UAD still worth it?

[roman.i]

Dec 2025, still worth it.

[concealed identity]

A time traveler! Omg I have so many questions

[jamcat]

Nah. He just signed up for the 1-year subscription.

[HcDoom]

I ran out of demo for 1176 and Distressor and didnt manage to test properly - how do they compare to Softube FET mk2 and IK Comprexxor and Kiive XTressor?

[abi]

I ran out of demo for 1176 and Distressor and didnt manage to test properly - how do they compare to Softube FET mk2 and IK Comprexxor and Kiive XTressor?

The 1176 are really hard to replace in my experience. I don’t have the Softube one, but I do own PSP Fetpressor and the one from Purple Audio. I do use both of them, while recording, because of their lesser latency compared to UAD, but during mixing I will replace them again with the 1176. I hate the fact that you get multiple plug-in versions, instead of one container plug-in, but soundwise their 1176 emulation is superior.

Talking about the Distressor, my feeling is a different one. XTcomp (that’s how it’s called nowadays) sounds just as good as UADs version, at much lower latency. I rarely use the latter.

[comfortablynick]

I already had Arousor but I still find myself using the UAD Distressor. I agree their 1176 plugins are the best I've tried, but there are plenty I've never used. Something about the way the UAD plugins are calibrated, along with the headroom adjustment knob, just make them easy to dial in for me.

[Uncle E]

175/176 even better, IMO. Plus, they're quite different from one another so that $29 gets you a lot of variety.

[_leras]

175/176 even better, IMO. Plus, they're quite different from one another so that $29 gets you a lot of variety.

Surprisingly different. I always forget which sound like what and usually will try both.

I recall one of the first things I used it on was a high hat and it took all the harshness away and made the hh just silky and expensive sounding.

Distressor on kicks and sometimes snares, can also just hit the spot. A subtle bitterness. It's a pretty great plug in too when I works on something.

[9headshydra]

175/176 even better, IMO. Plus, they're quite different from one another so that $29 gets you a lot of variety.

1176/LA2A/Fairchild/API 2500 are must have,

compared to 1176, I won't say 176/175 are better, but different sonic beast, amazing comps too anyway,

then Manley Vari Mu and SSL G come next (as bus comp obviously)

the less impressive from UA imho are LA3A (I really don't like it, and find it useless besides the rest), Neve 33609 (as 2254 but I'm not a Neve sound lover anyway) and in some way the Distressor (I expected way more from it but I feel it like a very specific one trick pony tool that may sometimes make it).

I admit I also rarely use the dbx 160, and take no much time to appreciate the capitol mastering comp.

[jamcat]

Recording studios during the height of the Studio Era (mid ‘60s to mid ‘90s) typically had a handful of each of these units in their racks. Maybe a half dozen 1176s, and almost as many LA-2As. Likely a pair of dbx 160s, as well. On closer inspection you might notice that the 1176s and LA-2As were different revisions collected from different years. Maybe one of the LA-2As is actually an LA-2. They may even have a few obscure pieces like a 176 or in extremely rare and notable circumstances, a Fairchild.

So I try to approach my plugin choices with that in mind. I’ll only use a few of any given model at a time, and perhaps use the different iterations that UA provides. The rarer pieces will only appear once, at most.

I try to think of which sources an engineer of the day would use different kit on. A snare or electric guitar would probably get an 1176, but a kick or bass guitar may get treated with a dbx 160. Overheads, piano, or acoustic guitar would likely get a pair of LA-2As.

If I’m doing something with a ‘60s vibe, then I’ll be a bit more free with the Fairchilds. I might even use more than one in that scenario. If it’s more modern rock I may break out a few Distressors.

[_leras]

1176/LA2A/Fairchild/API 2500 are must have,

compared to 1176, I won't say 176/175 are better, but different sonic beast, amazing comps too anyway,

then Manley Vari Mu and SSL G come next (as bus comp obviously)

the less impressive from UA imho are LA3A (I really don't like it, and find it useless besides the rest), Neve 33609 (as 2254 but I'm not a Neve sound lover anyway) and in some way the Distressor (I expected way more from it but I feel it like a very specific one trick pony tool that may sometimes make it).

I admit I also rarely use the dbx 160, and take no much time to appreciate the capitol mastering comp.

The la3a and the dbx160 are early UAD plug ins that could probably both do with an update. La3a is good as a cleaner alternative to the LA2A, and the dbx can help bring a bit of snap. But yep older models.

All the Manley stuff is great. And I agree the API2500 is fantastic. I've used it loads on drum bus. (Though recently I have found a different approach for drums).

33069 is a bit grungy, but can be really great for some things, especially if setup and blended in parallel with the dry signal.

I think the 2254 is really fantastic though. When it works on something it's just like magic and can really lift a sound. I am tending to try it on busses.

[pkrason]

I’ve dumped WAY too much $ on UAD, but I DO enjoy much of what I have of theirs. The most recent acquisition was the 3 amp bundle of the Ruby, Lion, and Dream ‘65. I made the leap just for the Ruby since I’m a huge fan of that sound. It didn’t disappoint. However, I was so surprised to absolutely love the Lion just as much. I almost bought the “Save The Music” bundle (already had all the plugins in it except for the Ruby and the Verve tape saturator) just to get my hands on the Ruby, BUT I’m so glad I went for the 3-amp bundle, because the Lion has proven to be just as useful for my purposes.

[Igro]

I ran out of demo for 1176 and Distressor and didnt manage to test properly - how do they compare to Softube FET mk2 and IK Comprexxor and Kiive XTressor?

About Distressors. As said above, UAD and Kiive sound quite similar. Kiive eats more CPU though. IK doesn't sound like those.

[adl]

I ran out of demo for 1176 and Distressor and didnt manage to test properly - how do they compare to Softube FET mk2 and IK Comprexxor and Kiive XTressor?

Usually UAD is pretty generous with another demo, just shoot them a mail and ask.

[osiris]

I got some UAD stuff but I don't understand why I can't keep my licenses on my machine. I had Air stuff that was iLok and had the licenses on my machine. They tell me the alternative is an iLok USB, but no. I also wish this had been explained to me before I bought them.