Universal Audio’s latest v9.3 update to the UAD platform sees not only the addition of the new UA-developed Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay plug-in, but also plug-in titles from four of UA’s direct developer partners.
The first is Dytronics Cyclosonic Panner ($149), developed by Softube, exclusively for UAD hardware and Apollo interfaces. The plug-in is an exacting emulation of the ultra-rare, revolutionary analogue auto-panner introduced in 1984. Famous for deep panning and modulation effects, and imparting instant vibe and stereo character to virtually any source, the Dytronics Cyclosonic Panner plug-in’s bi-directional "Round Sound" panning yields a 3D sound stage unlike any other auto-panner available, claim UA.
Next up is the Sonnox Oxford Dynamic EQ ($249) which can claim the title of being the first dynamic EQ on the UAD platform. The Sonnox Oxford Dynamic EQ plug-in can be used as an alternative to multiband compression, allowing producers and engineers to sculpt and shape sources with unending precision.
It features five bands of 'R3 Type 3' proportional-Q dynamic EQ with optional shelf type. All of the bands can overlap and each have the ability to process and/or detect from mono, stereo, mid, or side channel. The plug-in looks to be very flexible, allowing up/down compression and up/down expansion. On top of that, it offers optional onset detection for more precise transient processing.
Third is the ENGL Savage 120 Amplifier plug-in, endorsed and fully authenticated by ENGL and developed by Brainworx. This plug-in is designed to capture all of the punishing, beastly punch of ENGL’s most diabolical high-gain amp. The ENGL Savage 120 plug-in also adds 100 high-end recording chains as well as onboard vintage delay, noise gate, and lo/hi pass filters for further tone shaping. The plug-in also takes advantage of Unison technology built into Apollo interfaces. This means Apollo user’s guitar pickups will see the exact impedance load as if they’re plugged into an ENGL Savage 120 Amplifier — a feature that’s unique to Apollo audio interfaces.
The ENGL Savage 120 Amplifier plug-in costs $149 or $99 for owners of any other UAD ENGL plug-in.
Last up is the AMS RMX16 Expanded plug-in. This isn’t the first time that UA have presented a plug-in version of the world's first microprocessor-controlled, full-bandwidth, digital reverb. However, this is the only authentic RMX16 digital reverb plug-in developed by original hardware designer Mark Crabtree of AMS Neve. This new expanded version has been created to capture the expansive shimmer of the original hardware, and adds nine rare, custom programs, doubling the sonic possibilities of the original UAD AMS RMX16 plug-in.
The updated version boasts 810 ms of delay, brighter rooms, and variations of the legendary RMX16 Nonlin, Reverse, and Plate reverbs. It also features new presets from famous RMX16 power users Steve Levine, Ross Hogarth and David Isaac, as well as plug-in-only features including Dry/Wet Mix, Wet Solo, and easy “click-and-type” editing of control values. It costs $349, or $49 for owners of the previous AMS RMX16 plug-in.
