Universal Audio makes some of the best studio outboard equipment and digital processing around—and now, the company extends their tech to stompboxes with the UAFX Astra, a modulation pedal for electric guitars, basses, and similarly amplified instruments. Sporting a stereo I/O path, the pedal the combines UA digital knowhow with the analog craftsmanship to deliver guitar players three stellar-sounding modulation effects.

Classic chorusing, flanging, vibrato, and tremolo effects are all accessible in the pedal itself. Other effects can be downloaded from Universal Audio and loaded into the pedal over USB. In addition to silent switching and true/buffered bypass selection, the pedal offers a bevy of control as well as instant save/recall of your favorite sounds as presets.