Got an iMac - Need alternatives to the UAD

[elmolemon]

Hi,

i got a problem! I'd love to buy a UAD, but as my iMac hasn't got slots for it, so i got to find an alternative.

I run Logic 8 but no additional mixing-plugins..

I'm looking for EQ & COMP but i'll need also a good LIMITER.. I wanted to go for the Massey plug-ins but as the AU-project is terminated i'm back on search..

I thought about the Sonnox-bundle, the URS CSP, some waves-bundle (API, SSL?).. but I'm lost..

I mainly do HipHop/TripHop/Electro but also record guitars...

What would you recommend me?

Thanks!

[FreeDanny]

Originally Posted by elmolemon

I'm looking for EQ & COMP

SSL Duende, firewire

but i'll need also a good LIMITER..

SONNOX Oxford Limiter, native version

if you need only comp, eq and limiter, these plugs sounds even better than UAD plugs, IMHO

for reverbs, i would get a Powercore firewire with VSS3 and/or DVR2

[upinflames]

I think the URS Channel Strip Pro is a solid choice, someone is selling it at a very reasonable rate in the classifieds.

What audio interface are you running? It's pretty important to have a dedicated firewire port for firewire DSP boxes or the latency will be a pain to work around, which is why I decided against the Liquid Mix with my MacBook, which only has one fireport being used by my 002R.

I think the Liquid Mix is a great value, but if you only have one firewire port and it's being used up go URS.

I think the Waves Musician 2 bundle is a great value as it comes with a lot of nice Renaissance plugs.

McDSP also has some great bundles, but they can get pretty pricey. I really like their EQs and channel strips.

[elmolemon]

Thanks for your opinion!

I use an apogee duet as my interface. I got one of the new imac with 2 firewire-ports. So i got one left.. But I've read that the liquid mix-compressors suck..

[elmolemon]

@freedanny:

so you'd prefer the duende over the eq/comp of the sonnox bundle? May I ask you why?

What do you think about the waves ssl?

[leaper]

Originally Posted by elmolemon

Thanks for your opinion!

But I've read that the liquid mix-compressors suck..

I don't think that it's as simple as that.
I'm using the Sonnox plugs and Liquid mix .. there's a place for both.
The LM provides a variety of colours that should be useful to many people. The Sonnox stuff is very effective and musical, but doesn't give anywhere near the colouration of LM. If you want a digital compressor or limiter that really does the job with an open, euphonic sound, then the Sonnox wins. Liquid mix compressors are perhaps not so convincing in the role of transparent compressor / limiter... but they can add bigtime character to a mix.

[elmolemon]

i read in a review that the LM-comps have a hard time if you use heavy compressing settings. Have you got this feeling too?

[upinflames]

I think the Duende doesn't have enough features to be the only EQ/Compressor you want, it does a few things and it does them very well, but the Liquid Mix has a lot of different sounds. And the Powercore doesn't really start to shine until you buy some other the additional plug-ins for it, and they are all really expensive.

[truthnlife13]

Originally Posted by elmolemon

Thanks for your opinion!

I use an apogee duet as my interface. I got one of the new imac with 2 firewire-ports. So i got one left.. But I've read that the liquid mix-compressors suck..

as I understand it all the firewire ports on all macs only run on one buss. So even though you have an empty port it is still running on the same buss as your other port so you likely will have problems running the any firewire based plug in system along with a firewire interface. The only work around is to add a PCI firewire card which is not an option on an IMAC. Hope this helps. I would have to agree with the previous post about the Sonnox native plugs. They are very nice sounding. Best I have used IMHO

[elmolemon]

Thank you for your input! I'd also prefer a native solution!

So maybe a sonnox bundle for clean sounds. But what would you recommend me to add a more coloured flavour?

[travisbrown]

Originally Posted by truthnlife13

as I understand it all the firewire ports on all macs only run on one buss. So even though you have an empty port it is still running on the same buss as your other port so you likely will have problems running the any firewire based plug in system along with a firewire interface. The only work around is to add a PCI firewire card which is not an option on an IMAC. Hope this helps. I would have to agree with the previous post about the Sonnox native plugs. They are very nice sounding. Best I have used IMHO

What's the problem running more than one device on a FW bus? I run multiple devices on my MBPro all the time - recording drive, MOTU 828MKII, ART Tubefire, and had a Liquidmix at one time and have used a Powercore on occasion.

The iMac shoudl have a FW800 port on it too. I think that's on a different bus, but you'd have to confirm that.

[disuye]

If you want a bit more colour perhaps take a look at the URS plugs. Also Sonalksis make a great EQ and compressor, albeit pretty friggin' ugly!

I use the built in Logic plug-ins for surgical bread & butter work, then a combination of Liquid Mix (not my fav interface by far but it sounds OK) and Sonalksis plus a few rental URS effects for character depending on the job.

[leaper]

Originally Posted by elmolemon

i read in a review that the LM-comps have a hard time if you use heavy compressing settings. Have you got this feeling too?

Don't really understand the question.. by "hard time" do you mean that they eat up LM's CPU? Or perhaps that the emulation is more effective when used with medium ratios and thresholds?
Personally, I only use LM here and there on a mix as colouration with maybe 3 or 4 db GR. I can well imagine that it would sound weak if you try to "nuke" the source with it. Oh yes.. I did it once for a joke on a GS thread where we sent a drum loop through various dirty hardware compressors.
So if u check out the link you can hear how the LM Fairchild emulation sounds compared to a hardware unit... I squashed them both like hell!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/156839-dirtiest-compressor-alive.html

[leaper]

Originally Posted by travisbrown

What's the problem running more than one device on a FW bus?

It certainly WAS a problem with dual processor G4's.. the last of the G4 series. I very nearly returned my LM because of all kinds of instabilities, clicks and pops. It was a nightmare and thought that it was down to the LM driver.. Focusrite weren't particularly helpful at the time... they certainly didn't suggest that I get a PCI firewire card. Eventually I did get one, though and the LM totally cleaned it's act up. Now it just does what it should have done before seamlessly.

[tonymission]

Originally Posted by FreeDanny

if you need only comp, eq and limiter, these plugs sounds even better than UAD plugs, IMH

i agree!

actually sold my UAD today because 1) i got an imac just for tracking in logic and 2) ive grown to love the sonnox stuff more.

[truthnlife13]

Originally Posted by travisbrown

What's the problem running more than one device on a FW bus? I run multiple devices on my MBPro all the time - recording drive, MOTU 828MKII, ART Tubefire, and had a Liquidmix at one time and have used a Powercore on occasion.

The iMac shoudl have a FW800 port on it too. I think that's on a different bus, but you'd have to confirm that.

then that is great however numerous people have had issues, and it is all over the LM website. Everywhere you look it's advised to run it on it's own buss to achieve the proper results.

[tomdarude]

complete Sonnox Bundle - URS CSPro - Chandler TG1 comp (EQ´s hopefully to be ported soon) =

pretty much all you´d ever need for comps/eq/limiters ITB
(maybe add the Flux plugins for more exact mastering touch-ups)

I´d not spend much more money beyond that on plugins, they all still sound like plugins....besides that, start buying outboard for "character"

my 2cts