Hardware vs. UAD-1

SoSueMe · 10th March 2005, 08:01 PM

I'm curious to know if any of you out there almost ALWAYS reach for a particular hardware device OVER the UAD-1's somewhat equivalent emulation of that device.

In other words, do you have a hardware eq or compressor that you almost always prefer over any of your UAD-1's eq or compressor emulations?

I realize many of you may respond with the argument of the dependence on the particular track and what it needs at the time, and that's OK!

Revelation · 11th March 2005, 04:27 AM

You have to remember that UAD, as well as Powercore and all good plug ins are done in digital after the music has been recorded. The tracks sound different when heared soloed prior to adding them to a mix and for the most part it is best to use EQ, and compression after the mix is down.

You always lose some quality in going out of the box with converters into hardware gear and then back to digital again. The other thing is that when you use a plug in, you can use multiple plug ins of that EQ or compressor with different settings. Plus you save your settings. All that makes very good plug ins a lot more useful and helpful in a mixing setting.

There will always be some hardware gear that people can afford and will want to use. However with trained ears, you can get similar results with very good plug ins. Not the same mind you, but similar results.

Most hardware gear that is preferred will be the high end equipment and most will admit things like a Manley Massive Passive, or Crangsong compressor will do things that the UAD's will not. But you are comparing plug ins with the top of the line hardware gear. For all intensive purposes in project studios, the UAD or Waves plug ins will get you amazing results (if you know what you are doing).

Read Bob Katz book on recording. The knowldge you get will be more important that what effect your using.

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10th March 2005, 08:01 PM	#1
SoSueMe Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 86	Hardware vs. UAD-1 I'm curious to know if any of you out there almost ALWAYS reach for a particular hardware device OVER the UAD-1's somewhat equivalent emulation of that device. In other words, do you have a hardware eq or compressor that you almost always prefer over any of your UAD-1's eq or compressor emulations? I realize many of you may respond with the argument of the dependence on the particular track and what it needs at the time, and that's OK!

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11th March 2005, 04:27 AM	#2
Revelation Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,131	You have to remember that UAD, as well as Powercore and all good plug ins are done in digital after the music has been recorded. The tracks sound different when heared soloed prior to adding them to a mix and for the most part it is best to use EQ, and compression after the mix is down. You always lose some quality in going out of the box with converters into hardware gear and then back to digital again. The other thing is that when you use a plug in, you can use multiple plug ins of that EQ or compressor with different settings. Plus you save your settings. All that makes very good plug ins a lot more useful and helpful in a mixing setting. There will always be some hardware gear that people can afford and will want to use. However with trained ears, you can get similar results with very good plug ins. Not the same mind you, but similar results. Most hardware gear that is preferred will be the high end equipment and most will admit things like a Manley Massive Passive, or Crangsong compressor will do things that the UAD's will not. But you are comparing plug ins with the top of the line hardware gear. For all intensive purposes in project studios, the UAD or Waves plug ins will get you amazing results (if you know what you are doing). Read Bob Katz book on recording. The knowldge you get will be more important that what effect your using.