Universal Audio Arrow User manual

Arrow Manual
Thunderbolt 3-Powered Audio Interface
www.uaudio.com
Manual Version 180131
UAD Software Version 9.5

Arrow Manual Table Of Contents2
Table Of Contents
A Letter from Bill Putnam Jr. ................................................................. 8
Introducing Arrow ................................................................................. 9
Welcome!.......................................................................................................... 9
Arrow Software Features ................................................................................... 12
UAD Powered Plug-In Features ......................................................................... 14
About Arrow Documentation.............................................................................. 15
Technical Support............................................................................................ 16
Getting Started................................................................................... 17
Overview ......................................................................................................... 17
Arrow System Requirements ............................................................................. 17
Hardware Setup............................................................................................... 18
Software Setup................................................................................................ 20
Windows Setup................................................................................................ 21
Audio Setup .................................................................................................... 22
Setting Hardware Input/Output Levels................................................................ 23
What Next? ..................................................................................................... 24
Hardware Controls & Connectors .......................................................... 25
Controls Overview ............................................................................................ 25
Top Panel........................................................................................................ 28
Display Panel .................................................................................................. 31
Front Panel ..................................................................................................... 32
Rear Panel ...................................................................................................... 33
Arrow System Overview........................................................................ 34
Arrow Hardware ............................................................................................... 34
Arrow Software ................................................................................................ 35
UAD Powered Plug-Ins ..................................................................................... 38
Apollo Audio Interfaces .................................................................................... 39
UAD Software Installer ..................................................................................... 39
UA Account & Store......................................................................................... 40
UA Website ..................................................................................................... 40
Tip: Click any section or page number
to jump directly to that page.

Arrow Manual Table Of Contents3
Working With Arrow............................................................................. 41
Essential Arrow Concepts.................................................................................. 42
Setting the DAW to use Arrow I/O ...................................................................... 44
Accessing Arrow’s I/O in the DAW...................................................................... 47
Input Monitoring with the DAW ......................................................................... 49
Using Console with the DAW ............................................................................. 53
UAD Plug-Ins: Console versus DAW ................................................................... 55
Virtual I/O ....................................................................................................... 57
Using Arrow for System Sound I/O..................................................................... 60
Using Arrow Without Audio Software.................................................................. 63
Console Overview................................................................................ 64
What is Console? ............................................................................................. 64
Console Functions ........................................................................................... 65
Global Functions ............................................................................................. 65
When To Use Console....................................................................................... 66
Interactions Between Console and Arrow ........................................................... 66
Accessing Console ........................................................................................... 67
Console Layout ................................................................................................ 68
Global Window Elements .................................................................................. 70
Meter Bridge Overview...................................................................................... 71
Info Bar Overview ............................................................................................ 72
Current Bank Overview ..................................................................................... 73
View Column Overview...................................................................................... 74
Monitor Column Overview ................................................................................. 76
Channel Strips Overview ................................................................................... 77
Console Plug-In Inserts Overview....................................................................... 78
Insert Effects Overview..................................................................................... 79
Popover Windows............................................................................................. 80
HP Cue Overview ............................................................................................. 81
Sends Overview ............................................................................................... 82
Console Sessions Overview................................................................................ 85
Console Settings Overview ................................................................................ 86
I/O Matrix Overview.......................................................................................... 87
Multiple Undo/Redo......................................................................................... 88
Keyboard Focus & Control................................................................................. 89
Adjusting Console Controls ............................................................................... 90
Controls Shortcuts ........................................................................................... 90
Keyboard Shortcuts.......................................................................................... 91

Arrow Manual Table Of Contents4
Console Reference .............................................................................. 92
Meter Bridge ................................................................................................... 92
View Column ................................................................................................... 95
View Options ................................................................................................... 98
Info Bar ........................................................................................................ 104
Channel Input Controls................................................................................... 107
Sends Popover............................................................................................... 110
Monitor Mix Controls...................................................................................... 111
Aux Returns .................................................................................................. 117
Monitor Column............................................................................................. 120
Cue Outputs Popover...................................................................................... 124
Control Room Column .................................................................................... 126
Console Sessions ........................................................................................... 128
Sessions Manager Popover.............................................................................. 130
Window Title Bar............................................................................................ 134
Application Menus......................................................................................... 135
Console Plug-In Inserts ..................................................................... 139
Insert Types................................................................................................... 139
Inserts Signal Flow ........................................................................................ 140
Inserting UAD Plug-Ins................................................................................... 140
Removing UAD Plug-Ins ................................................................................. 140
Editing UAD Plug-Ins ..................................................................................... 140
Insert Assign Popover..................................................................................... 140
Inserts Display............................................................................................... 141
Insert State Indicators.................................................................................... 142
Insert Hover Options ...................................................................................... 142
Insert Options Menu ...................................................................................... 143
Channel Insert Effects.................................................................................... 144
Plug-In Editor Window.................................................................................... 145
Channel Strips............................................................................................... 148
Presets Manager ............................................................................................ 150
Presets Manager Popover................................................................................ 153
Save Preset Popover....................................................................................... 155

Arrow Manual Table Of Contents5
Console Settings............................................................................... 156
Console Settings Overview .............................................................................. 156
Hardware Settings Panel ................................................................................ 158
I/O Matrix Panel ............................................................................................ 163
I/O Matrix Panel Elements .............................................................................. 164
Route Assign Popover..................................................................................... 170
Display Panel ................................................................................................ 172
Plug-Ins Panel............................................................................................... 174
MIDI Panel ................................................................................................... 176
Unison............................................................................................. 178
What is Unison? ............................................................................................ 178
Unison Plug-Ins............................................................................................. 180
Activating Unison .......................................................................................... 181
Unique Behavior of Unison Inserts .................................................................. 182
Controlling Unison Plug-Ins with Arrow ............................................................ 183
Gain Stage Mode ........................................................................................... 186
Unison Load/Save Behaviors ........................................................................... 189
Unison Operation Notes.................................................................................. 190
Console Recall Plug-In ...................................................................... 192
Console Recall Controls.................................................................................. 193
How To Use Console Recall............................................................................. 194
UAD Meter & Control Panel ............................................................... 196
Launching the Application.............................................................................. 196
UAD Meter Window........................................................................................ 197
UAD Control Panels ....................................................................................... 200
System Information Panel............................................................................... 201
Plug-Ins Panel............................................................................................... 204
Configuration Panel........................................................................................ 206
Help Panel.................................................................................................... 211
Using UAD Plug-Ins .......................................................................... 212
Loading UAD Plug-Ins.................................................................................... 212
The UAD Plug-In Interface.............................................................................. 212
UAD Toolbar.................................................................................................. 213
LiveTrack Mode ............................................................................................. 216
Adjusting Parameters ..................................................................................... 217
Shortcuts ...................................................................................................... 218
DSP Loading Notes........................................................................................ 219
Mono (m) UAD plug-ins.................................................................................. 220

Arrow Manual Table Of Contents6
Tempo Sync ..................................................................................... 221
Tempo Sync Plug-Ins ..................................................................................... 221
Sync Activation ............................................................................................. 222
Available Note Values..................................................................................... 222
Entering Values ............................................................................................. 223
Precision Delay Modes with Tempo Sync .......................................................... 224
Galaxy Tape Echo & Roland RE-201 Sync ........................................................ 224
UA Account & Store.......................................................................... 225
Account Overview .......................................................................................... 225
Store Overview............................................................................................... 226
UAD Authorization Overview............................................................................ 227
Demo Mode................................................................................................... 228
Buying UAD Plug-Ins ..................................................................................... 229
UAD Authorization Procedure.......................................................................... 230
Offline UAD Authorization............................................................................... 231
Expanded UAD Systems .................................................................... 233
Latency & Arrow ............................................................................... 234
Delay Compensation with Arrow....................................................................... 234
Minimizing UAD Input Latency When Software Monitoring................................. 236
Latency Basics .............................................................................................. 237
Device Drivers .................................................................................. 239
Arrow Drivers Overview ................................................................................... 239
Driver I/O Table.............................................................................................. 240
Troubleshooting ................................................................................ 241
Glossary........................................................................................... 242
Specifications .................................................................................. 249
Hardware Block Diagram ................................................................... 252
Universal Audio History ..................................................................... 253
Pioneering audio recording for more than 50 years............................................ 253
Bill Putnam Sr............................................................................................... 255
Pros Talk UA ................................................................................................. 262
Thank You..................................................................................................... 266

Arrow Manual Table Of Contents7
Notices............................................................................................ 267
Warranty ....................................................................................................... 267
Repair Service ............................................................................................... 267
Maintenance ................................................................................................. 267
Important Safety Information .......................................................................... 268
Technical Support............................................................................. 271
Universal Audio Knowledge Base..................................................................... 271
YouTube Support Channel............................................................................... 271
UAD Community Forums ................................................................................ 271
Contact UA Support ....................................................................................... 271

Arrow Manual Welcome8
A Letter from Bill Putnam Jr.
Thank you for choosing the Arrow Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface as part of your music
making experience. We know that any new piece of gear requires an investment of time
and money — and our goal is to make your investment pay off.
Universal Audio’s family of audio interfaces represent the best examples of what UA has
stood for over its long history; from its original founding in the 1950s by my father, to
our current vision of delivering the best of both analog and digital audio technologies.
Starting with its high-quality analog I/O, Arrow’s superior sonic performance serves as
its foundation. This is just the beginning however, as Arrow is the only bus-powered
Thunderbolt 3 audio interface that allows you to run UAD plug-ins in real time. Want to
monitor yourself through a Neve® channel strip while tracking bass through a classic
Fairchild or LA-2A compressor? Or track vocals through a Studer® tape machine with
some Lexicon® reverb?* With our growing library of more than 100 UAD plug-ins, the
choices are limitless.
At UA, we are dedicated to the idea that technology should serve the creative process
— not be a barrier. These are the very ideals my father embodied as he invented audio
equipment. We believe Arrow will earn its way into your creative workflow by providing
stunning fidelity and rock-solid reliability for years to come.
Please feel free to reach out to us via our website www.uaudio.com, and via our social
media channels. We look forward to hearing from you, and thank you once again for
choosing Universal Audio.
Sincerely,
Bill Putnam Jr.
*All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately.

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow9
Introducing Arrow
Welcome!
Superior Desktop Audio Conversion with Classic Analog Sound
Arrow is a bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 desktop
recording interface for Mac and Windows —
delivering enhanced audio conversion with the
tone, feel, and flow of analog recording.
Built upon UA’s 60-year heritage of audio
craftsmanship, Arrow starts with two Unison-
enabled mic preamps and stellar next-generation
A/D and D/A conversion derived from UA’s flagship
Apollo interfaces. Thanks to Realtime UAD
Processing, you can monitor and track through the
included bundle of UAD analog emulation plug-ins
in real time, with near-zero latency.
Now You Can:
• Record with world-class A/D and D/A conversion — as heard on hundreds of hit
records
• Mix with UAD plug-ins like the included Legacy Teletronix® LA-2A and UA
1176LN compressors, Pultec®EQs, and UA 610-B Tube Preamp
• Track with near-zero latency through preamp emulations from Neve®, SSL®, API®,
Manley®, and more using Unison technology*
• Cascade up to 4 Universal Audio interfaces and 6 UAD-2 devices over
Thunderbolt, adding DSP and I/O as your studio grows
Unison™Technology: The Genuine Sound of Neve, API & Manley Preamps
Arrow features two Unison-enabled mic preamps, letting you track through exacting
mic preamp emulations from Neve, SSL, API, Manley, and Universal Audio. A Universal
Audio exclusive, Unison technology nails the tone of these sought-after tube and solid
state mic pres — including their input impedance, gain stage “sweet spots,” and the
component-level circuit behaviors of the original hardware.
The secret to Unison is its hardware-software integration between Arrow’s mic preamps
and its onboard UAD-2 DSP Acceleration. Simply place a Unison preamp plug-in on your
mic input in Arrow’s companion Console application, and tap into the classic sounds of
the world’s most recorded mic preamps.
*All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately.

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow10
A Full Suite of Classic Analog Processing Onboard
Right out of the box, Arrow provides a suite of incredible analog emulation plug-ins
including the world’s only authentic Teletronix LA-2A, 1176LN, Pultec EQs, and the
Unison-enabled UA 610-B Tube Preamp. Developed by UA’s world-renowned team of
algorithm engineers, these Realtime Analog Classics plug-ins set the standard by which
all other hardware emulation plug-ins are judged.
From the tube warmth of the Pultec EQ on guitars, to the gentle limiting of the LA-2A
on vocals, your recordings will take a giant leap forward in rich, sonically complex analog
sound.
Access the World of UAD Powered Plug-Ins
Beyond the included Realtime Analog Classics plug-ins, Arrow lets you tap into the full
library award-winning UAD Powered Plug-Ins — including vintage EQs, Compressors,
Reverbs, Tape Machines and more — at near-zero latency, regardless of your audio
software’s buffer size and without taxing your computer’s CPU.
With exclusive emulations from Neve, Studer, Manley, API, Ampex, Lexicon, Fender,
and more,* it’s like having an endless analog studio, right on your desktop. And unlike
competing interfaces, these DSP-powered plug-ins are also available in your DAW for
mixing.
Next-Generation A/D and D/A Conversion
Of course, the heart of any audio interface is the quality of its conversion. Arrow gives
you increased dynamic range and ultra-low THD, resulting in breathtaking clarity, depth,
and accuracy in your recordings.
Vintage Amps and Stompboxes
Arrow also includes Unison technology on its front panel instrument input, giving you
dead-on emulations of guitar and bass amps like the Fender ‘55 Tweed Deluxe, Marshall
Plexi Super Lead 1959, and Ampeg B-15N Bass Amplifier, as well as iconic stompboxes.
A Sleek, Low-latency App
Console 2.0 is Arrow’s software control interface. Its intuitive, analog console-style
design provides realtime tracking and monitoring with UAD Powered Plug-Ins, Channel
Strip presets, Drag & Drop functionality, dynamically resizable windows, and more.
Build a Networked Studio
Arrow is compatible with Universal Audio’s line of UAD-2 DSP Accelerators and Apollo
Thunderbolt audio interfaces, allowing you add I/O and DSP as your studio grows.
*All trademarks are recognized as property of their respective owners. Individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins sold separately.

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow11
Arrow Hardware Features
Key Features
• Best in class audio quality with 24-bit/192 kHz conversion
• Realtime UAD Processing — track through vintage compressors, EQs, tape
machines, and guitar amp/pedal plug-ins with near-zero latency
• 2 premium mic/line preamps, 2 monitor outputs, front-panel Hi-Z instrument
input and stereo headphone output
• Unison™ technology for stunning models of classic mic preamps and guitar amps
• UAD-2 DSP accelerator processing onboard
• Thunderbolt 3 connection for blazing-fast PCIe speed on modern computers
• Bus-powered design provides portability and less cable clutter
• Uncompromising analog design, superior components, and premium build quality
throughout
• Cascade up to four Thunderbolt-equipped Universal Audio interfaces and six total
UAD-2 devices — adding I/O and DSP as your studio grows
Audio Interface
• Sample rates up to 192 kHz at 24-bit word length
• 2 x 4 simultaneous input/output channels
• Two channels of analog-to-digital conversion via:
• Two balanced mic/line inputs
• One Hi-Z instrument input
• Four channels of digital-to-analog conversion via:
• Stereo monitor outputs
• Stereo headphone output
Microphone Preamplifiers
• Two high-resolution, ultra-transparent, digitally-controlled analog mic preamps
• Unison technology for stunning models of classic mic preamps and guitar amps
• Front panel and software control of all preamp parameters
• Low cut filter, 48V phantom power, 20 dB pad, polarity inversion, and stereo
linking
Monitoring
• Stereo monitor outputs
• ¼” stereo headphone output
• All outputs are independently addressable

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow12
UAD-2 Inside
• Onboard UAD-2 DSP Accelerator with SHARC®SOLO core processing
• Realtime UAD Processing on all inputs
• Same features and functionality as other UAD-2 devices and plug-ins when used
with a DAW
• Complete UAD Powered Plug-Ins library is available online
Other
• Attractive and durable desktop form factor
• Easy firmware updates
• One year limited warranty
Package Contents
• Arrow Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface
• Getting Started URL card
Arrow Software Features
Console Application
General:
• Enables tracking and/or monitoring with Realtime UAD Processing and Unison
technology
• Analog-style mixer for low-latency monitoring and tracking with UAD plug-ins
• Remote control of Arrow hardware features and functionality
• Console sessions can be saved/loaded for instant recall of any configuration
• Virtual I/O for routing DAW channels into Console and Console channels into DAW
• Multiple Undo/Redo for edit operations
Realtime UAD Processing:
• UAD plug-in processing on Arrow inputs with indiscernible latency
• Up to five UAD plug-ins can be serially chained on each input and aux return
• UAD insert processing can be monitored while recording wet or dry
• Sub-2ms round-trip latency with five serial UAD plug-ins at 96 kHz sample rate
Channel Inputs:
• Input channels for hardware and virtual inputs
• Level, pan, solo, and mute controls on all inputs
• Two stereo auxiliary sends with level and pan controls on all inputs
• Virtual inputs accept any outputs from DAW
• Stereo headphone cue sends with level and pan controls on all inputs and auxes
• Adjacent input pairs can be linked for convenient stereo control

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow13
Monitoring:
• Stereo monitor mix bus with level, mute, solo, dim, and source select controls
• Separate stereo headphone cue mix bus
• Independent monophonic sum controls for both mix buses
Auxiliary Buses:
• Two stereo auxiliary send/return buses with independent level, mute, and mono
sum controls
• Four plug-in inserts per auxiliary return for Realtime UAD Processing on auxes
• Auxiliary buses can be routed to main monitor mix and/or headphone outputs
• Independent pre/post switching on each auxiliary bus
Metering:
• Signal level meters with peak hold and clip indicators on all inputs
• Dual peak hold meters with signal peak LEDs display monitor bus levels
• Input meters are globally switchable to display pre or post fader signal levels
• Independently selectable peak/clip hold times and global clear clips button
Console Recall plug-in
• Convenient access to Console’s monitor controls via DAW plug-in
• Saves Arrow configurations inside DAW sessions for easy recall of settings
• VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units plug-in formats
UAD Powered Plug-Ins
• Award-winning audio plug-ins for monitoring, tracking, mixing, and mastering
• UAD plug-ins can be used simultaneously within Console and/or DAW
• All UAD plug-ins include fully-functional 14-day demo period
• Complete UAD plug-ins library is available online at www.uaudio.com
UAD Meter & Control Panel application
• Configures global UAD settings
• UAD-2 resource gauges for DSP and Memory usage
• Facilitates automatic authorization of UAD plug-in licenses
Device Drivers
• All hardware inputs and outputs can be individually addressed by DAW
• All of Console’s mix buses can be routed to DAW inputs for recording
• I/O Matrix feature for customizing Core Audio & ASIO I/O routes and names

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow14
UAD Powered Plug-In Features
• Run UAD plug-ins with Arrow’s integrated UAD-2 DSP Accelerator
• Arrow includes the Realtime Analog Classics UAD plug-ins bundle
• Over 90 UAD plug-ins available at the UA online store
• Fully functional 14 day demo available for all UAD plug-ins
• Realtime UAD Processing via Console allows monitoring and tracking through UAD
plug-ins with near-zero latency, regardless of DAW’s I/O buffer setting
• Includes VST, RTAS, AAX 64, and Audio Units plug-in formats for compatibility
with all major DAWs including Cubase, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and more
Some of the UAD plug-ins included with Arrow

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow15
About Arrow Documentation
Documentation for Arrow and UAD Powered Plug-Ins are separated by areas of
functionality, as described below. The user manuals are placed on the system drive
during software installation. They can also be downloaded at help.uaudio.com.
Note: All manual files are in PDF format. PDF files require a free PDF reader
application such as Preview (included with macOS) or Edge (included with
Windows 10).
Arrow Manual
The Arrow user manual includes everything about Arrow except the descriptions of, and
operating instructions for, individual UAD plug-in titles.
Hardware – Complete details about the Arrow hardware, including detailed descriptions
of all hardware features, controls, connectors, and specifications.
Software – Detailed information about how to integrate Arrow’s functionality into the
DAW environment and configure and operate all Arrow software features using the
Console application, Console Settings window, and Console Recall plug-in.
System – Detailed information about the overall Arrow/UAD-2 system, the UAD Meter &
Control Panel application, buying optional plug-ins at the UA online store, and more.
UAD Plug-Ins Manual
The features and functionality of all individual UAD Powered Plug-Ins developed by
Universal Audio are detailed in the UAD Plug-Ins Manual. Refer to this document
to learn about the operation, controls, and user interface of each UAD plug-in title
developed by UA.
Direct Developer Plug-In Manuals
UAD plug-ins include titles created by our Direct Developer partners. Documentation for
these 3rd-party plug-ins are separate files written and provided by the plug-in developers.
The file names for these plug-in manuals are the same as the plug-in titles.
Accessing Installed Documentation
Either of these methods can be used to access the installed documentation files:
• Choose Documentation from the Help menu within the Console application
• Click the Product Manuals button in the Help panel within the UAD Meter &
Control Panel application
• Manuals are also available online at help.uaudio.com.
Host DAW Documentation
Each host DAW software application has its own particular methods for configuring and
using audio interfaces and plug-ins. Refer to the host DAW documentation for specific
instructions about using audio interface and plug-in features within the DAW.

Arrow Manual Introducing Arrow16
Glossary
This manual uses technical terms and acronyms that may be unfamiliar. Refer to the
Glossary for the definitions of many of these terms.
Hyperlinks
Links to other manual sections and web pages are highlighted in blue text. Click a
hyperlink to jump directly to the linked item.
Tip: Use the back button in the PDF reader application to return to the original
page after clicking a hyperlink.
Technical Support
For additional resources, or if you need to contact Universal Audio for assistance, see the
Technical Support page.

Arrow Manual Getting Started17
Getting Started
Overview
Before you can use Arrow, you need to complete these steps:
1. Connect Arrow to your computer with a Thunderbolt™3 cable (not included)
2. Download and install the latest UAD software
3. Register your Arrow hardware
4. Authorize your UAD plug-ins
Additionally, you'll want to learn these essential Arrow operations:
• Connect to Input Sources and Monitor System – How to connect your audio gear.
• Setting Hardware Input/Output Levels – Learn how to adjust Mic/Line/Instrument
input gain levels and monitor/headphone output volume levels.
This chapter will guide you through these procedures. For assistance, see the Technical
Support page.
Arrow System Requirements
Note: For complete compatibility information, visit help.uaudio.com.
• Mac or PC computer with available built-in Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C port
• Thunderbolt 3 cable (sold separately)
• (Mac) macOS 10.12 Sierra or 10.13 High Sierra
• (Win) Windows 10 w/Anniversary Update (64-Bit Edition)
• 6 gigabytes available storage
• Internet connection to download software and authorize UAD plug-ins
• Quad Core i7 or better processor recommended

Arrow Manual Getting Started18
Hardware Setup
Choose a Suitable Location
• Locate Arrow on a flat surface.
• The location should be sturdy enough to securely hold its weight and withstand
the pressure of operating the top panel controls.
• Leave enough room at the front and rear of the unit for connecting cables.
Connect Arrow to the Computer
Caution: Before connecting Arrow to the computer, lower the volume of the
monitor speakers (if connected) and remove headphones from your ears.
1. Connect a Thunderbolt 3 cable (not included) to the Thunderbolt 3 port on
Arrow's rear panel.
2. Connect the other end of the Thunderbolt 3 cable to a Thunderbolt 3 port on the
computer.
About Thunderbolt 3 Power
• Arrow is bus powered by its Thunderbolt 3 connection to the computer. A power
cable, external power supply, or Thunderbolt 2 cable cannot be used to power
Arrow.
• When using Arrow with notebook computers, connecting the computer to AC
power is suggested to conserve the computer's battery resources.
• When notebook computers are sleeping, power events such as connecting/
disconnecting Thunderbolt devices, USB-C devices, and/or power adapters may
cause peripheral devices (including Arrow) to briefly power on.

Arrow Manual Getting Started19
About Thunderbolt 3 Ports and Cables
Important: Although Thunderbolt 3 always uses USB-C connectors, not all USB-C
ports are Thunderbolt 3 ports. Similarly, not all USB-C cables are Thunderbolt 3
cables. Always connect Arrow to a Thunderbolt 3 port with a Thunderbolt 3 cable.
USB-C is not Thunderbolt 3
Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C connections to transfer data and power. However, USB-C is
simply a connector type; it doesn't determine the type of data used by the connector. For
example, USB-C connections can be used for Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and other data
protocols, so USB-C connections are not always interchangeable.
Does your USB-C connector support Thunderbolt 3?
To determine if a USB-C port or cable connector supports Thunderbolt 3, look
for the Thunderbolt icon. The Thunderbolt icon on a USB-C port or cable
means the connector supports Thunderbolt 3. Alternately, confirm Thunderbolt
3 compatibility with the device and/or cable manufacturer.
Thunderbolt icon on USB-C cable (left) and USB-C port (right)

Arrow Manual Getting Started20
Software Setup
The Arrow software must be installed to use Arrow and UAD plug-ins. The UAD Powered
Plug-Ins Installer places the software onto the computer’s startup drive. After software
installation, you'll register your Arrow hardware and authorize your UAD plug-ins.
Our Web Pages Guide You
The Universal Audio website guides you through the process of UAD software installation,
Arrow hardware registration, and UAD plug-in authorization. The procedure you'll follow
to complete this process is detailed below, but the web pages can guide you.
To begin the installation, registration, and authorization process, visit:
www.uaudio.com/register
If you've already registered your Arrow and simply want to update to a newer version of
UAD software, the latest UAD software is available at www.uaudio.com.
Installation, Registration, and Authorization Procedure
Note: For optimum results, connect Arrow to the computer before installing the
UAD software.
1. Connect Arrow to a Thunderbolt 3 port on the computer with a Thunderbolt 3
cable (not included).
2. Visit www.uaudio.com/register to get the latest UAD software installer.
3. Open the downloaded UAD installer application. The software installer will guide
you. Be sure to restart the computer when prompted.
Note: If prompted to update the Arrow firmware, see the procedure below.
4. After restarting, your web browser launches and connects to the Universal Audio
website. Follow the instructions on our web pages to register your Arrow hardware
and claim bundled UAD plug-ins.
5. After registration is complete, authorize your UAD system by following the
guidance on the registration web pages (or see the UAD Authorization Procedure).
Note: On Windows computers, see Windows Setup for additional steps. On Mac
computers, Arrow is ready for use.
Firmware Update Procedure
If the "Arrow Firmware Update" dialog window appears:
1. Click "Load" to begin the process. The "firmware is updating" window appears.
2. Wait for the "Power Off Arrow" window, which appears after the firmware is
updated.
3. Disconnect Arrow from the computer for several seconds to power off Arrow. After
reconnecting to the computer, the firmware update is complete.