UAD-1 are the models REALLY any good?

[The Listener]

Originally Posted by stevetgn

Cheers guys.

So you all pretty much seem to be giving the UAD-1 a thumbs up, but does it get anywhere where near the hardware or does it just sound nice in its own way?

It sounds hardwarish. Neve stuff is amazing and probably the best of it all, but you need several cards for that - or you will only add some two to three plug-ins to your arsenal... You might want to use 33609, but it eats up almost enitre card, you would want to use 1081 (not the light version) and you will have - what? - three or four on one card... 1176 is ok, LA-2A is good, Pultec is cool, Fairchild is useful but eats subbass info, Cambridge is average - you have better in native PlparEq or Algorithmix, but they are priced almost as some HW device.

So - the best bunch of UAD-1 plug-ins all work professionally - didn't compare them to the originals, but they work...

[SoniA]

Hi Steve, I have four UAD-1 dsp cards into my PC mixing ITB (go out only for mixbus) and yes, sound different to hardware but in wonderfull different way. I have try the Focusrite liquid mix and I hate this type of VST. I dislike the cheap sound and the poor dynamic. Buy the UAD-1 and you'll be happy as with yours API and SSL X-Rack

[stevetgn]

Originally Posted by SoniA

Hi Steve, I have four UAD-1 dsp cards into my PC mixing ITB (go out only for mixbus) and yes, sound different to hardware but in wonderfull different way. I have try the Focusrite liquid mix and I hate this type of VST. I dislike the cheap sound and the poor dynamic. Buy the UAD-1 and you'll be happy as with yours API and SSL X-Rack

Cheers SoniA, Just ordered it

Can't believe I'll be using plugins I usually feel happy when I buy new gear!

[lpkyer]

I did compare the LA3A side by side with the real thing and it was pretty close.

[u b k]

once you stop comparing "how they sound" and start mixing with them to see "how they behave", the differences become readily apparent. the plugins, ime, make things flatter, smaller in the mix, and push the sounds back. the hardware brings things to life, pulls things forward.

on a strictly sonic note the plugs are not kind to the top end, whereas few things are as lovely up there as a real la2a.

but does any of this really matter to you? if a uad1 is within your budget and a rack with a few 1176's and la-2a's is not, then this question seems like a tremendous distraction; get the plugs, use them, finish the art. a wise man once said "the best tool for the job is the one you have."


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[stevetgn]

Originally Posted by u b k

once you stop comparing "how they sound" and start mixing with them to see "how they behave", the differences become readily apparent. the plugins, ime, make things flatter, smaller in the mix, and push the sounds back. the hardware brings things to life, pulls things forward.

on a strictly sonic note the plugs are not kind to the top end, whereas few things are as lovely up there as a real la2a.

but does any of this really matter to you? if a uad1 is within your budget and a rack with a few 1176's and la-2a's is not, then this question seems like a tremendous distraction; get the plugs, use them, finish the art. a wise man once said "the best tool for the job is the one you have."


gregoire
del
ubk
.

Agreed!

I'll just be using the UAD for this current job and until budget allow for more real 1176, API 550 etc