The legendary UA 610-A and 610-B tube channel strips are now available as native UAD plugins, bringing vintage warmth to vocals and instruments without requiring Apollo hardware.
Universal Audio has released the UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection as a free download for a limited time, making the legendary 610 tube channel strip sound accessible to anyone regardless of their hardware setup. The collection includes authentic emulations of both the 610-A and 610-B models, available natively or via Apollo DSP systems with Unison preamp technology.
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First introduced in 1960 by Bill Putnam Sr., the tube-amplified 610 modular console was among the first mixing desks purpose-built for audio recording. The channel strips at its heart defined the sound of modern recording with their rich tube harmonics and saturation, shaping recordings by Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, and Neil Young. Originally released as Apollo-only plugins in 2014, these emulations are now available in native format, bringing authentic 610 tube sound to any DAW—Ableton, Logic Pro, Reaper, you name it.
The plugins deliver end-to-end emulation of the complete 610 signal path, including tube amplifiers, transformers, and EQ circuits. Users get access to both the 610-A and 610-B models, each with distinct tonal characteristics. According to Will Shanks, Senior Product Designer at UA, “The 610 was designed when tone wasn’t something you added later; it was built in from the start. You don’t have to fight it—you just turn it up and it sounds right. It brings your entire plugin chain to life.”
The 610-A offers a first high-frequency boost favoured by producers like Greg Wells (Wicked, Adele, The Greatest Showman, Kid Cudi), while the 610-B provides more surgical and subtle EQ shaping. Both models add presence and warmth to vocal recordings, making them stand out in the mix, while guitars, keyboards, and drums come alive with fat tube saturation.
Beyond individual source processing, the 610 plugins make any effect in a signal chain sound instantly fuller and three-dimensional. “The UA 610 helped shape the sound of the 1960s. This plugin gives me that character,” explains Hector Delgado, who’s worked with Ariana Grande, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar. “The native version allows me to add more instances to my sessions.”
Billy Hickey, whose credits include Lana Del Rey, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez, calls them “secret weapons” that make vocals or instruments pop out of the mix.
Apollo users benefit from Unison preamp technology for the most authentic 610 preamp sound and experience, while native users get classic 610 tube warmth and character without requiring Apollo hardware. The collection is available now as a free download from Universal Audio and via participating retailers.
Head here to snap it up.
