The Universal Audio UAFX Astra is a stereo multi-modulation pedal. It lists at $399 USD as of November 20231, and registration unlocks two free downloadable effects, the Phaser X90 and the Dharma Trem '611.
What the Astra does
The Astra offers what Delicious Audio calls "3 authentic bucket-brigade and tube-driven modulation effects: chorus/vibrato, flanger/doubler and tremolo"1. The three main modes are named Chorus Brigade, Flanger DBLR and Trem 65, and each has secondary modes: Vibrato, Doubling and more3. A fourth effect is downloadable at registration, giving four modes in total, each with variations, for what Delicious Audio counts as 4x2 different effects1.
The two free downloads, the Phaser X90 and Dharma Trem '61, are obtained by registering the pedal1.
The controls
The Astra carries six knobs, three mini-switches and two footswitches, a layout shared across the first three UAFX pedals5.
| Control | Row | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Top | Modulation rate |
| Depth | Top | Modulation depth |
| Intensity | Top | Modulation intensity |
| Shade | Bottom | Tone shaping |
| Shape | Bottom | Waveform shape |
| Mode | Bottom | Effect selection |
The top row handles Speed, Depth and Intensity, and the bottom row Shade, Shape and Mode5. Alongside the knobs sit three mini-switches: one to choose the type of effect, one to store the preset, and an A/B variation switch5.
Bypass, stereo and what it lacks
The Astra is a stereo pedal2, with two inputs, two outputs and a USB-C socket4. Switching is described by Delicious Audio as "Preset, silent switching, and true/buffered bypass"1, so the pedal can run true or buffered bypass and switches presets silently.
One thing it does not have is MIDI. Delicious Audio's reviewers flagged "the absence of Midi functionality and the limited tweakability"1. Players looking to control modulation over MIDI will need to look elsewhere.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio's reviewers, writing in a multi-modulation buying guide, were broadly positive about the Astra's character1:
"Among the pedals we explored for this article, it stood out as the most authentically analog, delivering timeless modulation effects that exude subtlety and sophistication."
The same review paired that praise with the caveats above: no MIDI and limited tweakability1. gearnews.com's review of the original UAFX trio described the Astra Modulation Machine as offering the three modulation types, Chorus Brigade, Flanger DBLR and Trem 655.
Related pedals
- UAFX Astra Modulation Machine: the full name under which the pedal was announced and reviewed3
- UAFX Brigade Chorus: the 2023 compact pedal dedicated to the Astra's CE-1-style chorus circuit2
- More modulation options: Chorus Pedals, Flanger Pedals, Tremolo Pedals, Phaser Pedals
Videos
Sweetwater
Universal Audio
Universal Audio
Questions
Does the UAFX Astra have MIDI?
No. Reviewers at Delicious Audio noted the absence of MIDI functionality on the Astra, along with what they described as limited tweakability. The pedal stores presets and offers an A/B variation switch, but there is no MIDI control over its sounds.
Is the UAFX Astra stereo?
Yes. The Astra is a stereo pedal, with two inputs and two outputs plus a USB-C connection, according to Guitar World's listing. That makes it usable in stereo rigs and with two amps.
Does the UAFX Astra have true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio describes the Astra as having preset, silent switching, and true/buffered bypass, so it can be set to true bypass or buffered bypass depending on the rig.
Which pedal does the Astra's chorus mode copy?
The Astra's Chorus Brigade mode mirrors the BOSS CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, which Delicious Audio describes as the legendary first-ever BOSS chorus. Universal Audio later released a dedicated compact pedal of the same circuit, the UAFX Brigade Chorus.
Sources (5)
- Best Pedals For Synths: Multi-Modulation Stompboxes, Reviewed, Delicious Audio, 2023-11-02
- New Pedal: Universal Audio UAFX Brigade Chorus, Delicious Audio, 2023-11-06
- Universal Audio Announces UAFX Effects Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2021-01-27
- Best modulation pedals: our pick of the best mod effects, Guitar World, 2023-06-02
- Review: UAFX Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and Astra Modulation Machine, gearnews.com, 2021-04-04
