UAD Cooper Time Cube Delay Now Runs Natively
17 hours ago
3 min read
Universal Audio has brought Cooper Time Cube Delay to its native UAD range, so it now runs without Apollo or UAD-2 hardware. The unusual studio delay keeps the sound of the established DSP edition while opening it to anyone with a compatible computer. Existing owners also get a low-cost upgrade, although the dates and current offers need a little explaining.
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Cooper Time Cube Delay no longer needs UAD hardware
Cooper Time Cube Delay joined the UAD Native range on November 10, 2026. The UADx edition runs on your computer’s CPU and is sonically identical to the older DSP plug-in, according to Universal Audio. The DSP edition remains available for Apollo interfaces and UAD Accelerators, where it can handle low-latency monitoring without loading the host CPU. Settings can be copied between corresponding native and DSP editions, while LUNA 1.4 or later can switch between them automatically.
New purchases made from the launch date include native and DSP licenses. UAD Spark Studio subscribers get the native edition, but a Spark subscription does not include a DSP license. The plug-in is installed and activated through UA Connect, with a free iLok account required.
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What does the garden-hose delay actually do?
The original Cooper Time Cube was a plywood box containing coiled plastic tubing, with audio passing acoustically through the tubes. Bill Putnam and Duane H. Cooper introduced it in 1971, and Universal Audio says only 1,000 units were made. Its two channels produced fixed delays of 16 ms and 14 ms, which suited doubling, slapback and stereo widening.
The plug-in stretches each independent delay line from 5 ms to 2.5 seconds and adds host tempo sync from 1/64 to 3/1. Each side has separate Delay, Decay, Pan and Echo Volume controls, while the shared HP Filter, Bass, Treble, Color and Coils controls shape the repeats. You can start with the original 16 ms and 14 ms timings for vocal thickening, then move the delayed signals apart with the Pan controls.
Universal Audio’s How the Cooper Time Cube Became a Cult Classic is an official video. It is useful context if “garden-hose delay” sounds like something assembled after a trip to the hardware store.
Universal Audio traces the Cooper Time Cube’s unusual hardware design and demonstrates its short-delay sound.
Price and Availability
The current standalone introductory price is $49 from Universal Audio, reduced from the regular $99 price. UA’s dedicated FAQ says that price runs through December 31, 2026, although product-page metadata gives November 30 instead. Plugin Boutique did not have a listing when checked on November 12, so the current price comes from UA rather than the affiliate shop.
Existing DSP owners can add the native license for $1 through December 31, after which UA says the upgrade will cost $2.99. A separate Black Friday offer drops the plug-in to $1 only when it is added alongside another software purchase of at least $29, and that promotion ends November 30. Native formats are VST3 and AAX on Windows and macOS, plus Audio Units on macOS; full details are on the official Cooper Time Cube Delay page.
Check Plugin Boutique Availability
Plugin Boutique had not listed Cooper Time Cube Delay when checked on November 12. Use the button to see whether the native edition has since reached the store.
More information
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Apollo interface for Cooper Time Cube Delay?
No. The UAD Native edition runs on your computer’s CPU without an Apollo interface or UAD Accelerator. Apollo and UAD-2 owners can still use the separate DSP edition.
Do existing Cooper Time Cube MkII owners get the native version free?
No. Owners who licensed the DSP edition before the native launch can buy the native upgrade for $1 through December 31, 2026. Universal Audio says the upgrade will cost $2.99 afterward.
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