KVR Audio

5Lives · Post by **5Lives** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:32 pm

Hey folks,

New owner of an Apollo Quad here, my first foray into UAD territory. UA has some sales going on (as does Slate), so was hoping to get some thoughts from all of you.

1) UAD Ampex / Studer vs. the Slate VTM
Any thoughts on this? In my initial demo, I really found myself liking the VTM more - much to my surprise (although maybe I just wanted to have a bias towards UAD given I just got the Quad). It is much more subtle and limited in what it can do, but it enhances without changing the sound in my opinion. Ampex and Studer feel to be more sound shapers - more hammers than scalpels (even with the ultralinear presets).

2) UAD 1176 collection vs. Waves CLA-76
There's no shortage of 1176 plugins these days, so how do people feel about the new UAD 1176 collection? I have the Waves CLA compressor collection and it is pretty great. I need to compare them a bit more, but my initial feeling is that the UAD's make the sound feel a little bit fuller and more "alive" for lack of a better term. The Waves seems to feel just slightly more sterile, but this may just be due to settings.

Since I've never used UAD plugins before, I'm trying to figure out what I want to use the card for - a few big plugins or lots of lighter ones that UAD does better than everybody. I thought that their plugins would totally blow me away, but based on what I've tried so far, been a SLIGHT letdown - native options are very strong these days.

Thanks for your perspectives!

meloco_go · Post by **meloco_go** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:50 pm

From the demos I heard UADs 1176 (updated version) is clearly ahead of Waves'.
As for tapes, they sound different but are very close quality-wise.

kmonkey · Post by **kmonkey** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:00 pm

I had UAD 2 but i sold it. I remember tapes and i used slate VTM. So in a short my opinion is that UAD Ampex is simply MUST HAVE tool because it is so much different to slate VTM and it does have specific very good sound. Uad Studer did not impress me at all while Slate VTM is kinda similar to UAD Studer i would choose Slate VTM over UAD Studer anytime.

So in my opinion you should really buy UAD Ampex and Slate VTM if you seek Tape sound. And lastly please don't let price fool you. Check TB Reelbus because it is nothing short of amazing. I really tested a lot of other tape emulators but these three are top of the top IMO.

K-Slash · Post by **K-Slash** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:33 pm

The CLA-76 are good compressors. Both the "Blacky" and the "Bluey".

But in comparison with the new 1176 Limiter Collection from UAD they are way behind.

Don't get me wrong, the compression behaviour of the CLA-76 is great, but the fact that there is no input/output saturation modeling is a deal-breaker.

Only the FET Compressor and VC 76 can compete with it IMHO.

I recently put CLA-76, Black 76, VC 76 and FET Compressor to the test. And whereas I prefered the IK versions in general using ratios 4, 8, 12 and 20, they all fall short compared to the VC 76 and FET Compressor while using the ALL buttons modes.

Fact is, the input/output saturation modeling of the VC 76 and FET Compressor makes e HUGE difference.

There have been words from IK representatives that such saturation modeling could be added to the Black 76 and White 2A, but you know, it's IK...

It was talked about LONG LONG time ago, and still no word about that anymore. Big disappointment !!!

5Lives · Post by **5Lives** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:28 pm

Thanks for the replies so far - so in terms of the UAD stuff, what sort of material do you think it really shines in and makes the difference between it and other plugins really audible? I'd like to try it out.

Funkybot's Evil Twin · Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:19 am

I'm a big fan of VTM. I think it's much, much better sounding than the UAD Studer, and at least as good as the Ampex.

In terms of the 1176's, I really think the new UA versions are the best around. I still want to see if IK Multimedia ever updates their Black76 to model the trannies, as their overall compression behavior seems spot on. I demoed the Waves briefly and thought it was good, but nothing mind-blowing. I'd take the Softube F.E.T. Compressor over the Waves, and again, I really like the IK Black76, but the new UA versions definitely have the edge.

AudioGuy720 · Post by **AudioGuy720** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:54 am

I've been waiting on the Black 76/White 2A preamp emulations as well. I was very surprised after their excellent Pultec/Fairchild emulations that their developers didn't model the preamp path.

kmonkey · Post by **kmonkey** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:18 am

5Lives wrote:Thanks for the replies so far - so in terms of the UAD stuff, what sort of material do you think it really shines in and makes the difference between it and other plugins really audible? I'd like to try it out.

Only UAD Ampex. Like i said before (and i am sure people will argue with me) UAD Ampex is worth alone to justify purchase of one UAD-duo card in my opinion.

New 1176 are suppsedly better then old ones (even tho people claimed over decade that they are the real thing and same as hardware

) so you may check them but there is only UAD ampex which is somewhat unique and definitely worth of purchase.

Their lex reverb is good but not better then several native reverbs and i think it's only a hype to it (their youtube demos where pretty bad) - you know people like to think that they have lex thing if they have same gui.

Everything else (they have a lot of plugs) could be easily replaced by native (in my opinion/experience) which is also a reason why i sold UAD-2.

UAD Ampex and that's it. I would recommend Massive passive because it really is good EQ but unfortunately it eat too much DSP and it can be replaced by Nebula and now NI Massive passive.

5Lives · Post by **5Lives** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:09 pm

Interestingly, I seem to be preferring the Studer right now of their plugins. I find both Studer and Ampex presets are adding a bunch of high frequency boosts though, the Studer being a bit more subtle. Still, what the VTM is doing with the bottom end and the stereo spread - haven't been able to recreate that yet with the UADs, so any tips would be helpful.

SJ_Digriz · Post by **SJ_Digriz** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:31 pm

kmonkey wrote:
5Lives wrote: New 1176 are suppsedly better then old ones (even tho people claimed over decade that they are the real thing and same as hardware )

Although this has been covered before, the original 1176 covered the compressor characteristics of 1 model. The update has 3 different models and adds the entire path .. transformer etc..

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:39 pm

The new UAD 1176 collection is just ridiculously good. Light years better than CLA-76.

kvaca · Post by **kvaca** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:57 pm

kmonkey wrote: UAD Ampex is worth alone to justify purchase of one UAD-duo card in my opinion.

no

UAD Ampex / 1176 vs. Slate VTM / Waves CLA-76