UAD-1 or URS Channel Strip Pro for authentic compressor emulations?

[Tubthumper]

I’ve been putting off buying a UAD-1 card for years. Latency, processing power issues, price, and a lack of confidence in digital compression algorithms have held me back. I realise that the UAD plugs are held in high regard.

OK, so now I urgently need authentic digital emulations of vintage compressors. I was about to shell out for a UAD Flexi Pack and……. along came Jones. Rather, the URS Channel Strip Pro. There’s a fair bit of hype out there for this plug, and I’m just trying to get honest opinions on this question: how do the vintage compressor emulations in the CSP stack up to those in the UAD-1? In particular, the 1176, LA2A, Fairchild, DBX, (and Pultec EQ) models are important to me at this stage.

Anyone own both systems and done comparisons??

I guess that the tube + tape modelling feature on the CSP might be something in its favour.

Any thoughts/recommendations will be appreciated.

[Christof]

Bump!!!

I'll be working on different computers in the future and it would be much more effective to use a native PlugIn for compression than to buy UAD cards for each system.

So the CSP comes to mind - BUT is the CSP really capable of delivering compression that is as good as the UAD?

[David-Morpheus]

What DAW are you using ? if PT LE you'll have to either nudge tracks or use the delay comp plug which is really undermining the workflow. I have used this setup for about 1 year and it's a real PITA. the only reason I didn't sold the UAD cards were the plugs themselves.

I am now in a opposite situation - I have 2 UAD cards and are in the market for a really good channel strip plug (in native AU format) to complement the UAD plugs.

I will demo and choose the best one from this list

URS channel strip
WaveArts trackplug
Metric Halo Channel strip

Regarding the UAD - the plugins are really superb, their card is under heavy criticism but the processing power was not really and issue for me - and I can still freeze tracks anyway.

[Christof]

I'm using Cubase SX 3.1 and Reaper on PC.

I like the UAD a lot, but I'd rather use something native in the future, IF it would give me similar quality of sound and "spices".

[s.d.finley]

IIRC UAD doesnt have a dbx emulation.

Have you demo'ed the URS plug yet? I love the UAD comps. Fairchild, LA2A, LA3A, and the the 1176 are very nice. So is the Neve channelstrip. Do you know anyone with a UAD card? You should mosdef check it out before committing.

[thermos]

I have a UAD-1 and the URS CSP. My opinion: the UAD has more accurate emulations all around. BUT.....the older emulations IMO (anything pre Neve stuff) is a little lacking for me in a mix environment. While they might sound close when soloed (the emu and the real) I find the 1176, LA2A, etc leave a lot to be desired when they are in the mix. Kind of stiff and the high end isn't dealt with nearly as elegantly as the real thing would. The Neve emus i've tried (everything except the channel strip) are really great, but you can't run very many of them.

The URS strip won't necessarily be as accurate in terms of attack release times, etc with the comp models. And the Pultec doesn't sound like the UAD Pultec, (in that it doesn't have that wierd low pass filtery sound). To me though the URS plug sounds just better overall, the comps and eqs sit in the mix well, and I don't feel like I'm losing dimension or the original image. And by the same token, the URS Pultec algorithm, though probably not accurate is way more useful. I feel the different models do sound very different as well with the coinciding input stages etc, such that it can go from a believable and enjoyable vca type smack to a slow opto glow.

In short, I only use my UAD card for the plate anymore. I use only the URS Strip pro and the smaller version for all comp and eq duties (with the occasional PSP Neon for cuts and whatnot). They are by far my favorite eqs and comps in the box.

Also, check out ursstrippro.com. Really great presets available there that bring the stock of that plug way up in my book.

[camerondye]

I own both but like the UAD plugs better. The URS takes time to get good at also IMO, it has so much stuff. I think that the UAD comps & eqs are better and a closer emulation. I still use the URS CSP, but not on everything like I use the UAD card.
cam

[aryschien]

I'll share with you my 0.02, but first let me say it's something you have to try yourself.

I A/B/Ced UAD-1, URS CSP and Waves API last month, and:

The UAD-1 plug-ins have a "nassal" sound. The URS CSP has some "foggy mud" around 500hz. I preferred the UAD-1, while one of my co-producers really digged the URS CSP, both for the "sound" they have.

Then someone else preferred the Waves API, for he thought it to be the cleanest and most faithful of all, which I thought to be "boring".

But they're all good. We don't find any of them better quality-wise. So, demo and choose. And do it blind.

[TonyBelmont]

Authentic emulation? That's got to be some kind of oxymoron or something, right?

I like the URS Strip Pro compressor models, but with that said, I don't think anything captures the sound of an actual hardware piece to be labelled "authentic"...

[soundmoves]

Originally Posted by thermos

Also, check out ursstrippro.com. Really great presets available there that bring the stock of that plug way up in my book.

How do you download the presets from here? It keeps taking me to wordPress

[thermos]

I don't download them (I use AU). I just copy the screenshots.

[Jax]

The short of it: the UA stuff probably has the closest emulations, but the URS is much more flexible, combining processors in ways that the UA can't. It depends how much time you have for tweaking. If you want to get an obvious emulation quickly and easily - UA. If you want to create a new palate based on several familiar-ish sounding processors, URS Pro.

The long of it:

I recently picked up URS CCS Pro, Waves API, and swapped my older UAD cards for PCIe versions..

With UA, I really dig the Fairchild on SNARE, setup as the last insert in the chain. I don't know of anyone else using it this way, but I tried it and was happily surprised. However, the Fairchild isn't doing more than 1-2 dB of gain reduction. All I really want is the thick coloration. Fastest time constant (1). Lots of output (6-8 dB) gain to make the Fairchild flavor more apparent.

More UA, 1081 on drum overheads with either 15k or 10k boost to bring shimmer, air and definition to the cymbals. Also brings out some and space crack from the snare. Works wonders for drums recorded in a dull room.

For a squashed stereo drum aux, I'll buss all drum tracks to the UA 33609 and set the comp for heavy splat, usually with some intentional pumping and breathing.

Kick, right now I'm REALLY digging URS CCS Pro's 808 Kick preset, but with the release set quite a bit faster (140-250ms) than the preset default (1.2s). And in general (any preset) with the CCSPro comp, I find it really needs digging into with the threshold. I've been taking it as far as -32 to -36. The EQ settings for the 808 kick are really close to what I want to hear for a compressed rock kick sound.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Authentic emulation? That's got to be some kind of oxymoron or something, right?

I like the URS Strip Pro compressor models, but with that said, I don't think anything captures the sound of an actual hardware piece to be labelled "authentic"...

[Ashermusic]

THe UA emulations come as close to the real thing as it presently technologically possible IMHO. I have 2 UAD-1 cards and you would have to pry them from my cold, dead hands.

The URS plugs sound nice but not nearly as close IMHO.

[Christof]

I've been testing Sonalksis, URS CSP, Sonnox Dynamics AM Track SE (magazin-version of samplitudes AM Track), Kjaerhus GCO-1 and UAD (1176, LA2A, Fairchild) within a mix on different sources (Vocals, BD, Drumgroup...)

The CSP didn't really compress very good. It did sound o.k. with vocals, but weak compared to the others when compressing drums. So far it has been very dissapointing. Not enough character in compression and not as good as the Sonnox concerning "clean" compression.

The GCO sounded o.k. but boring.

The Sonalksis sounded quite good, but I want to use it on different PCs (not at the same time) and I think Sonalksis uses something like a dedicated key working only on one PC. So that's no option.

The Sonnox was very open sounding (preserved the high frequencies with female vocal very good) and together with the "Warmth"-parameter it got some more character in the sound.

The UADs compressors do have the most character in their sound. I like them a lot. You may use something different, if you want "clean" compression.

The surprise has been the AM Track SE (free version with german sound & recording magazine) - even if it's just a reduced version of the AM Track you can buy as VST plugin - I like this a lot. The sound is really good with some character and the soft clipping feature and "compression mix" (parallel compression) come in handy.

[Confusionator]

I must be the only one in the world who's unimpressed by URS plugins. They never sound CLOSE to my UAD-1, to my ear.

I must be weird, though, since so many GS'ers will tell you that everything by URS is the s**t.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by Confusionator

I must be the only one in the world who's unimpressed by URS plugins. They never sound CLOSE to my UAD-1, to my ear.

I must be weird, though, since so many GS'ers will tell you that everything by URS is the s**t.

Make that the 2nd person!

I demoed the CCS and many other URS plugs. Particularly when compared to my UAD-1 stuff, I just really was not too impressed. It is a personal thing obviously. Just because I didn't like, doesn't mean it wont make you piss your pants!

I really love my UAD stuff. I have 4 cards and I use quite a bit of it on my mixes. BUT, If I have to take any plugins to my grave, it will be my SSL Duende!

[Jidis]

Speaking of UA comps, they're also supposed to have an SSL G series buss comp and an SPL Transient Designer emu coming out for Christmas (for anyone who doesn't keep up with the Chrismilne UAD forum). Looks tasty.

[bionic brown]

Originally Posted by aryschien

I'll share with you my 0.02, but first let me say it's something you have to try yourself.

I A/B/Ced UAD-1, URS CSP and Waves API last month, and:

The UAD-1 plug-ins have a "nassal" sound. The URS CSP has some "foggy mud" around 500hz. I preferred the UAD-1, while one of my co-producers really digged the URS CSP, both for the "sound" they have.

Then someone else preferred the Waves API, for he thought it to be the cleanest and most faithful of all, which I thought to be "boring".

But they're all good. We don't find any of them better quality-wise. So, demo and choose. And do it blind.

This reply was funny, but it hits right on the mark imo. The plugs do have a sound, it comes down to what color you want. Which may not sound exactly like the hardware, but it does have a "sound".

[benhunk]

I have 2 uad cards home with almost all of their plugins.
I love them very much !
I mix often somewhere else where they have all the URS collection.
I reallly really don t appreciate them. They are so overestimated.
I have never met anybody that could nt agree on this.
Nevermind, it must be because everybody has its own taste ... but still !!!

Anyway, you should also give it a try to the Waves API collection and the SSL EQ (waves also), those ones are really fantastic !

Then go and buy a UAD card ...and then 4 ... you wont be disapointed especially with those ones : la2, 1073,1176,plate 140, space echo201, pultec,fairchild !!!!!

take care

[gregohb]

Originally Posted by Jidis

Speaking of UA comps, they're also supposed to have an SSL G series buss comp and an SPL Transient Designer emu coming out for Christmas (for anyone who doesn't keep up with the Chrismilne UAD forum). Looks tasty.

Is the "precision buss compressor" modeled after an SSL? Their whole precision series is a bit of mystery (to me at least).

[Osumosan]

Originally Posted by soundmoves

How do you download the presets from here? It keeps taking me to wordPress

Go to the Archives page, follow each link to another page that has links below the graphics.

[JeffE]

Originally Posted by Osumosan

Go to the Archives page, follow each link to another page that has links below the graphics.

Hmm...I wonder if he still needs that question answered, given that he asked it in DECEMBER 2007!