While UAD plugins were initially developed to be used exclusively with Universal Audio's hardware (such as audio interfaces or DSP accelerators), there have been recent updates that allow for some degree of usage without requiring UA hardware. With the introduction of UAD-2 Satellite USB and Thunderbolt devices, these external DSP processing units enable users to run UAD plugins without needing an interface from Universal Audio. Furthermore, Universal Audio now offers certain UAD plugins in native formats that work within popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) without relying on dedicated hardware acceleration. However, it is worth noting that some UAD plugins may still require UA hardware due to their complex processing requirements or specific features tied closely with UA's ecosystem, thus limiting full functionality without compatible devices.