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The UAD-2 Quad features four SHARC processors.

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The UAD-2 is, as its name suggests, the successor to the UAD-1, and puts considerably more lead in its pencil.

Three cards are available: Solo, Duo and Quad. The Solo card boasts performance at 2.5 times the level of the original, the Duo at five times and the Quad at a whopping ten times.

This hardware shift coincides with Universal Audio's move to Version 5 of its software, so installing the new card means a radical overhaul to any existing system. One cautionary note here – UAD-2 is not currently RTAS-compatible with Version 5 of the software, though it will be in a later update.

Overview

Over the course of this review, we'll be focusing on two main things – the install and update process and, of course, the relative level of performance afforded by the new hardware (our machine has a Quad installed). First things first, though, let's debunk a few myths, rumours and concerns.

At present, there are no new plug-ins for UAD-2. Universal Audio has wisely decided to launch this hardware with an existing 'known' set of processors, rather than trying to throw new ones into the mix. That said, several new treats are planned before the end of the year.

It should also be said that you are perfectly able to run a UAD-2 card alongside a UAD-1 card and, if you own a moderately-well or completely stocked UAD-1, you'd be advised to do precisely this at the moment. This is because seven of the existing UAD plug-ins are not yet UAD-2 compatible.

Specifically, we're talking about four plug-ins from the Precision range (Maximiser, De-Esser, Buss Compressor and Enhancer kHz), as well as the Roland RE-201, the SPL Transient Designer and the VCA VU Compressor.

These plug-ins will continue to work, despite the install of software Version 5, via your UAD-1 card, and the porting process to make these available for UAD-2 isn't expected to take too long.

In detail

Install is much as it was with UAD-1: load up the new software, power down, open your computer up and fit in the card.

The Quad card features four pristine SHARC processors and an LED on the 'visible' panel at your computer's rear. This flashes between red and green during power-up before settling on green once your machine has booted.

Version 5 of the software dramatically updates the appearance of UA's Meter and Control Panel, the trusty application which enables authorisation and configuration of the available plug-ins. Those you do own will require a new authorisation file in order to work with UAD-2, so there's a slightly heart-stopping moment when, at first boot, you see the full list of your plug-ins with 'Activate Demo' prompts next to them.

However, UA is one step ahead. Via the Plug-Ins drop-down menu, you can jump to the UA website via the Authorize Plug-In's button and, from here, you can crossgrade your plug-ins for use with the UAD-2 hardware. This takes a few minutes but, in due course, provides you with a brand new authorisation code which successfully completes the crossgrade process when it's dragged to the UAD Control Panel.