UAD Vs Waves

[serious]

I know this will probably come down to preference, and those with only one will most likely swear by whichever one they have.

But has anyone had the chance to really put these against eachother ?

Everything has its pro's & Con's, does one really stand out, If you had to go one way or the other, which would you choose ?

Or even better if someone with both would be willing to do a couple tests and post the results so we can put opinion against results...

[work2do]

do a search. this has been discussed to death on gs for years. The UA fans will say UA, the Waves fans will say Waves. It's a matter of taste and each will provide the proper tools to get the job done. I have both and use both for different things. Look inside any thread on a UA product or a waves product and it starts up like a Mac/PC debate all the time.

[serious]

Originally Posted by work2do

do a search. this has been discussed to death on gs for years. The UA fans will say UA, the Waves fans will say Waves. It's a matter of taste and each will provide the proper tools to get the job done. I have both and use both for different things. Look inside any thread on a UA product or a waves product and it starts up like a Mac/PC debate all the time.

yea I thought as much.. It would be interesting to get some audio and battle it out that way tho lol
I would but don't have both to do the comparisons.

[quadrafunk]

I have and like them both. I've had Waves a lot longer but UAD fits in nice.

On the UAD front I have 2 solos. I purchased my 2nd one in July and to my surprise it was included in the recent voucher/coupon deal. I got the Massive Passive absolutely free!!

On the Waves side I have the Platinum bundle, V-Series, Kramer HLS + Pie, Masters bundle, SSL 4000 collection, JJP Pultecs, H-Comp/Delay, CLA comps, Kramer Tape, and GTR3.

My two AUD solos are always on tape duty with Studer plug. That maxes out the cards so Waves pulls the rest of the weight for comps, eq's, verb, and delay.

The only plugs I've been able to really compare head to head are the UAD 1176LN/SE to the CLA Black/Blue and the UAD Pultec to the JJP Pultec. They don't sound the same nor should they.

One set doesn't sound better than other to me. I'm glad they don't sound the same. You hear the hardware guys talk all the time about having so many great OTB choices. We can have something similar ITB.

If the Kramer Tape plug doesn't work for me on the 2 Buss (still trying to get it to work) I may pull the trigger on the UAD Ampex. I'm demoing it and have realized I can use it on the 2 Buss and pull the Studers off the individual tracks. That will free up the cards to run more of the other AU plugs.

It's a great time for ITB.

[Marando]

Originally Posted by serious

I know this will probably come down to preference, and those with only one will most likely swear by whichever one they have.

But has anyone had the chance to really put these against eachother ?
[..]

Yes, I have done a lot of testing between a lot of the Waves plugins and UAD plugins. My short conclusion: A lot of the plugins from both developers are fantastic!

Long conclusion, if anyone is interested:
If I had to mix and master a song with only Waves plugins, I would have no problem doing that. It's only in the reverb department that I might be not that happy, but for anything else, I'm happy.

If I had to mix and master a song with only UAD plugins, I would have no problem doing that, but I think I would want to use more power than a single UAD-2 Quad could deliver. So... give me two UAD-2 Quad cards and you are my best friend!

I went with the Waves route, because I saved a lot of money for not having to buy the UAD-2 hardware, and the plugins from Uaudio are also pretty expensive, while everything from Waves lately is extremely cheap!

[Roman Rowlands]

I think the main reason UAD plugins are more expensive (an average plug in price) is because they have to pay a percentage of sales to manufacturers of original gear that they emulated, whereas Waves went a different route of mostly renaming their emulations and not having to pay licensing fees. So it is straight away a psychological matter, a person looking at a UAD plug in and seeing a word Fairchild will be biased towards UAD opposed to Wave's Puigchild. Does it make UAD emulation better? Secondly, this matter of sophisticated algos used in UAD emulations vs not so sophisticated emulations by Waves. Is that actually factual or again do people simply assume that is the case because UAD plug ins have to run on external 'dongles'. No doubt UAD plug ins sound amazing, but that's not to say that Wave's plug ins are no match IMHO. If anything I would say Waves has some really good and some mediocre plug ins, whereas UAD seems to have mostly really good ones. Again IMHO.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

The reason that they both sell is because they both sound good. Pick one.

[bugscoe]

I have both but just added the UAD Quad this past Dec. I'm not sure which is better but I know I generally prefer the UAD. However it's nice to have both products available.

[T_R_S]

I have 4 UAD Satellites and Mercury - So I am speaking from that perspective
UAD has plug-ins that are not found anywhere ( we are talking plugins here)
The best are Fatso, Massive Passive, ATR, EMT 140, Studer.
These 5 plugs are the main reason why I bought into UAD
UAD Satellite has lots of latency so you can't use them if you want to mix and track at the same time - severe disadvantage.
UAD Satellite uses FIrewire audio so with lots of plugins it uses CPU cycles from your Native processing another drag.
UAD Satellite purchases buy one plug-in it authorizes all 4 on my UAD Satellite's - nice!
Waves Mercury lots of plugins and nice ones' Multiband limiters and comps C6 L3 MB low latency Plug-ins lets hope they go AAX DSP.
Waves I seem to get a new plug-in every 3 months or so - I like that.
Lots of cools unique plugins as well native ones are CPU friendly.

[CeretoneAudio]

Originally Posted by Roman Rowlands

I think the main reason UAD plugins are more expensive (an average plug in price) is because they have to pay a percentage of sales to manufacturers of original gear that they emulated, whereas Waves went a different route of mostly renaming their emulations and not having to pay licensing fees. So it is straight away a psychological matter, a person looking at a UAD plug in and seeing a word Fairchild will be biased towards UAD opposed to Wave's Puigchild. Does it make UAD emulation better? Secondly, this matter of sophisticated algos used in UAD emulations vs not so sophisticated emulations by Waves. Is that actually factual or again do people simply assume that is the case because UAD plug ins have to run on external 'dongles'. No doubt UAD plug ins sound amazing, but that's not to say that Wave's plug ins are no match IMHO. If anything I would say Waves has some really good and some mediocre plug ins, whereas UAD seems to have mostly really good ones. Again IMHO.

/\ This is a great post

What you are describing is the Plugcebo effect.

The effect of having name realistic and photo realistic GUIs of all the emulations, so instead of the kids saying "I'm using a CLA76" they can say "I'm using a Universal audio 1176", "I'm tracking to a studer A-800" etc. This has been the key to the success of the UAD cards and they know it.. its the reason they have gone out of their way to rebrand several plugins such as the 4K and the 160VU after release.

I have been a UAD user since they were sold by Mackie.... do I think they still have a sonic advantage ..... NO!

[bugscoe]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

So I am speaking from that perspective
UAD has plug-ins that are not found anywhere ( we are talking plugins here)
The best are Fatso, Massive Passive, ATR, EMT 140, Studer.
These 5 plugs are the main reason why I bought into UAD

This was pretty much the reason I bought in as well. I wasn't looking to duplicate my Waves plugs. I have the hardware Fatso and have always loved that thing and really wanted the plug version.

The plugs I used the most from Waves were the SSL channels strips. I then bought the Duende channel strips which blew away the Waves in my opinion.

However, I still strap the Waves on at times.

[electro]

The newer offerings from Waves may be able to compete with some of the older UAD plugins but these are in an exclusive class

UAD ATR-102
UAD Manley Massive Passive
UAD EL Labs Fatso
UAD Lexicon 224
UAD EMT 250 Electronic Reverb
UAD EMT 140 Plate
UAD Echoplex
UAD Roland FX
UAD SSL 4000 Channelstrip
UAD 33609
UAD dbx160
UAD Helios Type 69

[choukette]

with the UAD remember you have to buy a very expensive dongle DSP before using any UAD plugin,

when UAD-2 lack of power with the next new marvellous and better sounding plugins, they certainly ask you to pay another 1500 usd bill to buy the new underpowered dsp UAD-3 dongle,

with waves v9 you will no more need to support dongle and price drop are constant,

and it cost you only 200 or 250 usd in WUP to download the new update with all the new plugins,

I never own mercury bundle and i'm a long time UAD user, loved it , still love the UAD plugins, but the bill is too hot and the only thing UA did since 2008 is to raise the prices of their plugins and keep the price of their dongle high.

and there are many other companies like softtube or brainworx who do great plugins too.

UA just believe they can sell plugins like they sell hardware racks, it's true at the moment until people realise the absurdity of this situation and wake up.

[Tube World]

Originally Posted by electro

The newer offerings from Waves may be able to compete with some of the older UAD plugins but these are in an exclusive class

UAD ATR-102
UAD Manley Massive Passive
UAD EL Labs Fatso
UAD Lexicon 224
UAD EMT 250 Electronic Reverb
UAD EMT 140 Plate
UAD Echoplex
UAD Roland FX
UAD SSL 4000 Channelstrip
UAD 33609
UAD dbx160
UAD Helios Type 69

True on these except for the SSL. Waves has a pretty good SSL channel strip; actually two. I think it's the E that has harder sound, while the G channel strip is closer to UA, and has a smoother sound. Waves also has

1. Krammer Master Tape
2. Pie Compressor
3. API bundle
4. Tony Mas bundle.
5. Chris Lord bundle
6. Eddie Kramer bundle
7. Ren bundle
8. Better sounding 1176, and LA2-A over UAD.

To me it's not do you use Waves or UAD, it's which UAD and Waves do you want to use together on a song, and there is no right or wrong answer. They are just tools to help you get your mix to sound the way you and your client want it. Personally after watching George Massenburg's videos, I think it can get to a point that we have too many options on plug ins. Work with some clean and colored Eq's and comps, and leave it at that. If I was forced to only use Neve-ish, SSL, and one other group of plug ins, it should really be all you need. Having so many options and then keep buying more and more......our favorite records from the 60's - 90's, were never done this way and everyone is trying to emulate the great sound of those records. I agree we have to move forward in music, but getting lost in 20+ EQ's, and 20+ comp plug ins gets a little overdone

[LeMauce]

I prefer UAD over Waves for all the FX duties:
- UAD lexicon 224
- UAD EMT 140
- UAD Roland Dimension D
- UAD Echoplex
- UAD RE-20

These "emulations" can't not be found @ waves. The knobs/layout and sound are the same. So if you know how to work with them, UAD is great.
For all the other duties I prefer Waves (EQ, Gates, Comps).

[Roman Rowlands]

Ok guys, check this plate plugin by Sknote Verbtone. Sounds real nice IMHO. http://www.sknote.it/Verbtone.htm

[electro]

Originally Posted by LeMauce

I prefer UAD over Waves for all the FX duties:
- UAD lexicon 224
- UAD EMT 140
- UAD Roland Dimension D
- UAD Echoplex
- UAD RE-20

These "emulations" can't not be found @ waves. The knobs/layout and sound are the same. So if you know how to work with them, UAD is great.
For all the other duties I prefer Waves (EQ, Gates, Comps).

Agreed. Alot of people only look as the UAD as and EQ and Compressor platform, but the other plugins are what really matters most.

The claim that the waves 1176 is better than than the 10 year old UAD 1176 still remains to be seen.

[emilision]

1. Krammer Master Tape

Sounds like poo...seems good at first, then you use your ears and realise it's just a toy. Useless IMO.

2. Pie Compressor

Good. Though strongly coloured, so limited usefulness...

3. API bundle

Good, definitely, 2500 probably one of the best of all the Waves emulations...still not quite the real thing, but neither is UAD.

4. Tony Mas bundle.

Meh. Toys.

5. Chris Lord bundle

Too coloured, all sound the same...strange graininess to them all.

6. Eddie Kramer bundle

Meh. Toys.

7. Ren bundle

Every professional studio has these...I'm so sure if they're really all that much better than most DAW-bundled plugs though.

8. Better sounding 1176, and LA2-A over UAD.

No way. The waves 1176/LA2A sound very grainy, they damage the sound. UAD ones are more transparent...

[Mafiacondon]

+1 on getting free plugins every few months from waves on mercury.

[T800]

I think UADs sound thicker. The Neves are gigantic sounding. I think a bit better than waves. But there is apparently more going on in the algorithms too requiring their own dedicated DSP cards. Waves is good too but you can basically think of them as more stripped down versions of trying to do the same thing.

To make this judgment, I monitored on ported Roland DS-7s - which from 250hz and up - i find to sound as accurate and as smooth as Dynaudio BM6As i compared them to .... (on DS7s, because of the port design - bass content below 200hz is not as tight as the Dynaudios, but the cloth based dome tweeter and mid driver on the DS7-s are still nevertheless very amazing of a reference).

[T800]

As for beliefs that do not find emulations to sound like the originals. Those differences are not quality related. The only difference from the UAD models compared to the originals people are comparing to is that the age of the components and conditions those reference machines weathered - would cause them to sound different than the exact machines UADs replicate the sound of. But whatever the values were of the machines UAD has replicated - those values were replicated exact.