each UAD device family (UAD-2 or Apollo) has its own set of drivers that are placed on the system drive during UAD software installation.

UAD Buffers and Latency

The UAD drivers use buffers to shuttle audio signals to and from the device. This means the digital data is transferred in small batches instead of continuously. Buffering induces a very small audio latency (delay) that is inherent in most digital audio systems and can be detected in certain situations.

UAD latency is managed automatically by most host DAW applications and can be reduced to undetectable levels in the UAD-2 PCIe and UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt using LiveTrack Mode. Latency and buffers are discussed in greater detail in Latency &

Delay Compensation.

Tip: Universal Audio’s line of Apollo high-resolution audio interfaces feature Realtime UAD Processing for monitoring and tracking with UAD plug-ins at nearzero latency, regardless of the DAW’s I/O buffer size.

Product Documentation

Various instructional and technical resources are available for installing, operating, and troubleshooting UAD Powered Plug-Ins. UAD documentation is available in written, video, and online formats. For details about user documentation, see UAD

Documentation Overview.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 27

The DAW Environment

The DAW (digital audio workstation) environment is a system where audio production takes place (either with or without UAD Powered Plug-Ins). The UAD system is an add-on to a computer-based DAW that can dramatically improve the sonic quality and performance of the DAW, while still working entirely from within the DAW.

A computer-based DAW consists of the host computer hardware and its operating system (OS) software, the plug-in host application (DAW software), and an audio input/output (I/O) interface and its drivers.

Host Computer

The host computer is the system that the host DAW application software runs on and the UAD devices are installed in or connected to. The host computer must meet certain hardware and software System Requirements to use UAD Powered Plug-Ins.

Operating System

The host computer runs an operating system (macOS or Windows) that deﬁnes the OS platform of the system. UAD Powered Plug-Ins is a cross-platform product that is essentially functionally identical on Windows and Mac systems (except as otherwise noted).

Host Application

The plug-in host application is the software DAW environment where audio recording, playback, mixing, and other production functions are controlled. UAD plug-ins are accessed and operated from within the host software application.

Each host application has a unique feature set and different methods of operation, including how to use plug-ins. However, once UAD plug-ins are loaded, UAD plug-in operation is identical in all host applications.

Because the host application environment is integral to the UAD system but is completely out of our control, we cannot claim compatibility with all hosts that may support use of the UAD plug-in formats. See for additional details.

Apollo Console

Universal Audio’s Apollo audio interfaces include a host application called Console. Console controls Apollo’s functionality and enables Realtime UAD Processing, where I/O buffering latency doesn’t exist.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 28

Plug-In Formats

UAD Powered Plug-Ins includes support for VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units plug-in formats. These formats deﬁne the software protocols that the host application uses for plug-in processing.

UAD Powered Plug-Ins operations are (for practical purposes) functionally identical in all three plug-in formats. The format of the installed UAD plug-in ﬁles are speciﬁed during UAD software installation.

VST

The VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plug-in format is developed by Steinberg and is supported by various Windows and Mac host applications such as Cubase and Nuendo.

RTAS

The RTAS (Real-Time AudioSuite) plug-in format is developed by Avid and is supported by Pro Tools 10 (and lower) on Windows and Mac platforms.

AAX 64

The 64-bit AAX plug-in format is developed by Avid and is supported by Pro Tools 11 (and higher) on Windows and Mac platforms.

Audio Units

The Audio Units (AU) plug-in format protocol was developed by Apple and is supported by various host applications on the Mac platform only.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 29

Audio Interface

The audio hardware I/O (input/output) interface is how audio signals get into and out of the host computer. An audio interface is a hardware+driver device that can have analog or digital I/O (or both).

The interface is usually where the analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) audio conversions take place. Universal Audio’s line of Apollo and Arrow products are audio interfaces.

I/O Drivers

The audio interface is a hardware device that requires a software device driver for the host computer OS. In addition to instructing the OS on how to control the interface hardware, the driver acts as a software “middleman” between the host application and the I/O ports. The host application uses the driver to access the I/O for signal routings.

I/O Buffers and Latency

As with UAD devices, audio interfaces also use buffers to shuttle audio signals to and from the I/O. For details, see UAD Buffers and Latency.

Smaller I/O buffer settings produce lower latencies which is useful when monitoring tracks while recording performances, but usually results in a higher host computer CPU load since the system has to work harder transferring data. Latency and buffers are discussed in greater detail in Latency & Delay Compensation.

UA Store

The UA online store is where optional UAD plug-in licenses are purchased and where UA coupons are redeemed.The UA store is where your UA account and its associated UAD devices and plug-ins are managed. For details, see UA Account & Store.

Authorization

All UAD plug-ins must be authorized before they can be used. Authorization is automatic when the UAD computer is connected to the Internet. For complete details about the authorization system, see the UAD Authorization Overview.

UAD System Manual UAD System Overview 30

UA Account & Store

Account Overview

Your Universal Audio account is where all UAD devices, and their associated UAD plug-ins, are registered and managed. An account is required to register and authorize all UAD devices, download UAD software, and receive customer support.

Device Registration

The account creation and device registration process is triggered automatically whenever a new UAD device is recognized by the UAD software. Our web pages guide you through the process.

Accessing Your Account

To view your account pages, click the MY ACCOUNT link at the top of web of pages at www.uaudio.com. If you’re not already logged in, click the LOG IN link.

When you revisit your account, you’ll be prompted to login. You have the option to stay logged in so you don’t have to enter credentials with each visit. If you forgot your password, the store can email a password reset link to you.

Account Details

The My Account pages are available when logged in. These pages contain all details about the account such as registered UAD devices, licensed UAD plug-ins, and account preferences.

The account menu, shown at right, is used to navigate the account pages. Click an item in the menu to view that account page.

UAD System Manual UA Account & Store 31

Store Overview

The Universal Audio online store is where optional UAD plug-in licenses are purchased and UA coupons are redeemed.

Bundled Plug-Ins

UAD plug-ins that are bundled (included) with the UAD device are automatically issued to your UA account when the device is registered. After registration is complete, authorize the UAD system to run the bundled plug-ins.

Note: UAD devices must be registered and authorized to run bundled plug-ins.

Optional Plug-Ins

UAD Powered Plug-Ins that are not bundled with the UAD device require an optional license to run without restrictions. After purchasing a UAD plug-in, the UAD device(s) in the system need to be manually authorized to run the additional plug-in.

Our web pages guide you through the purchasing and authorization process.

Plug-Ins are already installed

The UAD software installer always installs the complete suite of available UAD plug-ins during installation. When you purchase an optional license, you don’t download that individual plug-in. Instead, you simply re-authorize your system, which activates the plug-in ﬁle that is already installed.

Important: Older versions of UAD software may not include all the latest UAD

plug-ins. To ensure all UAD plug-ins are installed, and for optimum performance, update to the latest UAD version (see Check for Updates).

Coupons

Promotional coupons have dollar values that are as “good as cash” for buying UAD plugins. Coupons are applied to your UA account automatically. The coupon dollar amount is displayed in your account as a credit, ready to be applied to your store purchase.

Coupons expire after a limited time period, and they can be used only once.

Tip: Coupons are a great reason to sign up for UA’s promotional emails. These options are set in the Newsletter Subscriptions page in My Account.

UAD System Manual UA Account & Store 32

UAD Authorization Overview

Note: This section is an overview of the UAD authorization system. For step-bystep authorization instructions, see UAD Installation.

My UA Hardware

The UAD devices and plug-ins that you own are found on your MY HARDWARE page at www.uaudio.com/my/account/hardware. The My Hardware page keeps track of your registered UAD devices and UAD plug-in licenses and is managed automatically by the UA store and the UAD software. UA analog hardware is also managed here.

Tip: The current UAD plug-in license state is also shown in the Plug-Ins Panel within the UAD Meter & Control Panel application.

UAD System

All UAD devices registered to an UA account, and all UAD plug-in licenses for those devices, are referred to as a System on the My Hardware page. Licensed UAD plug-ins are only authorized to run on the UAD devices associated with the same account and system.

Account Creation and Device Registration

Creating a UA account and registering the UAD hardware is only needed once during initial device installation. After registration, authorization is performed automatically in the background by the UAD Meter & Control Panel application each time the computer is started.

Adding Additional UAD Devices

If a second (or more) UAD device is added to the computer that already has the UAD software installed, the new device(s) is automatically detected by the UAD software. Upon detection, the web browser opens, you are guided to register the new device, and the new device is added to your account.

Authorizing Newly-Purchased UAD Plug-Ins

When a UAD plug-in is purchased at the UA store, it needs to be manually authorized. The store guides you through the process; see Authorization Procedure for instructions.

Authorizations Are Stored On UAD Device

During authorization, the UAD plug-in license state is stored on the UAD-2 device. If the UAD-2 is moved to another computer, it is not necessary to reauthorize the device.

UAD System Manual UA Account & Store 33

Demo Mode

All unlicensed UAD plug-ins include a free 14-day trial evaluation period. When the demonstration mode is activated, the plug-in will run without functional limitations for 14 days. Demo mode can be activated once only. After the demo trial period has expired, demo mode cannot be activated again on the same UAD device.

If an unlicensed plug-in is loaded and its demo has never been started, a dialog appears with instructions to start the demo and the option to visit the UA store to purchase the license. If you don’t start the demo or purchase a license, the plug-in interface appears and its controls can be manipulated, but audio is not processed by the plug-in.

Important: The 14 day demo period can only be activated once, and cannot be

stopped or restarted during this period. Activate demo mode only when you have adequate time to thoroughly evaluate its sound and functionality.

Demo Reset

As a courtesy, each time a new UAD plug-in is purchased, all expired demo periods are automatically reset so all UAD plug-ins with expired demos can be evaluated again.

Demo Activation

To activate demo mode:

1. Ensure UAD Powered Plug-Ins is already installed and conﬁgured properly (see

UAD Installation).

2. Open the Plug-Ins Panel within the UAD Meter & Control Panel application.

3. Locate the row for the UAD plug-in you want to evaluate (scroll if necessary).

4. In the Status Column, click the START DEMO button for the UAD plug-in. A conﬁrmation window appears and the timed demo can be activated or demo activation can be cancelled.

Note: If loading a DAW session that contains multiple instances of a UAD plug-in that is not yet authorized and you want to start its 14-day demo period, close then reopen the DAW session after starting the demo to enable processing on all instances of the plug-in.

Important: Manipulating the computer’s system date and time will result in a

decreased demo period.

UAD System Manual UA Account & Store 34

Buying UAD Plug-Ins

To obtain optional UAD plug-in licenses, simply visit www.uaudio.com, browse the available plug-ins at our secure store, complete your purchase with several payment options, and authorize the plug-in(s). You can also apply any coupon credit that is available from promotional offers.

Lots of product information such as features, speciﬁcations, audio/video examples, and reviews are available on the plug-in product pages to help you make informed buying decisions.

Purchase Procedure

To purchase optional UAD plug-in licenses:

1. Visit the UA store at www.uaudio.com.

2. Add the items you want to purchase to your shopping cart. You’ll need to login to your UA account if not already logged in.

3. When ready to complete your purchase, click the Shopping Cart icon at the top of the page, then click the CHECKOUT button. The payment page appears.

4. Select payment method and provide payment details. If applicable, apply any discount coupon codes.

5. Click the PLACE YOUR ORDER button once only. The transaction is processed, the order conﬁrmation page appears, a conﬁrmation email is sent, and the UAD plug-in license(s) is issued to your UA account.

6. Authorize the UAD device(s) by following the instructions on the next page.

UAD System Manual UA Account & Store 35

Authorization Procedure

To authorize optional UAD plug-ins to run on the UAD device:

1. Open the UAD Meter & Control Panel application (see Launching the Application for methods).

2. Access the Plug-Ins Panel within the application by clicking the blue UAD-2 button in the UAD Meter window.

3. Click the Authorize Plug-ins button in the Plug-Ins panel.

4. After a few moments the Authorization Status window appears.

The purchased UAD plug-in is now authorized and ready for use.

Transferring UAD devices and licenses

Ownership of UAD devices and UAD plug-in licenses can be transferred from one UA account to another to accommodate the used equipment marketplace. Certain restrictions apply. For instructions, policies, and FAQ, visit the UAD transfer page:

• help.uaudio.com

Transfer Video

Our Videos page has a video about UAD device transfers:

• www.uaudio.com/videos

UAD System Manual UA Account & Store 36

UAD Meter & Control Panel

The UAD Meter & Control Panel application is used to monitor and conﬁgure UAD device resources. It has two main windows: the UAD Meter, and the UAD Control Panel.

The UAD Meter displays the current DSP, program, and memory status of the UAD hardware in realtime. The UAD Control Panel has multiple panels that display and modify various system, plug-in, and global conﬁguration parameters. It also shows the FireWire bandwidth (FBW) meter when a UAD FireWire device is connected to the system.

UAD Meter Window

The UAD Meter & Control Panel application can be launched or quit at any time. It does not need to be open or active to use UAD plug-ins. It is completely independent and does not require a host DAW application. You can move the UAD Meter to a convenient location on your screen by dragging its window title bar.

Note: If “No Devices Found” appears in the UAD Meter instead of the expected buttons and meters, the UAD software is not communicating with the UAD hardware. If this occurs, double-check hardware and software installations and/or contact Technical Support.

Launching the Application

The UAD Meter & Control Panel application can be opened using the techniques listed for each operating system below.

Windows

• Access the application from: Start Menu>All Programs>UAD Powered Plug-Ins

Mac

• Single-click the UAD Meter & Control Panel icon that was placed in the Mac OS X Dock during installation

• Double-click the UAD Meter & Control Panel application that was installed at: /Applications/Universal Audio/

UAD Meter & Control Panel

application icon

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 37

UAD Meter Window

Refer to the illustration below for descriptions in this section

Minimize

Quit

Open Plug-Ins

Panel Button

Memory

Meter

DSP Load

Meter

Program Memory

Meter

FireWire Bandwidth Meter

(FireWire devices only)

Meter Menu

Button

Averaged

Loads

The UAD Meter window elements

Title Bar

The Title Bar (the strip across the top of the UAD Meter window) contains buttons to quit the UAD Meter & Control panel application, minimize the UAD Meter window, and access the Meter Menu.

Note: The Quit, Minimize, and Menu button positions shown above are as they appear on Mac systems. These button positions are reversed on Windows systems, reﬂecting the OS conventions.

Plug-Ins Panel Button

Clicking this button opens the Plug-Ins Panel. It has the same function as selecting “Plug-Ins...” from the Control Panel drop menu.

Resource Meters

UAD resource loads are displayed in the UAD Meter window. Loads are constantly updated, even when the UAD Meter is not the foreground application. This allows you to monitor UAD loads as needed, for example when deciding which UAD plug-ins to load, based upon how much DSP is available.

The UAD resources are displayed as bar graphs and as percentages.

Averaged Loads

The load for each meter represents the average for all UAD devices in use. For example, if one UAD-2 QUAD is installed, the UAD-2 DSP load is an average of the four SHARC DSP processors on the QUAD. If two UAD-2 QUADs are installed, then the eight processors are averaged.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 38

Individual Loads

The loads of individual devices in a multi-device setup (or the individual DSP loads in a multi-DSP UAD-2 device) can be viewed in the System Information Panel.

DSP

The DSP meters display the amount of digital signal processing resources that are being used by the UAD plug-in algorithms. DSP is the primary hardware “juice” that powers the algorithms. When UAD plug-ins are disabled in the host, DSP requirements are decreased.

PGM (Program Memory)

This resource shows how much UAD-2 program memory is in use. Program memory is an on-chip memory that is speciﬁc to the UAD-2 DSP processor(s) and is used for certain UAD plug-in resources.

Each unique UAD-2 plug-in uses a bit of program memory. If many different UAD-2 plug-ins are loaded simultaneously, it is possible for this resource to run out before DSP overload occurs. Conversely, program memory is shared by the same plug-in, so multiple instances of the same plug-in may not increase the program memory load. These factors are considered by the automatic UAD-2 load balancing routines.

MEM (RAM Memory)

The Memory meters indicate the percentage of UAD random access memory that is currently in use. It indicates the total available UAD RAM available, regardless of the number of DSP processors that are installed.

Memory is used for echo, delay lines, reverb, and similar spatial processing. When UAD plug-ins are disabled but not unloaded, memory requirements are not decreased. In this case, the memory remains loaded so that reverb tails and delay lines are not cut off when the plug-in is disabled (if supported by the host).

FBW (FireWire Bandwidth)

This meter reﬂects the FireWire bus bandwidth currently used by UAD-2 Satellite FireWire, Apollo FireWire, and all other FireWire peripheral devices (e.g., all FireWire audio interfaces and FireWire hard drives).

Note: The FBW meter is visible only when a UAD FireWire device is connected to the system.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 39

Meter Menu

The Meter Menu can be used to access the UAD Control Panels and other functions. To view the Meter Menu, click the menu button in the UAD Meter window title bar as shown below. After clicking the menu button, the available functions are listed in the drop menu. To execute a function, select it from the menu.

Note: The items that appear in the Meter Menu can vary depending on the active system conﬁguration. For example, the FireWire menu item only appears if a UAD FireWire device is connected.

Click Menu Button

Accessing the Meter Menu

Meter Menu functions

Control Panels

The UAD Control Panels (System Info, Plug-Ins, Conﬁguration, FireWire, Help) can be accessed by selecting them from the Meter Menu.

Tip: The UAD Control Panels can also be accessed by using the keyboard shortcuts listed in the Meter Menu.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 40

Always On Top

The UAD Meter & Control Panel windows can be set to either normal or Always on top view modes.

Always on top mode

In this mode, the UAD Meter and UAD Control Panel windows always ﬂoat on top of other windows, even when other applications are in the foreground.

To enable Always on top mode, click the Meter Menu button in the UAD Meter window title bar and select Always on top from the drop menu. Always on top is active when a check mark appears next to the item in the menu.

Tip: The Always on top setting can be toggled by using the keyboard shortcut listed in the Meter Menu.

Normal mode

In this mode, the UAD Meter and UAD Control Panel windows are covered by the windows of the foreground application. Normal mode is active when the Always on top menu item is unchecked.

Revert to FireWire connectivity...

This menu function restores FireWire connectivity to Apollo FireWire models that have been updated with Thunderbolt ﬁrmware.

To change the Apollo ﬁrmware from Thunderbolt to FireWire, select this item from the Meter Menu, then follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: This function only appears when an Apollo or Apollo 16 FireWire unit (silver rack models only) is equipped with the Thunderbolt Option Card, the unit is connected to the computer via Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt ﬁrmware is installed in the unit.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 41

UAD Control Panels

The UAD Control Panels are where detailed system information is displayed and global UAD plug-in settings are modiﬁed. The main UAD Control panel window has up to ﬁve panels, organized into similar areas of functionality: System Information, Plug-Ins, Conﬁguration, FireWire, and Help.

Accessing the Control Panels

The UAD Control Panel window is accessed from the UAD Meter window. To open the Control Panel, click the menu button in the UAD Meter window title bar as shown below. After clicking the menu button, the available functions are listed in the drop menu.

Tip: The Plug-Ins panel can also be accessed by clicking the blue Plug-Ins Panel

Button labeled “UAD-2.”

Tip: The UAD Control Panels can also be accessed by using the keyboard shortcuts listed in the Meter Menu.

Click Menu Button

Control Panel drop menu

When the main UAD Control Panel window is open, the individual window panels are accessed by clicking the title buttons at the top of the Control Panels window, as shown below, or typing the keyboard shortcuts shown in the Control Panel drip menu.

Control Panel selector buttons

Note: The FireWire button is only displayed if a UAD FireWire device is connected.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 42

System Information Panel

The System Information panel displays detailed UAD software and hardware information and contains several useful buttons. Refer to the screenshot below for parameter descriptions in this section.

Software Section

Version String

The currently installed UAD Powered Plug-Ins software version is displayed here.

Check for Updates

This button checks the Universal Audio web servers for a newer version of the UAD software. Running the latest version of UAD Powered Plug-Ins is recommended for maximum stability and the latest features, such as new plug-ins.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 43

Plug-In Latency Section

UAD plug-in latency is displayed here. The calculation is based on the audio I/O interface buffer size and the sample rate. The window uses this information to calculate and display the resulting latency in samples and milliseconds.

Note: Displayed latency does not reﬂect the actual lowered latency value when

LiveTrack Mode is active, nor Apollo’s Realtime UAD Processing via Console.

The displayed latency is the audio I/O interface buffer size when Extra Buffering is off. When Extra Buffering is on, the displayed latency is the audio I/O interface buffer size plus 64 samples.

Note: The displayed sample latency number does not include the extra samples produced by UAD plug-ins with additional latency. For more detailed information about the extra samples and latency, see Latency & Delay Compensation.

Hardware Section

Detailed information about each UAD device and its DSP is displayed in the Hardware area. If you have several devices installed, use the scrollbar to see the other devices.

Device Status

For each installed device, a small picture of the hardware and its status is displayed. When the device displays Status: OK the hardware is operating properly. The total number of UAD plug-ins loaded on each device is also displayed here.

Device Enabled

Individual UAD devices can be disabled using the Device Enabled button. This can be useful, for example, if creating a session on a system with multiple devices that will be transferred to a system with fewer devices or to streamline the performance of the host system when multiple devices are not needed.

Click the button to disable an individual device. The device is enabled when the button is blue. For additional information regarding multi-device use, see

Multiple UAD Devices.

Devices remain disabled only while the UAD Meter & Control Panel application is open. When the UAD Meter & Control Panel is quit, disabled devices are re-enabled.

Note: Disabling devices does not disable plug-ins already running on the device; it only prevents additional plug-ins from being loaded onto it.

Important: For optimum results, quit any host applications using UAD plug-ins

before disabling/enabling devices.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 44

DSP Load

If more than one UAD DSP is installed, information for each of the processors is displayed. DSP, Program (PGM), and Memory (MEM) loads are displayed as a percentage of total available load for that processor. The number of UAD plug-ins (PLG) running on each individual processor is also displayed.

Save Detailed System Proﬁle

Clicking this button will generate a detailed UAD system proﬁle and prompt you for a location to save the text ﬁle to disk. This ﬁle contains an even greater level of detail than the System Information panel, which can be useful for troubleshooting or if UA Customer Support requests this document when providing assistance.

The proﬁle lists the version strings of the individual UAD software components, installed device type(s) with serial and hardware ID numbers, host computer information, and detailed authorization status for all UAD plug-ins.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 45

Plug-Ins Panel

The Plug-Ins panel displays the current authorization status of all UAD plug-ins. This is also where you can activate plug-in Demo Mode and conﬁgure UAD plug-ins to run on a speciﬁc device. Use the scrollbar to view plug-ins that are not visible in the list. Refer to the screenshot below for parameter descriptions in this section.

Authorize Plug-ins button

This button links directly to your account at the UA online store to automatically authorize licensed UAD plug-ins.

Note: Click this button whenever you buy a plug-in in the UA online store to claim your plug-in authorizations.

The complete procedure for UAD device authorization is detailed in UAD Installation. If the UAD computer is not connected to the internet, see the Ofﬂine Authorization.

Important: UAD plug-ins require authorization before they can be used. For

detailed information, see the Authorization Procedure.

Plug-In Column

All currently installed UAD plug-ins are displayed in the Plug-In column. Use the scroll bars to view the entire list if necessary. Plug-Ins are listed in order of release date, with newest plug-ins at the top of the list.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 46

Status Column

The Status column reﬂects the current state of each UAD plug-in. After authorization, the status will show one of the following:

Authorized for devices

When the plug-in is licensed and authorized to run on all devices in the system “Authorized for all devices” is displayed in white text.

When a plug-in is licensed but not all devices in a multi-device system are authorized with the license, the Status column indicates which of the devices is authorized (for example, “Authorized for device 1 only”).

Start Demo

The demo period has not been started for the plug-in. Click the START DEMO button to begin the 14-day trial period.

UAD plug-in demo periods can also be initiated by the START DEMO button in the UAD Toolbar in the plug-in window. See Demo Mode for detailed information.

Important: The 14-day demo period can only be activated once, and cannot be

stopped or restarted during this period. Don’t activate demo mode unless you have adequate time to thoroughly evaluate its sound and functionality.

Demo Active (days remaining)

If the 14-day trial period has been activated but is not yet expired, the number of days remaining is displayed here in green text.

Demo Expired

If the 14-day trial period has ended, DEMO EXPIRED is displayed here in red text.

Help Column

Clicking the Help button (“?”) opens a link to the plug-in product page at the UA online store.

Buy Column

Clicking the Buy button (“$”) adds the plug-in to your shopping cart at the UA online store. See the Purchase Procedure for details. This button does not appear if the plug-in is already licensed.

Tip: The BUY button provides a quick visual reference to determine which plug-ins are licensed.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 47

Conﬁguration Panel

The UAD Conﬁguration Panel is where most of the global UAD settings and preferences are speciﬁed for all UAD devices. Refer to the screenshot below for parameter descriptions in this section.

The parameters that are displayed in the Conﬁguration Panel depend on the UAD hardware that is currently installed and the OS platform (Windows or Mac). For example, if you have only UAD devices installed in a Windows system, you will not see Macspeciﬁc parameters.

Note: All UAD parameters apply to UAD-2 PCIe cards, UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop, UAD-2 Satellite, and Apollo unless otherwise noted.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 48

UAD-2 DSP Settings

Overview

Without UAD Powered Plug-Ins installed, overloading the host system with native (host based) plug-ins can cause dropouts and possibly system lockup. Steinberg hosts, for example, provide a switch that allows you to trade latency for stability when the system is overloaded. Similarly, the UAD DSP load cannot exceed 100% without unpredictable behavior.

With the Limit DSP Load feature, the UAD DSP can also be limited so the load cannot exceed 100%, thereby increasing overall system stability in high load situations. With very heavy UAD loads, DSP load limiting may also improve host CPU performance.

There are many variables that affect DSP load (sample rate, I/O buffer size, parameter values, mono/stereo, automation, host system, etc). Although these variables are taken into account, the resulting measurement cannot be absolutely accurate. This is due to variations in system conﬁgurations, including PCIe bus loading which is impossible to predict. Systems that are heavily loaded due to the presence of other devices or suboptimal conﬁguration may cause additional DSP loading that cannot be predicted by the UAD plug-in load calculator. The DSP load limit should be reduced in this case.

It is possible for certain (non-typical) conditions to be met where another UAD plug-in can’t be added, even when the UAD Meter says you should have DSP available when compared to the DSP Load Limit value.

Note: When Limit DSP Load is enabled and the DSP load limit is exceeded when instantiating a new UAD plug-in, an overload message will appear and the plugin’s Toolbar will display DISABLED. In this case, even though the plug-in loads, it will not process audio.

Limit DSP Load

This setting determines the maximum UAD DSP load. If performance issues such as overloads, dropouts, stuttering, and/or other artifacts persist, change the UAD DSP load value by clicking the triangles to the right of the percentage display.

UAD-2 DSP load limiting is always on. 100% (the default value) is the maximum available setting.

DSP LoadLock

DSP LoadLock reserves the maximum UAD-2 DSP load required by each plug-in, even if certain plug-in features are disabled. This ensures there will always be enough DSP if those features are later enabled, or when automating parameters that affect the DSP load.

Disabling LoadLock increases available UAD-2 DSP by turning off unused features in certain plug-ins, but may cause problems with previously saved sessions that had all plug-in features enabled, or when automating parameters that affect the DSP load.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 49

Enabling DSP LoadLock is recommended for optimum performance. Disable LoadLock when you need to squeeze in that extra bit of DSP resources.

Note: Changes to this setting do not take effect until all open sessions containing UAD plug-ins are reloaded.

Extra Buffering

Extra Buffering adds an additional 64 samples of buffering for increased host application compatibility. DAWs that are known to require Extra Buffering include Cakewalk SONAR, Cockos REAPER, and Sony Vegas/Acid/Soundforge.

In other hosts, you can disable this mode to reduce latency. If your application is incompatible with reduced latency when Extra Buffering is off, a dialog will be displayed indicating that Extra Buffering is required.

Note: Changes to this setting do not take effect until all open sessions containing UAD plug-ins are closed.

Host Compatibility Settings

Release all DSP resources on Audio Unit bypass (Mac only)

Some Audio Unit hosts dynamically bypass plug-ins when they are not being used during playback, for example when no audio is present at the current playback position. During this dynamic bypassing, UAD plug-ins stay loaded on the device, which reduces glitches in playback.

This setting affects the Audio Units platform only. Checking the option will unload UAD plug-ins from the device during dynamic bypassing. When the option is checked, UAD DSP use may be reduced during dynamic bypassing, but the possibility of artifacts during playback is increased.

Note: Changes to this setting do not take effect until all open sessions containing UAD plug-ins are closed.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 50

Force Logic to use “live mode” for tracks with UAD plug-ins (Mac only)

When UAD plug-ins and Logic 7.2.1 (and higher) are used together and this setting is checked, all Logic tracks with UAD plug-ins are forced into Logic’s “live mode” and latency is reduced. Reduced latency is useful for tracking when Logic’s Software Monitoring feature is active.

Important: This setting should be enabled only when using UAD-2 PCIe cards,

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt, UAD-2 Satellite USB, and/or when Apollo is connected via Thunderbolt. Do not enable this setting when using UAD-2 Satellite FireWire or when Apollo is connected via FireWire.

When this setting is active, UAD latency is the same as the hardware interface I/O buffer. In Logic versions prior to 7.2.1 (and later versions when live mode is disabled), UAD latency is determined by the larger of the audio interface hardware I/O buffer size and the Process Buffer Range setting within Logic.

When Logic’s “live mode” is inactive and this setting is not enabled, the minimum Process Buffer Range setting (“Small”) in Logic corresponds to 512 samples, meaning the minimum possible UAD latency is 512 samples for UAD-2 (the current latency is displayed in the UAD Meter System Information panel). Latency can be further reduced by using LiveTrack Mode (UAD-2 PCIe, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt, and Apollo Thunderbolt only).

Note: Logic’s “live mode” is unrelated to UAD-2’s LiveTrack Mode.

On multi-processor machines, Logic’s “live mode” forces all plug-ins on tracks with UAD plug-ins (and any aux/buses fed by those tracks) to run on one processor only. To allow host-based (native) plug-ins to run on all processors under these conditions, deactivate this setting.

Note: Changes to this setting do not take effect until all open sessions containing UAD plug-ins are closed.

User Interface Settings

Controls Mode

This setting determines how UAD plug-in parameter knobs respond to adjustment. Three control modes are offered: Circular, Relative Circular, and Linear. Select the desired mode from the drop menu.

Tip: To increase resolution when in adjusting rotary controls in circular and relative circular modes, increase the radius of the mouse relative to the knob while dragging (move the mouse farther away from the knob while dragging in a circular motion).

Linear (slider)

In Linear mode, the knob is adjusted by dragging horizontally or vertically instead of by rotating. This behavior is similar to moving a fader or other slider control.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 51

Circular (jump)

In Circular mode, the software knobs behave like physical rotary knobs. Values are changed by clicking on the knob then rotating in a circular direction. When the edge of the knob is clicked, the parameter value instantly jumps to the mouse position.

Relative Circular (grab)

Relative Circular mode operates similar to Circular mode, but the knob value does not jump to the mouse position when clicked. Instead, the knob value is modiﬁed relative to its original value.

In this mode you can click anywhere on the knob to make an adjustment originating at the original value (it’s not necessary to click on the current knob position).

Use Host Setting

When Use Host Setting is checked, the control mode that is set within the host application preferences is used (if this feature is supported by the host). This setting forces the host to override the control mode set in the UAD user interface settings.

Note: When Use Host Setting is checked, the UAD Meter user interface settings have no effect unless control mode is NOT supported by the host.

Toggle initial value modiﬁer (Mac only)

Holding the speciﬁed modiﬁer key while clicking a parameter control will toggle between the value of the control when the editor was opened and its last edited value. This feature is not supported under Windows.

This parameter also affects the “select + click” modiﬁer. See Shortcuts for a complete list of keyboard shortcuts.

Automatically send usage statistics to Universal Audio

Enabling this option helps make UAD software better. If checked, statistics will be periodically sent to Universal Audio in the interest of product improvement. These statistics are minimal, and do not impact your system performance. If this box is unchecked, statistics are not sent.

Info Display

This area displays helpful text about parameters in the Conﬁguration panel. Hover the mouse over a Conﬁguration setting to view the informational text.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 52

FireWire Panel

Settings speciﬁc to UAD FireWire devices (UAD-2 Satellite FireWire and Apollo interfaces connected via FireWire) are conﬁgured in the FireWire Panel. Refer to the screenshot below for parameter descriptions in this panel.

Note: The FireWire Panel is only displayed when a UAD FireWire device is connected.

FireWire System Settings

The FireWire System parameters affect the conﬁguration of the FireWire bus. These settings affect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire performance and can also affect FireWire audio interfaces (such as Apollo, when connected via FireWire) and hard drive performance if they are connected to the same FireWire bus.

Note: The FireWire System settings cannot be changed when UAD plug-ins are loaded. Quit all UAD plug-in host software to make changes to these settings.

The primary function of the FireWire System settings is to reduce the UAD FireWire bandwidth allocation and/or link speed when other FireWire devices are on the same bus, or if other performance issues arise.

Important: FireWire device connection methods can affect the FireWire bus speed.

For details, see FireWire Bandwidth.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 53

For more information about FireWire and using it with UAD-2 Satellite and Apollo, see

FireWire Basics, FireWire Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP, and FireWire Bus Power.

Current Link Speed

The current speed of the FireWire link between the host computer and UAD FireWire devices is displayed here. The active link speed can be changed with the Target Link

Speed control if FW400 and FW800 are both supported by the host system.

If the host computer has multiple FireWire buses (this is rare), up to two speeds will be displayed, with the values separated by a comma.

Note: If the host computer supports FireWire 800 and the Target Link Speed is set to 800, but the Current Link Speed still displays 400, check the bus ordering of the FireWire devices. See for information on how to properly combine FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 devices on the same bus.

Target Link Speed

The desired speed of the FireWire link between the host computer and the UAD FireWire device is set here (the actual link speed is shown in the Current Link Speed display). To change the value, click the down arrow to display the drop menu, then select the desired value. The setting cannot be changed when UAD plug-ins are loaded.

Note: The Target Link Speed is ﬁxed at FW800 on Windows systems.

Target Link Speed should be set to 800 when supported by the host computer. However, some FireWire devices may not always perform ﬂawlessly. Changing the Target Link Speed to 400 may actually improve performance and/or stability on systems not optimized for FireWire 800 operation.

Tip: Twice as many UAD plug-ins can be run at FireWire 800 versus 400, so conﬁgure the FireWire system to run at 800 if supported by the computer.

Buffering (Mac)

The buffering mode adjusts overall FireWire performance. Normal is the default value and has less latency than Safeguard mode. Set to Safeguard if host CPU spikes occur when using UAD plug-ins that have high DSP requirements.

UAD Bandwidth Allocation

This parameter determines how much of the total available FireWire bus bandwidth will be reserved for UAD plug-ins on UAD FireWire devices. Limiting the bandwidth used by UAD FireWire devices ensures that other FireWire devices on the same bus will have enough bandwidth to function properly.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 54

To change the value, either a) click the increment/decrement arrows, b) click/hold the current target value to display a drop menu, or c) double-click the value for direct text entry. The maximum available value is 85%.

Note: The value cannot be changed when UAD plug-ins are loaded.

Although the amount of FireWire bandwidth reserved by UAD FireWire devices depends on the UAD Bandwidth Allocation setting, the amount of DSP used by any UAD plug-in does not affect FireWire bandwidth (UAD plug-ins that use very little DSP require the same FireWire bandwidth as DSP-intensive UAD plug-ins). See FireWire Bandwidth vs.

UAD DSP for details.

Important: To avoid UAD authorization errors, set the UAD Bandwidth Allocation

so the FireWire Bandwidth (FBW) gauge in the UAD Meter displays less than 100%.

It is important to note that all devices on the FireWire bus share the available data bandwidth of the bus, including hard drives and audio interfaces as well as UAD FireWire devices. Therefore all of the bandwidth cannot be allocated for UAD use if FireWire hard drives and/or FireWire audio interfaces are on the same bus. See FireWire Bandwidth for additional information.

Important: FireWire bandwidth increases proportionally as the system sample

rate is increased (higher sample rates require more FireWire bandwidth). Before increasing the sample rate, the UAD Bandwidth Allocation may need to be reduced accordingly to prevent audio dropouts.

To determine the proper value for the UAD Bandwidth Allocation:

1. Connect and power on all FireWire devices (host computer, audio interfaces, hard drives, UAD-2 Satellite FireWire) on the FireWire bus.

2. If running an audio interface on the FireWire bus, ensure the audio interface drivers are installed and conﬁgured correctly (speciﬁcally, all the audio inputs and outputs that will be used should be enabled).

3. Run the host DAW software (but DO NOT run any UAD plug-ins) at the HIGHEST SAMPLE RATE that will be used in the session (the sample rate may be reduced after UAD Bandwidth Allocation is set).

4. View Used by other devices in the Bandwidth Metering section of the FireWire

Meter when UAD plug-ins are NOT running. The value indicated in orange is the

percentage of FireWire bandwidth that is used by audio interface I/O streams.

5. Subtract the Used by other devices percentage from 100% and enter the difference as the UAD Bandwidth Allocation.

6. If you are using FireWire hard drives for audio session data on the same bus, the UAD Bandwidth Allocation will need to be reduced to accommodate the FireWire hard drive use.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 55

UAD Bandwidth Allocation Example

If all the FireWire devices on the bus except UAD-2 Satellite FireWire use 20% of the available FireWire bandwidth (from steps 1 through 4 above), enter 80% as the UAD Bandwidth Allocation (100% – 20% = 80%).

Tip: If FireWire performance issues occur, leave a bit of unused FireWire bandwidth as headroom, so the total use for all devices is less than 100%. To leave 5% of the bandwidth available for headroom in the example above, you’d enter 75% for UAD Bandwidth Allocation (20% bandwidth without UAD-2 Satellite + 75% for UAD-2 Satellite = 95% total FireWire bandwidth). This is especially applicable if using FireWire hard drives on the same bus for audio session data.

Plug-In Calculator

The Plug-In Calculator displays the maximum number of stereo UAD plug-ins that can be run on UAD FireWire devices with the current FireWire System Settings at a given sample rate.

Note: The Plug-In Calculator is for informational purposes only; it does not affect UAD FireWire or DSP performance in any way.

Max Stereo Plug-Ins

The maximum number of stereo UAD plug-ins that can run on UAD FireWire Devices, based on the FireWire System Settings and an entered session sample rate, is displayed here. The number changes if/when session sample rate changes.

The UAD instantiation count at the current settings could exceed this number If used in true mono conﬁgurations. Note that some DAWs use stereo plug-in processing even when used on a mono audio ﬁle.

At the following sample rate

This parameter selects the sample rate used by the Plug-In Calculator. To change the value, click the down arrow to display the drop menu, then select the desired value from the menu.

When a UAD plug-in is loaded by the host software, the session sample rate is entered automatically. In this scenario, the parameter cannot be modiﬁed until the host is quit.

Note: The “At the following sample rate” parameter is only used by the PlugIn Calculator; it does not affect the sample rate of the UAD system or the host software.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 56

Bandwidth Metering

Bandwidth Metering pertains to the FireWire bus that UAD FireWire devices are attached to. The items displayed in this area are for informational purposes only; there are no settings here that can be changed.

If the host computer has multiple FireWire buses (this is rare), up to two bandwidth meters will be displayed, one for each bus.

Used by UAD

This number displays the percentage of FireWire bus bandwidth that is used by UAD plug-ins running on UAD FireWire devices. The number cannot exceed the value set by the UAD Bandwidth Allocation parameter.

Used by other devices

This number displays the percentage of FireWire bus bandwidth that is used by all FireWire audio interface I/O devices connected to the bus (including Apollo). The number is used to help determine an optimum value for the UAD Bandwidth Allocation.

FireWire Meter

The FireWire Bandwidth (FBW) meter, illustrated below, reﬂects the FireWire bus bandwidth currently used by UAD FireWire devices and all other FireWire peripheral devices (e.g., audio interfaces and hard drives).

The meter graphically displays the UAD Bandwidth Allocation (green), the bandwidth used by active UAD plug-ins (blue), bandwidth used by FireWire audio interface I/O streams (orange), and bandwidth available for FireWire hard drives (black).

Tip: The FireWire meter in the FireWire control panel is also displayed in the main UAD Meter window when UAD FireWire devices are connected.

Available FW bandwidth (headroom)

Total available Firewire bus bandwidth

UAD Bandwidth Allocation

(blue + green)

Used by

other devices

(orange)

Available for UAD

Used by

UAD (blue)

(green)

Total allocated

bandwidth

(UAD + other

devices)

FireWire meter elements

Important: FireWire bandwidth is unrelated to UAD DSP loads. See FireWire

Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP for details.

Info Display

This area displays helpful text about parameters in the FireWire panel. Hover the mouse over a FireWire setting to view the informational text.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 57

Help Panel

The Help & Support Resources panel (shown below) contains helpful buttons to help you get the most out your UAD Powered Plug-Ins experience.

The button names are self-explanatory. Click a button to open its URL in the default web browser. If the UAD computer isn’t online, much of the information is in the manual you’re reading now; ﬁnd it in the Table of Contents or the PDF reader’s search feature.

Product Manuals is the only button that doesn’t link to the internet. Instead, this button opens the UAD Documentation folder containing all the product operation manuals. See the UAD Documentation Overview for related information.

UAD System Manual UAD Meter & Control Panel 58

Using UAD Plug-Ins

After the UAD hardware and software have been properly installed and conﬁgured, UAD plug-ins are accessed and used just like any native (host-based) plug-in. All UAD plugins can run concurrently with each other and with native plug-ins simultaneously, in any combination. Note that UAD plug-ins running at 96 kHz use twice as much UAD DSP resources than those used at 48 kHz, and so forth.

Launching a UAD Plug-In

Each DAW application has its own particular methods for instantiating (inserting/ launching) a plug-in. Consult the DAW application documentation for speciﬁc instructions on loading and using plug-ins with the application.

Cubase & Nuendo

Logic Pro

Launching a UAD plug-in in Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo

Launching a UAD plug-in in Apple Logic Pro

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 59

The UAD Plug-In Interface

One typical UAD plug-in is shown below. The graphical user interface (GUI) typically contains several control parameters for modifying the sound of the plug-in, and display elements such as meters, for visual feedback. The UAD Toolbar (common to all UAD plug-ins) is also displayed.

Typical interactive

control parameters

Typical display-only element

(not a control parameter)

UAD Toolbar

(common to all UAD plug-ins)

Typical UAD plug-in interface

Controls View

Some DAW applications have an alternate plug-in display mode feature called Controls View, Parameter Mode, or similar terminology. This mode typically displays the control parameters as a list with simple sliders, switches, and menus (the appearance is controlled by the DAW), which some users may prefer. Consult the DAW documentation for how to display this view.

Typical UAD plug-in showing controls view

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 60

UAD Toolbar

The UAD Toolbar is located at the bottom of every UAD plug-in (when the plug-in is not in Controls View). The UAD Toolbar has several useful features that make using UAD plug-ins more convenient. Refer to the illustration below for control descriptions in this section.

Status indicator

LiveTrack Mode switch

UAD Toolbar elements

Help drop menuPreset/Settings drop menu

Buy plug-in

UAD Presets and Settings

The current settings within a UAD plug-in can be saved to disk as a preset ﬁle. The preset can then be subsequently loaded into another instance of the same UAD plug-in title and/or shared with other users. Current UAD plug-in settings can also be copied and pasted between instances of the same UAD plug-in title.

These functions are available via the UAD Preset/Settings Menu.

Note: UAD plug-in settings are saved within a project session ﬁle by the DAW software, and settings are recalled when the project ﬁle is loaded. This occurs automatically without using the UAD Preset/Settings Menu.

Additional Factory Presets

Many UAD plug-ins include additional factory presets that are not within the factory bank (factory bank presets are accessed directly within the DAW). The additional factory presets are automatically installed to the Default Preset Location.

To access the additional presets, use the Load Preset function in the UAD Preset/ Settings menu within the UAD Toolbar.

Preset/Settings Compatibility

Load/save and copy/paste of parameter values between the same UAD plug-in title is allowed, as well as load/save/copy/paste between SE and standard plug-ins of the same title (for example, between Neve 33609 and Neve 33609SE).

Note: Presets and settings between Legacy titles and their newer equivalents with the same title are not compatible (e.g., Fairchild 670 Legacy and Fairchild 670).

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 61

Load/Save Preset

UAD Preset/Settings Menu

The UAD Preset/Settings menu is used to load/save plug-in presets and copy/paste plug-in settings. To access these functions, click the folder icon in the UAD Toolbar, then select an item from the drop menu.

The Preset load/save features support presets but not banks. To load and save banks, use the DAW’s bank management feature (if available).

When Load Preset or Save Preset is selected from the Preset/Settings Menu, the standard operating system load/save ﬁle dialogs are presented. Preset ﬁles can then be loaded (if the plug-in is the same type), or saved to any disk location.

Note: When using UAD plug-ins within Apollo’s Console application, the Presets Manager within Console is recommended for managing presets (instead of the UAD Toolbar) because of its improved functionality.

Copy/Paste Settings

Settings can copied and pasted directly between UAD plug-ins (within the Preset/Settings Compatibility guidelines) without using the interim step of creating a preset ﬁle.

To copy/paste settings between UAD plug-ins, select Copy Settings from the drop menu of the source plug-in, then select Paste Settings from the drop menu of the destination plug-in.

Note: If the menu displays “Cannot Paste Settings” then settings were not copied ﬁrst or the paste destination has incompatible settings.

Default Preset Location

When the load/save functions are used, the OS load/save ﬁle dialogs are automatically directed to the default preset location. Although UAD presets can be loaded from (and saved to) any disk location, using the default preset location automatically organizes all your presets of the same UAD plug-in title within the same folder.

The Presets folder path below is the parent folder for all UAD plug-in presets. Within the parent folder is a subfolder for each individual UAD plug-in title, and the subfolder contains all the presets for that UAD plug-in.

Windows:

• C:\Program Files (x86)\Universal Audio\Powered Plugins\Presets

Mac:

• /Library/Application Support/Universal Audio/Presets

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 62

Status Indicator

The Status indicator in the UAD Toolbar displays information about the current state of the plug-in. Each state is described below.

Start Demo

When START DEMO is displayed, the 14-day trial period for the particular plug-in has never been activated. Clicking this button will start the demonstration period (you can also start the demo in the UAD Control Panel’s Status Column.

Important: The 14-day demo period can only be activated once, and cannot be

stopped or restarted during this period. Don’t activate demo mode unless you have adequate time to thoroughly evaluate its sound and functionality.

Demo Active

After starting the demo, and when the plug-in is still within the active 14-day trial period, the number of days remaining in demo mode is displayed here.

Disabled

When DISABLED is displayed in red, the plug-in will not process audio. This can occur in two situations: either the demo period has expired (click the Buy button!), or the UAD DSP is overloaded and there are not enough device resources to run the plug-in.

Status Blank

When no text is displayed in the Status area, the plug-in is licensed and operating normally. In this state, the Buy button is not displayed.

Buy Button

When the plug-in is not licensed, the Buy button is displayed. If the computer is connected to the internet, clicking Buy links to the UA online store so you can purchase the license. See Buying UAD Plug-Ins for purchasing details.

Help Menu

The Help drop menu contains two convenient shortcuts. To select the shortcuts, click the “?” icon in the UAD Toolbar, then a choose shortcut from the drop menu.

Manual

This option opens the UAD Plug-Ins Manual, where all features and functions of all individual UAD plug-ins are documented.

Web Info

This option opens the product page for the UAD plug-in on the Universal Audio website (Internet connection required).

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 63

LiveTrack Mode

LiveTrack Overview

LiveTrack Mode reduces latency on an active UAD plug-in to the lowest possible amount. This feature is useful for monitoring UAD-processed audio when recording live performances.

Reduced latency in LiveTrack Mode is accomplished by circumventing the standard buffering processes. Normally, UAD signal data is buffered at the audio interface I/O sample buffer size which results in a processing delay. In LiveTrack Mode, UAD signal data is transferred and processed immediately instead of being buffered, resulting in reduced latency.

LiveTrack Mode is available exclusively with UAD-2 devices that use PCIe, Thunderbolt, and/or USB 3 as the connection protocol. LiveTrack is unavailable with UAD-2 FireWire devices (UAD-2 Satellite FireWire and/or Apollo connected via FireWire). Additionally, whenever any UAD-2 FireWire device is connected, LiveTrack Mode becomes unavailable on all of the non-FireWire UAD-2 devices.

Note: LiveTrack Mode is unavailable on all UAD-2 devices whenever any UAD-2 FireWire device is connected to the system.

Increased Host Loading using LiveTrack

When LiveTrack is active, host CPU loading increases. The host load is directly proportional to the DSP load of the UAD plug-in(s) in LiveTrack mode, however host CPU is never used for UAD plug-in processing.

Extra Latency with LiveTrack

When Extra Buffering is enabled or when UAD Plug-Ins with Additional Latency are used with LiveTrack, latency is increased. Extra Buffering adds 64 samples, and each plug-in with additional latency using LiveTrack adds the value from the chart in the UAD PlugIns Manual.

Note: For more detailed information about latency and buffers, see Latency &

Delay Compensation

LiveTrack Activation

To activate LiveTrack Mode, click the microphone icon switch in the UAD Toolbar. LiveTrack Mode is active when the mic icon is red.

LiveTrack Mode can be activated simultaneously on multiple UAD plug-ins. However, host system CPU loads will increase with each LiveTrack Mode instance.

Note: The LiveTrack switch not available when UAD-2 Satellite FireWire and/or Apollo FireWire are connected

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 64

Adjusting Parameters

The parameter settings within each UAD plug-in can be adjusted to achieve a desired sonic effect. Parameter values are easily modiﬁed by dragging sliders, rotating knobs, clicking switches and buttons, or by selecting values in a drop menu. The functions of all plug-in parameters are detailed in the UAD Plug-Ins Manual.

The parameter adjustment style can be Circular, Relative Circular, or Linear. For related information, see User Interface Settings.

Tip: To increase resolution when adjusting rotary controls in circular and relative circular modes, increase the radius of the mouse relative to the knob while dragging (i.e. move the mouse farther away from the knob while dragging).

Text Entry

Parameters that have a value display ﬁeld can be modiﬁed directly with text entry. To enter a parameter value using text entry, single-click the parameter value text ﬁeld. The text value will highlight, indicating it is ready to receive a new value. Type in a new value, then press Return, Enter, or Tab, or click outside of the text box. Press Esc if you want to revert to the prior setting without entering the new value.

Values entered via text entry are rounded to the closest signiﬁcant digit. If an entered value is out of range, it will be ignored.

Time Values

To enter time values, the units must be speciﬁed; m = milliseconds, and s = seconds. For example: To enter 400 milliseconds, type 0.400s or 400m. To enter 1.5 seconds, type 1.5s or 1500m.

Mouse Scroll

If your input device has a scroll function, it can be used to adjust knob and slider controls if the DAW supports this functionality. Place the mouse cursor over any knob or slider control, then use the scroll function to increment or decrement the parameter value.

Keyboard Control (Mac)

If you control-click a parameter, that control is selected for keyboard control. This feature is particularly useful when control adjustment is set to circular mode, and you want to ﬁne-adjust a value.

Normally, clicking on a control in circular mode makes the value jump to where you clicked. Control-clicking will select the control so that you can use the keyboard to adjust the value without causing its value to jump to the cursor location ﬁrst.

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 65

Shortcuts

The table below lists the keyboard shortcuts that are available for modifying parameter values. When using keyboard shortcuts, the last edited control will be modiﬁed.

On Mac systems, you can use control-click to select a different control as the target for keyboard shortcuts without changing the control’s value.

Note: Not all DAW applications support sending keystrokes to plug-ins.

UAD Plug-In Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard Action Result

Control + Click Parameter (Mac only) Select parameter for keyboard control

(without changing its value) Shift + Drag Fine Control UpArrow

RightArrow Shift + PageUp

DownArrow LeftArrow Shift + PageDown

Shift + UpArrow Shift + RightArrow PageUp

Shift + DownArrow Shift + LeftArrow PageDown

Control + Click parameter (Windows) Modiﬁer* + Click parameter (Mac)

Control + Shift + Click parameter (Windows) Modiﬁer* + Shift + Click parameter (Mac)

*Modiﬁer key set in UAD Meter & Control Panel application’s Conﬁguration panel

Increment Fine

Decrement Fine

Increment Coarse

Decrement Coarse

Toggle initial editor setting (the value when the

editor window was last opened)

Revert to initial editor setting (the value when the

editor window was last opened)

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 66

DSP Loading Information

UAD devices feature either one (UAD-2 SOLO), two (UAD-2 DUO), four (UAD-2 QUAD), or eight (UAD-2 OCTO) on-board SHARC DSP chips for UAD plug-in processing.

Multi-DSP systems use sophisticated load balancing routines. UAD-2 plug-ins are always allocated as efﬁciently as possible, which is not necessarily on the DSP with the lowest resource use.

UAD FireWire Devices

Because FireWire has signiﬁcantly less bandwidth than the PCIe protocol, if UAD-2 Satellite FireWire and/or Apollo (when connected via FireWire) is running with UAD-2 PCIe card(s) in a multi-device system, UAD plug-ins will load on the UAD-2 card(s) before the FireWire device in order to maximize FireWire bandwidth. See FireWire

Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP for more information.

More Loading Notes

• Depending on the UAD plug-in, lower session sample rates may use less UAD plug-in DSP resources than higher sample rates.

• Bypassing individual components will conserve DSP on some UAD plug-ins. For example, bypassing the compressor in the Precision Channel Strip when only the EQ is in use, and/or bypassing any of the unused bands of the Precision Channel Strip EQ will use less UAD DSP (unless DSP LoadLock is enabled).

• A chart showing expected plug-in counts is available on the UA website:

www.uaudio.com/support/uad/compatibility/instance-chart.html

Host CPU Loads

• The host computer system memory and CPU are never used for UAD plug-in processing. However, there will always be a small amount of load on the host CPU induced by data transfers and user interface operations.

• When LiveTrack Mode is active, host CPU load is increased.

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 67

Automation

Most UAD plug-in parameters can be automated if this feature is supported by the DAW application. Each DAW has its own particular methods for automation; consult the DAW documentation for speciﬁc instructions on using automation with the DAW.

UAD plug-ins reduce their DSP load when bypassed or disabled, but not their memory load. This feature allows for automatable load balancing of DSP power, and keeps the track delay constant to avoid on/off clicks.

Note: If there is not enough DSP available when automating, the plug-in may not activate. When this occurs, DISABLED is displayed in the UAD Toolbar.

External MIDI Control

UAD plug-in parameters can be controlled by an external MIDI controller, if this feature is supported by the host DAW application. Each DAW has its own particular methods for external MIDI control. Consult the DAW documentation for speciﬁc instructions on using external MIDI control with the DAW.

Mono (m) UAD plug-ins

UAD VST plug-ins with “(m)” in the name are monophonic versions of the plug-in.

The standard VST plug-ins (which support both stereo and mono conﬁgurations) do not consume additional UAD DSP on mono sources when loaded in DAWs that use true-mono processing (for example, Apple Logic Pro, Avid Pro Tools, and Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo).

Some DAWs (for example, Ableton Live and Cakewalk Sonar) do not use true-mono processing on mono signals. In these DAWs, using the mono (m) versions may conserve UAD DSP when used on mono sources.

UAD mono (m) plug-ins are not available in Audio Units, RTAS, or AAX format. All qualiﬁed AU, RTAS, and AAX 64 DAWs (e.g., Apple Logic Pro, Avid Pro Tools) support true-mono processing.

Note: Some UAD plug-ins do not consume less DSP even when used in a truemono conﬁguration. For details about mono vs. stereo DSP use, see the UAD

Instance Count Chart.

UAD System Manual Using UAD Plug-Ins 68

Tempo Sync

The time-based parameters of some UAD plug-ins can be synchronized to the tempo of the host application using the Tempo Sync feature.

Note: Not all DAW applications support Tempo Sync. In such hosts, the tempo sync features will not function.

When Tempo Sync is activated, the time-based parameters that are available for synchronization are changed to note duration values, and will sync to the tempo of the host application using the displayed note value.

Tempo Sync switch within Precision Delay Mod

Tempo Sync Plug-Ins

The Tempo Sync feature is available with the UAD plug-ins listed below.

CS-1 Channel Strip Moog Multimode Filter XL

Cooper Time Cube MXR Flanger/Doubler

Galaxy Tape Echo Precision Delay Mod

EP-34 Classic Tape Echo Precision Delay Mod L

Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay Precision Reﬂection Engine

Moog Multimode Filter Roland RE-201 Space Echo

Moog Filter Multimode SE

Note: This table does not include UAD Direct Developer (3rd-party) plug-ins.

UAD System Manual Tempo Sync 69

Sync Activation

To activate Tempo Sync, click the “Sync” button within the plug-in interface. The Sync button LED will illuminate and the time parameters will change from a time-based display to a note value display.

Note: When Tempo Sync is activated, the plug-in will automatically switch the time or rate parameter(s) to the nearest available note value(s) given the range of the parameter in question and the current tempo.

Available Note Values

The note values that are available for selection are listed below. The values are listed in musical notation as a division of measures. For example, 1/4 = one quarter note, 1/1 = one whole note, 4/1 = four whole notes, and so forth.

The available note values were chosen to allow syncing to tempo in odd time signatures as well the common 4/4 time signature.

LFO rate parameters have their note values listed from longest to shortest, since long note values correspond to slow LFO rates.

Available Tempo Sync Note Values

1/64D* 1/8 5/8 4/1 1/64 5/32* 1/1T 5/1 1/32T 1/4T 1/2D 6/1 1/32 1/8D 1/1 8/1 1/16T 1/4 5/4 9/1 1/32D 5/16 1/1D 12/1 1/16 1/2T 7/4 16/1 1/8T 1/4D 2/1 1/16D 1/2 3/1 D = Dotted

T = Triplet * = Galaxy Tape Echo & RE-201 only

A quarter note is always a quarter note, independent of the time signature. In different time signatures a quarter note can represent different numbers of musical beats (e.g. 6/8 ) or different fractions of a bar (e.g. 5/4). For example, say the time signature is 6/8 and the delay time tempo sync note value is 1/4. If a sound occurs on beat one of the measure then its delay will occur on beat 3, which is 1/4 note (i.e. two 8th notes) later.

Note: The “beat” value in a sequencer’s BPM tempo setting always refers to a quarter note, independent of time signature.

UAD System Manual Tempo Sync 70

Range Limits

Some Tempo Sync parameters cannot access the entire note range in Available Tempo

Sync Note Values. Because the original (non-tempo sync) range of the time-based

parameters within each plug-in is limited, if the host tempo is too fast or too slow, the tempo sync note value may not be able to be achieved within the constraints of the original parameter.

Out of range

When a parameter note value is out of range of the current tempo note value, the note value is displayed in parentheses. In this case, the parameter’s minimum (slow tempo) or maximum (fast tempo) value is used instead of the displayed value.

Tempo Sync value out of range (parentheses)

Entering Values

In addition to adjusting the parameter control, the following methods can be used for entering Tempo Sync values.

Arrow Keys

After clicking the parameter to select it, the computer’s arrow keys can be used to scroll through available note values.

Text Entry

Any notation values can be entered (fraction or decimal), and the values are automatically converted to the nearest appropriate setting.

Example: If 3/4 or 6/8 is entered using text entry, 1/2D is displayed because a dotted half note equals three quarter notes, which is the duration of one measure in a time signature of 3/4 or 6/8. If 12/8 is entered with text entry, 1/1D is displayed because a dotted whole note equals six quarter notes, which is the duration of one measure in a time signature of 12/8 (or two measures in a time signature of 3/4 or 6/8).

This means you can create a tempo sync duration of one measure for any time signature by simply typing in the time signature (assuming there is a match in the beat table).

Similarly, if 1/12 is entered with text entry, 1/8T is displayed because an eighth note triplet is equivalent to one-twelfth of a measure (if in 4/4 time).

UAD System Manual Tempo Sync 71

Precision Delay Modes with Tempo Sync

The UAD Precision Delay Mod and UAD Precision Delay Mod L plug-ins have a Mode menu that switches the plug-in operation between delay, chorus, and ﬂanger mode. In these plug-ins, when the Mode is set to DUAL DELAY and PING PONG, the delay Time and modulation Rate parameters are simultaneously available for Tempo Sync.

However, when the plug-in is set to a CHORUS or FLANGER mode, only the Rate is available for Tempo Sync. This enables the more typical and musical chorus/ﬂange effect by only syncing the modulation Rate to the tevmpo while the delay time remains constant.

Galaxy Tape Echo & Roland RE-201 Sync

When the Galaxy Tape Echo and Roland RE-201 plug-ins are in Tempo Sync mode, note values can be imprecise due to the ﬁxed tape head relationships.

Values that are imprecise approximations (but are within the available delay time range) are displayed with a “+” or “-” symbol. The leading head in the current mode is accurately synced; the other values are based on the ﬁxed tape head relationship.

Note: When a parameter note value is out of range of the current tempo note value in these plug-ins, the note value ﬂashes instead of in being parentheses.

UAD System Manual Tempo Sync 72

Latency & Delay Compensation

When UAD plug-ins are used, audio data to be processed by a UAD plug-in is sent by the host DAW application to the UAD device. The audio is then processed by the UAD device and sent back to the DAW. This back-and-forth shufﬂing of digital audio data is called buffering and it produces a latency (delay) in the audio signal being processed.

Latency is inherent in digital audio systems and it can be detected in certain situations. Latency time in a DAW is usually determined by the session sample rate and audio I/O interface hardware buffer size settings.

If this latency is not compensated, the processed audio will not be perfectly aligned (synchronized) with unprocessed audio. Fortunately, modern DAW applications automatically compensate for this latency by simply enabling the delay compensation function in the DAW’s preference settings. Most DAWs provide full plug-in delay compensation throughout the entire signal path, including inserts, sends, groups/buses, and outputs.

UAD latency and UAD plug-in delay compensation is managed automatically by all modern DAWs using automatic plug-in delay compensation as long as the feature is enabled. Additionally, latency can be reduced to near-undetectable levels in UAD-2 PCIe cards and UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt by enabling LiveTrack Mode in the UAD Toolbar.

Note: Delay compensation is fully automatic and requires no user intervention when UAD plug-ins are used in DAWs that support latency delay compensation.

Host DAW Application Settings

For optimum results, the delay compensation feature should be enabled in the DAW application, so delay compensation is automatic when UAD plug-ins are used. This option is usually found in the audio or plug-in preference settings window. The speciﬁc location of the setting for this option can be found in the DAW documentation.

Latency compensation has various names depending on the DAW. It’s usually referred to as “Automatic Delay Compensation” (ADC), “Plug-In Delay Compensation” (PDC) or similar name.

Realtime UAD Processing with Apollo

With all of Universal Audio’s Apollo High-Resolution Audio Interface models, there is no buffering latency on input because the UAD plug-in processing occurs on input within the interface itself; the data does not need to be shuttled to the DAW and back.

This feature, called Realtime UAD Processing, is only available when UAD plug-ins are used within Apollo’s Console application. I/O buffering latency still applies with Apollo when UAD plug-ins are used within a DAW.

UAD System Manual Latency & Delay Compensation 73

UAD Plug-Ins with Additional Latency

Some UAD plug-ins introduce additional latency to achieve sonic design goals (for example, upsampling). When these UAD plug-ins are used in a DAW, additional latency is induced in the signal path. Therefore, they require more compensation to remain perfectly synchronized with other tracks.

Although the latency added by these UAD plug-ins is negligible (typically between 0 – 300 samples, depending on the plug-in and session sample rate), this extra latency can affect phase coherency in a session if not properly compensated.

Note: Compensating additional latency from UAD plug-ins is performed automatically by the host DAW application when the latency compensation function is enabled in the DAW.

Additional Latency Values

The latency values (in samples) of UAD plug-ins with additional latency are listed in the last chapter within the UAD Plug-Ins Manual.

Latency Compensation Notes

• To automatically compensate for UAD plug-ins with additional latency, simply enable the delay compensation function in the Host DAW Application Settings.

• Compensating for UAD plug-ins with additional latency is not required when these plug-ins are used for program material on the output bus, where latency is not a consideration because the entire mix is delayed by the same amount.

• The latency in UAD plug-ins with additional latency is also produced when

LiveTrack Mode is used with these UAD plug-ins.

• Additional latencies cannot be displayed in the Plug-In Latency Section within the System Information panel due to technical limitations.

• The Ampex ATR-102, AKG BX 20, and Precision Multiband plug-ins have a signiﬁcantly larger latency than other UAD plug-ins with additional latency because of their complex algorithms. Because manually compensating for these plug-ins in DAWs that don’t support full plug-in delay compensation can be complicated, to avoid timing errors in these DAWs, using these plug-ins only on outputs is recommended so no manual compensation is required.

Note: Use the Ampex ATR-102, AKG BX 20, and Precision Multiband only on outputs (as their design was intended), or only in DAWs that have full plug-in delay compensation.

UAD System Manual Latency & Delay Compensation 74

Live Processing (without Apollo)

The previous information about delay compensation applies primarily to playback and mixing of existing tracks on (non-Apollo) UAD-2 devices. During recording (tracking), the primary concern usually centers around getting the absolute lowest possible latency out of your hardware and software combination. The lower the latency is, the closer you can get to a real-time “ears match the ﬁngers” performance situation in the digital environment where some latency is unavoidable.

Realtime latency is displayed in the System Information Panel within the UAD Meter & Control Panel application.

Live processing latency is determined by the session sample rate and the audio interface I/O buffer size setting. Higher sample rates and lower buffer sizes produce lower latencies.

UAD-2 LiveTrack Mode

UAD-2 PCIe cards and UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt offer an advanced buffering architecture that can deliver reduced latency when tracking through UAD plug-ins that are loaded in a DAW. To enable the feature, activate LiveTrack Mode in the UAD Toolbar on the UAD plug-in(s) within the DAW.

UAD System Manual Latency & Delay Compensation 75

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt

The rich analog sound of UAD plug-ins over Thunderbolt

The UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt DSP Accelerator is a sleek, powerful way for Thunderbolt-equipped users to “supercharge” their systems and run larger mixes ﬁlled with acclaimed UAD plug-ins. This convenient desktop unit gives you full access to UA’s award-winning plug-in library.

With improved performance and reduced plug-in latency versus FireWire, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt makes the perfect introduction to UAD plug-ins, or ideal DSP expander for Apollo audio interfaces.

Once installed and conﬁgured, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt is functionally similar to its UAD-2 PCIe card counterparts.

Features

• 44.1 – 192 kHz DSP Audio Accelerator for Thunderbolt Computers

• Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 2 connectivity (depending on model)

• UAD-2 QUAD or OCTO in an attractive external housing

• Same potent DSP power as UAD-2 PCIe QUAD or OCTO

• Kensington Security Slot for anti-theft cables

• Fan-free construction for silent operation

Retail Package Contents

• UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt unit (QUAD or OCTO version)

• External 12VDC power supply with region-speciﬁc AC cable

• Getting started URL card

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 76

QUAD and OCTO Models

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt is available in two DSP conﬁgurations: QUAD and OCTO. The only difference between these two conﬁgurations is the number of SHARC DSP processors inside the device (and therefore the available DSP horsepower for UAD plug-in processing). The QUAD or OCTO designator is on a sticker on the bottom of the unit.

Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 2 Models

Depending on the model, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt has either two Thunderbolt 3 ports, or two Thunderbolt 2 ports. Other than the location of the power switch, the only functional difference between these two models is the type of Thunderbolt ports on the device.

Note: To use UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 2 models with Windows 10 computers, or Mac computers with Thunderbolt 3 ports, a compatible Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter (not included) is required. For details, visit help.uaudio.

com.

Documentation

This UAD System Manual is the primary resource for UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt operations. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins are detailed separately in the UAD Plug-Ins Manual. For complete documentation information, see the UAD Documentation Overview.

Instructions in this chapter are speciﬁc to UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt operations only, and apply in addition to the other chapters in this manual. To get the most from your UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt, please review the information in this chapter and the rest of this manual.

Setup Overview

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt setup includes hardware setup, installing the software, and registration/authorization to claim bundled UAD plug-ins.

Hardware setup is detailed below. After the hardware is connected, install the UAD software and authorize the device using the procedures detailed in UAD Installation.

Note: For optimum results, connect and power UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt before software installation.

System Requirements

To use UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt, the computer must meet the System Requirements.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 77

Hardware Setup

POWER IN

Install Location

When selecting a location to position UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt for installation and operation, consider these points:

• The unit should be positioned on a secure, stable surface and not moved during operation. This will help prevent the disruption of signals from cables and/or connectors if they are accidentally bumped or disconnected.

• For proper ventilation to prevent overheating, place UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt on a hard, ﬂat surface and do not cover the unit. This will allow air to circulate underneath the chassis and through the housing vents.

• Multiple UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt units may be stacked. Apollo Twin may be stacked on top of UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt.

• High levels of radio-frequency radiation could interfere with proper operation. If possible, avoid placement near unshielded monitors, radio transmitters, and similar equipment.

Security Slot

The air vents on the rear panel are sized to ﬁt Kensington® Security Slot products. This feature helps prevent theft when used with an optional locking cable such as a Kensington ClickSafe® or MicroSaver®

OFF ON

security cable. Refer to the instructions included with the optional cable.

External Power Supply

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt includes an external 12VDC power supply with a regionspeciﬁc changeable AC cable. The external power supply is required for operation.

Important: UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt cannot be bus powered via Thunderbolt.

The included external power supply must be used.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 78

Hardware Connections

About Thunderbolt 3 Ports and Cables

Important: Although Thunderbolt 3 always uses USB-C connectors, not all USB-C

ports are Thunderbolt 3 ports. Similarly, not all USB-C cables are Thunderbolt 3 cables. Always connect UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 models to a Thunderbolt 3 port with a Thunderbolt 3 cable.

USB-C is not Thunderbolt 3

Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C connections to transfer data and power. However, USB-C is simply a connector type; it doesn’t determine the type of data used by the connector. For example, USB-C connections can be used for Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and other data protocols, so USB-C connections are not always interchangeable.

Does your USB-C connector support Thunderbolt 3?

To determine if a USB-C port or cable connector supports Thunderbolt 3, look for the Thunderbolt icon. The Thunderbolt icon on a USB-C port or cable means the connector supports Thunderbolt 3. Alternately, conﬁrm Thunderbolt 3 compatibility with the device and/or cable manufacturer.

Thunderbolt icon on Thunderbolt 3 cable (left) and Thunderbolt 3 port (right)

About Thunderbolt 2 ports and Cables

Important: Thunderbolt 2 and Mini DisplayPort both use the same connector.

However, not all Mini DisplayPort ports are Thunderbolt 2 ports. Similarly, not all Mini DisplayPort cables are Thunderbolt 2 cables. Always connect UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 2 models to a Thunderbolt 2 port with a Thunderbolt 2 cable (or to a Thunderbolt 3 port via a compatible Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter).

Mini DisplayPort is not Thunderbolt 2

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt cannot be used by connecting it to a Mini DisplayPort connector. Although Thunderbolt 2 and Mini DisplayPort devices have the same physical connector, the underlying communication protocol used by these devices is different.

The type of device port can be determined by the icon next to the port. Thunderbolt 2 ports have a lightning bolt icon, while Mini DisplayPort ports have a display icon, as shown at right.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 79

Connecting and Powering UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt

For optimum results, connect and power UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt before installing the software. However, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt may be connected and powered after the software is installed.

Note: Per the Thunderbolt speciﬁcation, the UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt hardware may be connected and/or powered while the computer is running. However, quit any audio applications using UAD plug-ins before powering off or disconnecting.

To connect and power UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt:

1. Select a suitable Install Location for the UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt unit.

2. Connect the female end of the included AC cable to the AC input on the included external power supply. Connect the male end of the AC cable to an AC power outlet.

3. Connect the output (4-pin XLR connector) of the included external power supply to the 12VDC input on the rear panel of UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt.

4. Connect one end of a Thunderbolt cable (not included) to a Thunderbolt port on the computer.

5. Connect the other end of the Thunderbolt cable to one of the Thunderbolt ports on UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt (either port may be used).

Important: Do not connect both Thunderbolt ports to the computer. The

Thunderbolt protocol is bidirectional, so only one Thunderbolt cable is needed.

6. Apply power to UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt by using the POWER switch on the front panel (Thunderbolt 3 models) or rear panel (Thunderbolt 2 models). The Universal Audio logo and text on the front panel illuminate when the unit is properly powered.

Hardware connections are complete and UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt is ready for UAD

Installation.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 80

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt Operation

After hardware and software setups are complete, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt is ready for use. UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt operation is essentially the same as UAD-2 PCIe cards. Refer to the other chapters in this manual for general operating instructions.

Important: Operations speciﬁc to UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt are detailed in this

chapter.

HOST Indicator

The HOST indicator on the front panel indicates the operating state of the unit. The indicator color can be white or red. Three HOST states are possible:

Blinking white (starting) – The unit is starting up after power is applied. Full boot time is approximately 8 to 10 seconds.

Blinking white and red (host undetected) – The host computer is not connected and/ or the UAD device drivers are not installed. Check connections and/or reinstall the UAD software.

Solid white (normal) – The unit connected to the host computer and communicating with the UAD device drivers. This is the state during normal operation.

Powering On

Follow these guidelines when bringing up the computer and DAW systems:

• Power on UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt and wait for the solid white HOST Indicator before opening a DAW or other audio applications.

• UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt may be powered on before or after the computer is started.

Powering Off

Follow these guidelines when shutting down the DAW and computer systems:

• Close all audio applications before powering down or disconnecting UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt.

• UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt may be powered down and/or disconnected while the computer is running, as long as no UAD plug-ins are loaded.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 81

System Sleep

Per the Thunderbolt protocol speciﬁcation, system sleep is supported with UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt. However, disabling sleep when using DAW software is generally recommended. For optimum results when using UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt with DAW software, follow these guidelines to disable sleep.

Note: Before sleeping the system, quit any DAW software using UAD plug-ins.

Mac

• Open the System Preferences>Energy Saver panel and drag the “Computer Sleep” slider (if available) to “Never” (far right position).

Tip: To access System Preferences, click the Apple icon in the macOS Menu Bar (at upper left corner of screen) then select it from the drop menu.

Windows

1. Go to: Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options. The Power Options window opens.

2. In the Power Options window: a. Select the High performance option. b. Click the Change plan settings link for the High performance option. The Edit Plan Settings window opens.

3. In the Edit Plan Settings window: a. Select Never from the Turn off the display drop menu(s). b. Select Never from the Put the computer to sleep drop menu(s).

4. Click the Save changes button to activate the settings.

Correct setting shown – Sleep disabled in Edit Plan Settings

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 82

Connecting Thunderbolt peripherals

Daisy Chains

Thunderbolt peripheral devices (such as an Apollo audio interface or external hard drive) may be serially connected to the available port on the rear panel of UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt protocol supports a maximum of six Thunderbolt peripherals per Thunderbolt bus.

Note: UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt must be powered on for the computer to recognize the daisy-chained device.

Device Compatibility

UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt is ofﬁcially certiﬁed as Thunderbolt compliant and is therefore compatible with other certiﬁed Thunderbolt devices when used in the same chain.

Thunderbolt Bus Power

Per the Thunderbolt protocol speciﬁcation, bus power is supplied by UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt to downstream (daisy chained) peripheral Thunderbolt devices connected to the available Thunderbolt port on the rear panel.

Note: UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt cannot be bus powered. The included external power supply must be used.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 83

UAD-2 Satellite USB

The rich analog sound of UAD plug-ins over USB 3

The UAD-2 Satellite USB DSP Accelerator is a sleek, powerful way for Window-based PC users to “supercharge” their systems and run larger mixes ﬁlled with acclaimed UAD plug-ins. This convenient desktop unit gives you full access to UA’s award-winning plug-in library, including exclusive titles from Studer, Lexicon, Neve, and more. With improved performance and reduced plug-in latency versus FireWire, UAD-2 Satellite USB makes the perfect introduction to UAD plug-ins, or an ideal DSP expander for Apollo Twin USB audio interfaces.

Once installed and conﬁgured, UAD-2 Satellite USB is functionally similar to its UAD-2 PCIe card counterparts.

QUAD and OCTO Versions

UAD-2 Satellite USB is available in two versions: QUAD and OCTO. The only difference between these two models is the number of SHARC DSP processors inside the device (and therefore the available DSP horsepower for UAD plug-in processing). The QUAD or OCTO designator is on a sticker on the bottom of the unit.

Features

• UAD-2 QUAD or OCTO in an attractive external housing

• Same potent DSP power as UAD-2 PCIe QUAD or OCTO

• 44.1 – 192 kHz DSP Audio Accelerator for Windows PC’s

• USB 3 connectivity

• Kensington Security Slot for anti-theft cables

• Fan-free construction for silent operation

Retail Package Contents

• UAD-2 Satellite USB unit (QUAD or OCTO version)

• External 12VDC power supply with region-speciﬁc AC cable

• Getting started URL card

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 84

Documentation

This UAD System Manual is the primary resource for UAD-2 Satellite USB operations. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins are detailed separately in the UAD Plug-Ins Manual. For complete documentation information, see the UAD Documentation Overview.

Instructions in this chapter are speciﬁc to UAD-2 Satellite USB operations only, and apply in addition to the other chapters in this manual. To get the most from your UAD-2 Satellite USB, please review the information in this chapter and the rest of this manual.

Setup Overview

UAD-2 Satellite USB setup includes hardware setup, installing the software, and registration/authorization to claim bundled UAD plug-ins.

Hardware setup is detailed below. After the hardware is connected, install the UAD software and authorize the device using the procedures detailed in UAD Installation.

Note: For optimum results, connect and power UAD-2 Satellite USB before software installation.

System Requirements

To use UAD-2 Satellite USB, the computer must meet the System Requirements.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 85

Hardware Setup

POWER IN

Install Location

When selecting a location to position UAD-2 Satellite USB for installation and operation, consider these points:

• For proper ventilation to prevent overheating, place UAD-2 Satellite USB on a hard, ﬂat surface and do not cover the unit. This will allow air to circulate underneath the chassis and through the housing vents.

• Multiple UAD-2 Satellite USB units may be stacked. Apollo Twin may be stacked on top of UAD-2 Satellite USB.

• High levels of radio-frequency radiation could interfere with proper operation. If possible, avoid placement near unshielded monitors, radio transmitters, and similar equipment.

Security Slot

OFF ON

security cable. Refer to the instructions included with the optional cable.

External Power Supply

UAD-2 Satellite USB includes an external 12VDC power supply with a region-speciﬁc changeable AC cable. The external power supply is required for operation.

Important: UAD-2 Satellite USB cannot be bus powered via USB 3. The included

external power supply must be used.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 86

Hardware Connections

For optimum results, connect and power UAD-2 Satellite USB before installing the software. However, UAD-2 Satellite USB may be connected and powered after the software is installed.

Note: Per the USB 3 speciﬁcation, the UAD-2 Satellite USB hardware may be connected and/or powered while the computer is running. However, quit any audio applications using UAD plug-ins before powering off or disconnecting.

To connect and power UAD-2 Satellite USB:

1. Select a suitable Install Location for the UAD-2 Satellite USB unit.

2. Connect the female end of the included AC cable to the AC input on the included external power supply. Connect the male end of the AC cable to an AC power outlet.

3. Connect the output (4-pin XLR connector) of the included external power supply to the 12VDC input on the rear panel of UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt.

4. Connect one end of the USB 3 cable (included) to a USB 3 port on the PC.

5. Connect the other end of the USB 3 cable to the USB 3 port on UAD-2 Satellite USB.

6. Apply power to UAD-2 Satellite USB by using the POWER switch on the rear panel. The Universal Audio logo and text on the front panel illuminate when the unit is properly powered.

Hardware connections are complete and UAD-2 Satellite USB is ready for UAD

Installation.

USB 3 versus USB 2

UAD-2 Satellite USB cannot be used by connecting it to a USB 2 connector. Although USB 3 and USB 2 devices have a similar physical connector, the underlying communication protocol used by these ports is different.

USB 3 ports contain blue plastic inside the port. They can sometimes be identiﬁed by a “SuperSpeed” “SS” label next to the port (as shown at right).

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 87

Windows Setup

The Windows operating system settings below are important to ensure optimum performance with UAD-2 Satellite USB.

Prevent Windows from powering off USB 3 devices

Default Windows settings can interrupt USB data streams. Follow the procedure below to prevent Windows from powering off USB devices.

1. Open the Windows Device Manager. The Device Manager can be accessed by right-clicking the Windows Start Menu and selecting the item from the contextual menu.

2. Double-click the Universal Serial Bus controllers branch in the Device Manager window. The individual USB controllers in the branch are displayed in a list.

Double-Click

The USB controllers branch in Device Manager

3. Double-click the USB Root Hub device in the USB controllers branch list. The Properties window for the individual device opens. (continued on next page)

Branch

Double-Click

USB Root Hub controller device in branch list

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 88

4. Click the Power Management tab within the device’s Properties window. The power management options are displayed.

5. Uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option.

6. Click the OK button to activate the new setting.

Click Tab

NO check in box

Click OK

Correct setting shown — “Allow” option is disabled in device properties window

7. Repeat steps 3 – 6 for all individual devices that include “USB Root Hub” in its name.

Repeat for every

USB Root Hub

Repeat procedure for all USB Root Hubs

UAD-2 Satellite USB is now ready for use.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 89

System Sleep

System sleep is supported with UAD-2 Satellite USB. However, disabling sleep when using DAW software is generally recommended. For optimum results when using UAD-2 Satellite USB with DAW software, follow these guidelines:

• Disable sleep. Open Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>Power Options>Edit Plan Settings, then select “Never” from the “Put the computer to sleep” menus.

• Before sleeping the system, quit any DAW software using UAD plug-ins.

Computer sleep disabled in the Edit Plan Settings window within Control Panels

Additional Windows Optimizations

• Visit the UAD-2 Satellite USB Knowledge Base at help.uaudio.com for updated technical news, known issues, and system optimization information.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 90

UAD-2 Satellite USB Operation

After hardware and software setups are complete, UAD-2 Satellite USB is ready for use. UAD-2 Satellite USB operation is essentially the same as UAD-2 PCIe cards. Refer to the other chapters in this manual for general operating instructions.

Important: Operations speciﬁc to UAD-2 Satellite USB are detailed in this

chapter.

HOST Indicator

The HOST indicator on the front panel indicates the operating state of unit. The indicator color can be white or red. Three HOST states are possible:

Blinking white (starting) – The unit is starting up after power is applied. Full boot time is approximately 8 to 10 seconds.

Blinking white and red (host undetected) – The host computer is not connected and/ or the UAD device drivers are not installed. Check connections and/or reinstall the UAD software.

Solid white (normal) – The unit connected to the host computer and communicating with the UAD device drivers. This is the state during normal operation.

Powering On

Follow these guidelines when bringing up the computer and DAW systems:

• Power on UAD-2 Satellite USB and wait for the solid white HOST Indicator before opening a DAW or other audio applications.

• UAD-2 Satellite USB may be powered on before or after the computer is started.

Powering Off

Follow these guidelines when shutting down the DAW and computer systems:

• Close all audio applications before powering down or disconnecting UAD-2 Satellite USB.

• UAD-2 Satellite USB may be powered down and/or disconnected while the computer is running, as long as no UAD plug-ins are loaded.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite USB 91

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire

Serious analog sound for FireWire-equipped Macs and PCs

A simple FireWire connection is all it takes to plug your Mac or PC into the world’s ﬁnest analog hardware emulations. UAD-2 Satellite DSP Accelerators offer full access to UAD Powered Plug-Ins, including exclusive titles from Studer, Ampex, Lexicon, Neve, Manley, SSL and more.

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire features a sleek, ultra-portable FireWire 800-based processing unit, plus the Analog Classics plug-in bundle, giving you massive analog character, right out of the box.

Once installed and conﬁgured, UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is functionally similar to its UAD-2 PCIe card counterparts. The main difference between UAD-2 Satellite FireWire and UAD-2 PCIe cards is differing architectures (FireWire versus PCIe).

DUO and QUAD Versions

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is available in two versions: DUO and QUAD. The primary difference between these two models is the number of processors inside the device (and therefore the available DSP horsepower for running UAD plug-ins). The DUO or QUAD designator is silk-screened on the bottom of the UAD-2 Satellite FireWire housing.

Note: UAD-2 Satellite FireWire DUO is a discontinued product.

Documentation

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is designed for use with UAD Powered Plug-Ins, the companion software package that includes the drivers, plug-ins, and documentation.

Instructions in this chapter are speciﬁc to UAD-2 Satellite FireWire operations only, and apply in addition to the other chapters. To get the most from your UAD-2 Satellite FireWire, please review the information in this chapter and the rest of this manual.

About FireWire

This chapter contains information about the FireWire protocol and how to use it with UAD-2 Satellite FireWire. For details, see all sections in FireWire Basics.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 92

Features

• UAD-2 DUO or QUAD in an external housing chassis

• 44.1 - 192 kHz DSP Audio Accelerator for FireWire computers

• FireWire 800 & 400 interface

• Same potent DSP power as UAD-2 PCIe DUO or QUAD

• Kensington Security Slot for anti-theft cables

Retail Package Contents

• UAD-2 Satellite FireWire unit (DUO or QUAD version)

• External power supply with international AC plug adapters

• FireWire 800 (9-pin) cable

• Important Information Sheet

System Requirements

To use UAD-2 Satellite FireWire, the computer must meet the System Requirements.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 93

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Installation

Install Software First

The software installation procedure for UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is the exact same procedure as those for UAD cards. Install the software before the hardware unless you are updating a previous installation. Refer to UAD Installation for detailed procedures.

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Install Location

When selecting a location to position UAD-2 Satellite FireWire during installation and use, consider these points:

• For proper ventilation to prevent overheating, place UAD-2 Satellite FireWire on a hard, ﬂat surface and do not cover the unit. Allow air to circulate underneath the chassis. Two UAD-2 Satellite FireWire units may be safely stacked.

• High levels of radio-frequency radiation could interfere with proper operation. If possible, avoid placement near unshielded monitors, radio transmitters, and similar equipment.

Security Slot

The Kensington Security Slot is on the rear panel. This feature helps prevent theft when used with an optional locking cable such as the Kensington MicroSaver Security Cable. Refer to the instructions that come with the optional cable.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 94

External Power Supply

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire includes an external international DC power supply with changeable AC connectors to match the AC socket in various countries.

Important: UAD-2 Satellite FireWire cannot be bus powered via FireWire. The

included power supply must be used.

External DC power supply and changeable AC connectors

To change the AC connector:

1. Press and hold the button on the AC connector marked PUSH.

2. Rotate the AC prongs counter-clockwise to remove the connector.

3. Insert the desired connector and rotate clockwise until it snaps into place.

To remove AC connector:

1. Press and hold button 2. Rotate counter-clockwise

Note: The removable connectors are keyed so they cannot be inserted incorrectly.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 95

Connecting UAD-2 Satellite FireWire

Important: Install the UAD software before connecting UAD-2 Satellite FireWire.

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire may be connected before or after the system is booted.

To connect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire:

1. Ensure that the UAD Powered Plug-Ins software is already installed and that the system was powered down after software installation (Mac systems can be hotplugged after restarting). See UAD Installation for speciﬁc instructions.

2. Ensure that all UAD plug-in host software is quit.

3. Select a suitable see UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Install Location for the unit.

4. Connect the AC end of the external power supply to an AC outlet.

5. Connect external power supply output cable to the DC input on the rear panel of the UAD-2 Satellite FireWire unit.

6. Connect one end of the FireWire cable to the FireWire port on the host computer.

7. Connect the other end of the FireWire cable to the UAD-2 Satellite FireWire chassis.

Important: Do not connect more than one FireWire port to the computer. The

FireWire protocol is bidirectional, so only one FireWire cable is needed.

8. Turn on UAD-2 Satellite FireWire using the power switch on the rear panel. The unit may be powered on before connecting without consequence.

9. Start the computer system.

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire connections are complete and the device is ready for UAD-2

Satellite FireWire Operation. Additional connection methods are detailed later in this

chapter.

Disconnecting UAD-2 Satellite FireWire

Important: The proper sequence must be followed before disconnecting UAD-2

Satellite FireWire from the computer to avoid unpredictable behavior and/or data loss.

To disconnect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire:

1. Save your sessions and quit all audio software (DAW applications and the UAD Meter & Control Panel).

2. Disconnect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire from the FireWire port.

Note: UAD-2 Satellite FireWire may be disconnected when it and/or the computer is powered, as long as the steps above are followed.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 96

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Operation

After the UAD Powered Plug-Ins software is installed and UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is properly connected to the computer via FireWire, the system is ready for use. Refer to other chapters in this manual for UAD software operating instructions.

All UAD-2 Satellite FireWire operations (except for hardware setup) are similar to the operation of other UAD-2 devices. See Important UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Notes for exceptions speciﬁc to UAD-2 Satellite FireWire.

About FireWire

For general information about FireWire and how it is used with UAD-2 Satellite FireWire and other FireWire devices, see FireWire Basics and FireWire Bandwidth.

Note: Available FireWire bandwidth is unrelated to UAD DSP loads. See FireWire

Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP for details.

Power Indicator

When power is applied to UAD-2 Satellite FireWire via the rear switch, the UA logo on the front panel glows. This power indicator does not represent the state of the UAD drivers or their link to UAD-2 Satellite FireWire (the Rear Panel LED indicates the operational state).

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Power Indicator

Rear Panel LED

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire has a UAD link indicator on the rear panel. This LED provides information about the operational state of the device and its drivers. For more details, see UAD-2 LED.

UAD-2 LED on Satellite FireWire rear panel

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 97

Connect/Reconnect

Quit all audio software before connecting or reconnecting UAD-2 Satellite FireWire. The device can be connected or reconnected when the device and/or the host computer is already powered on. The device will be detected and the UAD drivers will automatically load upon connection.

Adding a device to the active bus

Connecting or disconnecting any FireWire device to an active FireWire bus causes a “bus reset” (as speciﬁed by the FireWire protocol). When a FireWire bus reset occurs, all active UAD plug-ins are disabled. The session must be reloaded to reactivate UAD plug-ins.

Note: Connect all FireWire devices to the bus before activating UAD plug-ins.

Disconnect

UAD-2 Satellite FireWire can be disconnected when it and/or the host computer is active or sleeping as long as no UAD host applications (including UAD Meter & Control Panel) are running.

Important: Do not disconnect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire while UAD plug-ins are

loaded.

System Sleep

System sleep while UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is active is not supported. Before sleeping the system, quit all audio plug-in host applications (including the UAD Meter & Control Panel) and disconnect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire. After wake, UAD-2 Satellite FireWire may be reconnected.

Important: Quit all hosts and disconnect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire before system

sleep.

Hot Plugging (Mac only)

Note: FireWire hot-plugging may work on Windows systems but these operations are not tested.

Hot plugging refers to the ability to disconnect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire while the host computer is active or sleeping, and reconnect it at a later time without rebooting. UAD-2 Satellite FireWire supports hot plugging (hot plugging is part of the FireWire speciﬁcation) on Mac systems.

As long as the UAD drivers are properly installed, if UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is hotplugged into an active FireWire bus, the UAD drivers will load automatically and be ready for use.

However, disconnecting UAD-2 Satellite FireWire when UAD plug-ins are loaded could cause session data loss and/or unpredictable behavior. Quit all UAD hosts and the UAD Meter & Control Panel before disconnecting the device.

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 98

FireWire Bandwidth

All devices on a FireWire bus must share the available data bandwidth of the bus, including hard drives and audio interfaces as well as UAD-2 Satellite FireWire. If there is not enough FireWire bandwidth to handle all the data trafﬁc on the bus, performance issues (such as audio clicks/pops/dropouts or UAD overloads) could occur.

FireWire Bandwidth Meter

When UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is connected, the UAD Meter window displays the FireWire Bandwidth (FBW) meter, showing the amount of FireWire bandwidth being used by UAD-2 Satellite FireWire and other FireWire devices on the bus. Elements of the UAD

FireWire Meter illustrates all of the elements in the meter.

The FireWire Bandwidth meter is visible when a UAD FireWire device is connected

Important: FireWire bandwidth is unrelated to UAD DSP loads. See FireWire

Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP for details.

Sharing Bandwidth

If UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is the only device on the FireWire bus, UAD processing trafﬁc can use the entire bandwidth of the bus. However, if other FireWire devices are on the bus, the amount of bandwidth used for UAD trafﬁc must be reduced so those devices will have enough bandwidth for their processes as well.

Bandwidth Control

The FireWire bandwidth used for UAD trafﬁc is controlled using the UAD Bandwidth

Allocation control. By using the FireWire Bandwidth Meter, it’s easy to determine how

much bandwidth is being used by the non-UAD devices, so appropriate choices can be made when setting the UAD Bandwidth Allocation.

These settings, and all other UAD-2 Satellite FireWire parameters, are made in the

FireWire Panel. See that section for detailed descriptions of the FireWire controls.

Available FW bandwidth (headroom)

Total available Firewire bus bandwidth

UAD Bandwidth Allocation

(blue + green)

Used by

other devices

(orange)

Available for UAD

Used by

UAD (blue)

(green)

Total allocated

bandwidth

(UAD + other

devices)

Elements of the UAD FireWire Meter

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 99

Important UAD-2 Satellite FireWire Notes

For maximum system stability and reduced possibility of data loss, please observe the requirements below when operating UAD-2 Satellite FireWire:

Note: Only FireWire 800 connections are tested.

• Due to differing architectures, LiveTrack Mode is unavailable when UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is connected. LiveTrack Mode is also unavailable with UAD-2 PCIe cards or Apollo via Thunderbolt when UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is connected to the same system as these devices.

• UAD-2 Satellite FireWire has a minimum hardware buffer requirement of 512 samples. The hardware I/O buffer setting for the host and audio interface can be adjusted to a value lower than 512 samples when UAD-2 Satellite FireWire is connected, and the UAD-2 Satellite FireWire drivers dynamically adjust to allow for the lower buffer setting while still maintaining UAD-2 Satellite FireWire’s minimum buffer requirement of 512 samples.

Note: For the lowest latency while tracking, disable any plug-ins currently running on UAD-2 Satellite FireWire from the input tracks and the monitoring and/or master output paths.

• All devices on the FireWire bus share the available data bandwidth of the bus, including external hard drives and audio interfaces as well as UAD plug-ins. The amount of UAD DSP that is available for UAD plug-in processing can exceed the available FireWire bandwidth. For these reasons, the value of the UAD Bandwidth

Allocation setting is critical. See FireWire Bandwidth and FireWire Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP for more details.

• All three FireWire ports on UAD-2 Satellite FireWire may be used concurrently as a FireWire hub, however FireWire bus power is not supplied to downstream devices. See Bus Power for details.

• See Mixing FireWire Speeds for important information about using FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 devices on the same bus.

• Although hot-plugging is supported on Mac systems, disconnecting UAD-2 Satellite FireWire when UAD plug-ins are running could cause unpredictable behavior. Quit all UAD hosts and the UAD Meter & Control Panel before disconnecting or powering down UAD-2 Satellite FireWire.

Important: Do not disconnect UAD-2 Satellite FireWire while UAD plug-ins are

loaded.

(Continued)

UAD System Manual UAD-2 Satellite FireWire 100

UNIVERSAL AUDIO UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 OCTO Custom, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 QUAD Core, UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt 3 OCTO Core, UAD-2 Satellite USB OCTO Custom, UAD-2 Satellite USB QUAD Core UAD System Manual.pdf

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introduction

The Authentic Sound of Analog

Features

UAD Documentation Overview

Additional Resources & Technical Support

UAD Installation

System Requirements

Installation on Windows Systems (FireWire and/or PCIe)

Installation on Windows Systems (Thunderbolt and/or USB)

Installation on Mac Systems

Installed Software Locations

UAD-2 PCIe Card Installation

Online Authorization

Verifying Installation

Software Removal

UAD System Overview

The UAD Environment

The UAD Hardware

The UAD Software

The DAW Environment

UA Account & Store

Account Overview

Store Overview

UAD Authorization Overview

Demo Mode

Buying UAD Plug-Ins

UAD Meter & Control Panel

Launching the Application

UAD Meter Window

Meter Menu

UAD Control Panels

System Information Panel

Plug-Ins Panel

FireWire Panel

Help Panel

Using UAD Plug-Ins

Launching a UAD Plug-In

The UAD Plug-In Interface

UAD Toolbar

LiveTrack Mode

Adjusting Parameters

Shortcuts

DSP Loading Information

Automation

External MIDI Control

Mono (m) UAD plug-ins

Tempo Sync

Tempo Sync Plug-Ins

Sync Activation

Available Note Values

Entering Values

Precision Delay Modes with Tempo Sync

Galaxy Tape Echo & Roland RE-201 Sync

Latency & Delay Compensation

UAD Plug-Ins with Additional Latency

Live Processing (without Apollo)

Hardware Setup

Hardware Connections

Hardware Setup

Windows Setup

FireWire Bandwidth