UAD-1 Is Great

[leddy]

I know it's a topic that's been beat to death, but I picked up just the modest project pack and wow. The Pultec sounds great. The 1176, even just the SE (light version that comes with project pack) still blows away anything I had in my arsenal before. Not sure I dig the reverb, but compression and EQ is what I needed anyway. The next move will probably be the Pultec Pro and the full blown 1176. I'm curious about the Fairchild, but I swear I'm happy now with just the project pack. I had been using Voxengo plugs, and will continue to use them - but I am so friggin' happy right now.

 

[foreverain4]

welcome to the club. there is definately a difference between the SE and LN 1176. i would go for the LN. also, i absolutely love the new plate 140... check it out.

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

Great compared to what? What have you used before? Freeware plugins/highquality plugins/outboard?

 

[mshilarious]

Get the Plate 140 man, it's like acoustic crack

 

[Reggie]

Other essential UAD plugins: LA2A, Cambridge EQ, and Precision Limiter.
Maybe even in that order. I love the LA2A on vocals, and the Cambridge is a great utility EQ. I also agree that the 1176LN has some kind of extra mojo.

There were all kinds of promo deals going on where you can get a free LA2A or credit at the UA online store a little while back. Did you miss out?

 

[leddy]

Other essential UAD plugins: LA2A, Cambridge EQ, and Precision Limiter.
Maybe even in that order. I love the LA2A on vocals, and the Cambridge is a great utility EQ. I also agree that the 1176LN has some kind of extra mojo.

There were all kinds of promo deals going on where you can get a free LA2A or credit at the UA online store a little while back. Did you miss out?

I actually scored it on Ebay for $199.

 

[leddy]

Great compared to what? What have you used before? Freeware plugins/highquality plugins/outboard?

I mix in the box at the moment, so:

My main comps/limiters were the Kjaerhus Classic series and the built in ones in Cubase and Wavlab . I also used Voxengo Soniformer for a multiband when needed.

My EQ's were the Voxengo Gliss and Curve EQ, which are nice.

 

[Ben Logan]

Nice score of the UAD-1 for 2 hundo. That's a steal. Mine new was double that.

I'm a fan of the LA2A too - for vocals mainly - nice for bass too.

The 1176LN version sounds darker and gives the sound a nice "sonic hug" as opposed to the SE. Rumor has it that the diff. between the two is that the SE version leaves out modeling of the output gain stage (almost like a subtle amp sim). Anyhow, the diff between the two is definitely there.

Check out the cheapo EX-1 compressor in the channel strip section. That thing sounds surprisingly great. I prefer it to the 1176 SE on drum groups.

 

[pdlstl]

Precision Limiter rocks!

Also, I love the Fairchild on upright bass. Really fattens and rounds out the notes.

 

[cominginsecond]

The Pultec is the best EQ I've ever used by far. Not that I've used a lot of EQs, but, IMO, it beats the Waves Renaissance EQ, the Sonitus EQ, and the built-in EQ in N-Track (which I longer use.)

 

[leddy]

Precision Limiter rocks!

Also, I love the Fairchild on upright bass. Really fattens and rounds out the notes.

Hey, good to know. I pretty much only record jazz, and I play upright bass. I struggle with getting it right. The best way I know so far is to use a multi-band comp on that track (I avoid putting it accross the whole mix if I can). The multi-band seems to dial out the wolfy low frequencies while leaving the warmth and roundness in better than EQ'ing alone. I use Voxengo Soniformer for that task.

 

[leddy]

The Pultec is the best EQ I've ever used by far. Not that I've used a lot of EQs, but, IMO, it beats the Waves Renaissance EQ, the Sonitus EQ, and the built-in EQ in N-Track (which I longer use.)

The Pultec sounds sweet. You can make big adjustments and it still sounds musical.

 

[mrface2112]

The Pultec sounds sweet. You can make big adjustments and it still sounds musical.

Anyone out there managed to compare the UAD-1's Pultec to the URS version? me likey da URS one a whole bunch.

thinking real hard about a UAD-1 after the post-christmas funds roll in.....it's down to a UAD-1 or some SCA or OSA preamps......


cheers,
wade

 

[noisewreck]

I 4th the comment on 1176LN. I say definitely worth it. I specially like how it distorts when pushed hard. SE is definitely not up to the challenge in that regard.

I also agree on the comment about RealVerb. There is nothing Real about it. In fact it's one of the worst Reverbs I've ever heard.

Can't fault the comps and EQs though, they're all top notch.

 

[Reggie]

thinking real hard about a UAD-1 after the post-christmas funds roll in.....it's down to a UAD-1 or some SCA or OSA preamps......


cheers,
wade

Oh man, that's a toughy. If you don't have any kickin' preamps right now, I say SCA all the way!

 

[acidrock]

I like compressors with just two knobs that sound good almost any way I turn them.

 

[leddy]

Question - How do you folks like the EQ in the CS-1? Maybe this is not the intended use, but I've used it on the program bus with great results. Perhaps a little too much color (similar to a T-Racks kind of flavor, but way nicer), but it worked for what I used it for.

Makes me want the Precision EQ.

 

[mshilarious]

Question - How do you folks like the EQ in the CS-1? Maybe this is not the intended use, but I've used it on the program bus with great results. Perhaps a little too much color (similar to a T-Racks kind of flavor, but way nicer), but it worked for what I used it for.

Makes me want the Precision EQ.

You know, I haven't used it much because the Precision really takes very little CPU, so I haven't felt the need. Although I nearly always use the Pultec everywhere I can, if I need a real surgical change I'll use the Precision. It only goes +-8dB though, so you can't go crazy with it. If you wanted EQ as an extreme effect, the channel strip EQ is the way to go.