Universal Audio offers the UAD Century Tube Channel Strip ($199) plugin as a free download until September 15th. The plugin requires an iLok account for authorization purposes.
Black Friday is the time of the year when getting a $199 plugin feels normal. But I checked my calendar this morning, and it’s still August.
This definitely isn’t normal, Universal Audio! But I’m not complaining.
Universal Audio is behind some of the most sought-after hardware and software for music production. Their products typically cost $150 or more, but they’re no stranger to freebies, either.
For example, the LUNA digital audio workstation is one of the best freeware DAWs on Windows and macOS.
Also, the company recently offered the UAD Verve Analog Machines Essentials plugin for free for a limited time. It was cool, but a lo-fi plugin like the Verve isn’t something you’d normally associate with their brand.
However, Universal Audio stepped up their game with this limited-time freebie. Century Tube is one of their top-tier saturation plugins, and getting it for free is an insanely valuable gift.
Let’s briefly examine the Century Tube and its features.
Century Tube Channel Strip is a streamlined saturation plugin for mixing and tracking. It is based on a virtual tube preamp while adding a three-band EQ and a one-knob optical compressor to its feature set.
Its simple and accessible user interface makes it ideal for tracking, allowing you to quickly enhance your vocals, guitars, bass, and other recordings before mixing.
Coming from Universal Audio, it’s no surprise that the Century Tube Channel Strip provides a warm, smooth sound that sounds almost as good as the hardware.
I tested the plugin on some of my recent cinematic sound effects projects, too, and was able to bring out the details in some complex braams and hybrid impacts I’m working on. It’s excellent for adding clarity and warmth without distorting the audio.
The plugin’s control layout is relatively simple.
You can adjust the gain settings, tweak the high-pass filter to eliminate low frequencies, and use the level knob to add valve saturation. The three-band EQ includes fixed high and low shelving bands and a semi-parametric mid-band for precise control. The Opto Leveler, inspired by the LA-2A, provides transparent compression.
It’s the perfect saturation/EQ/compression combo with a fast workflow and jaw-droppingly good sounds. It’s definitely worth considering for its base price of $199, but for free, it’s an absolute steal.
The free download offer ends on September 15th. To claim your free copy of the UAD Century Tube, visit the product page linked below and complete the free checkout.
UAD Century Tube Channel Strip is available in VST, AU, and AAX plugin formats for digital audio workstations on Windows and macOS.
Get the freebie: UAD Century Tube Channel Strip (FREE until September 15th, requires iLok user account)
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57 Comments
yzcoruhT
oniLok?
Viriju
onnop
alex
onWell, that’s not true. It requires an iLok account. At some point, I thought it would be abandoned, but it seems that the opposite thing has happened – most people act like it’s ok and completely normal to have it installed. Well, it’s not – it’s the most stupid piece of software ever invented and it even doesn’t prevent software piracy. But it successfully makes machines way slower and causes various other issues (whoever claims it’s not the case is not telling the truth). But, to each their own….
Alexxxxxx
onMOD EDIT: Insulting other commenters is not allowed.
MRG
onSo, if he rewrites his comment as a rap on some trap beats, he’ll then be allowed to express himself? Hmmm…
alex
onYeah, the internet brought freedom but constantly shows how many people with no manners are there on this beautiful planet of ours. Attacking people ad hominem, telling them what they should or shouldn’t, or even worse, what to or not to do, instead of offering arguments and facts about the subject being discussed is inappropriate at least. The best way to cope with such people is to simply ignore them.
“Never argue with stupid people,
because thy will drag you down
to their level and then beat you
with experience”
-Mark Twain
Lucas
oniLOK being trash is common knowledge. It’s amazing to me that people still tolerate allowing PACE to hold their plugins hostage since, for every person who’s never had an issue with PACE, there’s five who have.
James
onThe internet should ban iLok for good.
Michael in South Korea
onNot complicated. You want it, get it.
If not, don’t.
Spider
onI agree! Very simple! :)
Bani
onThis guy softwares
Michael
onYes, and unless you have a physical iLok connected you have to be online to use them.
JPhilippe
onSorry, you don’t need physical ilok specifically, works great with ILok license manager on PC up to 3 activations.
Michael
onSome UAD plugins can be authorized on your hard drive but most require a constant internet connection or a physical iLok. I’ve been using them for years natively. Here’s directly from their website:
“By default, UA Connect authorizes your software using the iLok Cloud service. iLok Cloud does not require an iLok USB device, but does require a constant internet connection. If you do not have a constant connection, or want to store your licenses on an iLok USB for another reason, you can move your licenses to an iLok USB.”
Robert
onIt requires an iLok account and iLok License Manager.
If you don’t own a physical iLok key, then you can use it with iLok cloud, which means you must always be connected to the Internet. No Internet -> no plugins.
A resource-hungry, complicated protection method from the Stone Age if you ask me.
Cheers.
Michael
onThis is great, thanks! On a related note, their UAD 1176 Classic Limiter Collection was $2499 in 2012. Now you can get the native version on sale for $39. Just goes to show how overpriced they once were.
Franz
on…and if you go for a 44bundle on sale you pay about 7,30€ per plugin. I think thats a fair price.
GY!CESR
onIsso é impressionate! Obter plugins tão caros e sofisticados gratuitamente. Isso é genuíno!
Steve
onAnother nightmare company.
I won’t bore you all with the details of my experiences with this Big Brother meets Brave New World bunch of Fascists, but Thanks but no thanks:(
Not_an_uad_fanboy
onSome pure **** talk here.. amazing company. Excellent plugins. No issues ever. And a great freebie! ✌️
pacman
on“If I don’t have issues they don’t exist.”
– Double Digit IQ
Numanoid
onI just took a decision to uninstall everything UAD from my computer earlier this week. Trying to get PolyMAX to work in FL Studio v24, and the UAD manager takes ages to update, like it never will finish
And even when I thought I had authorized PolyMAX in iLok, it keeps on asking for authorization, like the computer has to be online to be able to use it ?
Too much hoopjumping and hassle for me.
Bob
onYeah it’s a mess. As regards iLok some UA plugins allow machine activation but others require either dongle or cloud. If you activate to cloud you will need to be online at all times for the activation to work.
I have a dongle so I don’t have that problem but I don’t like that I have to keep UA Connect installed for updates or adding new plugins. Or that there’s no way to archive installers.
The whole thing gives me a “this will work until it doesn’t” vibe so I’m hesitant to rely on any of the UA plugins I have.
Numanoid
onI got PolyMAX free at Plugin Boutique a year ago. So It is not a big loss for me to remove it.
But the experience serves as a reminder to myself to become better at reading the fine print when getting new plugins, and how they are installed/maintained.
Calidreads
onI have the same problem bro :-(
The F*** UAD manager takes ages to update …no ende …never will finich :-/
Update run up 3 hours ….:-/ no way :-/
steve
onMany comments deleted here, so I won’t bother again.
Free speech is obviously not an option on this site.
Goodbye.
JJ
onFree speech does not mean that you can write anything on a website hosted and paid for by someone else.
Tomislav Zlatic
onNot a single comment was deleted on this article. Generally speaking, we only delete comments that insult other readers and contain excessive foul language.
All opinions, both positive and negative are welcome.
And I’ll repeat, not a single comment was deleted here.
Bani
onI hate to “defend” this guy, but I’ve written perfectly worded posts in this blog and they’ve gotten deleted.
It’s great that you moderate insults, which makes this a great pleace to talk. But it stops being one as soon as you over-moderate. It’s actually very frustrating to put in time to politely post an informed opinion only for it to get deleted.
Ian / Nihil Quest
onBedrooproducer guys, please … Writing about this not being Black Friday is not relevant to the subject. But iLok is. This is the thing people want to know. Comment section is often more useful than the whole article. “for free, it’s an absolute steal”. Well, no, because there are other things to consider and you should point them out.
Tomislav Zlatic
onNoted, adding iLok info to the article. Thank you for your suggestion.
Bruno de Souza Lino
onI’ve seen the blurb and this blog post about this plugin and both mention it sounding “just like the hardware.” I then ask which hardware this is supposed to emulate in the first place? As far as I remember, UAD never made a hardware channel strip and certainly searching for that term only turns up reviews about this plugin.
Alexxxxxx
onMOD EDIT: Insulting other commenters is not allowed.
Lucas
onClearly you’ve never been working and tried to use a iLOK-ed plugin that’s decided to de-authorize for the fifty-sixth time due to PACE and its archaic “protection.” Bold assumption tho, that everyone is white and living in a first-world country.
Bani
onWhat does race have to do with any of these?
Alexxxxxx
onin what world are you complaining with free products? ok, with pay ones is the same about ilok topic, but, seriously?
they mark them rules and i accepted because the goal is make music, not to write bull**** in a blog.
JWP
onRequires software installation (UA Connect) to authorize.
Jim
onStagecraft Software is giving away 1000 free licences of the Glitch Machine plugin. Hurry up! there are less than 200 licenses ’till now I’m posting this info.
PureFire
onThanks T, BPB and those who shared this info & UAD, i appreciate this kind offer it makes all the difference, many thanks
UAD Verve analog machines essentials is still free
uaudio.com/verve-analog-machines-essentials.html
UA Connect App & iLok App required
UAD free promos are licensed through iLok Machine (computer) or Dongle
UAD paid purchases are licensed through iLok Cloud or Dongle
I can see both sides of the argument but i really would like the choice of iLok machine (computer) licence for a paid purchase… i have already given my feedback through the UA Connect App.
Numanoid
onThe most level headed comment I have read in the debate so far. Thanks.
I see UAD like Waves, it is an ecosystem one have to gel with.
I confess I am a freebie hunter, and getting something free is maybe more important than actual need.
LoFIMAT
onUiijuiijuii Whut happens hier?
ILUMINATEN
CoopMusic247
onWell, it works quick and easy on my machine. I’m an Apollo Twin owner too though and it doesn’t come with the license to use as a unison plugin which is kind of a let down, but I’ve been using the Manley or the Avalon lately anyway. ILok never seems to be an issue for me.
Easy
onIf someone who reads these comments and doesn’t know UAD might be thinking what kind of bad company this is. But UAD makes the one of the best, or could even say the best hardware emulations there is.
Peter
onYou couldn’t pay me to use it, get rid of the draconian DRM and we’ll talk
questionäre
onlmao i find the BPB readers range’s quite interesting. UAD offers quality plugins used by actual professionals, and readers cry because of ilok.
yet they jump for joy when the next voxsamples plugin is available?
i legitimately could never understand this
Dee
onSuch a versatile plugin! Love it! Vocal presence, screaming 303, subtle warmth (erggghhh lol). Used to hate the Ilok cloud thing, but now I have a dongle… No issues.
Just deactivate UA connect from startup if you’re worried about system hogging.
Angelo Furlan
onIt was a hassle to get UAConnect to run, even though I already had it installed. But this is one amazing VST, so the hassle was well worth it.
Stefan
onAMAZIN FREEBIE!!!!
SICK!!!
Stefan
onThank you BPB & Tomi for the great work you do!!!
Stefan
onIt’s also free at Plugin Boutique btw!
Wing Yee
onGreat tool, thanks!
SanityMan
onNice offer. But I just stay away from anything that significantly increases my admin and troubleshooting burden.
The more software you have, the more software you have to maintain.
These days, I make plugin decisions so as to experience less of a nightmare the next time my CPU or motherboard randomly die on me.
And yes, I do maintain backups, for all the good they are when certain software is registered/locked to a dead CPU or motherboard. Fun times!
Jens
onUAD is giving away amazing best in class products to make new friends. Works for me.
Toney
onTried it. Mediocre. Don’t need it. Uninstalled.
Sacaan
onTwo considerations:
1. If you have the iLok plugged in, it only supports authorization in iLok and Cloud. If you remove it, it allows authorization on the computer.
2. At least on Mac, UA installs its stuff with an app (UA Manager) that starts with the system and calls home every so often through extensions that it leaves in the system. It consumes RAM, CPU, and disk. I threw all that away and its plugins still work, but you have to reinstall everything to upgrade or add new plugins.
Many companies have included this unpleasant practice as a way to study their customers. So in the end, it’s not free.
James
onStupid iLok,
F iLok,
You can have it!
Vice
onYeah, sorry… Since I had my old Mac stolen in a breakin and discovered that iLok did nothing to help reset my licenses, I instead got halfway through and swore off iLok ever again… So I have hundreds, if not thousands of dollars worth of software that is gone, because the added insult of having to beg for your paid software to be ‘released’ by a third party from hardware by the company you purchased from over and over again is just too much corporate garbage to deal with. So sorry, but NEVER again.