Sonar and Universal Audio (UAD-1/2 owners)

Universal Audio has a survey on their Facebook page asking users to vote for their primary DAW software. These types of surveys tend to affect future development, so I would encourage current and future UAD owners to vote.

I think the next big thing to affect SONAR users will be eventual 64bit compatible plug-in support (no more bit-bridges....woohoo!) Being that SONAR is already a mature 64bit application that will be a big deal for users and for the UAD-2's future growth. The latest big news to drop is the announcement that UA will be finally releasing bonafide RTAS compatible plug-ins (no need for the VST-RTAS wrapper anymore) along with integration with all AVID control surfaces and numerous other universal enhancements with the next UAD release later this Summer. I am sure PT users will be thrilled with the announcement as UA begins making a big move into the PT DSP card market. 

I just came across this interesting Harmony-Central forum thread where Craig Anderton is doing one of his notable, one of a kind, in depth "Pro Reviews" of the UAD-2 Satellite QUAD.....see post #8 from a UA rep:

........gives us a great opportunity to make a Pro Tools-related announcement: Coinciding with our next software release, UAD Powered Plug-Ins will be fully RTAS compatible.

Specifically, with our next software release, we plan to feature: removal of the VST Adaptor; plug-in category support; numerous automation improvements; integration with all Avid control surfaces; system performance improvements, and more.

We're expecting this UAD software release to be available mid-to late-summer, and it will be free to all UAD users on Mac OS &Windows.


http://acapella.harmony-central.com/sho ... llite-Quad


I would not be at all surprised if the next UAD release this Summer is actually named v5.10 and UA saves v6.0 for a BIG follow on x64 compatible plug-in release. UA did the same thing before v5.0 (they had a v4.10). I just don't see UA releasing both RTAS & 64bit plug-ins, at the same time. They are both significant HUGE releases. You are talking about coding 50+ plug-ins for both mac & pc in RTAS 32bit (that is probably over 100+ dll's alone) and then every known UAD plug-in format (RTAS, VST, AU, etc) coded in 64bit as well (probably 100's of new .dll's). I am sure this is a tremendous development effort for UA. But I have been wrong before, so I am just making an educated guess based on past UA release history and previous UA statements.  To wit.........from a UA rep when answering a question on the UA Facebook page about the unreleased Ocean Way room simulator plug-in

Hi John: the Ocean Way plug-in was delayed for technical reasons. We don't have an "official" statement, but it may surface down the road once we're fully 64-bit. (Which, rest assured, is happening.)

Rest assured 64bit compatible UAD plug-ins are happening! It is not a question of if, but when.

It is a credit to both Cakewalk & UA through their earlier collaborations that the UAD-2 already works so well with SONAR X1. I could not be happier with the way my QUAD works in SONAR X1 32bit. But, I have been holding off on using SONAR X1 x64 because I just don't like using klunky bit bridges (especially when I am using 40,50,60 or more wrapped UAD plug-ins), so getting true 64bit plug-ins will be a really big deal for me and will signal my permanent move to x64.


Cheers,

Billy Buck

Billy,

I can understand your concern with bitBridge and UAD, but I have to say that I've been using 64-bit Sonar (8, 8.5, and X1) with the UAD plugs for quite a while now and the one thing I can say is that UAD has it done right.  They are definitely someone who had their plugs working early in the 64-bit transition (bitBridge) without much issue.

The only limitation (and a very minor one at that) is that once you open any bitBridge plug and make changes, you have to click back in the Sonar app to do things like "hit the spacebar" to start the song while mixing.  In 32-bit or true 64-bit projects (meaning no bitBridge being used) you can have plugs up and hit the spacebar back in the DAW app to start play.  This is probably because of the 32-bit/64-bit process barrier.  I've hit the spacebar a few times before I realized I've got a bitBridge plug-in up (and in focus) and need to click on the Sonar app to get it to play.  Again, minor stuff.

Again, I understand your hesitation, but if it is only UAD, I won't hold off anymore.  If you have other 32-bit plugs, I'd say wait if you don't have patience.

Can't wait for the 64-bit versions as they will make my workflow more efficient.

Tom

I running 64bit Win and X1 and have no problems whatsoever with my UAD plugs using BitBridge.

I experience LOTS of graphical lag with Bridged UAD plugs in X1 x64 and it makes me hesitant to use 64 bit although audio is not affected.

Are you guys still using the Sonar mode thing (in UAD) with X1? Is that something that still applies?

djtrailmixxx saild...

I experience LOTS of graphical lag with Bridged UAD plugs in X1 x64 and it makes me hesitant to use 64 bit although audio is not affected.

This *might* be an issue of an IRQ or DMA sharing problem between the UAD card and your video card.  You could look in device manager and see if they are on the same port.  If so, you could try moving the UAD card to a different PCI (or PCI-e) slot to get them off of the same shared port.

Just a thought.

Billy, I can understand your concern with bitBridge and UAD, but I have to say that I've been using 64-bit Sonar (8, 8.5, and X1) with the UAD plugs for quite a while now and the one thing I can say is that UAD has it done right. They are definitely someone who had their plugs working early in the 64-bit transition (bitBridge) without much issue.

Hey Tom,
              Yes, they do work reasonably well with the SONAR bit bridge, but things tend to get squirrelly once you start
having to use and manage scores of UAD-2 plug-ins at a time. Also, I don't like the extra native CPU hit either (the extra I/O processing layer due to the bridging process doubles the native CPU usage for each plug-in) which starts to really add up after 40,50,60 or more instances at low latencies. Not everyone has a high flying I7 in their DAW with CPU to burn.   I prefer a fully 64bit compatible plug-in solution that avoids the bridging I/O process altogether. I am just happy to know that UA has been working on it and a 64bit compatible plug-in release of their full UAD catalog will be here sooner rather than later.

Cheers,

Billy Buck