The company's pedal range now covers reverb, delay, chorus, tremolo, compressor, preamp and speaker simulation effects, in both full-size dual-footswitch pedals and a smaller compact series234.
From studio hardware to stompboxes
Universal Audio's reputation was built on studio equipment. Company founder Bill Putnam designed the 1176 FET compressor in 1967 and acquired Teletronix, maker of the LA-2A, in the same year6. Those two compressors are the basis of UAFX pedal designs: the Max Preamp & Dual Compressor carries what UA describes as "the same FET compressor used on decades of legendary studio guitar sounds," from the mind of Putnam12.
The move to pedals came in January 2021, when Universal Audio unveiled its first-ever line of effects pedals, the UAFX range, with availability planned for Spring 20217. MusicRadar described it as a premium guitar pedal range, each pedal featuring a dual-processor UAFX engine and three core sounds13. Premier Guitar's announcement likewise highlighted the dual-processor architecture delivering three distinct vintage sounds per pedal14. The first three pedals, the Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and Astra Modulation Machine, were announced "to much fanfare"15, and the line shipped following the March 31, 2021 release5.
Guitar.com's review of the launch trio noted UA's decision to launch multi-mode modulation, delay and reverb units promising studio-quality tones in stompbox form, with mono/stereo inputs and outputs, USB-C for firmware updates and registration, and Bluetooth for app control. At launch they were £355 each16.
Known for: the UAFX pedal line
The UAFX line has since grown well beyond the first three pedals. UA's own pages list the range as including the Del-Verb Ambience Companion, Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station, Galaxy 74 Tape Echo, Max Compressor, Lion and Woodrow17. The line also includes amp-in-a-box pedals such as the Dream '65 Reverb Amplifier, and the OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator, which UA describes as giving amp modelers "a packed pro studio full of authentic-sounding" speaker, cab, mic and room tones918.
In 2023 UA added a compact series. Guitar World reported four of its cheapest effects pedals to date in an all-new, streamlined form factor1, and Delicious Audio noted the Compacts line launched with four pedals including the Orion Tape Echo19.
| Full-size UAFX | Compact UAFX | |
|---|---|---|
| Footswitches | Two | One820 |
| Inputs/outputs | Mono/stereo16 | Mono4 |
| Effects per pedal | Three core sounds13 | A single effect4 |
| Current draw | 400 mA8 | 250 mA8 |
Gearnews' review of the compacts found they aim to bring the sound of full-size UAFX pedals in a smaller, more affordable format4.
What reviewers said
- Premier Guitar's review of the Golden Reverberator noted that UA effects, previously studio products, were now available in a relatively inexpensive stompbox format21.
- MusicRadar's review of the Max Preamp & Dual Compressor called it a pedal that "offers authentic recreations of some classic studio hardware together for the first time in one stompbox," while cautioning that it is not a pedal for casual compressor users22.
- Guitar.com's review of the launch trio found the controls behave very differently depending on which model is selected, and in some cases are not used at all16.
- MusicRadar's OX Stomp review found the pedal's reliance on a mobile app "oddly regressive" versus analog pedals, since crucial features can only be activated and changed in the app23.
"This isn't a pedal for casual compressor users but it offers authentic recreations of some classic studio hardware together for the first time in one stompbox."
The people behind UAFX
The UAFX pedals were developed over three years by the Universal Audio team5. The UAFX Max is made in Malaysia, per guitar.com's review6. UA's Astra page lists session player Tim Pierce (Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen) among the artists associated with its pedals24.
On Sweetwater's demo of the UAFX series, the presenters explained that each pedal in the UAFX series allows you to bypass your amplifier's preamp25.
Support and app control
UAFX pedals are controlled and maintained through two apps:
- UAFX Control mobile app: dual footswitch UAFX pedals have Bluetooth and can be controlled from a smartphone or tablet, with the app available from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store10. The app handles tasks like swapping cabs and mics on the OX Stomp, fine-tuning effects, assigning presets and configuring footswitches9.
- UA Connect desktop app: used to register pedals and run firmware updates, connecting the pedal with a USB-C cable to a compatible computer8.
Some deep features live only in the app. MusicRadar found the Max's sidechain and routing options are accessible only via the UAFX Control app with a Bluetooth connection22, and the OX Stomp's 1176 compressor controls are likewise found in the app23.
In November 2025, all dual-footswitch Universal Audio pedals, 14 in total, were updated with MIDI capabilities26, relevant if you run a MIDI controlled board.
The range (47)
News
Questions
When did Universal Audio start making pedals?
Universal Audio announced its first-ever line of effects pedals, the UAFX range, in January 2021, with availability planned for Spring 2021. The first three pedals, the Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and Astra Modulation Machine, shipped following the March 31, 2021 release announcement.
Where is Universal Audio located?
Universal Audio is based in Scotts Valley, California, according to the company's March 2021 press release announcing UAFX pedals. The UAFX Max pedal is made in Malaysia.
Do UAFX pedals work in stereo?
Full-size UAFX pedals have mono/stereo inputs and outputs and support stereo or dual mono operation. The compact UAFX pedals are different: they have mono inputs and outputs, a single footswitch and only a single effect per pedal.
What app do UAFX pedals use?
Dual footswitch UAFX pedals have Bluetooth and work with the UAFX Control mobile app, available from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Pedals are registered with the UAFX Control mobile app or the UA Connect desktop app, and firmware updates run through UA Connect over USB-C.
What is the difference between UAFX full-size and compact pedals?
Full-size UAFX pedals have two footswitches, stereo inputs and outputs, and require 400 mA of current. Compact UAFX pedals, launched in 2023 with four models, have a single footswitch, mono inputs and outputs, one effect per pedal, and require 250 mA. Guitar World described the compacts as UA's most affordable pedals to date.
Who founded Universal Audio?
Universal Audio's founder is Bill Putnam. He designed the 1176 FET compressor in 1967 and acquired Teletronix the same year, and the 1176 circuit is the basis of the UAFX Max compressor pedal.
Sources (26)
- Universal Audio's latest UAFX pedals trim the size and the price, but still seek to recreate more “timeless” historic effects, Guitar World, 2023-08-24
- Universal Audio releases its most affordable effects pedals yet | Guitar.com, Guitar.com
- Universal Audio Galaxy review: meticulously modelled | Guitar.com, Guitar.com
- Compact UAFX Pedals Review: Orion, Heavenly, 1176 & Evermore., gearnews.com, 2023-10-05
- Universal Audio Ships UAFX Pedals, MusicPlayers.com, 2021-03-31
- Universal Audio Max review: drawing on decades of signal-squishing expertise, guitar.com, 2023-04-21
- Universal Audio launches its first-ever effects pedals, with “sonically authentic emulations” of classic reverb, delay and modulation circuits, Guitar World, 2021-01-27
- Orion Tape Echo Pedal, Universal Audio
- OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator Pedal, Universal Audio
- Golden Reverberator Pedal, Universal Audio (www.uaudio.com)
- ANTI 1992 High Gain Amp Pedal, Universal Audio
- Max Preamp & Dual Compressor Pedal, Universal Audio (www.uaudio.com)
- Universal Audio sets course for your pedalboard with a trio of high-end guitar effects, MusicRadar, 2021-01-27
- Universal Audio Announces UAFX Effects Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2021-01-27
- Review: UAFX Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and Astra Modulation Machine, gearnews.com, 2021-04-04
- The Big Review: Will Universal Audio’s entry into the guitar pedal market send boutique brands scurrying for cover?, Guitar.com, 2021-05-13
- Del-Verb Ambience Companion Pedal, Universal Audio (www.uaudio.com)
- Universal Audio UAFX Amp Pedals, Sound On Sound (www.soundonsound.com), 2022-07
- UAFX Orion Tape Echo, Delicious Audio, 2023-11-07
- UAFX Universal Audio OX Stomp, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-04
- Universal Audio UAFX Golden Reverberator Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-03-24
- Universal Audio UAFX Max Preamp & Dual Compressor pedal review, MusicRadar, 2023-06-07
- Universal Audio UAFX Ox Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator pedal review, MusicRadar, 2023-12-14
- Astra Modulation Machine Pedal, Universal Audio (www.uaudio.com)
- Universal Audio Dream ’65 Reverb Amplifier Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2022-05-24
- The Evolution of Universal Audio Pedals: MIDI Control Unleashed, www.morningstar.io, 2025-11-12