Analogue Loadbox
- Analogue reactive loadbox for guitar tube amplifiers
- Five tuned guitar amp attenuation levels
- Rig control for pre-set microphone and speaker box emulations
- UA Dynamic Speaker Modelling accurately models the behaviour of a speaker and membrane resonances
- Integrated UA EQ compression, delay and reverb effects
- Ohm operation selectable (4, 8, and 16 Ohm)
- Max. power handling: 150 W
- Connectors: Line output 6.3 mm jack balanced
- S/PDIF output
- Headphone output: 6.3 mm jack
- Pairing via WiFi with OX mobile or desktop app to edit and save presets (for Windows 10 and macOS: Sierra or High Sierra)
- Suitable cases: Article Nr. 469012 and 505416 (both not included)
A solution for silent guitar recording
The OX Amp Top Box from Universal Audio is an analogue silent recording box that can be used to authentically capture the tone and dynamics of any tube amplifier in outstanding quality. This setup allows the player to set their amp to its sweet spot - however high that might mean cranking the volume - and to enhance the sound further by adding Universal Audio's high-quality microphone, room, and speaker simulations while recording. The dedicated and easy-to-use software app can also be used to programme and control the Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box via WiFi.
The ideal load box
The OX Amp Top Box is a high-quality reactive load box in an amp head-style format that gives guitarists the freedom to play and record whenever they want and at any desired volume. What is more, UA's groundbreaking "Dynamic Speaker Modeling" technology means that the amplifier actually perceives the OX Amp Top Box as a speaker, and its tone, dynamics, and feel are thus captured with the same authenticity as if it were being played through a real speaker cab. The speaker breakup control found in the app adjusts the harmonics and sonic complexity that occur at specific frequencies and volume levels, and the OX's front panel features dedicated volume controls for headphones, speakers, and the line output.
For quiet players and recording specialists
All too often, getting the best tone out of a tube amplifier inevitably means having to crank the volume up to unbearable levels, and Universal Audio has designed the OX Amp Top Box to tackle this age-old problem and allow users to play, practise, and record with one hundred percent of their amp's tube tone at any time of the day or night.
Tube amp tone on tap 24/7
Universal Audio's OX Amp Top Box gives players the freedom to fully enjoy the sound of their tube amplifier at any volume level - whether they are trying out new riff ideas at 3 o'clock in the morning or practising and recording - without disturbing anyone. As mentioned above, recording is also possible even without the use of a speaker cabinet, and users additionally have Universal Audio's authentic-sounding mic, room, and speaker simulations at their disposal, providing even greater sonic flexibility.
About Universal Audio
Few manufacturers can draw upon a wealth of audio engineering experience comparable to that of Universal Audio. The company’s founding father Bill Putnam, along with his friend Les Paul, have an admirable reputation as trend-setting music producers and developers of legendary analogue studio technology. Putnam recorded Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Sarah Vaughan, and was Duke Ellington’s favourite sound engineer. He developed the famous 1176 Peak Limiter and distributed the Teletronix LA-2A level amplifier. This earned him a posthumous “Technical Grammy Award” in 2000. In 1999, Putnam’s sons, Bill Putnam Jr. and James Putnam, re-founded Universal Audio, transferring their father’s analogue vision and craftsmanship to the digital music world. Their product range includes audio interfaces, dedicated DSP farms, and a variety of plug-ins, as well as analogue hardware devices.
In the spotlight
Load box
Load box, attenuator, silencer, power soak - the list of names goes on, but they all fundamentally describe the same invention, which gives guitarists the solution to an age-old conundrum: Tube amplifiers should never be operated unless a speaker is connected, but their sonic potential doesn't start to come out until the power stage is really pushed hard. A load box is essentially a terminal resistor that simulates a speaker connected to the amplifier's power stage and either partially or fully absorbs its output power. Connecting a load box between their amplifier and speaker cabinet allows players to get the sound of the fully-cranked amp at lower volume levels, while using it without connecting a speaker cab makes silent recording possible. Load boxes generally feature a line output, and many are also equipped with speaker simulations, allowing the user to run their amplifier directly into the mixing desk or audio interface.