TC Electronic or Universal Audio?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bulls Hit
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Bulls Hit

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I'm looking to extend the capability of my mixing rig. I record in 24/88.2 and once I hit 20-something tracks with heavy plugin usage, she starts getting saggy on me.

Anyone have any experience with either the Powercore or the UAD-1 Project Pak?

Is it just down to personal preference around the included plugins, or does one of them perform better than the other?

Also is there any limit to how many of these plugins you can use in one project? Do the dsp chips max out at a certain level of usage?
 
Universal Audio has some stats on the number of instances you can run with the UAD-1 not sure about the Powercore. Might just hafta browse their site a bit.
The popular consensus has been that UAD-1's rule on EQ's and compression and the Powercore's do a fine job with their reverbs.
However, this all boils down to personal preference. Not to mention the fact that both units are constantly receiving new plugs to their lineup.

If you are pleased with your current selection of plugs, you could check out FX Teleport if you have a spare box and LAN that you could press into service.
 
Thanks crankz that's an interesting link. I'm going to give that Teleport thing a try. Pity it only works on VST plugs, but if it can postpone the ineviatble upgrade, that will be great
 
if your computer can't handle it why don't you downsample to 44.1 :confused:

buying one UAD-1 card wouldn't do you justice you'd only be able to run like 6 to 7 plugs if your gonna use difference ones at the same time like I do
 
Teacher said:
if your computer can't handle it why don't you downsample to 44.1 :confused:

buying one UAD-1 card wouldn't do you justice you'd only be able to run like 6 to 7 plugs if your gonna use difference ones at the same time like I do
Click to expand...

Yeah I think I'll move to 24/44.1.

So when you say 6 to 7 different plugs, is that because the dsp chips max out?

Does it make any difference to how many you can run if you're using the same plugin, like an eq inserted on 20 tracks?
 
crankz1 said:
Check out FFX-4, it's a free four slot rack,from vb-audio, that will host DX plugs in a VST application.
It works with FX Teleport.
Click to expand...

Hey crankz that looks really cool..

From the look of it, it might get around the 32 plug per project restriction in my GT3. Haven't tried it yet, but GT3 might not be able to see inside the rack, and only count each rack as one plug...
 
That would be my guess as well, as the little rack acts as a mini host/DX to VST wrapper (FXpansion VST to DX wrapper will also allow it to work in a DX only host). :cool:
You should be able to, for instance, set up a four DX effect vocal rack (or whatever other chain of four plugs) and have it appear as only one VST loaded.

They do sell a 16 slot rack also, in case you felt the need to be able to run 512 DX plugs in GT3. :eek:
 
Bulls Hit said:
Yeah I think I'll move to 24/44.1.

So when you say 6 to 7 different plugs, is that because the dsp chips max out?

Does it make any difference to how many you can run if you're using the same plugin, like an eq inserted on 20 tracks?
Click to expand...

Yup the DSP maxes out

There are some uad plugs that you can run 20 instances of on one card and there are a few that you can only run 4 or 5. You'd have to check out the universal site they have stats for 24/44.1
 
crankz1 said:
They do sell a 16 slot rack also, in case you felt the need to be able to run 512 DX plugs in GT3. :eek:
Click to expand...

Haha I think 96 would suffice for quite some time
 
at 24/44.1, you double your processing power. Problem solved, no fancy hardware needed.
 
Yeah sure but I'm also thinking those TC or UA effects would be a lot nicer than what I get with GT3
 
A) What is GT3?
B) Have you looked at http://www.kvraudio.com/ ? There are hundreds of free plugins there, and many of them are really good. There are also a number of cheap or medium proced plugins, and I think that a lot of them compete with much more expensive competitors.
 
Whether to go with TC or UA is a matter of preference, however, the plugins included with both of these cards are significantly better than just about any native plugin out there. The main reason being that dedicated DSPs are far more efficient at processing audio than a general purpose CPU.

For example, take reverb plugins. Obviously this is one of the more processor hungry type of plugins. Native plugins are handicapped by the fact that they can't just use as much CPU as they need to sound their best. They have to balance sound quality with CPU load. On the other hand, Powercore cards are not effected by this limitation since they use their own dedicated DSPs. As mentioned in an earlier post, Powercore's reverbs are generally considered to be among the best available and it's primarily because of this fact.

Personally, I own two Powercore Elements and the overall quality of my music (production-wise) has increased dramatically since I started using them. The reverbs are stunning and even though the UA's are supposed to be better, I've had really great results with Powercore's EQ and compressors.

The other advantage to getting a Powercore is that you can also run synths on it. One of the main reasons I purchased a Powercore was to get the Virus plugin and I can say with absolute certainty that there is not a better sounding VSTi out there than the Virus|Powercore.

The bottom line is that you won't regret getting either card. If anything, you'll be like me and wonder why you didn't get it sooner! ;)

Ojuzu
 
=( Stop it you all... you're giving me GAS! =D

A UAD-1 would be so sweet... too bad I already have a couple major planned upgrades first on the list (a new system - motu 828 is at the top of my list right now - and some monitors).
 
Bulls Hit said:
Yeah I think I'll move to 24/44.1.

So when you say 6 to 7 different plugs, is that because the dsp chips max out?

Does it make any difference to how many you can run if you're using the same plugin, like an eq inserted on 20 tracks?
Click to expand...


surely you would use a bus for the same eq on 20 tracks
 
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