Universal Audio dives into guitar effects with vintage-flavoured UAFX pedals

Meet the Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and Astra Modulation Machine.

Image: Universal Audio

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Universal Audio has made its entrance into the guitar stompbox market with the announcement of the UAFX pedal series. This marks UA’s second major foray into guitar hardware after the successful launch of the UA Ox amp top box in 2018.

The brand’s first pedals are the Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and the Astra Modulation Machine. These run on UA’s own dual-processor UAFX engine, touted to offer the “sonic authenticity” of various eras of vintage guitar effects.

Each pedal offers three distinct sounds, additional downloadable effects and robust enclosures that UA claims will “last decades”.

Golden Reverberator

The Golden Reverberator offers three sound options: Spring 65, Plate 140 and Hall 224. These are likely modelled after the tube-driven spring reverb of a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb, EMT 140 reverb and Lexicon 224, respectively. Along with your standard array of ‘verb controls – decay, pre-delay and mix – are modulation options that add movement to the effect. There are also bass and treble controls to further shape your tone.

Universal Audio UAFX Golden — Image: Universal Audio

Starlight Echo Station

Applying its knowledge of analogue modelling, UA offers its take on three hardware delays with the Starlight Echo Station. The Tape EP-III, Analog DMM and Precision modes are based on iconic delay effects spanning the last 60 years. There are no prizes for guessing that the first two are likely to be based on the Echoplex EP-3 and Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. To help you finesse your tone are controls for tape wear, modulation and preamp colour.

Universal Audio UAFX Starlight — Image: Universal Audio

Astra Modulation Machine

The Astra Modulation Machine stars a spacey studio flanger inspired by hardware from the 1970s, a warm and gritty bucket-brigade chorus and a lush sounding optical tube-style tremolo. Meanwhile, its secondary modes let you switch the effect over to vibrato, doubler and more.

Universal Audio UAFX Astra — Image: Universal Audio

Other features

The pedals feature stereo inputs and outputs, as well as selectable buffered/true bypass, optional trails and silent switching. In addition to the active effect, you can also store a favourite preset for instant recall. In addition, there’s a USB input for downloading extra effects created by UA’s algorithm team.