Out of hundreds of UAD plug-ins, these are the ones that are often overlooked.
If you record and mix music regularly, you likely have go-to effects chains for various tasks. Perhaps some of these plug-ins have been the saviors of past sessions — an EQ or compressor that got you out of a tight mix deadline, or that weird saturator that a client fell in love with on a synth track.
But what happens when you feel like shaking things up? We compiled a list of slept-on UAD titles that may fit perfectly into your plug-in rotation.
1. Cooper Time Cube
The Cooper Time Cube Mk II is a faithful recreation of one of the most unusual delays ever built. This mechanical “garden hose” system devised by Universal Audio co-founder Bill Putnam and engineer Duane H. Cooper in 1971 doesn’t rely on tape, like most delay systems of the era. Instead, the original hardware routed audio through coiled tubing to achieve a distinctive, short-delay doubling effect that became a studio secret weapon.
Our UAD plug-in captures this quirky, analog character of the original, with expanded controls so you can explore this eccentric delay unit in all its glory, right in your DAW.
What makes it special:
- Adds width and urgency without phasey artifacts
- Makes vocals stand out without brittle top-end boosts
- Great on guitars, keys, and background vox that need some added motion
2. Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A
The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A allows you to use smooth optical compression and a fast, punchier discrete stage in a single plug-in. This gives you natural leveling followed by precise transient control for instant character on your master bus.
With its three selectable output transformers (Nickel, Iron, and Steel), each imparting distinct color, you can shape the tone of your mix while gluing tracks together at the same time. Unlike many plug-in limiters, the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor was built to preserve depth and punch, making it equally at home as a mastering tool or bus compressor for drums, guitars, and even vocals.
What makes it special:
- Optical compression for smooth transient control, discrete section for precision and punch
- Nickel/Iron/Steel output transformers give you multiple flavors to experiment with
- Equally at home on your mix bus or instrument subgroups
3. DreamVerb Room Modeler
DreamVerb Room Modeler was one of the first algorithmic reverbs in the UAD library, arriving at a time when our catalog was dominated by hardware classics like compressors, classic plates, and spring reverbs.
Built on our own room-modeling technology, it broke new ground by giving engineers the ability to design a virtual space with selectable materials, ceiling heights, and room shapes. This was long before modern physical modeling reverbs became more of an industry standard. While later titles like Capitol Chambers and Hitsville Chambers recreated legendary acoustic spaces in forensic detail, DreamVerb has carved out a niche following.
You can think of it as a flexible virtual studio — excelling at early-reflections and track glue. It remains a sneaky fan-favorite, perfect for placing multiple instruments in a shared environment and making your productions feel cohesive without relying on a real room, or vintage hardware emulation.
What makes it special:
- Creates depth and cohesion in your mix without sounding artificial
- Editable wood, stone, or glass surfaces” to explore for different textures
- Underrated on drums and guitars where plates can sound too pretty
4. Maag Audio EQ4 MS
Originally designed by Cliff Maag Sr. and prized for its smooth top end, the Maag Audio EQ4 is a go-to for vocals, drums, and full mixes. The Maag EQ4 MS UAD plug-in takes the beloved circuit — including its famous Air Band and musical fixed-frequency curves — and adds plug-in-only features like mid/side processing.
With the MS version’s mid-side capabilities, you can add that iconic Air Band shimmer to just the sides of your mix, tighten low mids in the center, or carve space for vocals and instruments with precision.
What makes it special:
- Plug-in version adds mid/side processing to the iconic Maag EQ4 circuit
- Famous Air Band for smooth, open highs without harshness
- Precision stereo imaging means you can sculpt center and sides independently
- A modern mastering and mix-bus favorite for width, clarity, and punch
5. Little Labs Voice of God Bass Resonance
The Little Labs Voice of God Bass Resonance plug-in isn’t just about “more bass.” Modeled after the legendary 500-series hardware, VOG tunes your track’s resonant frequency so kick and bass stay interlocked instead of fighting for space. Many engineers reach for it when they need to add a solid foundation, or to give thin instruments and vocals a chesty, broadcast-ready weight.
What makes it special:
- Lets you sculpt sub-bass resonance so kick and bass sit together in the mix
- Adds weight and impact without muddying up low frequencies
- Instantly gives vocals, synths, and instruments a chest-thumping, broadcast-style presence
- Based on the iconic Little Labs VOG 500-series unit used on countless modern hip-hop, pop, and EDM tracks
6. Thermionic Culture Vulture
An authentic emulation of the legendary British hardware, the Thermionic Culture Vulture UAD plug-in brings the only all-valve rack distortion unit ever made into your DAW.
Since its release in the late ’90s, the Culture Vulture has been prized by top engineers for the way its tubes generate complex, musical harmonics. With three distinct tube modes (T-riode, P-entode, and S-pecial), plus adjustable Bias and Drive controls, the plug-in gives you anything from subtle analog sheen to blown-out, gnarly saturation.
What makes it special:
- Authentic emulation of the only all-tube studio distortion unit ever made
- Three tube modes let you choose between smooth harmonic polish or aggressive bite
- Bias and Drive controls recreate the unpredictable “sweet spots” of real hardware
7. Moog Multimode Filter
Toneshaping plug-ins that can also be used as a creative tool will always find a place in your mixing workflow. The Moog Multimode Filter Collection is a faithful recreation of the iconic transistor ladder circuits that gave ’70s and ’80s synth leads their soaring resonance and bass lines.
When you push the input and the filter, the Moog Multimode UAD plug-in adds rich saturation that glues parts together while keeping their character intact. Add modulation, and hear your loops or guitar riffs come alive with movement and expression.
What makes it special:
- Adds “analog” motion to synths, guitars, and even drums
- Creates unique transitions with tempo-aware LFO and envelope filter
- Gentle drive makes soft-synths feel like they’re tracked through real hardware
— UA Staff
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