Softube or UAD?

[blob 59]

OK, thanks for your opinion. Regarding Pultec I am working in Cubase 13 and we have on board this emulations which is near the UAD. So, I need the compressors mostly...

Alexander_D recommend you look at Klanghelm too, plus the TDL Tokyo Dawn Labs (especially during promotions).
Both offer incredible value for money.

[Lerian]

If you stay on the surface, maybe.

In reality GAS is the illusion that new tools can compensate for lack of inspiration, or drive, or talent, or work. And more often than not is caused or amplified by sone sort of anxiety.

[martinjuenke]

If you stay on the surface, maybe.

In reality GAS is the illusion that new tools can compensate for lack of inspiration, or drive, or talent, or work. And more often than not is caused or amplified by sone sort of anxiety.

Cheapskate, poor you.

[SoftSynthLover99]

If you stay on the surface, maybe.

In reality GAS is the illusion that new tools can compensate for lack of inspiration, or drive, or talent, or work. And more often than not is caused or amplified by sone sort of anxiety.

Who says GAS is even a real thing? Some people enjoy collecting all kinds of stuff, but we don't label that GAS when people talk about a love of cars for example. We just call them a car enthusiast or collector. It's weird how people view plugins. Why shouldn't someone enjoy owning and using a lot of plugins? Why do we have to put these weird labels on musicians?

New gear can spark inspiration and drive you to create. So while I agree that plugins won't make you some master talented producer or mix engineer, when you get better gear your productions do tend to improve though.

Unless you are causing yourself a financial burden, having a lot of tools is a great way to keep creativity flowing and allow yourself to explore new sounds and workflows etc etc.

[Lerian]

having a lot of tools is a great way to keep creativity flowing

QED

[martinjuenke]

Some guys like it frugal.
Why not.
If it makes them happy to be on the limited site, we will not condemn them.
Each animal is different.

[jancivil]

the one with the better sounding mix will be preferred by almost everyone.

A "better" sounding mix is not restricted to UAD plugins. You can have an excellent mix using stock plugins, or other brands - like softube, fabfilter, waves, etc. This idea that UAD is way above other brands is just snake oil. [...]

Guys like you (who are not spending a decent amount of monies on plugins) are [] Nothing to be proud of.

Softube too expensive.

[martinjuenke]

the one with the better sounding mix will be preferred by almost everyone.

A "better" sounding mix is not restricted to UAD plugins. You can have an excellent mix using stock plugins, or other brands - like softube, fabfilter, waves, etc. This idea that UAD is way above other brands is just snake oil. [...]

Guys like you (who are not spending a decent amount of monies on plugins) are [] Nothing to be proud of.

Softube too expensive.

Decent amount does not mean too much money.
There's a lot of room in between.
Just sayin'...

[_leras]

the one with the better sounding mix will be preferred by almost everyone.

A "better" sounding mix is not restricted to UAD plugins. You can have an excellent mix using stock plugins, or other brands - like softube, fabfilter, waves, etc. This idea that UAD is way above other brands is just snake oil.

Really you don't need to be so black and white. I don't think anyone has said UAD is way better than everything else, but they are very definitely top tier.

You're in a thread about UAD plug ins with many UAD users, most of whom are very happy with their UAD plug ins.

I have plug ins from a bunch of different companies that are not UAD, so feel I have a fairly good perspective on where UAD sit. For me, for plug ins where sonics are important, UAD are the standard for other plug ins to match.

I probably wouldn't have recommended UAD to beginners a few years ago. The dsp cards are/were a big investment. But their ridiculously priced recent bundles now they have gone native are exceptionally good value.

[Lerian]

You're in a thread about UAD plug ins with many UAD users, most of whom are very happy with their UAD plug ins.

Absolutely, I never claimed they're not good, but there are others just as good but of a different flavor.

As for my previous statement, i stand by it - you can have a great mix with knowledge and even free plugins these days. Around 2012-2015 audio plugins reached the point of maximum yield, and since then the high quality and accessibility became ubiquitous.

You can use almost any good soft synth and plugin made in the last 5 years, even free ones, and you will have an excellent sounding song, regardless of the genre. The differences are very hard, and even impossible to notice, especially when played on average/car speakers. And that is true even on good speakers. That is my point. And its not only mine. I remember when Burial was asked about his setup and he surprised everyone with such a rudimentary software package. Also skrillex used a lot of the stock plugins in his early (and very successful) releases. Benn Jordan too - these 3 I mentioned being praised for their sound design skills. And there are tons of other artists and engineers who said the same thing. Success and good sound isn't in the plugins, but in the knowledge and how well you master your tools, no matter if they're UAD, softube, waves, fabfilter, or daw stock plugins.

[_leras]

Absolutely, I never claimed they're not good, but there are others just as good but of a different flavor.

As for my previous statement, i stand by it - you can have a great mix with knowledge and even free plugins these days.

Ok boomer. You're literally in this thread telling us that stock plug ins are as good as UAD.

Would love to hear a revised opinion after you've mixed a few records with UAD. Then you may have something to add.

[Lerian]

Would love to hear a revised opinion after you've mixed a few records with UAD.

I did. And basically the plugins mixed the tracks by themselves

[jancivil]

the one with the better sounding mix [...]

A "better" sounding mix is not restricted to UAD plugins.

Guys like you (who are not spending a decent amount of monies on plugins) are [] Nothing to be proud of.

Softube too expensive.

Decent amount does not mean too much money.
There's a lot of room in between.
Just sayin'...

I'm just saying personal economy is personal economy.
IE: the others who aren't spending what you consider decent may think some things you don't are 'too expensive.' The Softube thing I paid for is now 4 different installations to update. I'm kind of figuring the collection is a good deal being that 3/4 of it? I never bought. albeit I have no recollection of what "Metal Amp Room" cost 4 or 6 yrs ago. However their installer is bogus AF. It looked like I had "Marshall Suite" in iLok but 'no license'. So, I bought it, 43 bucks. (BF, the regular price is many times higher.) And a ridiculous amount of stuff now appears. I do not regret buying "Metal Amp Room" for whatever it cost eons ago.

[Lerian]

You're literally in this thread telling us that stock plug ins are as good as UAD.

Yes, I am. Because science.

Sound is a physical phenomenon and can be objectively measured and displayed on a screen, not only heard. How "it sounds" is totally dependent on speakers, room treatment, your ears, and many other subjective factors - like the halo effect, your mood, or how tired you are. Yet, math is math, and its not debatable.

I suggest anyone who buys into this snake oil to measure their UAD plugins against other brands, or a decent daw's stock plugins, and see for themselves. A good engineer knows exactly what I'm talking about. What "sounds good" about a particular plugin can be easily achieved just by boosting or cutting certain frequencies, or applying certain effects. That's it. That's the "secret sauce" everyone is hyped about.

[martinjuenke]

OMG, the very first thing he's talking about are his paid online courses.
Very trustworthy...
Deleted this crap from my time line.