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Universal Audio UAFX Astra Modulation Machine Pedal

Stereo Modulation Effects Pedal with Chorus Brigade, Flanger/Doubler, and Amp Tremolo
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Classic Modulation Effects Powered by Universal Audio

Universal Audio has taken a selection of their finest DSP-powered emulations of classic effects and packed them into thoughtfully designed, ultra-robust guitar pedals that are a tone chaser’s dream come true. The Universal Audio Astra Modulation Machine puts three legendary modulation effects at your feet — a bucket brigade chorus, a flanger/doubler, and a vintage amp tremolo — all of which uncannily bottle realistic analog character and vibe. With true bypass switching and an optional buffered bypass, the Astra Modulation Machine keeps your core tone intact while allowing you to layer on swathes of gorgeous modulation. Guitarists at Sweetwater often reach for the UAD software versions of these effects when shaping their guitar tone in the box, so we’re thrilled to be able to now transport these tones to the stage. Plus, the Astra Modulation ups the ante on all these effects, offering stereo and dual-mono operation and a preset mode to store your favorite settings and switch between effects during a performance. With its unmatched sonic authenticity, the Universal Audio Astra Modulation Machine pedal is bound to become your new favorite pedal for infusing your playing with warbles, wobbles, and wash!

Chorus Brigade

Based on the beloved Japanese chorus ensemble effect that hit the streets back in 1976, the Chorus Brigade conjures up the lush, swirling analog chorusing popularized by guitar legends such as Andy Summers, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and Brian May, as well as modern players like John Frusciante, Alex Turner, and Kevin Parker, among others. The Chorus Brigade features two modes: a set-it-and-forget-it chorus and a tweakable vibrato with Depth and Speed controls. Additionally, Universal Audio included the original big gray pedal’s preamp level control for driving the effect into some seriously glorious saturation!

Flanger/Doubler

Making its debut in the late 1970s, a bright blue rack-unit flanger and doubler found its way into the rigs of countless guitarists during the 1980s and 1990s. Universal Audio perfectly captured this “meta” effect, which used bucket brigade circuitry to mimic the analog tape flanging effect that was heavily employed by psychedelic bands in the 1960s. Unabashedly lo-fi, the Flanger/Doubler pulls off a range of effects, from unstable-tape-machine wow and flutter to underwater wooshing — all with a deliciously scooped tone and loads of grit.

Trem 65

When it comes to tremolo, nothing is quite like the optical tube tremolos featured on vintage tube combo amps — the ones boldly mislabeled “vibrato”! The Trem 65 serves up that wide-swing sound in spades, with switchable sine and square wave modes, so you can keep it subtle or go in for the hard chop. And for an even more dramatic effect, switch into stereo mode for wall-to-wall panned tremolo!

Two additional free effects: X90 Phaser and Dharma Trem 61

As if the three awesome stock effects weren’t enough, Universal Audio sweetens the pot with two free effects when you register your Astra Modulation Machine — the X90 Phaser and Dharma Trem 61 — which can be loaded onto the pedal via USB. The X90 Phaser gives you access to the “script” and “block” versions of the iconic orange phaser pedal; the Dharma Trem 61 emulates the unique vintage harmonic tremolo circuit installed in certain brownface, blonde tube combos, with a modern dynamics processor that lets you ramp up or ramp down the tremolo speed to a defined rate.

UAFX Control app for even more control

Download the UAFX Control app for iOS or Android and expand your sonic options. The app lets you witch between true bypass and buffered bypass on your Astra Modulation Machine. Plus, the app lets you change the behavior or the right footswitch to choose a preset, tap tempo, or both.

Universal Audio Astra Modulation Machine Pedal Features:

  • 3 classic modulation effect emulations powered by UAD DSP
  • Chorus Brigade conjures up the 1970s big gray unit’s lush, analog chorus and vibrato
  • Flanger/Doubler re-creates the characterful blueface bucket brigade rackmount flanger
  • Trem 65 offers warm, opto tube-style tremolo with sine and square wave modes
  • 2 free effects upon registration: X90 Phaser and Dharma Trem 61
  • Operates in mono, dual-mono, and stereo modes with automatic mono/stereo detection
  • Rugged enclosure with top-notch components
  • True bypass and optional buffered bypass modes
  • UAFX Control app expands functionality

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Tech Specs

  • Pedal Type: Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo
  • Analog/Digital: Digital
  • Effects: Chrous Brigade, Flanger/Doubler, Trem 65
  • Inputs: 2 x 1/4" TS (L/mono,R)
  • Outputs: 2 x 1/4" TS (L/mono,R)
  • USB: USB-C (updates)
  • True Bypass: Yes, Switchable to Buffered (via software)
  • Features: Dual-processor UAFX Engine, Recall Stored Settings
  • Software: UAFX Control app (Android/iOS 11 or later)
  • Power Source: 9V DC 400mA power supply (sold separately)
  • Height: 2.56"
  • Width: 3.62"
  • Depth: 5.55"
  • Weight: 1.24 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: GPM-ASTRA

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Pure Awesomeness

This pedal is great! I bought the Golden first loved it so much that I got the Starlight and now I have the Astra. I absolutely love these pedals. I really can't put into words how pristine the audio quality of these pedals. It's like having every single paint color in the world available to you. So many possibilities!
Music background: Professional, hobbyist, and noodler!
Rated 5/5

Astra lives up to its roots!!

Have been dabbling with some of the sounds encased in this box for years - pretty much just took presets on plugins and emulators. This was the first I've really experimented with modulation parameters. The algorithms and hardware in the box creates stunning sounds! There are 5 effects (two addition after product registration) and 2-3 mods of each. Multiply that by the number of incremental options on the 6 controls and you have millions of different sounds - but honestly just playing with the knobs and dry/wet ratio you are able Togo from pleasing to way-out-experimental sounds pretty quickly. Ultimately, very easy to evoke what your looking for (and I saved that as a preset) and will probably keep that as the preset (you only get one - my only real complaint) for a while. UAD has yet to implement their Bluetooth capabilities with an accompanying app - I'm hoping when they do the App can store multiple presets. Right now I keep a little notebook by my rig to document - settings I like, and while the sounds are stunning, the analog settings notebook is not. Still, I knew that going in and the sound (and build) quality is still high enough for 5-stars from me!!
Rated 5/5

My favorite of the 3 UAFX pedals

I bought the Golden and Starlight first, but I was not so sure about getting this one. However, I decided to bite the bullet and get it to try it out and I was honestly blown away. The effects on this pedal are quite fantastic and I am having a blast with them. Everything sounds super High Fidelity and it's quite easy to dial in a good sound. You get five different algorithms in this pedal and the effects sound indistinguishable from their analog counterparts in my opinion. Definitely worth the price and it's built like a champ too. Buy it, you won't regret it!
Rated 4.5/5

"True to form" vintage modulation!

This is my first experience with Universal Audio (UA) gear and honestly...it's fantastic, true to form and very close if not indistinguishable from the original effects it's made to emulate! Navigating the dials can be a bit confusing at first as some do different things 'per effect' and some are not used at all...similar to the layout of the original effects design - it won't take long to understand how they work though. I really like the fact that if a dial/function is not used for a particular effect in the Astra you don't have to reference the user manual to determine if it controls an effect parameter or not. Instead and directly below the knob there are two small LEDs, when you turn the knob and if they blink...that function is turned OFF, simple. The sounds are exceptional...watery CE-1 style Chorus, Metallic Flange, swooshing Phaser, throbbing Trem they're all there and feel right when blended with your guitars tone! I've used many mod effects that either take your signal over, sound thin or are not present enough, with the Astra you feel the effect under your fingers and in your playing;) I'm waiting for the UAFX Mobile App controlled via Blue Tooth as that capability and like my H9s, is always more convenient to control an effects parameters...then connecting via USB to a computer. I wish though that the Astra could do Pre/Post processing...placing the Phaser and Flanger before my ODs and then the Chorus and Trem after, would be best option for effects routing. Great pedal though.
Rated 4/5

Great Pedalboard Addition

I was looking for a quality modulation unit that didn't cover half of my nano+ board. With the addition of the Astra my board is as follows: Tumnus Deluxe, Strymon Sunset, Astra, DMM, Strymon Blue Sky. The sounds of the Astra are certainly studio quality and add just the right amount of movement and polish to my sound. In the 2 weeks I've had the Astra my favorites so far are the Chorus, flanger and the Dharma Trem (free download) that offers a great Univibe sound for Robin Trower licks. Many of the on-line reviews mention the fact that there's only one preset available, which is true. But once you download the UA app you have access to 35 factory and 9 artist presets. Plus you can add your own presets that can all be recalled in seconds with the UA app on your phone. Might not be ideal for playing live, but works great for practicing. I would also recommend downloading the UA Effect Control Map so you clearly see how each knob affects each Mod sound. Different for each affect, but that's why the app presets are so handy. Build quality is great and has USB-C for future updates. No MIDI. I can only imagine how great this would sound in a stereo set-up. 4 stars because it's the only Mod pedal I own so I don't know how it compares to the competition.
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