Full list Native alternatives of UAD plugins!

[sqigls]

I just sold my UAD, and I've been slowly replacing things where possible. But for MANY of the plugins, there really is no replacement. (tear)

If you are trying to list plugins to ween UAD users off the crack then I applaude your efforts, though far off you are in many of your comparison/alternatives.

I have replacements for some of the plugs, the ArtsAcoustic range certainly help take the edge off the pain... There are plenty of good native plugs out there, The Glue, the Steven Slate gear etc etc... but no other algorithms that do it in the same way. 100s and 100s of person hours have gone into them, and aside from the fact that they are emulating actual hardware units - many of the plugins are the best in their field. The Moog filter for example, (until hopefully The Drop) just pwns all other filters. Don't debate, just listen to it. The EMT140 plate is stunning, and I'm not sure if I WILL find a replacement for it...
The VOG, um, good luck! ...The EP-34 has such a unique harmonic feed and temperamental nature that I can't replace IT. SO MANY of the plugs have NO real alternative, simply because of the SOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have 'A/B'ed till the cows came home.

If you are just making a list because you hate UAD or something, then you are kind of wasting your time. I'm not trying to burn, I'm just saying that this is either just too subjective, or missing the point that these plugs are emulating gear that is very unique, and has a certain SOUND...

[Compyfox]

Another thing that is underestimated:
Each available emulation on the market does sound different.

Best example are the ton of available Pultec emulations. Granted, they do things similary, but they all have their own flavour. Why? Different measuring was taking place prior to porting, then the units themselves sound different, so the result will be as well.

This is the major issue with debates in whether or not a "clone" sounds accurate or not.



Since I've been there myself, I know all sides of the medal.

[Trakstar]

Not forgetting it also works both ways, some native plugins wet allover others,
but to mention some offhand without some real facts is silly so, views on this would be most welcome too. In this review the Uad pulteq is descibed as being
"a little flat" also noting that the UAD emulation does no harmonic modeling either,when compared to PSP nobleQ and softube and IKs Pulteq emulations.

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/comp ... 8/review/2

[sqigls]

just for the fun of it though...

EP-34 Tape Echo can be replaced generally with Dubstation, although Dubstation is bucket brigade (and has tameable feedback ) Dubstation has a great sound, IMO
MXR® Flanger/Doubler, Roland® Dimension D and BOSS® CE-1 Chorus Ensemble could be maybe best replaced with Audio Damage's range of modulators. ?
Roland® RE-201 Space Echo Tape Delay i haven't quite nailed yet, there is another native emulation out there which in my opinion didn't capture the dirt, but you could get IT - and stick a spring verb after it (which is probably what I'm going to have to do)...there's a few good native spring verbs out there.
Cooper® Time Cube Mk II Delay maybe some hillbillies gardenhose!? I didn't really gel with this Elvis delay personally.

1176 Classic Limiter Plug-In Collection, the dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter and the LA-2A can generally be (or HAS to be in my case) replaced in a similar snappy fashion by ArtsAcoustic CL, as I could not be f**ked to own that many compressors, I barely use them. The Softube CB what-see-din-ger pluggy is a nice one also.
SSL G Series Bus Compressor I would replace with the SSL version, as the glue is just too transparent, and the Waves version is just a bit Meh
Fairchild® 670 Compressor maybe the Vintage Warmer?? I only used the Fairchild when I needed something extra doity and warm
Ampex® ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder and Studer® A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder obviously by the Slate Virtual Tape jobby

EMT® 250 Classic Electronic Reverb can surprisingly be replaced on occasion by eareckon EAReverb, on drums anyway i've found, but obviously not to any perfectly convincing exactness.
EMT® 140 Classic Plate Reverberator Plug-In i use Audio Damage's EOS and just try to thin it down a bit. There must be a few closer replacements out there, but I haven't had the time to really sus it out yet...

Precision Maximizer Plug-In you could just leave off, and instead ruin your low-end with something else (with the spinning propeller hat and suspenders)
Neve® 88RS Channel Strip with eareckon's CS-Strip 87, obviously a bit transparent, and more like an SSL, but hey...
Oh, and the Pultec replaced by NobleQ obviously

my 2 bob

[sadkin]

that this thread exists at all proves some feel, much to their chagrin, that the buck ultimately stops with UA. That so much attention is being placed on how to duplicate/replace their line of plug-ins is quite an overture - despite much of the derision read here. I dunno, I wouldn't worry about it. If you are really feeling UA envy, take a second job for a month, buy a UAD solo, enjoy what good things they offer as a compliment to all the other Native developers work. IMO, I think UA are quite simply committed to doing the best they can do. I think folks would also be wise to consider their lineage and that they have a major stake in revered hardware preamps & compressors - simply, they are a part of recording history dating back 60 years. In some ways, I think this potentially gives them a widened scope in developing their plug-ins. yep, they cost more than many others but based on the integrity of their 60 years of hardware, I expect that the same philosophies & sense of 'quality' carries over into the UA plug-in labs. Plus, in most cases they are paying some licenses for plug-ins like Manley, Studer, Neve etc. It is just going to cost more than $99 - plus, they do offer consistent deals to card owners. I just bought the 1176 collectors edition for $149 - that is, ahem, $70 less than the beloved native Arts Acoustic CL1 - lets not even talk about Softube prices. I bet if DDMF slapped a Neve logo on their 6144, the price would change.

Its all good. If you're angry about the entry point of UA, that is fine, but that card cost is more exactly due to the platform they developed, maintained and expanded back when ITB recording/mixing really required separate DSP to absorb CPU hits of quality plug-ins. Yes, from a performance standpoint, their cards are arguably no longer needed but I don't know the last time I heard of a UA crack or torrent. Their card inadvertently made their modeled plug-ins crack proof. People/professionals are still buying/using their gear (plug-ins & hardware), why would they go native?...think about it from their perspective.

Anyways, they make stuff that I love, just like my DDMF eq, just like PSP's NobleQ. I use whatever works best, sometimes my UA plug-ins work best, sometimes it is a Native plug-in.

and btw, when I heard the new UA 1176 models, I instantly had a smile from ear to ear and threw my arms in the air like I had just won a race - the same way I felt when I first heard the CL1, Waves API 2500 and the Abbey Road comps - it is that good, dimensional & wide.

[Compyfox]

Another not to underestimate thing:
Updates and Plugin Maintenance.


UAD, alsong with Waves (WUP plan, costs!) are the only two companies that still maintenance plugins from their early days. I mean, how hold is the Precision set now? Or Waves' L1 (early 90ies IIRC)?

Tell that about other firms. Including Nomad Factory, IKM, URS and who else is playing along.

[Uncle E]

Not forgetting it also works both ways, some native plugins wet allover others,
but to mention some offhand without some real facts is silly so, views on this would be most welcome too. In this review the Uad pulteq is descibed as being
"a little flat" also noting that the UAD emulation does no harmonic modeling either,when compared to PSP nobleQ and softube and IKs Pulteq emulations.

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/comp ... 8/review/2

The Pultec was a cool plug-in back when it was released 10 years ago but it's nothing to measure the UAD platform by now. The new 1176's set the UA emulations back at the top and I imagine a new version of the Pultec would do the same.

Anyway, that's cool to read about the NobleQ! PSP does excellent stuff and I can see myself using that on my laptop.

[Compyfox]

I find one thing funny though...

Years ago, I started a similar thread both in the instrument section and the FX section with the purpose to create my now well known hardware emulation list. My posts were shred to pieces and the general tone was "nobody needs that!".

About 5-6 years later, it seems like people are indeed in need for such lists - to find alternatives.

[Trakstar]

Dont get me wrong, I still foam at the mouth for a Uad card so I could just get the neve package and that would do me fine. Those neve and harrison FX strips look the business as well as I know UAs credibility with the hardware, ive been an avid fan for the last 10 years. I was just about to get a UAD 1 card then they changed everything, but software native stuff is now catching up as well as people used to consider the TDM format the be all and end all of DSP FX. I have still to listen to the massive passive emulation as I hear nothing comes quite as close, I used to have the roland space echo on an SP808EX and so I know the difference when I try software trying to mimic it, they dont come close, though they are good enough for what they are. I bought the bluenoise band echo but it is still not as close as I hoped it would be, although I here the UA one is really good. Dont get me wrong though, the bandecho is also a proper vintage delay unit, unique in fact especially with the leslie and tape fx unit running together. So, I probably would have got a UAD card but sort of drifted away, and after trying Harrison Mixbus the EQs, Dynamics and Quality of sound you just wont find elsewhere. The program has its faults mind you but for quality of sound I love it. I am not biased in anyway, I think people are just trying to find viable alternatives for different emulations as UAD sort of set the standard. The Empty 250 has been released as well natively as the EmpTY 250 and is supposed to be seriously good. The only option concerning the massive passive would be the SPL Passeq, which I am seriously considering buying. The only other software I think that speaks for itself is the softube stuff, especially the CL2B, FET and Trident EQ, but then again Bootsies thrillseeker has really opened my eyes to the quality of freeware as well as the Ferric TDS. And then there is TB Reelbus, the options are getting endless.

[valhallasound]

UAD is goin' down man.

They still act like they have the corner on emulations and we still all have 486s
They act pretty arrogant given the current climate and horsepower we have.

Starting with their abandonment of the UAD-1 as if that would lead us helplessly to pony up more for the UAD-2

UAD is goin' down man!

I'm in the Bay Area this week, and have had dinner with my old boss who now works at UA. I just finished talking a few minutes ago with one of the founders of UA. I gotta admit, it doesn't seem like UAD is goin' down anytime soon.

Sean Costello

[5Lives]

Isn't going down as in UAD2 will continue for a few years or as in they are going to continue to focus on DSP-based systems, but will be coming out with better ones soon?

Either way - computers are accelerating at a faster pace than UAD. With the new plugins, you really need at least a UAD2 Duo or preferably a Quad to make it even feasible in your workflow. Plenty of great native options available now, some of which are really CPU efficient, will support many more instances than the UAD alternatives, and you don't need a $1000 card to run them.

[justin3am]

I'm in the Bay Area this week, and have had dinner with my old boss who now works at UA. I just finished talking a few minutes ago with one of the founders of UA. I gotta admit, it doesn't seem like UAD is goin' down anytime soon.

Sean Costello

Agreed. Two of my co-workers from AVID were recently hired by Universal Audio. If they are in a position to hire in the current financial climate, they can't be doing too bad.
I don't have any UAD stuff of my own (though I my next Mic Pre may be a 2-610) but I can't complain about the UAD systems I've worked with. Great quality stuff all around. If I were looking for a DSP based rig for effects, UAD would be it. That Apollo audio interface does look damn sexy.

[Brian @ IK Multimedia]

This thread is useless without T-RackS plugins.









http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/tr ... ngles-gear

[5Lives]

This thread is useless without T-RackS plugins.

Says the guy from IK...you guys really try to sell hard on forums don't you? And not just KVR. It is pretty transparent, just saying.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

This thread is useless without T-RackS plugins.

Says the guy from IK...you guys really try to sell hard on forums don't you? And not just KVR. It is pretty transparent, just saying.

He doesn't hide the fact that he works there and they're very good plugins. I have no problem with it. Their appearance in these threads is almost like a running gag at this point. I don't blame you for being turned off by it, maybe it doesn't bother me because I really like the plugins, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

If you want to get him back, ask him when IK's going to update the Black76 and White2A plugins to properly model the input/output stages.

...or when CSR will go 64 bit.

...or when Sampletank 3 will come out.

...or where Stealthboard is.