Universal Audio UAD2 Quad Flexi DSP Card (Macintosh and Windows)

The UAD2 Quad Flexi combines Universal Audio's revolutionary new DSP acceleration hardware with a customizable selection of UA's premier plug-ins. If you need the best sounding collection of plug-ins for your DAW but want the flexibility to "pick and mix" and build your plug-in collection gradually, the UAD2 Flexi Family is for you.

Use the included UAD $500 plug-in voucher at the UA online store 24/7 to select from UA's entire library of world-class plug-ins and customize your own UAD2 plug bundle while saving $150 vs. buying a card and plug-ins separately. Preview the current lineup of plug-ins via fully functional 14-day demos. Audition each one to hear how it works for your music and buy the plug-ins you really want.

The UAD2 Flexi paks come equipped with UA's 7 "Mix Essentials" (a $300+ value) featuring studio staples like the UA 1176SE Compressor/Limiter, Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer, RealVerb Pro Room Modeler, and CS-1 Channel Strip that are an invaluable introduction to the UA Collection of plug-ins.

For existing users, your UAD1 plug-in investment can be easily transferred to UAD2. For a limited time, our loyal UAD customers can crossgrade their plug-ins completely free of charge! Additionally registered UAD1 owners will be rewarded with bonus UAD$ vouchers for buying any UAD2 before the end of 2008. See the UAD2 crossgrade promo page for more details.

At the heart of the UAD2 Quad are 4 cutting-edge SHARC(R) 21369 floating-point processors which allows for larger and more sophisticated processing algorithms, and a level of power and complexity not found with host-based plug-ins. By reducing the burden on your computer's CPU, your host application can now deliver more tracks, automation, virtual instruments and native effects.

All UAD2's feature the completely re-designed v5.0 software with a myriad of new performance and convenience enhancing features like LODE (Live Optimizing DSP Engine) which intelligently balances resources for maximum plug-in count and LiveTrack( low-latency mode) making it possible to monitor instruments through Powered Plug-Ins. The all-new unified Meter & Control Panel for UAD1 and UAD2 improves and streamlines Status Monitoring, Plug Purchasing, Help & Support and Software Updates. Also new for UAD2 is the UA website which has been completely redesigned with integrated A/V Demo's, tutorials, in-depth webzine articles, FAQ's and enhanced support so you can really get the most out of your UAD2.

The UA Powered Plug-In Collection brings the most sonically revered studio processors from the past 50 years of audio to your computer, including vintage equalizers & compressors, superior precision mastering tools, lush reverbs, and officially licensed classic hardware emulations from Neve(R), Roland(R), SPL(R) and more.

Technical Info

Specifications
High-bandwidth x1 PCI Express (PCIe) card (can be used in x1/x4/x8 and x16 slots, PCIe 2.0 compatible)

Form Factor:
- UAD-2 Solo Low-Profile, Half-Height, Short PCIe card designed to fit modern small form factor systems
- UAD-2 Duo/Quad Full-Height, Short PCIe card for easy installation even in compact PC cases

1, 2 or 4 Analog Devices SHARC 21369 floating-point processors

2.5X(Solo), 5X(Duo), 10X(Quad) the power of UAD-1*
- *UAD-2 individual plug-in instances per DSP chip will vary based on the plug-in combination selected with the average session being around 2.5x

World's best plug-in library with premier titles from Neve(R), Roland(R), Moog(R), SPL(R), Pultec, and more...

Multi-card support for up to 8 cards - mix and match up to 4 UAD-2's and 4 UAD-1/1e/Xpanders in one system/group

Cross-Platform for Mac OS X Tiger(10.4), Leopard(10.5) and Windows XP/x64, Vista32/64

VST and AU Support
- NOTE: RTAS is NOT supported in Version 5.0 software. RTAS support will be available in a future software update

44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz sample rate support

Cutting edge drivers - optimized for modern multi-thread and multi-processor architectures

Real-time and faster than real-time processing for mix bounces (unlike some other DSP solutions)

High-speed memory bus for running reverb/delay type effects (unlike some other DSP solutions)

LiveTrack(TM) (Low-Latency Mode) allows UAD-2 plug-ins to behave just like host plug-ins with no additional latency added* - now you can use UAD-2 plug-ins for monitoring, tracking and instrument processing
- Only works on select hosts. See the compatibility page for more details.

SessionMap(TM) bi-directional UAD-1<>UAD-2 session compatibility* (via ID sharing) and in session multi-card DSP management - use your UAD-1 alongside your UAD-2, or work with other collaborators using UAD
- *Session recall is limited to availability of plug-in authorizations and available hardware
- *Nigel has been discontinued for UAD-2
- *As of v5.0 the following Powered Plug-Ins are not yet available for UAD-2:
-- Roland RE-201
-- Precision Maximizer
-- Precision De-Esser
-- Precision Buss Compressor
-- Precision Enhancer kHz
-- SPL Transient Designer
-- VCA VU

- These Powered Plug-Ins are currently being ported to UAD-2, and will be released very soon in a software update. If you already own any of these plug-ins on UAD-1, you can still crossgrade your UAD-1 plug-in licenses to UAD-2. Just download the latest version software when it becomes available and update your Authorization File.

L.O.D.E.(TM) (Live Optimizing DSP Engine) the UAD-2's DSP engine automatically balances resources to maximize your plug-in instantiations

LoadLock(TM) reserves maximum DSP for guaranteed Plug-In loading

Redesigned Plug-In Toolbar and Meter & Control Panel application featuring...
- UAD-2/UAD-1 resource metering
- Improved preset management, with easy cut/copy/paste between SE and full versions
- Demo management, and plug-in purchase direct from the plug-in toolbar
- Simplified Registration/Authorization process - no more copying of card ID's or serials
- Help and support tab to get you up and running and to keep you going

Featuring UAi(TM) UA's unique modeling technology that captures the real magic of analog

14-day full function Demo for all plug-ins so you can try before you buy

Powered Plug-Ins(TM) available 24/7 @ uaudio.com

Easy license transfer for existing UAD-1/1e/Xpander users

Great launch crossgrade promotions for all existing UAD-1/1e/Xpander users

Designed and Made in U.S.A.

Minimum System Requirements:
Windows:
Microsoft Windows XP (Home, Professional, or x64 Edition), Windows Server 2003, or Windows Vista (x86 or x64)

Macintosh:
Mac OS X 10.4.x "Tiger" or 10.5.x "Leopard", Processor upgrade cards are not officially supported

General:
1 available PCIe (PCI Express) x1/x4/x8 or x16 slot

256 MB RAM (512 MB is strongly recommended)

1024 x 768 or higher resolution monitor

CD-ROM drive or internet connection for software installation

125 MB available hard drive space for UAD-2 or UAD-1 installation

250 MB available hard drive space for combined UAD-2 plus UAD-1 installation

Internet connection required for registration and plug-in authorization

Compatible VST or Audio Units plug-in host application software.

Multi-Card (Add More DSP!)
Need more raw DSP horsepower to run more UAD plugs in your mixes or simply want to run all your sessions at higher sample rates? The UAD was designed as a multi-card system allowing up to 4 UAD2 cards and 4 UAD1 cards to run on an OSX Mac/Win XP/Vista computer/expansion chassis system. Your existing plug-in licenses can be used across cards after registering a new card to your my.uaudio.com account and downloading the new plug authorization file.

Easily expand your DSP power with extra cards (up to 4 UAD-1/1e/Xpander, and 4 UAD-2 Cards per system)

L.O.D.E. (Live Optimizing DSP Engine) the UAD-2's DSP engine automatically balances resources to maximize your plug-in instantiations

Plug-In Licenses Valid for up to 4 UAD-2 and 4 UAD-1 cards in a system ( no need to re-purchase)

Use any combination of cards (PCI or PCIe)