u-he Uhbik 2: Now in Public Beta and More Infos!
New GUI, New Names, and Even More Sound!
4,7 / 5,0 | 
[28 May 2025] The upcoming version of u-he’s “Uhbik 2” effects bundle is finally in public beta, bringing numerous technical and structural changes. You can now extensively test the new plugins and look forward to the finished version. This is what’s new.
All About u-he Uhbik 2
What to Expect from Uhbik 2 Beta
Among other things, the plugin naming and format handling have been revised for modern DAWs. Users can look forward to a significantly improved overview of the individual modules, as cryptic abbreviations often caused confusion in the past.
The effects now have descriptive names that can optimize workflow, especially in larger projects with many instances. However, existing presets must be manually moved to the new directories because the folder structure has changed.
Uhbik 2 completely abandons VST2 and 32-bit support. This means that older installations must be either manually removed or replaced with the new installation routines. Windows systems perform this step automatically, while Mac and Linux users must do so manually. This may cause problems when loading older projects, especially if the digital audio workstation (DAW) is unable to migrate VST3 instances automatically.
Logic users should clear the Audio Unit cache if the new plugins do not display correctly. A complete “plugin rescan” may also be necessary to ensure that all new modules are recognized properly.
Uhbik 2 Adds Surround and Sidechain Support
Another focus of the new version is improved support for surround formats up to 7.1. Uhbik 2 has been thoroughly tested in recent months and provides reliable routing, even with complex multi-channel setups, depending on the host. In Logic, however, resetting old settings may be necessary to correctly adjust the channel distribution. Those working with the CLAP format in Studio One currently cannot use surround sound because this feature is not yet available. Additionally, the advanced sidechain and surround functions are only compatible with Logic version 11 or higher; older versions are not supported.
The originally planned rack version, which would allow multiple Uhbik modules to be loaded and combined in a single instance, has been put on hold. Although a working prototype already exists, further development would delay the final release of Uhbik 2. The possibility of adding this feature later as an update is now being considered.
Existing license holders would receive the update free of charge. New users can currently purchase the software here from Thomann* for 139 € before the price increases to 199 € for the final version. Since this is a beta version, it is important to back up your files and keep a limiter active in the master channel, as minor errors cannot be ruled out with any test version.
First Images and Public Beta Announced
[13 May 2025] u-he Uhbik 2 is coming! Urs Heckmann isn’t revealing much yet, but there are some new images to check out, and everyone was able to take a closer look at the effects collection at this year’s Superbooth 2025. A public beta has also been announced and will hopefully be available soon.
First Pictures of u-he Uhbik 2
We already knew that u-he Uhbik 2 was in development, but now we get to see the first images of the effects collection. The original has been around for a few years now, but as far as I can remember, the plugin suite has been available since 2009. The manufacturer is known for its excellent product support, which is why these effects are still used in many DAWs today and have loyal fans.
So it’s all the more welcome news that work on Uhbik 2 is well underway and that we can now see the first images of the revamped effects suite. Visitors to this year’s Superbooth were even able to take a closer look at the plugins at the manufacturer’s booth.
New Modules and New Design
It seems that u-he Uhbik 2 also consists of ten individual modules, although the semi-parametric equalizer Uhbik Q is not visible in the pictures. The interface design of u-he Uhbik 2 is no longer based on cryptic abbreviations, but on clear names: Tremolo, Phaser, Flanger, Runciter, Compressor, Delay, Grain Dad, Ambience, Shifter. Sounds great.
The interface is also very clearly structured. In addition to the effect settings area, there are sections for the envelope and LFO on the right, as well as an area with several submenus. These can be used to make assignments via the mapper or to activate a scope view. At the bottom, there are four more menus with additional options for a better sound design. At first glance, Uhbik 2 seems to have been thoroughly reworked and expanded. That makes us curious! Oh yes…
On the KVR forum website, Urs Heckmann announced that an open beta of Uhbik 2 will be released soon – sure, a few bugs have to be fixed first. Hopefully we’ll be able to see the demo version soon. We’ll keep you updated as soon as there’s any news. So stay tuned!
Further Information
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2 responses to “u-he Uhbik 2: Now in Public Beta and More Infos!”
More of the same. Who really cares.
The flanger in the first iteration of Uhbik has always been my go to for heavy and/or carefully crafted characterful flange. Very much looking forward to v2 and i hope the flange is just as good.