So... 3 new UAD plugs... anyone thinking of getting one?

I would like to get the vitalizer.  But since UAD saw fit to price their version even higher than SPL prices their version I have to say...no thanks, fellas.  Get a grip.  Ampex looks interesting BUT...I think two things have happened for UAD that may (or may not) hurt them in the short term.  First, when they first came out with emulations like the LA2A, Farichild and 1176 they were one of a select few of plug makers who were head and shoulders above other makers/plugins and had emulated the best and most desirable plugs...now they face very stiff competition from many top level plug makers in both quality and price.  Second, they have raised their prices so that only the "big boys" will automatically buy upon release.  I won't be getting any of these (until there is a "deeply discounted" sale) and haven't gotten a new UAD plug since the EMT 250.

....they have raised their prices so that only the "big boys" will automatically buy upon release.

Well, I am not sure if I would qualify, as one of the "big boys", but I am not exactly poor either. I do not even have to finish the 14-day demo period on the ATR-102 to know it is the best classic hardware emulation UA has ever done. I will definitively be adding this to my UAD plug-in collection once the demo times out. Studer A800 on my track inserts and ATR-102 on my mix bus.

Also, much to the chagrin as it may impose on those who say UA’s prices are too high, UA's two most expensive plugins (Studer A800 and Lexicon 224) have sold better than any of their plugins that have come before, setting new revenue and unit sales records for UA; also keep in mind those are UAD-2 plugs only and none of those two have even been discounted much yet. I got this little tidbit from talking to a UA rep recently about UA plug-in prices. He felt the current UA plug-in pricing was justified for the quality and depth of programming with the unique partnership plug-ins they are releasing and they had the sales data to back it up. When I see what Yamaha/Steinberg is trying to charge for their Portico plug-ins getting an authentic Ampex ATR-102 emulation for $349 does seem like a steal.

I have a feeling the UAD Ampex ATR-102 will be the best selling UAD plug-in ever and lead to a lot more UAD-2 card sales and increase the UAD user base well past the 45,000+ that is is at now. Of course, I can imagine now that the UAD plug-ins are true RTAS that there will be a lot of PT9 users jumping on board as well. Once UA releases their 64bit compatible plug-ins, I am sure that sales will skyrocket even more. Good times ahead for UAD for users! Although, I am still looking for that elusive Ocean Way plug-in to appear.

Cheers,

Billy Buck

I'm thinking of waiting for a discount of at least 25%-30%.