Universal Audio introduces UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection as free download

Universal Audio (UA) has announced its UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection, which is available as a plug-in for both native and Apollo DSP systems. UA has released it as a free download for a limited time.

The collection comprises “authentic” emulations of the UA 610-A and 610-B tube channel strips, including tube amplifiers, transformers and EQ circuits.

Originally created in 1960 by UA founder Bill Putnam Sr., the 610 modular console was among the earliest mixing desks built specifically for audio recording and famed for its “timeless warmth”.

“The 610 was designed when tone wasn’t something you added later; it was built in from the start,” said Will Shanks, senior product designer at UA, in a press release. “You don’t have to fight it — you just turn it up and it sounds right. It brings your entire plug-in chain to life.”

The UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection is available as a free download until the end of February 2026 from the UA site here.

Universal Audio has given away several plug-ins for a limited time period in recent years, including a clone of its classic 1176 compressor last year. In 2025, the company also released a new analogue-inspired soft synth, Anthem.