wst3
Hi Mike,
 
I'm not sure using the old hardware is an advantage<G>... one thing a lot of folks overlook (whether they used the old hardware or not) is that even the old hardware doesn't always sound like the old hardware!

For me that's not really the point though. What I like about the UA emulations, and what I don't find as convincing with other emulations (no, haven't tried them all) is how they react to the music. Unfortunately this turns out to be very difficult to explain in words, or even with examples, though I continue to try.

Take the 1176, a compressor that uses a FET as the variable gain element. That architecture certainly had a signature sound! But that wasn't the thing I noticed first.
 
The 1176 has a fixed threshold, and variable input and output levels. One of the tricks I learned early on was how to manipulate those two controls to get a wide variety of "sounds" with the same basic amount of level control. And one of the ways one might do that is to change the level feeding the device, instead of changing the input level on the device. And the 1176s that I used generally behaved the same way when I did that. The UA emulation was the first software version that gave me that same feel.
 
I've had similar reactions to many of their plug-ins. The dBX 160 emulation literally transported me back in time, it behaved exactly as I remember. I haven't used one in a very long time, so I won't swear that the emulation is perfect, not even sure which of the various 160s I used over the years I'd try to use as a yardstick. But what I do know is that when I feed that little compressor a drum kit it reacts in a certain way that absolutely reminds me of the hardware. I _think_ the resulting sound is pretty darned close too - but what I really enjoy is spinning the knob and knowing roughly how it will behave. Saves time, if nothing else.

I don't know if that makes sense or not.

And I'm certainly not going to suggest that anyone get a UA card because their emulations are so cool.

I've said it many time, but I'll repeat myself - you have to use the tools that get you to the sonic/musical result you are trying to reach. There is no one set of tools that will do that. And a really good engineer can probably get the same result with ANY emulation of any specific device. (I'm not there yet!)

Yep! The main part is what's between your ears that processes what's coming into your ears. If that sounds good, it is good. At least to you. The hard part is creating something that others react to, the same way you do.
You can always eliminate the last step by keeping your music all to yourself.

mudgel
The hard part is creating something that others react to, the same way you do.
You can always eliminate the last step by keeping your music all to yourself.

Dang, that's what I've been doing wrong all along, letting other folks hear my stuff<G>!

TerraSin
UA is getting a lot of heat right now with the 88RS channel strip update costing owners a lot of money for something they pretty firmly believe should be free for them since they already bought the plugin. I'm actually kind of relieved I didn't buy an Apollo like I was planning because that channel strip is one I was planning on getting first with it. Ended up getting VMR instead which I'm really happy with.
 
Instead I've been looking at the Antelope Orion but I'm okay with my VS-700R for the moment.

Maybe a few are complaining, but none of the second generation plugins have been free. They generally sell the upgraded versions of them to owners of the previous plugin for about half of what they retail for. The second generation plugins have been a pretty big improvement across the board and took quite a bit of development time so I wouldn't really expect them to give it away for free.  It's not like they just slapped a version 2 icon on them and called it an upgrade.
 
I've been demoing the new 88RS and I'm pretty sure I'll be picking it up for my discounted price using a couple of voucher coupons that have showed up in my account.  I was a bit concerned about CPU usage, but it's less than the other Neve channel strip and has a gate and compressor built in, plus I really like the flexibility of the EQ.  It is a fairly significant upgrade from the previous version, so I have no problem paying for it... but I do plan on using the vouchers I have to offset it a bit.
 
Back to the general topic, while I haven't used the Waved emulations, I'm very happy with the UAD plugins I have and I believe they are much better than the emulations I have from other companies, IK Multimedia, Cakewalk etc.  They seem to react very nicely when pushed hard and provide that nice color that many strive for in their music, while the other ones kind of start to crap out and get this unpleasant type of distortion.  I guess I'm talking about the sounds when you push it just a little over the top. And you don't have to push them hard to get a nice subtle bit of color and depth added to the sound either.  IMO UAD can't be beat for character and emulations.
 
About the only non-UAD EQ and compressor plugins I use regularly are the FabFilter EQ, comp and limiter, and those are used for special purposes.  (And occasionally some of the Cakewalk stuff built into Pro Channel, like the EQ.)  I like the FF comp when I need side-chaining, and the EQ for when I want a clean and flexible EQ with a spectrum display.  Pro Channel EQ is also fine for that.

Genghis

TerraSin
UA is getting a lot of heat right now with the 88RS channel strip update costing owners a lot of money for something they pretty firmly believe should be free for them since they already bought the plugin. I'm actually kind of relieved I didn't buy an Apollo like I was planning because that channel strip is one I was planning on getting first with it. Ended up getting VMR instead which I'm really happy with.
 
Instead I've been looking at the Antelope Orion but I'm okay with my VS-700R for the moment.

Maybe a few are complaining, but none of the second generation plugins have been free. They generally sell the upgraded versions of them to owners of the previous plugin for about half of what they retail for. The second generation plugins have been a pretty big improvement across the board and took quite a bit of development time so I wouldn't really expect them to give it away for free.  It's not like they just slapped a version 2 icon on them and called it an upgrade.

 
Exactly.  For some reason the new 88RS has prompted a troll-fest, even though the upgrade is priced exactly the same as every single one of their other revamped plugins.  It makes no sense at all.  This plugin is so much better than the original, it's a disservice to refer to it as a simple "upgrade" -- it's a complete ground-up redo that models the Neve channel strip from input to output using UA's latest tech.  It's a stunning achievement, well worth the asking price, trolls be damned.
 
This product is just one of many UAD plugs that have no equal in native-land, IMHO.  The API Vision strip is another, as are all the reworked vintage compressors and equalizers like the 1176, LA2A, Fairchild, Pultec, etc.  And don't get me started on the reverbs and delays -- they're fantastic.
 
There are several other vendors whose products I use and like -- Waves, FabFilter (tops in GUIs), Slate, Metric Halo, etc.  But IMHO nobody touches UAD plugs when it comes to emulations of real hardware. 
 
To help deal with the expense (which is certainly considerable), you can take advantage of sales, coupons, and other promos.  Hey look, right now if you buy certain cards or external DSP units, you get extra free plugins -- the Duo gets you the new Pultec collection, but if you can swing it I'd go for the Quad and take the Lexicon 224.  Totally worth it, I'd say.  Have fun!
 
Cheers,
Eddie

Eddie TX
To help deal with the expense (which is certainly considerable), you can take advantage of sales, coupons, and other promos.  Hey look, right now if you buy certain cards or external DSP units, you get extra free plugins -- the Duo gets you the new Pultec collection, but if you can swing it I'd go for the Quad and take the Lexicon 224.  Totally worth it, I'd say.  Have fun!
 
Cheers,
Eddie

Yeah, I recently picked up an Apollo Twin Duo (for use with my TB Mac Mini) during their Apollo plug-in promo. Since I already had licenses in my UA account for the promo plug-ins I got the equivalent in plug-in vouchers ($498). Almost $500 back for purchasing a $756 Apollo Twin Duo! Sweet! UA also added a $25 plug-in coupon into my account on the first of June. So I used those $523 dollars in plug-in vouchers to take advantage of the huge UA Half-Yearly plug-in sale to pick up a few recent plug-ins I did not have. So basically for purchasing an Apollo Twin Duo, I picked up the new Neve 88RS upgrade, Friedman Amp Collection, Chandler GAV19T Amp & the Distortion Pedal Bundle as part of the deal and saved $$$ in the process. Very happy UA customer!
 
Cheers,
 
Billy Buck

Oh and for the OP, if you are thinking about getting a UAD-2 device (PCIe is best), UA currently has a "Power Users" sale going on until June 30th. Purchase a UAD-2 card and get free premium plug-ins commensurate with the value of the card that you purchase. You will also get a $50 plug-in voucher to go towards any of the entire UAD plug-in catalog  currently on sale (until end of June). If you are looking to buy a UAD device and want to save a lot of money, now is the time.....
 
http://www.uaudio.com/promotions.html