UAD still worth it?

[jamcat]

I’ve replaced a lot of modeled plugins with the UAD versions and in every situation UAD either sounded better or used significantly less CPU, and usually both. UAD are also more true to the original hardware in layout and operation in every case.

The only plugins I’ve found that are really on the same level as UAD are the ones from NoiseAsh. Their 1073 and Pultecs are on par.

Others, like UAD’s Fairchild and LA-2As have no equal.

[PAK]

What you're objecting to is really UVI deciding that having copy protection is more important than the user experience.

That's not quite correct. EG I’m aware extra memory is used to wrap plugins with iLok. Although I’d rather it didn’t use that memory it doesn’t impact my usage in any sort of way I notice.

Even where I can notice - an example being things like GUI delays on first loading - whilst that’s annoying it’s a brief one-off trade which, again, ultimately doesn’t impact much.

So these are examples of things which arguably negatively impact the user experience for copy protection, but which I find acceptable as I understand companies have to try to make money.

Having it so the performance of basic fundamental functions, like switching presets, are negatively impacted - on a consistent and ongoing basis - is an entirely different matter. It’s something which should NOT be considered a remotely acceptable trade-off under any circumstance, and I'm actually shocked UVI went that far given a big user point of Falcon is its huge libraries of presets. IMO If iLok can’t protect their software then they need to find alternatives which DON’T punish their paying customers in these ways, or remove the Machine ID based iLok option.

[Uncle E]

Annoying that iLoks are still so big. There are 128GB thumb drives (which, btw, cost under $5) that stick out less than 20% as far.

[PAK]

I’ve replaced a lot of modeled plugins with the UAD versions and in every situation UAD either sounded better or used significantly less CPU, and usually both.

This is it. I think it's fair to say there's a number of companies who are sonically competitive with UA nowadays (and may even go beyond). But, when I actually compared things, the UA plugins consistently seemed to use noticeably less CPU for equivalent quality..

The one thing I'll point out (which doesn't impact me so much lately as I'm mostly Mac OS by now) is that, IIRC, their Windows plugins seem to spawn a Microsoft Edge child process, which makes them use a lot more memory than they otherwise would.

At a guess, this is because their help menu generates a thumbnail video link to its Youtube tutorial, and someone at UA looked up the easiest Microsoft approved way to generate thumbnail images for the tutorial links.. Thus the appearance of Microsoft Edge bloating memory usage!!

If that's the case it would be nice if UA dropped the thumbnail or used static images, and spared Windows users this wasted memory!!

[Scotty]

Good to know , they have that up for $29.00 right now. I'll pull the trigger on it. Thanks for the tip.

Edit: Got it for $4.00 courtesy of a $25 thank you coupon that was still active.

I am drawn to the Unison technology as they have modelled some of the hardware preamps that I own with their Apollo interfaces.

The Helios is excellent. I would even say underrated. Of all their preamps, that one sounds the smoothest and warmest when it saturates.

[Scotty]

Double Post.

[comfortablynick]

Annoying that iLoks are still so big. There are 128GB thumb drives (which, btw, cost under $5) that stick out less than 20% as far.

Agreed. I recently picked up the iLok 3 USB-C as in the picture and it's still quite large on my MacBook Air. Smaller than the 2nd generation, but still it seems like it could be made the size of some of the mouse receivers that barely stick out of the port.

At least I can choose to use iLok Cloud most of the time and don't need the dongle for my uaudio stuff.

[ghettosynth]

nm

[Scotty]

Considering UA's adherence to the layout and operation of the originals as a positive seems odd to me. As it stands, only 3 native UADx processors have external sidechain. There is no wet/dry functionality in the compressors, you'd have a long search to find the mid/side capable processors in the catalog and all the DSP only plugins have a fixed size that can't be scaled. The skeuomorphic bias in their plugin design may be a preference for some but there are instances where a different monitoring widget or value setting metaphor as an option or preference would be advantageous.

Sonically I can't imagine you are truly happy with all of their plugins. You've been bullish on AI based machine modelling and none of their 20 plus guitar/bass amp simulations use that technology. If you took a good look across the catalog, I suspect you'd find more shortcomings. Their products are still useful and quite good but not "all that".

UAD are also more true to the original hardware in layout and operation in every case.

[gaggle of hermits]

Annoying that iLoks are still so big. There are 128GB thumb drives (which, btw, cost under $5) that stick out less than 20% as far.

this is mostly speculation as I've not felt the need to disassemble one to find out what's inside but...

the thing about memory thumb drives is that they can select commodity parts with the high volumes that justify the use of custom, chip-scale packages for the core electronics. PACE likely doesn't have the volume to justify the specialised tooling needed to get the chips out of a regular surface-mount package – and it's that bit that is going to control the size of the unit. yeah, the actual crypto processor is probably less than 1mm on each side but in a regular wire bond surface-mount package that can be used on a regular PCB assembly line, it winds up being a lot bigger.

[feoul92]

Hello, I'm sorry but I have been searching more info on this for almost 40 minutes now, and I figured this is the best place to ask this.

What really happened to the 150$ signature bundle offer? And do you guys think something like that might come up again sometime?

Thank you

[beely]

It was a mistake that was rectified, and likely no.

[TMaudio]

Yea, it was a "mistake"

[feoul92]

Dayum! Missed it.

Thank you.

[jens]

Others, like UAD’s Fairchild and LA-2As have no equal.

What Fairchild revision did you shoot the UAD's emulation and its competitors out against?

Could you perhaps share some comparison-samples between your Fairchild and the UAD?