NAMM 2018 first look video: Universal Audio’s latest portable desktop interface, Arrow, takes flight

NAMM 2018: Universal Audio is expanding its desktop offerings with a new product called Arrow, a portable 2x4 bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 audio interface.

The unit features two Unison mic preamps and realtime UAD plugin processing, all powered by a UAD-2 SOLO Core processor. 

Arrow affords musicians the ability to monitor and record through the full library of UAD plugins at near-zero latency, no matter the audio software buffer setting.

There's also the Unison mic preamp technology, which UA promises “gives musicians the tone, touch and feel of the world’s most sought-after tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amplifiers.” 

The interface comes bundled with UAD studio mixing tools - classic compressors, EQs, and reverbs. These include the UA 610-B Tube Preamp and Marshall Plexi Classic plugins.

Arrow is available now, with an estimated street price of $499.

Universal Audio Arrow key features

  • Desktop 2x4 Thunderbolt 3-powered audio interface with class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz audio conversion
  • Unison mic preamp technology provides the tone, touch and feel of the world’s most sought-after tube and transformer-based mic preamps and guitar amplifiers from Neve, API, Manley, Marshall and Fender
  • Realtime UAD Processing allows near-zero latency tracking with classic UAD plug-in effects, regardless of software buffer setting
  • Includes studio compressors, EQs, reverbs, and guitar amp emulations, and more as part of the “Realtime Analog Classics” bundle - featuring 14 quality UAD plugins
  • Bus-powered connection to modern Mac and Windows systems for easy portability and reduced cable clutter 

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Check out our constantly updated NAMM hub for more news and on-the-spot video from Anaheim

Simon Arblaster
Video Producer & Reviews Editor

I take care of the reviews on MusicRadar and Future Music magazine, though can sometimes be spotted in front of a camera talking little sense in the presence of real musicians. For the past 30 years, I have been unable to decide on which instrument to master, so haven't bothered. Currently, a lover of all things high-gain in the guitar stakes and never one to resist churning out sub-standard funky breaks, the likes of which you'll never hear.