KVR Audio

friteuse · Post by **friteuse** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:54 pm

What are the native plugins, that come closest to the UAD-1 ones? Or that are even better?

The UAD-1 seems to offer a great bundle of high quality plugins to an aceptable price.

There are quiet a few threads on kvr that discuss whether to buy an UAD-1 card or not. They have in common, that you've got the potential possibility to work on UAD-1, but what, if you work on a powerbook?

This thread is for those, who could afford an UAD-1 card, but work on unsupported systems, e.g. laptops or whatever and want to achieve the same (or better) quality level like UAD-1, but on pure native systems.

dain · Post by **dain** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:25 am

I own 2 uad-1s--the only other thing I use as much are the URS eq plugs--The only 2 native plugs I would like to own are the hydratone and I kind of liked the princeton reverb for small rooms. I have heard, but I have not used, TC's powercore. they work just like the UAD-1 card, but they have a firewire version. I'm seeing them on ebay for 600-700 bucks. Most people really like the reverb that comes with it. I don't think the compressors or eq's are as good as what you can get with the UAD-1. someone who owns both would do a better job explaining the differences between the two.

adamjay · Post by **adamjay** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:09 am

do you have a 15" or 17" powerbook? if so you can use a PCMCIA to PCI "Magma Chassis" to use PCI cards with your laptop.

i know a few people with them and they seem just as reliable as a PCI slot on a tower. But they are very expensive brand new (around $1,000). so watch eBay for them, where they pop up from time to time for $400-$700. And you might want to get a 2 slot, cause once you buy 1 UAD-1 card, you'll immediately want a 2nd.

I'm a 12" powerbook owner who is pining over a UAD-1 but without the connectivity to use it. I've considered buying a G5 or upgraded G4 as a main studio machine since i dont need the UAD-1 for mobile purposes. But i don't know. Tritone Digital plug-ins, all the Wave Arts stuff, and Audio Damage plug-ins keep me pretty satisfied.

I do love the sound of LA-2A, 1176, Pultec, and Cambridge EQ however.
I'm hoping that the increase in modern cpu power as well as dual core processors will force folks like Universal Audio and TC Electronics to go back to the native plug-in format. I don't care if the Pultec is a CPU hog and needs a PCI DSP to run, i can freeze it in my DAW.
They don't have to abandon their PCI card formats, but Native plugs are the way to go. Less latency, less hardware conflicts (ahem, PCI-X), and more customers.

friteuse · Post by **friteuse** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:07 am

Thanks for the enlightening relpies...

So, you both think that, except of the URS Eqs, there are no native plugins that come even close to the UAD-1?
Makes me think...

At the moment, I have no powerbook (I consider to buy one), but I have two G5s that should be fully compatible to each other. So, if I decide to buy a hardware system, I always have to buy it twice. With software, it's often easier, dependent from the license models.

Regardless of that, it is of course interesting to get an impression of what's possible in native area and what's not. Until now, I used to mix with Sonalksis EQ/Compressor and the PSP MixPack and thought this giving me everything I need. But last week I demoed the URS EQs, and recently read a lot of UAD-1 PLugins - now I'm quiet unsure in which direction I should update my system.

mhead · Post by **mhead** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:14 am

the UAD and URS are quite the best stuff out there, directly followed by Sonalksis and PSP. On the UAD you could try to get a Ultra pack and a small project pack, as your additional UAD soft licenses are for both cards you own as a UAD user it may work to split cards to two machines - best talk to the nice people over at UA they will sure help you with details whats possible there.

RapRogue · Post by **RapRogue** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:35 am

PEQ Red/Orange make UAD/URS look like toys, that being
said only native compressor I liked in most scenarios is
the Psp Mastercompressor.

Johnny Cherry · Post by **Johnny Cherry** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:40 am

http://www.algorithmix.com/en/pro_products.htm

I've heard people say before that these are a cut above the rest although not anyone around here. Probably because of the price tag.
Anyway has anyone tried any of these plugins what are they like?

Ocean Zen · Post by **Ocean Zen** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:40 am

Also, Try out the gorgeous Hydratone Convolution EQ from www.tritonedigital.com , they are also bringing out a compressor soon, Can't wait!

snooky · Post by **snooky** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:43 am

Johnny Cherry wrote:http://www.algorithmix.com/en/pro_products.htm

I've heard people say before that these are a cut above the rest although not anyone around here. Probably because of the price tag.
Anyway has anyone tried any of these plugins what are they like?

they really seems to be the best software yes..but hideously expensive and CPU intenseive.

friteuse · Post by **friteuse** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:44 pm

snooky wrote:
Johnny Cherry wrote:http://www.algorithmix.com/en/pro_products.htm

I've heard people say before that these are a cut above the rest although not anyone around here. Probably because of the price tag.
Anyway has anyone tried any of these plugins what are they like?
they really seems to be the best software yes..but hideously expensive and CPU intenseive.

And PC only...

I read about them, they are mainly for mastering purposes, but anyway very good.

AndrewSimon · Post by **AndrewSimon** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:50 pm

I personally use TRacks for some stuff even though I have the UAD.
I also like Kjaerhus GAC-1 over UAD channel strip and also the GMO-1 but other then that there is nothing out there that comes close to UAD.
For example the Plate 140 is priceless.
It was the main reason I bought the UAD card.
Having no load on CPU was the other reason.

omo · Post by **omo** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:24 pm

There's some kind of UAD-1 hype attack has been going on KVR lately. Their plate is great (tho it's still just a plate) and comps are good but the religious talk is just over the top. Want a better compression buy yourself an analog comp for a grand or even less (fmr comes to mind, and there are tlaudio examples somewhere on kvr). And URS EQ's are hugely overhyped and overpriced. That's, off course, my personal opinion.

Rabid · Post by **Rabid** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:15 pm

Is there a way to expand the number of PCI slots available in a desktop? If so, it the bus fast enough to be useful for things such as the UAD-1?

Robert

fgimian · Post by **fgimian** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:01 am

I think that you'll need a new motherboard for that to be honest.

Cheers
Fots

digitaldoom · Post by **digitaldoom** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:09 am

I was/am real close to getting a UAD-1 just for the LA2A emulation (see below). I've heard some real interesting sounds when overdriving it.

If anyone know's of a VST that will sound like it or very similiar... lemme know...

Native alternatives to UAD-1?