I upgraded to UAD-2.... initial impression

[AndrewSimon]

I just had to do upgrade, PCI is on the way out and with their $200 promo it was time. (ends at the end of June)
The LIVE low latency is a big plus for me.(guitar noodling)

I tested so far the Studer A800....
nice but not $350 nice. I'll pass.

I am on a Reverb hunt.... Valhalla is my current favorite
but I wanted something where you don't hear the reverb tail.
I had high hopes for the EMT250.
Meh, it's OK for acoustic guitar.... definitely an "invisible type" reverb
that was looking for, but it's not true stereo and a little limited.
I'll pass.

Then I tried the Lexicon 224.
I'm in the middle of demoing the Lexicon Native PCM so I expected similar type results.... what can I say, I'm floored.
Nothing like the PCM, this one is simply amazing.
This is what I was missing.
I never had a reverb like this, it simply melts into the mix.
I can choose any algorithm, I can set the wet/dry to 20% or up to 50%, I can use 1 sec or 10 second reverb time... it doesn't mater!
They all work more or less.
Simply amazing!

I completely "get" and dig the sliders.
High pass Reverb time
Low Pass Reverb time
Crossover point between the two
And the high cut point slider
Very useful and simple to use.

Now I know those of you who do electronic music, drones or any other type of music where you want to hear the reverb tail will go "what the hell is he talking about, this thing is grainy as hell" but for Rock Guitar this is the one.
This Reverb has improved converters for a more modern and smooth sound but you can force it to work like the hardware with it's inferior 12 step converters.... and I actually prefer it that way, it makes my guitar more dark, more dense/lush with no visible tail.

The only bad part.... I'll have to buy the damn thing now $$$

[mauseoleum]

The only bad part.... I'll have to buy the damn thing now $$$

..*dem bastards, eh?

[billybk1]

I tested so far the Studer A800....
nice but not $350 nice. I'll pass.

You do know that UA has a huge storewide plug-in sale (buy up to 4 plug-ins and get 40% off the total) going on right? No one should be paying full retail on any UAD plug-ins! Get the Lexicon 224, Studer A800 and a couple of much less expensive plug-ins to get to 4 and you will get both the Lexicon & Studer A800 for $209.40 each! I believe even the 1176 Limiter Collection upgrade for $149 counts as one of the 4 plug-ins purchases. If you were thinking about getting any UAD plug-ins now is the time to stock up. You probably are not going to see these type of storewide discounts (up to 40% on every plug-in) until the annual holiday sale in December.

http://www.uaudio.com/promotions.html

[meldavid]

You'll probably like the Lexicon Pantheon then, if you want a less smooth reverb.

[valhallasound]

Then I tried the Lexicon 224.
I'm in the middle of demoing the Lexicon Native PCM so I expected similar type results.... what can I say, I'm floored.
Nothing like the PCM, this one is simply amazing.
This is what I was missing.
I never had a reverb like this, it simply melts into the mix.
I can choose any algorithm, I can set the wet/dry to 20% or up to 50%, I can use 1 sec or 10 second reverb time... it doesn't mater!
They all work more or less.
Simply amazing!

I completely "get" and dig the sliders.
High pass Reverb time
Low Pass Reverb time
Crossover point between the two
And the high cut point slider
Very useful and simple to use.

What are your favorite algorithms in the 224?

Sean Costello

[AndrewSimon]

What are your favorite algorithms in the 224?
Sean Costello

To early to answer this question, I only had like 4 hours with it.
But I can tell you already this much:

- Since I'm a guitar player many times I will play over a backing track
that was posted on-line.
Unfortunately these tracks are usually compressed already and it's hard to
blend into them.
I find Program 8 - Constant Density Plate A to work great in these situations, especially on a loud distorted lead guitar.

- I have also used Program 3 - Large Concert Hall B with the Low Reverb time set at 5.2 sec and High Reverb Time set to 3.8 sec, High Cutoff set at about 3.5KHz with WET/DRY ratio of 50%.... this is the tone I was always chasing after but could never reach until now.
It's a cleaner guitar tone that sits right in front of you.
It's fat, it's 10 feet tall and it has this lush mass behind it.... but you can't really hear much of the tail it's kinda invisible.
It's like a big plate but darker and more natural sounding.
Anyway hard to put in words, I will have to record something....


Now here is the thing, I don't think it's the algorithm that creates this magic, it's more of how the tail is divided into 2 bands with heavy high cut on them.
This "dark type" of reverb might be really boring when you demo it with a single instrument but when you use it on every instrument and them compress the hole mix you start to appreciate it's "bread and butter" quality.

[DaveGamble]

Then I tried the Lexicon 224.

What are your favorite algorithms in the 224?

Sean Costello

Seeing you pose this question has me literally shaking with excitement. :D:D

Might email you a dumb question actually.

Dave.

[hesnotthemessiah]

Just got back from part exchanging 3 UAD1s for a Quad Flexi Pack. Got it on interest free credit. My first venture into UAD2 land. With the current 40% discount on 4 plugins (or more) I decided it would be a good idea to get the Quad Flexi Pack (which includes a $500 plugin voucher) on interest free credit. Got two weeks to demo before the offer ends. Think I have narrowed down what I want to the Lexicon 224, EMT250, Fatso and VOG Bass. The UAD2 is still in it's box. Hopefully get to play with it tomorrow (although I may be tempted to have a little go tonight................that's no sleep for me then ).

[AndrewSimon]

Tested the Fatso - amazing plug
The Studer A800 can wait in line.... Fatso is much more useful and can cover the same ground + much more.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Tested the Fatso - amazing plug
The Studer A800 can wait in line.... Fatso is much more useful and can cover the same ground + much more.

Yeah, I really regret having bought the A800. It's very good but just not great, and definitely not worth the money IMO. The FATSO on the other hand will go a while without getting used, then I'll pop it on a drum submix and wonder why I don't use it more. Great plugin.

Demo the Ampex. Eats up DSP for breakfast, but holy cow does it sound amazing. If UA offered a trade in program I'd give them $150 and my Studer license to get the Ampex instead. However, they don't. So I await Slate's VTM to see what that can offer.

I really like the EMT250 personally, just because it reminds me of early 80's records that I still like(things from Thriller to Sandinista - not sure if it was used on those records, but it just brings them to mind). The EMT140 does NOTHING for me in terms of sounding like anything other than a digital plate. If you want a real plate sound, I seriously recommend you check out Verbtone. I blew it off on release, but it's got the sound of a physical piece of metal making some verb. Something the 140 misses.

Haven't tried the Lex 224, but don't want to. I'll stick with Valhalla for now. Room covers 90% of my reverb needs. Verbtone and the EMT250 cover the rest (and I still have CSR and the 2016 Stereo Room about).

DO check out the new 1176 collection. Really good stuff.

Other than that...not a lot left about the UAD platform that gets use around here these days (their console EQ's are all terribly boring). The 33609 is still very good, but I find it difficult to deal with. Besides that, I just hope they do a Mk. II version of the LA-2A.

[AndrewSimon]

Thanks for the Verbtone mention... I will check it out.

I have been using the EMT140 for a very long time.
It's a "last resort life saver" kind of plug for me.
When nothing works I go to my secret recipe.
- Stereo Delay before the reverb
- EMT140 with the reverb time set at minimum
- Some kind of Stereo widening plug
- Compressor (usually MPL-1)
This will "force itself" into anything.