In 2022, UA launched UAD Spark and began offering native (CPU-based) versions of their plugins. Ultimate 9 includes both DSP and Native licenses. This is crucial because it means the software is no longer hardware-locked.
: Offers the Fender '55 Tweed Deluxe amp emulation and various virtual instruments. Technical Requirements
Unlike smaller premium bundles, "Ultimate" packages are designed to give users an all-access pass to decades of audio history. It captures the exact nonlinearities, harmonic distortions, and structural behaviors of legendary hardware units. Key Plug-In Categories Included:
: Classic optical compression.
The reality is that R2R releases often work alongside legitimate versions. As noted in a 2021 discussion, "AiR releases always worked 100% with original releases, and 99.9% of R2R's releases as well... I have used two DAWs with the same licensed plugins, just with different cards." This suggests that a cracked UAD plugin is often indistinguishable from the legitimate one, provided the hardware is present.