Universal Audio Drops New Synth – Anthem
- Noise Harmony
- 42 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Universal Audio doesn’t release new synth plugins very often, so when they do, it’s worth paying attention. Their latest offering, Anthem Analog Synthesizer, is a virtual instrument that keeps things intentionally simple. Designed around a familiar analog-style architecture.
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Anthem runs natively in VST3, AU, and AAX formats, no UA hardware required. Once installed via UA Connect, it’s ready to go. The interface is clean and straightforward, reflecting the plugin’s overall design philosophy: no menu diving, no hidden modulation pages, just everything you need in front of you.
At its core, Anthem is a dual-oscillator monosynth. Each oscillator features sweepable waveforms that morph between triangle, saw, square, and pulse variations. Oscillator 1 includes a sub-oscillator for added weight, while Oscillator 2 gives you sync and ring modulation—two classic tools for adding harmonic complexity. There’s also pitch modulation and a mixable pink or white noise generator.
The oscillators sound great—rich, round, and convincing in their analog character. But they’re not doing anything especially new. If you’ve used a classic virtual analog synth before, you’ll feel right at home.
The filter section keeps things equally restrained. There’s a resonant low-pass filter with a drive control for added saturation, and a separate high-pass filter without resonance. Modulation is limited to key tracking, LFO, and envelope—enough for expressive shaping, but not for deep modulation experiments.
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Modulation in general is one of the areas where Anthem shows its minimalist approach. There are two ADSR envelopes (one for amp, one for filter), and a single LFO with waveform morphing and sync options. It’s efficient, but some users might miss having multiple LFOs or a flexible modulation matrix. Instead of a matrix, mod routings are handled per parameter with small switches and sliders—not clunky, but not exactly fluid either.
UA has a reputation for excellent effects, and that pedigree comes through in Anthem’s built-in FX. There’s a chorus, a collection of modulation effects (phaser, flanger, warble), and a space FX section with spring reverb and a tape-style echo. They sound lush, especially the delay, but none of the effects can be modulated, which feels like a missed opportunity.
Anthem’s sequencer is nicely implemented. It features three lanes (gate, pitch, velocity), each with independent step lengths, allowing for polyrhythmic sequences. Playback modes include forward, reverse, ping-pong, and random. It’s simple but effective—though it lacks features like probability or ratchets that have become more common in recent synths.
There’s one notable limitation: Anthem is not polyphonic. It offers mono, unison, and paraphonic modes, but you won’t be playing chords unless you’re using it in a layered setup. That’s an unusual design choice for a plugin in 2025, and not one that will suit every workflow.
Still, for what it sets out to do, Anthem succeeds. It’s a focused instrument built around immediacy and sound quality. Anthem is a simple and clear synth that sounds great. It’s not as deep or detailed as Serum 2, but it works really well for quick and strong sounds.
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