UAD PolyMAX - This thing is Sick

[bite_me]

2 hours of wasted time of googling and looking for SIMPLE INFORMATION.
U - you
A - are
D - d!xx

Really... it's in a big box right at the top of their product page... under Ways To Buy

https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/luna ... synth.html

I know how to buy it
Just needed some serious info how to demo it without having to subscribe to that spark.
UAD are keeping their mouth shut about that people have to subscribe for demoing.
And if I do not cancel that (so called free) spark, I´m a payer automatically.

[rod_zero]

They've been the highest quality FX company for some time. I'm happy to see them make synths too.

Let me again

Now I know how people like Steven Slate get rich in this audio software world

[Modular Manfred]

up people calling an audio interface a dongle and called them ignorant for that. And when they asked me to suck their dongle in response, then I thought maybe the problem is not that they are not intelligent enough to understand this, but perhaps they approach it from finance point of view, wrongly. This is not snobbery, but common sense.

Well seeing that this emotionally fragile and utter 'no mark' is talking about me again, I feel the need to respond. I had just been ignoring the little oxygen thief.

First point about the HW dongle. It was a joke and a bit of ball-busting at UADs expense. I'm hardly the first person to say it, but poor Modular Winifred got all bent out of shape and butt hurt. I was deeply amused.
And I'm going to go on calling it a dongle so FU.

The second point and this was a doozie showed him up, not only to be a complete egotistical cretin but an absolute ignoramus. He probably goes around laughing at people who work at Mcdonald's. What a decent chap!

Unfortuntely for him... I'm an audio professional and have been for over 11 years. So if I wanted an Apollo Dongle I'd have one. I didn't even bother to respond to such a childish ad-hominem attack. Although, I see a few people called him out on it already - Fair play!

But by the sounds of it Modular Winifred must be as big as Elton John, and obviously likes the same sort of plugins . Of course, the dope won't get that reference as he's a KVR noob.

Considering he likes to imply how rich he is as an eminent musician I wonder how many people have bought his multi-platinum-selling records.

Regardless your childish personal accusations in your post - and no surprise you got it all wrong, I leave you to it mate. Your attitude speaks for itself, thank you for expressing yourself in such an intellectual manner. Wish you nothing but the best in your career.

[Modular Manfred]

you brought up people not being able to afford things, that's the definition of snobbery. imo

and before you ask, no, i own 0 polyphonic analogue synths.
not because i can't afford them, but because i have no need for them.
same reason i have no microwave oven.

No, I didn’t in first place. I brought up people calling an audio interface a dongle and called them ignorant for that. And when they asked me to suck their dongle in response, then I thought maybe the problem is not that they are not intelligent enough to understand this, but perhaps they approach it from finance point of view, wrongly. This is not snobbery, but common sense.

asking someone if the grape is sour because they cannot afford something, aside from being a baseless assumption, is considered somewhat crass in polite circles.
whatever the reason it was brought up doesn't matter

With all due respect, there is a chance that deliberately not using capital letters and punctuation correctly is a sign of some sort of snobbery.

[vurt]

you brought up people not being able to afford things, that's the definition of snobbery. imo

and before you ask, no, i own 0 polyphonic analogue synths.
not because i can't afford them, but because i have no need for them.
same reason i have no microwave oven.

No, I didn’t in first place. I brought up people calling an audio interface a dongle and called them ignorant for that. And when they asked me to suck their dongle in response, then I thought maybe the problem is not that they are not intelligent enough to understand this, but perhaps they approach it from finance point of view, wrongly. This is not snobbery, but common sense.

asking someone if the grape is sour because they cannot afford something, aside from being a baseless assumption, is considered somewhat crass in polite circles.
whatever the reason it was brought up doesn't matter

With all due respect, there is a chance that deliberately not using capital letters and punctuation correctly is a sign of some sort of snobbery.

nope. it's a total lack of respect for my education.

[pdxindy]

You really don't want to say it sounds good, do you?

I never said it doesn't sound good! But when everything is factored in (don't wanna enter subscription, and I'm perfectly happy with my RME UFX+), it's not worth it to me. I have equally good/great sounding stuff already.

Same for me... I am very happy with my RME. No way I would switch just to have the privilege of paying $200 for a very basic synth that is less well developed than other synths that sound as good or better and cost less.

[Robmobius]

They've been the highest quality FX company for some time. I'm happy to see them make synths too.

Let me again

Now I know how people like Steven Slate get rich in this audio software world

If you'd asked me what the best plugins were over a decade ago I would have wholeheartedly said UAD and SSL Duende. Now that's no longer the case as there is a glut of very high-quality plugins in the modern market.

If anyone tries to state that UAD are definitely THE best plugins on the market today, then they should be met with much skepticism in my opinion. Until such times as they can actually 'prove' that statement.

But I do think they are high-quality plugins but just not the best available today.

[_leras]

I doubt very much they are really low effort synths. I'm sure they have circuit modelled and applied their usual high standards, as all their synths sound fantastic so far.

They've been the highest quality FX company for some time. I'm happy to see them make synths too.

You went to the trouble to highlight part of what I wrote.

Do you really not think UAD make good plug ins?

[rasmusklump]

There is a difference between good and the usual hyperbole that goes with each ua plugin

[_leras]

I know how to buy it
Just needed some serious info how to demo it without having to subscribe to that spark.
UAD are keeping their mouth shut about that people have to subscribe for demoing.
And if I do not cancel that (so called free) spark, I´m a payer automatically.

Fair enough. I do wonder how much of the UAD userbase, or even people who would subscribe for their plug-ins, cross over with those who want synths.

I guess they are being cautious with their switch from DSP to Native, and approach to their future business.

Certainly for things like this synth, I would guess it limit their market.

[rasmusklump]

And even as a UAD owner (yes, I do) I couldn't use this because their idiotic spark system doesn't let me use the plugins on my offline computer although the plugins are installed and the licenses are on my hardware ilok attached to the computer...

[_leras]

If you'd asked me what the best plugins were over a decade ago I would have wholeheartedly said UAD and SSL Duende. Now that's no longer the case as there is a glut of very high-quality plugins in the modern market.

If anyone tries to state that UAD are definitely THE best plugins on the market today, then they should be met with much skepticism in my opinion. Until such times as they can actually 'prove' that statement.

But I do think they are high-quality plugins but just not the best available today.

For sure other companies have caught up in some aspects, but UAD is absolutely still top tier if you ask me.

I think it's great that their range of tools will become accessible to more people. It's easy to spend $150 a year on UAD plug ins, and only own a few, so to get the whole lot (if that's how it plays out) for that price per year will be a bargain.

[Modular Manfred]

Anyway... When you ask someone to provide a sample of "better" to hear how UA synth is exactly better to 5-10 years old native releases and ask for a screenshot of a patch, MIDI sequence and patch file itself then you hear crickets. Same old story.

And we are back to "sounds better to me when I listen it on youtube" - even though on youtube it can be post-processed in DAW numerous times or altered in numerous ways.

Silly crowd.

When you ask someone to inform what real analogue polys they have for reference and they don’t answer you know that I have no more questions..

Real analog poly synths aren't rare. There are tons of DeepMinds12s, MinilogueXDs, PolyBrutes and others out in the wild. Not to mention Junos and other classics that are proudly racked in studios. I am pretty sure enough people either own them or have played with them to have a sense of what they should expect. This isn't wine tasting although with the gear snobbery that is prevalent out there you might think holding an educated opinion requires some specific training and deep pockets. It doesn't.

There is no such thing as gear snobbery if you are a professional musician. And deepmind and monologue vs a jupiter.. i am not sure

Just to confirm I didn’t mean to undermine the deepmind and the minilogue here in a way that would suggest I have a jupiter, so I apologise if it came across that way. I certainly don’t own a jupiter. What I was trying to say is that to me there is a gap between something like the deepmind and a vintage analogue poly. PolyMax is much closer to that vintage analogue poly vibe than other plugins I’ve tried. The category where the deepmind and minilogue sits is not quite on that level. The minilogue is an amazing little synth.

[Modular Manfred]

If you'd asked me what the best plugins were over a decade ago I would have wholeheartedly said UAD and SSL Duende. Now that's no longer the case as there is a glut of very high-quality plugins in the modern market.

If anyone tries to state that UAD are definitely THE best plugins on the market today, then they should be met with much skepticism in my opinion. Until such times as they can actually 'prove' that statement.

But I do think they are high-quality plugins but just not the best available today.

For sure other companies have caught up in some aspects, but UAD is absolutely still top tier if you ask me.

I think it's great that their range of tools will become accessible to more people. It's easy to spend $150 a year on UAD plug ins, and only own a few, so to get the whole lot (if that's how it plays out) for that price per year will be a bargain.

I agree with you about UAD still being top tier and also it’s worth mentioning that not all UAD plugins shine really, just like with everything, it depends.

I think what UAD excels at above everything else is analogue modelled dynamic processors. Nothing like their LA-2A, or their Distressor.
In terms modulation fx there is nothing like the Studio D Chorus, on that level of quality at least.
Reverbs and Delays are great but there are better native options, apart from their take on the 480 which is top and the EMT140 and 250.
Interestingly UAD models Moog better then Moog itself for whatever reason…
No way that anything UAD can beat Cytomic in filter modelling and distortion. The G Bus yes (until the The Glue HD is out) but nothing beats Cytomic.. It’s an absolute gem.
The utility UAD plugins are also nothing special to me.
They however really stepped up their game in synth plugins. There is this innate quality to their synths like Opal and PolyMax.

So it’s a mixture of things I guess. You just pick the good things from everywhere, the brand itself shouldn’t dominate.

[Uncle E]

Hi all
I rarely discuss subjective stuff as it always end up in some sort of 'us and them' kind of debate where most assume a lot about how gear sounds or compare or assume what other people believe and why.

Very nice review, Benjamin...IF THAT REALLY IS YOUR NAME?!?

1 posts since 3 Jan, 2021, I am suspect U R interloper!!!