Virtual effect processors vs. The Real McCoy

[wheelema]

Personally, I do not care for virtual processors. It's has nothing to do with their capabilities; I just like the feel of machined aluminum under my fingers. But then again, I am just a tiny half assed project studio, and a T.C. Powercore or UAD-1 would make sense for me now that I have itch to try and do more. Are there economies that arise in a professional studio that favor physical hardware, or are jack-of-all-trades DSP boards like the Powercore perferred?

Just bored and curious.

And if you DO favor the virtual DSP route, which product do YOU like and why? Do you like it for or it's cost, for it's plug-ins, for it's power, or for some other reason?

 

[ozraves]

I've only used the UAD-1. The Pultec is extremely nice. The reverbs didn't do much for me. For reverbs, I like the Kurzweil Rumour. I also like hardware. I think that the best answer is to go with a mix of hardware and virtual effects.

 

[SonicAlbert]

There are very few, if any, virtual effects that are as good as good hardware, in my opinion. Yes, compressor plugins compress, eq plugins eq, but with plugins there's always something in the sound that seems false to me upon close listening. Something undesriable is added. The other factor is that with good hardware there can be a certain vibe or "feel" that is added to the sound.

I do like plugins for certain kinds of effects though. Just not for dynamics, eq, or reverb.

Also, in the long term, I'm not sure how the economics of plugins fares against the economics of hardware. In the short term, the plugins are often cheaper. But in the long term I believe that the costs are probably not that much different.

A plugin/hardware card like the UAD-1 is of course cheaper than buying the hardware versions of that equipment. But once you get into that, then the Waves stuff, then PSP, then Bomb Factory, etc., on and on, plus the required upgrades to maintain compatibility with future computer hardware and OS version, the costs rise. With hardware, you buy it once and you are done. You also have something to sell once you no longer need that particular piece of gear. So once you factor in resale value, the cost comparison is probably going to be pretty much of a wash.

My approach the past couple years or so has been to make carefully panned buys on eBay of outboard gear for my studio. Over time I've collected some great stuff, and essentailly am creating racks of hardware plugins! I have my DAW set up so that I can route out to hardware gear as easily as to a plugin.

 

[krs]

There are very few, if any, virtual effects that are as good as good hardware, in my opinion.

Tell that to Dave Pensado...btw there's a nice discussion going on with him over at gearslutz.

 

[SonicAlbert]

Yeah I know, there's another similar discussion going on at REP at ProSoundWeb. I don't care to get into those discussions. I trust my ears. If I do extensive detailed listening tests and hear odd stuff happening to the audio, then I don't care what anybody else says, I will not use the plugs. And I don't care to waste my time getting into long message board discussions about it with people, even if they are experts. I just trust what my ears are telling me.

 

[mikeh]

I'm old school - I like machines (hell I use to record to analog tape). I don't like to have everything in the computer for a couple of reasons: 1) If the computer goes down, you lose access to everything & 2) That seems like a lot of demand on the computer - which means bigger & faster computers all the time.

I use the computer to track - mainly for the editing & quick shuttle ability. Beyond that, I prefer hardware!