UAD Spark is a service that makes UAD plug-ins, which previously required hardware, run natively on a subscription basis. For $19.99 per month (about 2,500 yen) or $149.99 per year (about 18,600 yen), you can use 13 products (17 plug-ins), including industry-standard compressors, EQs and reverbs such as the Teletronix LA-2A, UA 1176 and Neve 1073. A 14-day free trial is also included, so you can now easily try the pinnacle of analog modeling plug-ins, which used to be expensive and hard to get into, and build a serious mixing environment.
Native UAD Plug-ins Released as a Subscription
Regarded as the pinnacle of analog modeling plug-ins, "UAD plug-ins" could only be used with hardware equipped with dedicated DSP connected.
This is good news for those who could not afford them, and for owners troubled by carrying hardware around or by DSP power limits.
Native support, in other words a service that lets you use UAD plug-ins without hardware (just like ordinary plug-ins), "UAD Spark," has been released as a subscription.
(Currently Mac only; Windows support is planned for November 2022)
* Update, February 15, 2023: Windows is now supported.
If you are wondering at this point, "What are UAD plug-ins?", please see this article, which explains them in detail.
In this article, we explain the features of the UAD Spark service, how to get started, and our impressions after using it.
UAD Spark Pricing
UAD Spark is a subscription service, so it is a monthly or annual contract.
- Monthly: $19.99 (about 2,500 yen*)
- Annual: $149.99 (about 18,600 yen*)
* Converted at the exchange rate as of April 9, 2022
The annual plan seems to be discounted, and it is far cheaper than the monthly plan.
Some may be reluctant to keep paying, but it has certainly become much easier to get into.
Also, both plans come with a 14-day free trial, so the door is wide open for those who want to try it and see what it is like.
Note that if you have already purchased the DSP versions of the UAD Spark (UADx) plug-ins listed in the next section, by installing the latest UAD software, you can also use the UADx versions at no extra cost.
Available Plug-ins
Not all UAD plug-ins can be used with UAD Spark; currently 13 products (17 plug-ins) have been released.
Let's look at them by category.
Compressors
- Teletronix LA-2A Collection (models three units with different characteristics)
- UA 1176 Collection (models three units with different characteristics)
- API 2500 Bus Compressor
The killer plug-ins are definitely included.
The LA-2A and 1176 are the standard compressors in every studio, and they were must-haves among UAD plug-ins. Each includes three revisions, and the differences in behavior are faithfully modeled.
The API 2500 is also a natural bus compressor with a strong glue effect (pulling a mix together), very useful on the master, drum bus and more.
Just mastering these is guaranteed to upgrade your sound significantly.
Channel Strips / Tape
- API Vision Channel Strip Plus
- Studer A800 Tape Machine
- Neve 1073 Preamp and EQ
This is another strong lineup.
What catches the eye first is surely the Neve 1073. Anyone who has dabbled in recording or mixing knows the name of this legendary preamp/EQ. Most people who have used UAD probably own it.
![[UAD Plug-in Feature] The King of Vintage Gear: Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection](https://sleepfreaks-dtm.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/neve_1073-eye-400x400.jpg)
The API channel strip instantly recreates the bright, punchy sound used on countless hit songs, and with the Studer A800, just inserting it on the master and choosing a preset makes the texture surprisingly "authentic" (this "instantly sounds good" quality is actually UAD's greatest strength).
Reverb / Delay
- Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb
- Pure Plate Reverb
- Galaxy Tape Echo
The lineup includes spatial effects that only modeling can offer, such as the Lexicon 224 and the Galaxy Tape Echo (based on the Roland Space Echo), classics still prized today.
Pure Plate Reverb is also a simple, high-quality plate reverb and a fully capable product.
In the video below, you can check the sound and usage of Pure Plate Reverb and Galaxy Tape Echo.
UAD Instruments
- Opal Morphing Synthesizer (exclusive to Spark)
- Ravel Grand Piano
- Moog Minimoog
- Waterfall B3
UAD software instruments and synths may not be what you associate with the company, but they are simple yet solid in quality, making use of its modeling technology, and this will likely bring in more users.
Also, Opal, which made a much-heralded debut exclusive to Spark, is a modern synth combining analog modeling and wavetable synthesis, with UAD-plug-in-quality effects built in, and I sense plenty of potential in it.
How to Get Started with UAD Spark
Creating an Account and Registering a Payment Method
As mentioned at the start, UAD Spark is a subscription service, so you first need to create an account.
On the site above, click "Try 14 Days Free."
You will be asked for your email address, so enter it.
On the next screen, choose the monthly or annual plan.
* You are billed after the 14-day free trial. If you cancel before then, it is free.
Enter your name and a password to create your account.
Next, enter your billing information (if you have a Shop Pay or PayPal account, you can link it with the buttons at the top).
Enter your credit card number, check the agreement items, and click "Complete Order" to complete your application.
When this screen appears, "UA Connect," the software for downloading UADx (native UAD) plug-ins, starts downloading automatically. If it does not start, click the button to download it.
Activating and Installing the UADx Plug-ins
Activate and install using the UA Connect you downloaded.
Open the installer and move UA Connect to the Applications folder.
Launch UA Connect from the Applications folder; you will be asked to log in, so enter the email address and password you set above.
When this screen appears, click "Get Started."
If there is no iLok ID linked to your email address, you will see a screen like this.
You can create an iLok ID from here, but we do not recommend it.
Creating an ID separately on the iLok site and linking it makes later management easier, so although it is a slight detour, please do that first.
(You only need to create the ID; you do not need to authorize any products. Also, UAD Spark's iLok authorization can be done in the cloud, so you do not need to buy a USB key.)
After creating an iLok ID and logging in, you will see a screen like the one below.
(If you see the same screen as above, click "Link to Different iLok User ID.")
The iLok ID you created is shown at the top; to use it, click the "LINK ACCOUNT" button as is, or to use a different ID, enter it and then click the button.
On the next screen, enter your iLok ID password.
Once the password is accepted, activation is complete and you move to the download screen.
Click the "DOWNLOAD" button for the plug-ins you need, and everything from download to installation is done automatically. You can also install all plug-ins at once with "DOWNLOAD ALL."
Impressions of the UADx Plug-ins
If the plug-ins are installed correctly, they appear in the plug-in list with names beginning with "UADx."
Depending on the DAW, they are in a separate category from the DSP versions, so they should be easy to tell apart.
When you open a plug-in, it is almost the same as the traditional UAD plug-in, but the footer-like area is gone, and its own preset list and COPY/PASTE have been added.
It is not specifically mentioned, but there is probably no difference in sound from the DSP versions, I think.
As for CPU usage, with one "1176LN Rev E" inserted on each of eight (audio) tracks during playback, it looked like this.
(CPU: 4 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 / buffer size: 32 samples / sample rate: 48 kHz)
Under the same conditions, Waves CLA-76, which also models the 1176, used 3% in total and T-RackS BLACK76 used 11% in total, so the CPU load is not particularly high, we can say.
For reference, with the same track configuration using the DSP versions, the DSP usage (with a UAD-2 Satellite TB2 OCTO CORE) is as follows.
You are largely freed from DSP limits, as you can see.
As for latency, measuring the UADx and DSP versions (both 1176LN Rev E) with Pro Tools' delay compensation gave the following results.
As expected, since no data transfer occurs, UADx has less latency.
The UAD-2 Satellite used this time is Thunderbolt 2, so with Thunderbolt 3 it would probably be lower, but at best about half of what it is now.
That concludes our explanation of UAD Spark, which, true to its name, delivered native support like a bolt of lightning.
Only a small fraction of the plug-ins can be used so far, so the future outlook is unclear, but it is easier to get into for those who have not used UAD and more convenient for current users, so it can be called a very welcome release.
For the time being, the Apollo series and others have the advantage of UNISON technology, and demanding professional settings require the stability of DSP, so I do not think DSP will disappear completely.
Even so, UADx plug-ins are likely to gradually increase, so we can't take our eyes off future developments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can UAD Spark be used without hardware (DSP)?
Yes. UAD Spark runs natively, so no dedicated hardware is needed. You can use it on a typical Mac or Windows computer just like ordinary plug-ins.
Q2. Are the LA-2A and 1176 included?
Yes, both are included. The LA-2A Collection and 1176 Collection each model three units with different characteristics, and they are essential plug-ins for everyone from beginners to advanced users.
Q3. I previously bought the DSP versions of plug-ins. Do I need to buy the UADx versions?
No. Just by installing the latest UAD software, you can use the UADx versions at no extra cost. Existing owners get them as a free upgrade.
Q4. Which is better value, monthly or annual?
The annual price of $149.99 is much cheaper than paying $19.99 a month for 12 months. If you plan to use it long-term, the annual plan is by far the better value.
Q5. Can I use the plug-ins right after signing up?
After creating an account, you need to download and install UA Connect and activate it. Following the on-screen instructions, it takes just a few minutes, and you can start using them right away.
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