Which Pultec do you prefer?

[DCrown]

So many emulations,
which one do you use
and why do you like it best?

[jamcat]

UAD. Because it’s authentic to the real Pultec and even does the trick of making stuff sound better just by passing signal through it.

Runner up would be NoiseAsh. Very close to the UAD.

I haven’t tried the Apogee model so I can’t comment. The IK model is pretty far off, particularly in the bass response. It’s kind of muddy and shapeless.

[zvenx]

The one I use is the softube one, thought I have the uad one and many others.
1) I prefer how it sounds, and 2) I have a friend who has the hardware and we a/b'ed them and for his own, the softube one mimicked it better.
rsp

[jamcat]

Your friend has a vintage Pul-Tec, not a Tube-Tech (which is what Softube modeled)?

[Clearscreen]

Nomad Factory, sounds great...

[zvenx]

Your friend has a vintage Pul-Tec, not a Tube-Tech (which is what Softube modeled)?

yep, from a defunct studio in kingston jamaica.
rsp

[cryophonik]

UAD for me, I guess. I'm not a Pultec snob, so I don't really care enough to bother A/B/C/D/E/F-ing the gazillion Pultec-style plugins I own and I've never touched the hardware version so I just go with the plugin that I think of first (UAD) if I want that style of EQ. I do love the Softube stuff, but even with the recent BF sale on their Tube-Pul-tec, I can't see a compelling reason for me to buy it, based on what I said above.

[multree]

Pushtec obviously

[concealed identity]

Your friend has a vintage Pul-Tec, not a Tube-Tech (which is what Softube modeled)?

yep, from a defunct studio in kingston jamaica.
rsp

This doesn't mean the Softube one is closer to a Pultec, it means the Softube one is closer to Lee Perry's haunted Pultec. Which is obviously way cooler.

[zvenx]

Wasn't Lee's afaik.
And indeed, why I said, and for his own...

rsp

[casiobioassay]

Use these on my vocal chain going in

Screenshot 2025-12-03 54634564563456543.png

[casiobioassay]

Thse on the drum or stereo bus. The Lang is great for bass too.

Screenshot 2025-12-03 112705.png

[jtsterays]

UAD. Because it’s authentic to the real Pultec and even does the trick of making stuff sound better just by passing signal through it.

Runner up would be NoiseAsh. Very close to the UAD.

I haven’t tried the Apogee model so I can’t comment. The IK model is pretty far off, particularly in the bass response. It’s kind of muddy and shapeless.

That trick is called +1.3db on startup preset (same for hardware). The THD is too low to notice the saturation. The bass boost trick curve is the nicest sounding though, the only one that can replicate it is the pultec mode in Kirchoff. But if you don't have it, then the UAD is the best, Noiseash 2nd. I just use Pro-Q though, tried to force myself to use analog style EQs, but I'd rather use 2 nodes in Pro-Q.

[Igro]

UAD. Because it’s authentic to the real Pultec and even does the trick of making stuff sound better just by passing signal through it.

Runner up would be NoiseAsh. Very close to the UAD.

I haven’t tried the Apogee model so I can’t comment. The IK model is pretty far off, particularly in the bass response. It’s kind of muddy and shapeless.

And aliasing as the original too, right?

Nomad Factory is my favorite.

[billinder33]

I just use Pro-Q though, tried to force myself to use analog style EQs, but I'd rather use 2 nodes in Pro-Q.

Same. Once an engineer understands what a Pultec does, there's really no need for a dedicated Pultec plugin. Just create a similar curve in Pro-Q (or even a stock DAW EQ). Of course with Pro-Q you also get way more flexibility than a Pultec, excellent visuals, and it can also add saturation if needed.