Imagine stepping into the very rooms where legends like Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Whitney Houston recorded their iconic hits. Universal Audio’s new Ocean Way Studios Deluxe plugin lets you do just that—virtually. This expanded version of their award-winning studio emulation plugin isn’t just an update; it’s a time machine for your music. Available natively for Mac and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats, it places your tracks inside the historic Hollywood studios that shaped music history. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a plugin truly capture the magic of these legendary spaces? Let’s dive in.
Built on UA’s Dynamic Room Modelling technology, Ocean Way Studios Deluxe meticulously recreates Studio A and Studio B, both masterfully designed by the iconic Bill Putnam Sr. It also includes three custom reverb chambers that have made Ocean Way a holy grail for producers and engineers. And this is the part most people miss: the plugin doesn’t just emulate the rooms—it also models the analog consoles, re-miking setups, and even the speakers that defined the studio’s sound.
“With Ocean Way Studios Deluxe, we wanted to bring creators even closer to the essence of these historic rooms,” explains Lev Perrey, VP of Product at Universal Audio. “It’s a complete reimagining of one of our most beloved plugins, now packed with chambers, analog consoles, and re-miking capabilities.”
Here’s the gear that steals the show: Studio A features the Focusrite 110 EQ with cut filters, while Studio B boasts the Dalcon console paired with the API 550A EQ. For dynamics processing, you get classics like the Fairchild 670, LA-2A, 1176LN, and dbx 160 compressors, alongside UA’s A-Type Air and Crush processors. But the real game-changer? The new re-miking systems, which include UREI 813 monitors (Bill Putnam’s dual 15-inch coaxial design) and Altec A-2 folded-horn cabinets. These allow you to place virtual microphones in the space and reamp tracks through the modeled speaker systems—a feature that’s sure to spark debate among purists.
The plugin also shines with its reimagined retina graphics, updated interface, curated presets, and flexible routing options. Available as a perpetual license or via a UAD Spark subscription, it even offers an upgrade path for existing Ocean Way Studios owners. But here’s the question: does this plugin truly democratize access to legendary studio sound, or is it just a high-tech imitation? Let us know what you think in the comments.
For more details, head to Universal Audio’s website here. And don’t forget to catch up on all the latest news here.
