UA native plugins can now be used offline

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Do they allow license transfers as well?
Asking for a friend...

I don't think hell has totally frozen over yet.

[comfortablynick]

Interesting, a lot of machine-auth plugins have been cracked and I thought they avoided that because it was less secure.

I will be keeping mine on the dongle because I've been bit by the loss of a machine in the past and it took me months to get my licenses back.

[Cuauhtli]

Okay, wots uh the deal? I own perpetual licenses to their amp sims, and synthesizers, amongst other things, and I got a free 1 year spark license (given with the amp sim bundle during the holidays). Just updated connect but I have no option to move any licenses.

[mothra]

I will be keeping mine on the dongle because I've been bit by the loss of a machine in the past and it took me months to get my licenses back.

Yeah its awesome they finally did it, but Im not getting rid of my dongle. Its really fun when you need to reinstall your system and unable to get into your iLok software and you lose those machine licenses because you didnt deactivate them.

Then you get to play the waiting game of requesting the vendor (not iLok/Pace) returns your licenses to the pool so you can reauthorize them.. With the dongle, one authorization is all you need, just move the key to another computer if/when you need it.

[jamcat]

My Windows DAW died on me last summer. All of my iLok plugins were on the dongle so I didn't lose any of those. Arturia, Audio Modeling, Melodyne, Modartt, PA, PreSonus, and other authorizations were easy to recover through my user accounts. I only lost some IK Multimedia auths.

That said, that computer was 10 years old. My MacBook is only a few years old and with Macs you just trade them in for an upgrade every few years like an iPhone. Plus they're Apple hardware, so the risk of having one die is about the same as the risk of having an iPhone die. Which is to say not very high.

In other words, Machine Authorization is an acceptable risk I'm willing to take on my MacBook, but (correctly) wasn't on my old Windows DAW.

It's a pretty good way to go about it: Dongle on desktops, Machine Auth on laptops that you travel with. Just don't buy a cheap one.

[DNAudio]

UA's licensing has always been a brickwall that's prevented me from even trying their plugs, it just feels hostile. I really hope this signals a change for the better. Even Plugin Alliance recently stopped using ARXAN/Digital.AI DRM.
Plenty of companies get by with basic keyfile registration or none at all (Shoutout to Klanghelm)

[aMUSEd]

wtf UA Connect has just decided to move the activations from my iLok to my computer! There was no option to keep them on my ilok which I would have much preferred

Screenshot 2025-03-26 at 23.53.10.png

[zvenx]

Odd.. mine kept mine on my ilok dongle.
rsp

[thecontrolcentre]

That's a nice change imo. I did not like that their plugins required active internet connection.

Me too. Thanks for the heads-up

[hey212]

Question for the long time UAD heads - of the plugins that have not yet been ported native, what's top of the list?

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Question for the long time UAD heads - of the plugins that have not yet been ported native, what's top of the list?

How much is even left for the UA developed plugins? Just looking at their site, I see: Ocean Way, Korg SD-3000, Fatso, Cooper Time Cube, Lexicon 480, EMT-250, Neve 1084, Neve 33609, Tweed Deluxe (they'll probably skip this and do Woodrow), Distortion Essentials, Echo-Plex, AMS RMX-16, AMS DMX, AKG BX20.

Seems like Neve/AMS will be off limits for contractual reasons so I wouldn't hold my breath on those. I also expect they'll port their remaining guitar amp sim pedals.

[hey212]

There are def more than you just listed, but I haven't counted them all. That's too bad if that's true about Neve though. I'm curious about the RMX16 and the Culture Vulture.

[jamcat]

I'd look at the Ultimate Bundle for possible remaining ports. This is the full UA-developed collection. No 3rd-party plugins in it, no AMS plugins in it, and only the 1073 and 88RS from Neve now.

https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/plug ... te-13.html

There's only about 20 to 25 viable plugins left to port, but Universal Audio seems to be slowing down to a standstill on it and sending signals like they're not going to port much else, if anything.

Top of my list would be:

Lexicon 480L Digital Reverb and Effects
V76 Preamplifier
EP-34 Tape Echo
EMT 250 Classic Electronic Reverb
EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator
Ocean Way Studios
UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection
MXR Flanger/Doubler
Distortion Essentials Bundle
Cooper Time Cube Mk II Delay
AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb

Not holding my breath for anything Neve.
Not holding my breath for much of anything at this point at all, really.

[hey212]

Ah that's a good list, cheers.

[sqigls]

any recommendations for good saturation in the UAD line?
I was told i could bypass the compression in the LA6176 & the 175/176, but i need another compressor like i need something that i don't really need at the moment. just need some sweet saturation.