UAD-1 questions

[acidrock]

With a major personal gain holiday around the corner thoughts of gear have been running through my head.After much thought I've come to the conclusion that I'd really like to get a Uad-1 card.
I'm posting in the Cakewalk forum because I'm mainly interested in hearing from users that have Sonar/Cakewalk as the host program.

Question 1:I really don't want to spend $900 ,at $399 the Project pack would be a lot easier to swallow,add to that I really would like to get the new plate reverb for another $149 .
As a hobbyist do I really need to spend the extra $500?
I'm just looking for quality compression and EQ and the idea of offloading processing power makes it that much sweeter.I presently have the stock Sonar plugs and find them kind of boring.(?)

Question 2: DXI or VST?

Question 3:Will this affect any PACE software?I'm assuming this may change my PC configuration and I will have to re-authorise some plug-ins,or am I all wet?

BTW this month the Project pack comes with a free LA-2A authorisation.

Any other input would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks.

 

[lopie]

no you don't

my experience with uad1 was less than overwelming especially when you can only afford the "little brother" package- it's really designed for people who have already bought the "whole enchalada" and want another card. If your extremely critical about sound maybe this is good (but for indistinguishable sound in my opinion you should learn and se the packaged software with sonar. (they have emulation of the uad compressor emulations).
Fortunatly,i exchanged mine because the studio package left you wanting the other toys in the package - which didn't see worth the price.

learn to use the tools you have first - the uad is not a magic bullet - there is a learning curve with these too.

 

[Teacher]

with the project pak you'll get the 1176se which is good and the pultec which is good but FAR from surgical and it looks like you'll get the La2a which is good for bus limiting/compression, bass, vocals.

The studio package you'd get the 1176LN(which has more character IMO YMMV), fairchild (which i think kills on vox) and the cambridge which is super surgical and transparent and the pultec pro and dreamverb. With that said I couldn't live w/o either of these, I can't wait to try out the new plate verb

Its no magic bullet by any means but the right settings do sound better on it then most plugs

DX or VST I don't think matters because the vst's are wrapped to act like dx plugs anyway

 

[mark4man]

acid,

1) Go for the gusto. Even for the hobbyist...with the StudioPak, you get so much more, even in terms of standard, everyday usage. For example, the CS-1 & EX-1 are cool...but for quality EQ, they don't come close to the Pultec-Pro or Cambridge EQ. And with the big package you get the LA-2A & the Fairchild 670...both indispensible, in my view.

[And...forget the Plate 140...that's a specialty sound which you'll hardly use for anything (this is, of course, a nice way of saying it sucks.)]

2) It's both, so get both. SONAR is DXi (but can run Vst.)

3) Haven't a clue.

For me...UAD-1 was the best move I've made in 2 years. It runs great in SONAR; & covers all the bases (all your tracking & mastering needs.) Some of the plugs (Pultec-Pro, Fairchild 670 & Cambridge EQ come to mind) make tracks sound better just by opening the plug at its default setting...(i. e., just by passing the signal thru the plug prior to applying processing.)

mark4man

 

[acidrock]

Thanks guys,it seems most everything I've read about the UAD-1 has been positive,but $500 is $500!

I've been reading mostly positive stuff about the plate verb,I'm assuming they have demo's?

 

[Teacher]

FYI check my post I edited it was supposed to read "I couldn't live w/o"

Mark I'm surprised you feel that way about the plate 140, I just tried the demo and think it rocks the Dreamverb YMMV

 

[acidrock]

FYI check my post I edited it was supposed to read "I couldn't live w/o"

Well that makes a big difference.

Would I be correct in thinking that the tools that come with project pack,won't be getting used much if I get the full blown studio pack?
There does seem to be some repetition of effects.

 

[mark4man]

Teach,

I tried it on my pianos (I believe it was you that mentioned the piano preset...I can't recall); & it sounded clangy horrible. It made them sound like that sound when you used to bump into the Fender Twin Reverb at rehersal in the garage.

Maybe the plug represents a dead on accurate reproduction of plate verb; & I just dislike plate verb...I don't know.

I love everything else from UA...I even went out & picked up the 2-610 as my main preamp [which is the clearest, most expansive (& overall righteous) peice of gear I have ever heard.]

Love all the rest of the UAD-1 plugs. Maybe it's just me. (I'll try it on drums.)
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acid,

Would I be correct in thinking that the tools that come with project pack,won't be getting used much if I get the full blown studio pack?

No. The 1176 SE Limiting Amp is none too shabby.

& for everybody that's not that crazy over Realverb Pro, I love it. Reason? It doesn't f_ _k with the primary signal. It mostly leaves the primary signal intact; & adds realistic reflections & tails. This makes it ideal for instruments & vox that should remain out front, but just need a touch of depth (& to me, that's the mark of quality verb...not pushing the primary signal too deep into the mix.) Laugh at me if you will...but I think it sounds like convolution reverb in that respect.

CS-1 & EX-1 also have their uses.

mark4man

 

[pdlstl]

I even went out & picked up the 2-610 as my main preamp [which is the clearest, most expansive (& overall righteous) peice of gear I have ever heard.]

Sorry dude but I just don't understand how/why you would have the 610 as your "main preamp". I mean it's okay for certain things but as a main preamp? No way. Too much coloration.

My 2¢...

 

[In Tune Audio]

$500 is 500$. But, if you buy the project pack, your going to want all the other plugins later, I can promise you. When you see how much cpu usage you save, and the quality of the plugins, (even though you'll have the lower end ones!) you'll become addicted and want the rest. Especially the Fairchild and cambride Eq, which if you were to buy seperate will cost you I think $400. So you might as well get the studio pack, and get all the others as well. You'll be here in a few months telling everyone else they should spring for the studio instead of the project pak.

 

[Middleman]

I've had mine for over a year and here is what gets used over and over.

1176, not the SE, on almost all of the drum and bass tracks. Usually aux buss.
LA2A on almost every vocal, occasionally the 1176 if I want the voice to be in yer face.
Fairchild, at least 1 instance on something i.e. acoustic, bass, occasionally voice.
Cambridge, almost every track.
Pultec on piano or master buss to add some air. Also if something is thin sounding this plug will give it some life.
Plate 140 on most vocals because it glues things so well.
Realverb, once for a room sound on a double bass.

Regarding Sonitus plugs in Cakewalk, the reverb still gets used on a lot of things. If I want compression without coloring this compressor still gets pulled out occasionally over the UAD1 compressors.

Nigel and the other things in UAD got less than 5% of my tracks in a year period. I used Nigel once but get better sounds through my Digitech Genesis 3. Also Nigel is a pig on resources.

The Cambridge alone warrants the more expensive package, it is almost indispensable in carving EQ. The 1176SE cannot be pushed excessively without breaking down so having the full version is a must too.

 

[mark4man]

pdlstl,

That's a myth (as perpetrated by sardonic solid-state sycophants); & certain members of the mercenary "we only love Manley Labs tube pre's" crowd.

If you're talking about the typical superlatives that get thrown around, like it's too "warm", or has a "dark" or "muddy" sound...nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, it's the opposite. It tends to add a bit of high end "sparkle"...but not enough to qualify it as the onerous & terrible "coloration".

I've recorded MIDI sequences thru it & then A/B'd the originals; & there is no tonal variation (save for a little more crispiness on the snare & cymbals on drum tracks.) Of course the tracks have added depth & spatiality, but that's to be expected with tube-based harmonic generation. Doesn't seem to color my mics, either.

Do you own one? Have you used or heard one?

I love it.

mark4man

BTW - No rancor intended.
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acidrock,

I agree with Middleman on the Cambridge EQ. This is a precision tool with a well laid out interface for sweeping & fine tuning. It can be used also in shelving mode; & the inclusion of all the classic cut filters expands your options once you dial it in. I don't know why more people aren't raving over this plug. Seems like all the accolades are thrown at the Pultec...& hardly anybody cares about the Cambridge.

 

[acidrock]

Well,it's really looking like the the studiopack.
These are pretty much the answers I expected,although I have'nt heard of anybody having problems running or installing one.

The funny thing is that it's a lot easier to spend that kind of money on a guitar or amp,but for a computer card...kinda like that $300 manual that comes with the Sonar CD.

 

[Middleman]

There are 3 things I hate to buy because they don't inspire a person to make music.

Really good convertors
Really good monitors
UAD 1 cards or any rack mounted gear for that matter

However, they easily have as much to do with getting quality results as your skills and a quality instrument.

 

[moskus]

There are 3 things I hate to buy because they don't inspire a person to make music.

Really good convertors
Really good monitors
UAD 1 cards or any rack mounted gear for that matter

Buying that kind of equipment inspires me! Like: "Now I got the equipment, let me make it sound good!"

 

[pdlstl]

pdlstl,

Do you own one? Have you used or heard one?

I love it.

mark4man

Yes, I had the single channel version, M-610, but sold it. Since I single track exclusively, (no full-band recording), I currently own a Avalon M5 and a Great River ME-1NV. I don't hear much, if any, color with either of these units.

I apologize for sounding negative in my previous post but was merely taken aback that one would use this unit as their sole "go-to" pre after my experience with it. Sorry.

But as I said before, it's only my 2¢...

*On edit - Bottom line is, if a piece of gear works for someone, how can it be wrong? I usually try to live by this but forgot my manners in my previous post.

 

[Teacher]

Teach,

I tried it on my pianos (I believe it was you that mentioned the piano preset...I can't recall); & it sounded clangy horrible. It made them sound like that sound when you used to bump into the Fender Twin Reverb at rehersal in the garage.

Maybe the plug represents a dead on accurate reproduction of plate verb; & I just dislike plate verb...I don't know.

I love everything else from UA...I even went out & picked up the 2-610 as my main preamp [which is the clearest, most expansive (& overall righteous) peice of gear I have ever heard.]

Love all the rest of the UAD-1 plugs. Maybe it's just me. (I'll try it on drums.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



mark4man

FWIW the presets aren't really that great. I found them generally to wet to be usable and always had to tweak the reverb time the amount in the mix and the eq.

heres the first track i used it on, i think it sounded pretty good at the time anyway

http://www.sicbeats.com/data/songs/prahfit/SIC-domythang.ram

 

[mark4man]

pdlstl,

I apologize for sounding negative in my previous post but was merely taken aback that one would use this unit as their sole "go-to" pre after my experience with it. Sorry.

No need...nutin' to it...nutin' to it! Appreciate the rapport, anyway.


Teach,

Which instrument...the rhythm guitar?

mark4man

 

[Teacher]

pdlstl,

No need...nutin' to it...nutin' to it! Appreciate the rapport, anyway.


Teach,

Which instrument...the rhythm guitar?

mark4man

pretty much everything to tell you the truth vox, guitar, synth and percussion...thats the only reverb i used on that track. Its was @ 96khz btw. Reverbs usually sound better at 96khz

I listen to it now and it sounds a little to wet for my ears gotta go tweak

 

[mark4man]

Well then...

That's not so bad. Sounds natural enough.

Maybe my problems are because (for this project) I'm using it at 44.1. I also haven't tweaked the settings. Sorry for the bad rap.

mark4man