Overview
With Astra Modulation Machine, Universal Audio's engineers traveled down a rabbit hole of analog modulation effects, emerging with the most authentic sounding bucket-brigade chorus/vibrato, studio flanger/doubler, and tube-driven tremolo ever put into a stompbox. Built upon powerful UAFX dual-engine processing for unmatched levels of quirky analog realism, Astra delivers richly addictive vintage modulation sounds built to inspire for decades to come. Astra gives users the most complete circuit emulation of the legendary gray bucket-brigade chorus stompbox. Harnessing a perfectly-emulated circuit — including its preamp section for authentically rich, saturated sounds — users can paint their tones with the thick, luxuriant chorus and wavy vibrato of a famed ‘70s modulation effect. Classic rackmount studio flanger/doubler is famous for stunning whoosh effects, organic thickening, and a parade of wild sounds that go beyond typical flanger boxes.
Astra's Flanger/Dblr effect is the only end-to-end circuit emulation of this ultra-rare unit, capturing all of its original qualities and putting dense, complex flanging/doubling right at your feet. Trem 65 is a faithful emulation of the optical tube-driven tremolo of '60s American amplifiers. From shimmering ripples to choppy mayhem, UA captured every detail, down to the complex interactions between the light source photoresistor and 12AT7 driver tube. Plus, users can explore further and create their own trem textures with variable sine and square wave settings. Astra's UAFX engine powers separate stereo instances of each modulation effect, thanks to its unique dual-engine processing. It's like having two bucket-brigade hardware units running simultaneously, giving users a full stereo spread of complex, jaw-dropping textures. With modern, high-powered features like studiograde conversion, dual processing engines, Live/Preset modes, plus selectable true or buffered bypass and tap tempo footswitch mode via the UAFX Control app.
Features
- Flagship, no-compromise stompbox offering the most authentic bucket-brigade and tube-driven tremolo effects ever captured in an effects pedal
- End-to-end emulation of iconic Japanese chorus/vibrato pedal
- Complete circuit capture of legendary '70s rackmount studio flanger/doubler
- Stem-to-stern model of tube-driven optical tremolo from classic '60s American amps
- Silent switching, Preset footswitch mode to store and recall your favorite setting
- UAFX Control mobile app lets you to switch between true and buffered bypass and access Preset + Tap footswitch mode for time-synced effects
- Free Phaser X90 and Dharma Trem 61 effects with registration
- Power requirements: Isolated 9VDC, center-negative, 400mA minimum (sold separately)
- Inputs: 2 x ¼” TS (right input for stereo connections)
- Outputs: 2 x ¼” TS (right output for stereo connections)
- USB Type-C for updates via computer
- Height: 2.56” (6.5 cm)
- Width: 3.62” (9.2 cm)
- Depth: 5.55” (14.1 cm)
- Weight: 1.24 lbs (0.567 kg)
