A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer

Your secret weapon for legendary mixes.

Unlock the enhancement tricks used for decades by pro engineers and producers. The first and only end-to-end emulation of the vintage multiband “compansion” processor found in some of the world’s biggest studios, Universal Audio’s A-Type UAD plug-in unlocks the presence and top end sizzle that’s perfect for pushing vocals and instruments straight to the front of your mix.

Key Benefits

• Hear the iconic Air, Excite, and Expand effects used on vocal recordings by Queen, Stevie Wonder, The Cars, Fleetwood Mac, and more*
• Add sparkle and texture with the only “end-to-end” A-Type emulation, compatible with any DAW or audio interface†
• Engage Crush and Gated modes to get gritty analog tones or classic ’80s gated effects on drums and instruments
• Go far beyond the original hardware with the circuit mods panel, giving you custom expansion to transient shaping, subharmonic effects, and more

Explore Five Iconic Modes

Use the fabled Air, Excite, and Expand effects heard on recordings by Queen, AC/DC, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, and others.* Or add gritty dynamic textures to drums and instruments with one-of-a-kind Crush and Gated compression effects.

Go Beyond with Custom Circuit Mods

For years, engineers have employed the A-Type hardware for more than just noise reduction. Bent to their will to make vocals sparkle and drums explode, the A-Type sound is celebrated by those who grew up using the real thing. Universal Audio’s take on this classic processor features exclusive circuit mods like multiband gains and crossovers, Ratio, Knee and Attack controls, and sidechain filtering, so you can take the sound of the original somewhere completely new.

Bring Classic Recordings Back to Life with Precision Decoding

The UAD A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer plug-in began as a precision decoding tool for transferring hundreds of encoded master tapes. Universal Audio modeled every nuance of the original circuits, from multiband compansion curves to rare cartridge mods, resulting in an obsessively accurate emulation that can deliver the same flawless results whether you’re transferring tape masters, or just tightening up a noisy take.

Features

• Iconic Studio Sound: Delivers the legendary Air, Excite, and Expand effects used by Queen, Fleetwood Mac, and more.
• Authentic A-Type Emulation: The only end-to-end model of the vintage multiband compansion processor, fully DAW-compatible.
• Crush & Gated Modes: Get gritty, analog saturation and punchy '80s-style gated effects on vocals, drums, and instruments.
• Custom Circuit Mods: Unlock expanded tone-shaping with multiband gains, subharmonics, transient controls, and more.
• Precision Tape Decoding: Faithfully restores encoded master tapes with obsessively accurate modeling of rare hardware curves.

System Requirements

• macOS 10.15 Catalina, 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura
• Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit only Editions)
• Intel, AMD, or Apple silicon processor
• Internet connection to download software and authorize UADx plug-ins
• Free iLok account with iLok Cloud or iLok USB (2nd generation or higher)
• A physical iLok dongle is NOT required to activate this product

You can activate this software on an online system (using iLok Cloud) or an offline system (using an iLok USB):

1. Online: an active internet connection and a FREE iLok account are required to authorise UAD Plug-ins using iLok Cloud

2. Offline: you will need a physical iLok USB (2nd generation or higher) to authorise this software

Important note: UAD plugins do not work in Apple's Garageband DAW