UAD still worth it?

[jamcat]

Yeah, the ATR-102 makes it sound "like a record."
You really hear it on the drums.

And CPU usage is a tiny fraction of what T-RackS Tape Machines use.
Studer A800 and now Ampex ATR-102 have given me my CPU back.

[_leras]

The ATR is nice, i do hear its "finished" sound, but im trying to minimalize my plugins list and i dont use tape plugins much anyway. Already got Satin and i feel like i could probably get it to the same ballpark if i tweak it enough (its a high end tape sim, not a lofi machine). I expected more with the hypes ya know.

I haven't used Satin, so I couldn't say.

You should try and see if you can match them.

Depending on your DAW you can categorise plug ins, and keep something like ATR102 in a 2 bus or mastering category. Just creating categories and groups of FX can help avoid the feeling of clutter, or forgetting you have some plugins...

[vitocorleone123]

I should’ve said “modeling”. I’ve never seen a more detailed or accurate model of hardware in software than The Scream. It was just an example.

To be fair, you said “just about”, not that UAD is the only developer that cares about modeling nuances accurately.

That’s interesting re The Scream.
I’ve seen that name mentioned regularly over the years on forums and just looked at the Cytomic webpage -
it’s a model of a tube screamer pedal yeah?
https://cytomic.com/product/scream/

And I’m thinking - how ‘good’ can it sound.. its just a tube screamer pedal ? Isn’t there like 5,000 software models of an Ibanez TS pedal on the market ? Is it that much discernibly better than all the others?
There is also 1,000 variations of an actual physical Tubescreamer pedal on the market ,one that have been modded/ retro/ boosted/ XYZ improved components , claiming to be different /better than the others .. it’s madness !

Well, if you've never compared many of them, then you wouldn't know how good it is nor just how configurable it is. So, yes, I'll just answer: yes, it is better overall than all the others, though, of course, someone may still prefer something else, as always.

Cytomic modeling >> UAD modeling (not saying UAD has bad modeling, though it seems to vary a bit). But it's just one guy that's a perfectionist, so there could never be the sheer volume of plugins. I'll be surprised if he makes 5 updated plugins before he retires.

You can even use The Scream for saturation suited more for mastering.

I ended up buying 2 Eventide plugins for $25 total (Shimmerverb and Crystals) instead of the new UAD. Just no need of tape, and the UAD one is still slightly overpriced.

[martinjuenke]

That's completely fked on UA part. I guess I will just ignore UA moving forward. Ridiculous.

And I still dont understand. I dont have UA DSP anything. All I have are the native versions as part of System 1. Anyway I plan to get to the bottom of this because if I bought it and it was coming to me for free I want my money back.

Chill out. Just email them. They're pretty reasonable normally.

Way to put yourself in a bad mood and spread your bad mood vibes.

Yeah sorry. It just doesnt make sense and not being abused by UA in the past I am unaware of their specific flavours for fkupedness. So to me it seemed like I wasted a bunch of money. I think my concerns and posts are justified.

But now I think I understand UA failing in this matter. It makes no sense which makes it difficult to understand. But I think I get it now. I will take this up further with UA directly. Thanks to those who put up with me whiel I try and navigate this UA bullsh.

Are you aware that UAD stuff is NFR?

[_leras]

Cytomic modeling >> UAD modeling (not saying UAD has bad modeling, though it seems to vary a bit). But it's just one guy that's a perfectionist, so there could never be the sheer volume of plugins. I'll be surprised if he makes 5 updated plugins before he retires.

I'm not sure that's true. I have the drop and think it's great, but the uad moog filters are excellent too.

I don't have glue, but there's no way it's really any better than some of the UAD compressors, which are really fantastic sounding.

[Naillerz78]

Well, if you've never compared many of them, then you wouldn't know how good it is nor just how configurable it is. So, yes, I'll just answer: yes, it is better overall than all the others, though, of course, someone may still prefer something else, as always.

Cytomic modeling >> UAD modeling (not saying UAD has bad modeling, though it seems to vary a bit). But it's just one guy that's a perfectionist, so there could never be the sheer volume of plugins. I'll be surprised if he makes 5 updated plugins before he retires.

You can even use The Scream for saturation suited more for mastering.

I ended up buying 2 Eventide plugins for $25 total (Shimmerverb and Crystals) instead of the new UAD. Just no need of tape, and the UAD one is still slightly overpriced.

I haven’t compared TS models specifically no. Just noticed they are included with almost every Amp Sim. I like that it’s just one perfectionist guy developing tho, so thanks I’m defs gonna check it out for guitar tones now cheers
I’ve seen it mentioned on forums for years must be a classic.

[Naillerz78]

Well, if you've never compared many of them, then you wouldn't know how good it is nor just how configurable it is. So, yes, I'll just answer: yes, it is better overall than all the others, though, of course, someone may still prefer something else, as always.

Cytomic modeling >> UAD modeling (not saying UAD has bad modeling, though it seems to vary a bit). But it's just one guy that's a perfectionist, so there could never be the sheer volume of plugins. I'll be surprised if he makes 5 updated plugins before he retires.

You can even use The Scream for saturation suited more for mastering.

I ended up buying 2 Eventide plugins for $25 total (Shimmerverb and Crystals) instead of the new UAD. Just no need of tape, and the UAD one is still slightly overpriced.

I haven’t compared TS models specifically no. Just noticed they are included with almost every Amp Sim so there’s heaps out there. I like that it’s just one perfectionist guy developing tho, so thanks I’m defs gonna check it out for guitar tones now cheers
That fact that I’ve seen it mentioned on forums for years ..must surely be a classic.

Ps do you know the guy that developed AXP Flextron ? I liked that guys stuff did he go on to do more ..?

[jtsterays]

Real ones know Cytomic is above everyone else with analog modelling.

[aMUSEd]

Am I doing something wrong or is the Luna Extension not working in Native? I can load the plugin but the extension should surely be in the Tape Insert list along with the Studer and Oxide when you create a track, but it's not?

It was a mistake, it appears the Ampex is only meant to be available on the master bus not used as an insert on tracks

[beely]

It was a mistake, it appears the Ampex is only meant to be available on the master bus not used as an insert on tracks

Yes, the Luna ATR extension is in a fixed position in Luna. But you can of course now use the plugin version now on inserts if you like.

[kmonkey]

Are you aware that UAD stuff is NFR?

So what? The Ampex plugin is $35 today at KVR with the code in checkout. Man, we are talking Ampex plugin for the price of Pizza and cola. Besides you have plenty of Trial time to make a decision on whether you need a plugin or not.

Don't tell me you purchase sub $40 plugins in order to resell them later on. Even if they change their NFR policy, a PACE ilok transfer is $25.

The people today are so cheap and you are one of them.

[martinjuenke]

Are you aware that UAD stuff is NFR?

So what? The Ampex plugin is $35 today at KVR with the code in checkout. Man, we are talking Ampex plugin for the price of Pizza and cola. Besides you have plenty of Trial time to make a decision on whether you need a plugin or not.

Don't tell me you purchase sub $40 plugins in order to resell them later on. Even if they change their NFR policy, a PACE ilok transfer is $25.

The people today are so cheap and you are one of them.

That was not aimed at you but at Plexxuss, the #NoNFR warrior ...

[noiseboyuk]

And I still dont understand. I dont have UA DSP anything. All I have are the native versions as part of System 1.

What is 'System 1' (I only know the Roland one!)

In UAD land, a System is hardware and linked software. IIRC you can have up to 6 different bits of hardware on one system that shares all the plugins on that system. The vast majority of people will only use one system - System 1.

[cmarais]

I think if you can get the native plugs on sale they can be worth it if it's the sound you're looking for
Their comps, EQs, tape emulators, reverbs, etc all seem to add "color" in that they're not transparent (I hate adjectives like this but it's the only way I can think of) - they by nature emulate classic analog gear (and rooms) that have character, color etc, whether it's their own 1176/LA2A, Pultec or the Manley, Neve, API etc - "coloration" or character is by design

For me, I tend to use their plugins for color
And then the SSLs and frankly even the Logic stock plugs (EQ) if I'm looking for more transparent (I know the SSLs aren't "clean" but the boards they're emulating are cleaner than the outboard counterparts that UAD are emulating - as far as I know; the older vets who worked on this gear in the 90s and before can correct me if I'm wrong)

For me the UAD plugins (on sale) are great and get used a lot in my work
(I'm waiting for Soundtoys to go on sale later this year during Black Friday - I have one of their reverbs and from the demos I've heard online their plugins are also great for character or color)

[discogsaddict]

Interesting the Ampex ATR native is a streamlined version of the DSP one.

Either this is so they can sell a Pro one later or a new trend we will see with the native versions. Incentives to still use the DSP cards or interfaces.
Because obviously if they keep going they'll soon have all the best ones available native and many users will dump the hardware