Recording - July 2018 - 32

Universal
Audio Arrow
UAD effects power in an
easily portable interface

REVIEW BY ANDREW PASK AND DARWIN GROSSE

niversal Audio is one of the most active
companies in the interface/plug-in space.
With its range of Apollo audio interfaces,
UA has covered much but not all of the interface
world, from small 2-channel desktop systems
through large-format multichannel rack systems.
The one thing missing has been in the personal/
portable space: something that could be bus-powered
and tossed in a backpack for mobile recording,
but would still feature UA quality and provide
access to DSP-based plug-ins. That's where the
Arrow audio interface comes in.

What's in the box

The Arrow is a cleanly laid-out interface; everything it's
about is pretty much displayed on the device itself. It's a
2-input/4-output interface with a pair of XLR/
TRS combination inputs and balanced
1
/4" outputs on the back, plus
a Hi-Z (instrument)

input and a separately-addressable headphone output on
the front edge. The top has multisegment metering for input
and output levels, buttons for selecting interface functions (like
bass rolloff, phantom power, and stereo linking) and a large
encoder for level control. The whole package is 4.75 x 7 x
1.8 inches, a bit smaller and lighter than the Apollo Twin,
and connects to your computer through a single Thunderbolt
3 cable with no extra power supply.
Things get even more interesting once you get set up on
your computer. Universal Audio has developed an exceptional
software system called Console for its interfaces; this software
provides I/O routing, low-latency monitoring, and monitor
control for all their systems, and it's been updated to include
the Arrow. Even though this is UA's "low-end" interface, they
didn't skimp on the control software.
Universal Audio has also added a robust set of plug-ins
for the built-in DSP chip on the Arrow: a set of 14 effects that
include a number of Legacy compressor and EQ emulations,
a set of UA's Precision lineup of audio tools, guitar-focused
effects like Marshall Plexi Classic and Ampeg SVT-VR Classic,
and the RealVerb Pro reverb. This is a powerful selection of
plug-ins that adds great value to the Arrow package.
Alas, there are a few things missing. First, as with other UA
interfaces, there is no MIDI to be found. Most MIDI controllers
are now USB-based, so 5-pin MIDI ports are probably an
unnecessary (albeit convenient) addition.
What's more surprising is that the package doesn't include
a Thunderbolt 3 cable... and this can get a little tricky. Heading
over to your local big-box electronics store might net you a
cable that looks like it should work fine, and even plugs in
properly, but ends up not working. That's because Thunderbolt
3 uses the same USB-C connectors as conventional USB-C cables, but the cables themselves are not always compatible. In
fact, we went through at least one non-working cable before
finding a winner. Luckily, some retailers are including a tested
Thunderbolt 3-compatible cable with the Arrow, so you might
want to check on that when you make your purchase.
While we are on the subject of Thunderbolt 3 cabling,
one other thing to keep in mind is that the Arrow will
only work when connected to a computer that
has proper Thunderbolt 3 ports, rather than
USB-C or adaptors from USB 3.1 or the
like. This limitation is unfortunately
a requirement for the Arrow's
performance as a box with a
single connection to your laptop
with no external power supply;
its electronics pull far more
current than is available on any
port short of Thunderbolt 3.

How does it work and sound?

If you've read this far, you are probably considering
an Arrow purchase, and you're probably wondering
if it sounds as good as the Apollo interfaces, and if it will
interface with the mics and monitors you already own. The
answer is "Yes, it does." The mic pres include the Unison
32

RECORDING July 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - July 2018