Universal Audio have just added two new analogue-emulation plug-ins to their DSP-powered UAD line-up. Developed by Brainworx, the new arrivals capture a pair of saturation boxes — the Black Box Analog Design HG-2 and elysia karacter — that are capable of delivering everything from subtle enhancement to all-out distortion.
UAD Black Box Analog Design HG-2
The first of the two new arrivals captures the sound of Black Box Analog Design’s HG-2, a high-end saturation unit that’s become a popular choice among mixing and mastering engineers.
Key Features
- Rich Tube Sound: Top mix engineers rely on the HG-2 hardware every day — now it runs in real-time on your Apollo DSP.
- Pentode & Triode Blend: Dial in the exact flavour of warmth and grit that your track calls for.
- Parallel Saturation: Engage a separate saturation path and target the lows, full spectrum or top end.
- Naturally Louder Mixes: Tame transients and push the perceived level of your tracks higher
- Extended Controls: Go beyond the original hardware with Density, Air, Calibration, Gain Staging and Mix controls.
UAD elysia karacter Stereo Saturator
Next up is a recreation of elysia’s karacter unit. Sharing the same layout as the 500-series version of the popular processor, the new plug-in brings its three versatile operating modes and built-in Mid-Side functionality into the digital world.
Key Features
- Two Essential Plug-Ins. Add weight and intensity to mono or stereo sources.
- Three Distinct Settings. Go from subtle to heavy using Saturation, FET Shred or Turbo Boost modes.
- Mid-Side Mode. Make stereo tracks sound more open and three-dimensional.
- Drive & Color Controls: Quickly add character to tracks or subgroups.
- Apollo Real-time DSP: Enjoy near-zero latency workflows with Apollo audio interfaces.
Compatibility
UAD Black Box Analog Design HG-2 and UAD elysia karacter Stereo Saturator are supported on PCs running Windows 10 or above, and Macs running macOS 11 and higher. They both require either an Apollo interface or UAD Satellite DSP hardware.
Pricing & Availability
The Black Box Analog Design HG-2 & elysia karacter plug-ins are available now, and are currently (7 July 2026) subject to the following introductory prices:
- UAD Black Box Analog Design HG-2: $29 (usually $125)
- UAD elysia karacter Stereo Saturator: $29 (usually $75)
