Universal Audio has long been revered for bringing studio-quality sound to musicians, and their foray into native UAD guitar amp plugins is no exception. Among their impressive lineup, the Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp and the Ruby ’63 Top Boost Amplifier plugins stand out as emulations of iconic amplifiers. These plugins, alongside the Dream ’65 Reverb Amp, offer guitarists the coveted tones of classic amps directly within their Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), without needing dedicated UAD hardware.
UAD Dream ’65 Reverb Amp: Capturing American Vintage Clean Tones
For players chasing the quintessential American tube amp sound, the UAD Dream ’65 Reverb Amp plugin is designed to deliver. Based on a meticulously modeled “golden unit” 1965 reverb amplifier, this plugin excels at providing bold clean tones, smooth tube breakup, and the lushness of spring reverb and vibrato. Just like its acclaimed UAFX pedal counterpart, the Dream ’65 plugin provides built-in boost options, amp modifications, and a selection of expertly miked speaker cabinets, making it a versatile tool for achieving classic American amp tones in your recordings.
Key Benefits of the Dream ’65 Reverb Amp:
- Authentic emulation of a mid-1960s American tube combo amp in a native plugin format.
- Faithful recreation of tube-driven spring reverb and vibrato effects.
- Studio-quality amp sounds with mic and speaker pairings, plus boost circuits.
- Custom amp modifications and drive tones inspired by artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Steve Lukather.
UAD Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp: Unleashing Plexi Rock Power
The UAD Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp plugin is geared towards guitarists seeking the raw power and iconic roar of British plexi amplifiers. Emulating three distinct 100-watt plexi heads, this plugin captures the range from pristine cleans to aggressive breakup and hot-rodded high-gain sounds that defined rock music. Built upon UAD’s advanced modeling technology, the Lion ’68 includes classic boost effects, room ambience modeling, and a diverse collection of perfectly miked speaker cabinets, putting legendary plexi tones at your fingertips.
Key Benefits of the Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp:
- Accurate emulation of a late-1960s 100-watt plexi amplifier head as a native plugin.
- Three plexi amp voicings: Super Lead, Super Bass, and “Brown” for tonal versatility.
- Vintage amp sound in any DAW, complete with mic/speaker simulations and amp modifications.
- Boost options including Maestro EP-III preamp and Boss GE-10 EQ emulations.
UAD Ruby ’63 Top Boost Amplifier: Embracing the British Invasion Sound
For those drawn to the chime and overdrive of British Invasion-era amplifiers, the UAD Ruby ’63 Top Boost Amplifier plugin delivers. Modeled after a vintage Top Boost amp, the Ruby ’63 plugin offers everything from sparkling clean tones to complex overdrive and classic vibrato. Like the other UAD amp plugins, it comes equipped with boost effects, room sound modeling, and a selection of expertly miked speaker cabinets, allowing you to easily dial in authentic British amp tones within your productions.
Key Benefits of the Ruby ’63 Top Boost Amplifier:
- Precise emulation of a valve amp that powered the British Invasion, as a native plugin.
- Studio amp tones with mic/speaker pairings and room effects.
- Three Top Boost amp modes: Normal, Brilliant, and Vibrato for tonal variations.
- Boosts including a ’60s Dallas Rangemaster and Maestro EP-3 tape delay preamp emulation.
Lion ’68 vs Ruby ’63: Choosing Your UAD Rock Amp Plugin
When considering the UAD Lion ’68 vs Ruby ’63 plugins, the choice largely depends on your desired rock guitar tone. The Lion ’68 excels at delivering the classic, powerful, and often aggressive sound of British plexi amps, ideal for hard rock, classic rock, and heavier genres. Think of the iconic tones of bands who shaped rock history with roaring stacks of plexi amps.
On the other hand, the Ruby ’63 offers a different flavor of British rock sound, characterized by its chime, complex overdrive, and slightly more refined character. This plugin is perfect for British Invasion sounds, jangle-pop, and rock styles where clarity and articulate overdrive are key. It’s reminiscent of the amps that defined the sound of the British Invasion and subsequent genres.
Both the Lion ’68 and Ruby ’63 UAD plugins provide exceptional emulations of their respective amplifier types, offering a range of tones and features suitable for professional recording and practice. Ultimately, the best choice between the Lion ’68 and Ruby ’63 depends on the specific sonic character you’re seeking for your guitar tracks.
These UAD Native Plug-Ins, including Dream ’65 Reverb Amp, Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp and Ruby ’63 Top Boost Amplifier, are available for purchase in VST, AU & AAX 64-bit formats from Universal Audio and select retailers for $299 MAP each, with a special introductory offer of $149 each from October 8th to December 31st, 2024.
For further details, visit:
https://www.uaudio.com/dream-65-reverb.html
https://www.uaudio.com/ruby-63-top-boost.html
https://www.uaudio.com/lion-68-super-lead.html
