Universal Audio UAD Helios Type 69

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$39.00 to $49.00

4.5 (4)

1 Review

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Page last updated Jun 21, 2026

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5.0 (1)

$149.00 $39.00 $110.00 · All time low

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$49.00

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£49.00

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Based on price data from 1 merchant for "UAD Helios Type 69". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Step into the sonic legacy of rock legends with the UAD Helios Type 69 plugin. This music software transcends time, bringing the iconic sound of the Helios Type 69 console straight into your digital audio workstation. Revered for capturing the essence of iconic albums from artists like The Beatles and Pink Floyd, this plugin is a must-have for any serious music producer. Universal Audio's meticulous emulation of the original console's preamp and EQ characteristics ensures your tracks are infused with that warm, vintage analog tone.

Experience the classic 3-band EQ known for its musicality, even during the most adventurous EQ adjustments. The Helios Type 69 plugin doesn't just stop there; it incorporates four distinct low-frequency boost filters, perfect for crafting the rich, deep bass that defined an era. Whether you're cleaning up drum overheads or adding depth to your mix, the fixed low-cut mode at 50Hz ensures a polished sound with minimal effort.

Designed with the modern musician in mind, this plugin also features a -20dB pad and a polarity switch, offering flexibility and precision. The Peak/Trough mid-frequency select further enhances your ability to shape your sound with pinpoint accuracy. Whether you're creating new music or revamping old tracks, the UAD Helios Type 69 plugin is your gateway to the sound of rock history.

Key Features:

Authentic emulation of the legendary Helios Type 69 console
3-band EQ renowned for its musical response
Four unique low-frequency boost filters for enhanced bass
Fixed low-cut mode at 50Hz for cleaner tracks
Includes a -20dB pad and polarity switch
Peak and Trough modes for precise mid-frequency adjustment

Product specs

Software Type	Preamp, EQ
Platform	Mac, PC
Upgrade/Full	Full
Download/Boxed	Download
Bit Depth	64-bit
Format	AAX, AU, VST3 (UAD Native), UAD DSP
Authorization Type	iLok Account Required (UADx Native version)
Hardware Requirements - Mac	Intel Core 2 Duo or higher, 4GB RAM minimum
Hardware Requirements - PC	Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon 64 X2 or higher, 4GB RAM minimum
OS Requirements - Mac	macOS 10.15 or later
OS Requirements - PC	Windows 10 or later

FAQs

Is the UAD Helios Type 69 compatible with my DAW software?: The UAD Helios Type 69 is compatible with popular DAWs that support AAX, AU, and VST3 formats, including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Ableton Live.
What operating systems are supported by the UAD Helios Type 69?: The UAD Helios Type 69 supports macOS 10.15 or later and Windows 10 or later, ensuring compatibility with most modern computer systems.
Does the UAD Helios Type 69 require any special hardware for installation?: Yes, the UAD Helios Type 69 requires an iLok account for authorization and is optimized for use with Universal Audio's Apollo audio interfaces for enhanced performance.
What makes the UAD Helios Type 69 unique compared to other EQ plugins?: The UAD Helios Type 69 replicates the classic sound of the Helios Type 69 hardware preamps, offering unique sonic characteristics and input features, especially when used with Unison-enabled interfaces.
Can I use the UAD Helios Type 69 on both Mac and PC?: Yes, the UAD Helios Type 69 is designed to work on both Mac and PC platforms, provided they meet the specified hardware and OS requirements.

Videos

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Universal Audio

UAD Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ Collection Plug-In

Universal Audio

Mixing Rock Drums with Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ | UAD Quick Tips

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Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ Sound Examples | UAD Native & UAD-2

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UA Helios Type 69 EQ and Preamp - Mixing With Mike Plugin of the Week

Mixing With Mike

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Universal Audio - Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ | How To Use - Walkthrough | Sound Of Rock's Golden Age

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Alberto Martinez Del Rio Guitar

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about UAD Helios Type 69.

Comparisons

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Known for a darker Neve-like sound, distinct from SSL's clean and crisp profile. Ideal for genres like Led Zeppelin IV and Exile on Mainstreet.
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Compared to other preamps, the Helios is noted to have a "nasty" distortion, favoring clean gain settings for better harmonic content.
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Users often pair the Helios EQ with Heritage Audio 6673s or Triton Audio D20 for added air and bottom end, complementing their tonal characteristics.
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Use cases and applications

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Commonly used on kick drums, distorted guitars, and vocals. It's often the first plugin in vocal mixes, praised for enhancing voice quality.
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Notching away at 2.8kHz is highly effective on electric guitars, while boosting 1kHz significantly enhances snare and kick presence.
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Features and functionality

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Driving the circuit for distortion is effective on certain sounds. The EQ is popular for taming bass, boosting highs, and cutting low-mids.
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The Helios Type 69 EQ tightens the Q curve when boosting the bottom end, nearly reaching a self-resonating state for added tonal control.
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Users experience crackling when signal levels reach the yellow, possibly due to the preamp starting at 20dB.
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Other

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A unique feature observed is setting the bass frequency to 60Hz for a low-end bump, possibly mimicking hardware characteristics.
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User experience

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Owners highlight that activating the EQ adds a musical beef and fullness, described as an "auto good" effect on audio sources.
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Setup and maintenance

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Activating the “pad” function on the channel strip can mitigate crackling issues when using the Helios Type 69.
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Software and compatibility

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Some users report that lowering the volume by 10dB does not eliminate crackling, indicating potential issues unrelated to signal clipping.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings

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xaqary

5455

almost 9 years ago

Handy I guess.

Came free with the hardware. I've already got my favorites for EQ & see no reason to stray... tho I have used this & it's not terrible tho I've zero plans to use it. Gritty/grainy.

jimmarchi1

41010

9 years ago almost 9 years ago

I have the waves Helios 69 emulations and I love that grit. Don't use 'em a lot, but I tend to exploit the grittiness by running in nice and hot and then youkinda just EQ up the ebst grit zones as well as cutting whatever you were looking to cut in the lows or low mids

xaqary

5455

9 years ago almost 9 years ago

Huh, awesome. I'm so married to my favorite EQ's I haven't tried flipping the others for effect.

I'm into it! I'll be trying that out for sure.

That's why I got back to adding more of my stuff, plugins in particular, to my board. It's a way to remember & rethink how I might use them. Only got like 7 up last night but more are coming as I have time.

Artist usage

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Florian Meindl

Music Producer

Verified via YouTube

In a studio tour with Future Music, Florian Meindl demonstrates the use of the UAD Helios Type 69 plugin.

Rod Stewart

Guitarist, Singer

Faces

Verified via Soundonsound

Used for vocals on Another Country, as stated by mix engineer Kevin Savigar in this February 2016 Sound on Sound interview. An image of the settings can be found here.

“When we were at his house in LA I had a Neumann U67 for Rod, which I rent from LAFX. It’s an old vintage mic, which is in great shape, and which has been used on Rod’s voice for years. I also rented acoustic panels from LAFX, to control the room, which was a little live. They help to deaden the sound and also to give Rod a physical space to sing in. We kept the panels a little apart in front of him, because he likes to see me, which allows me to cue him in and give him feedback and things like that. I sat facing him, with a low table on which I have my laptop and the UAD Apollo Twin mic pre. Rod sings with Sony MDR-7506 headphones on. He likes them as they are crystal-clear and punchy.

“When we were in London I could not get a 67, so I used a U47 instead, which worked out great as well. His vocal mic goes straight into the Apollo Twin, and I used the UAD 610B tube preamp and EQ plug-in on him, which sounds nice, and some UAD 1176 with a very low threshold and not much compression at all, and UAD Helios 96 EQ to brighten his vocal sound up a bit. That was my entire input chain. Rod has a very loud voice, but also sings some passages very softly, so there’s quite a dynamic range in his vocal, and I needed the 1176 to keep that under control.

“It’s quite amazing really, because he had this nasty operation on his throat [in 2000, for thyroid cancer], with the scalpel coming within millimetres of his vocal cords. It was touch and go whether he could ever sing again. He had to completely retrain his muscles to get his voice back. But it’s now in great shape and he takes good care of it. He warms up extensively with a half-hour vocal exercise routine before he goes up to the microphone.”

(...) Kevin Savigar’s vocal chain for Rod Stewart began with the Universal Audio 610B Unison preamp plug-in, with brightness added by the same manufacturer’s Helios EQ, and dynamic control from the UAD 1176 emulation. Once again, the Waves CLA bundle came into effect, with a Waves De-Esser providing the final touches.