UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)?

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bapu
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2011/04/27 12:59:07 (permalink)

UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)?

The Lexicon 224
Vitalizer
bx_digital


I imagine we're talking close to 1000 bones for all three.
#1

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    windsurfer25x
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/27 14:00:05 (permalink)
    Looks interesting,

    I have enough reverb plugs (EMT 250, 140, 2Caudio Aether, Breeze and a couple of others) 

    The others look more interesting to me, but I currently don't have the $$ or business to justify it.


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    #2
    Ham N Egz
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/27 14:30:00 (permalink)
    vitalizer native is $199, so I doubt the UAD will be competitively priced

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    #3
    tarsier
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/27 15:27:08 (permalink)
    The Lexicon 224

    As I recall, with the EMT250 UAudio said they're using the exact algorithm as the original.  I don't see that claim yet for the 224.  They also say they're modelling the converters as well. Hooray, an exact model of old school converters.  But Lexicon always did have state-of-the-art converters in their hi-end gear.

    No, won't buy it sight unseen, or hearing unheard. I'll give it a good demo tho.

    Here's a little tidbit about the Lexicon 224.  As an aside, I think it's interesting that Barry Blesser, the original algorithm designer, can't figure out why anyone would want to use all those old flawed reverb designs.
    #4
    yorolpal
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/27 19:03:27 (permalink)
    If they price the vitalizer at $149 I'll be mighty tempted.  I can get the SPL version for 180.  However...I have basically quit buying UAD plugs since the Manley and EMT 250.  And there are still a handful of the older plugs I don't have and don't want.  And there are several I wish I'd never purchased...not due to their quality...I just never use them.  Plus it seems every other really top notch plug maker is hurting just like the rest of us and either greatly reducing their prices (see Waves...Waves for chrissake!) and Nomad Factory and IK and NI (Just think about all you get in Komplete 7) etc...  So the competition's pretty fierce.  Add to that UAD is making plugs, that while arguably better modeled, use more and more of your cards CPU.  There's plenty of talk about people with 2 UAD Quads who still can't load the new Studer plugin on all their tracks.  UAD needs to get "their mind right".  What we got here is a problem of communication.
    post edited by yorolpal - 2011/04/28 00:26:04

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    #5
    bapu
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/27 19:12:16 (permalink)
    In a small way I'm with you myolpal. At one time or another I've used all the UAD plugs up to the recent list. Do I regret getting all of them up to now? No, almost all were gotten on sale or combined with deals on UAD-1's for vouchers and subsequent trade in on a laptop solo, so that (somewhat falsely) makes me feel good about myownself. 

    But, do I use all the plugs all the time? No to that too.

    Price has got to start becoming a factor for me too. Not so much out of necessity but on principal alone. The 224 reverb leaves me cold. What do I have now like 25 reverbs? WTH will another do for me? Prolly nuttin' honey.

    #6
    yorolpal
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/27 19:22:28 (permalink)
    You can get the Rennaisance Reverb from Waves Native now for $38.  And the RVerb is one of the best reverb plugs evah.  And still I'm not buying (I think) as I've already got 6 or 7 killer verbs and 4 or 5 utility verbs.  I mean when will the madness end.







    Never...I know.

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    Ham N Egz
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/27 19:55:46 (permalink)
    Speaking of Verbs (re not grammar) some German has gone and done it and wriiten a reverb plug in that uses your Video Cards GPU for processing .. saw it on GS i think

    I downloaded the SPL Vitalizer demo and it blows the BBE plug in out the water(in deference to Freddie's glowing praise of it) I wish I could reactivate my  UAD Fatso to compare the two ..ye sI know two different animals ,, but as a Mix Buss plug I think a "fair" comparison

    OLPAL, the cheapest I saw the SPL was 178 from some  nondescript e store ...

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    #8
    Bajan Blue
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/28 06:39:35 (permalink)
    I'm with Yoropal - I use Aether for nearly all my reverb needs now and quite frankly the lexicon (or the idea of the lexicon) leaves me cold as well.

    I seem to remember a little while ago UAD doing a survey of what they should produce next - I said personally I would rather they worked on some kind of interesting effects as opposed to software clones of old hardware as that has sort of been done now.

    Also on  personal note, after the Powercore shock (they have stopped development and support basically) I am reappraising what I spend my money on.
    If I spend a $1000 on a guitar, keyboard or synthesiser, basically you have this for life. I spent much more than this on my Powercore set up and they just turn round one day and say "that's it we've dropped the product." I have THREE very nice pieces of useless hardware (well they will become useless very soon). But also the software which I purchased to run on the Powercore platform is also now or soon will be useless - I spent a great deal on all of this.

    Who is to say that any software company will continue support going forward?
    So how safe are our investments in all this very expensive software?
    Perhaps this uncertainty will drive prices down? One can hope!

    Interested to hear what other people think on this subject.
    Nigel



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    #9
    kson
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/28 08:12:40 (permalink)
    No.  I am extremely judicious when it comes to my UAD purchases.  Although I am aware they need to purchase licenses for the things they model, I usually wait them out until they have a good sale or I have a coupon.  The price to play is pretty steep considering the card(s) you must purchase to use them.  I am just now getting Studer because they sent me a "Thanks for being a good customer" coupon.

    So, I guess the answer to your initial question would be no.  I have all I need to make great music.
    #10
    Middleman
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/28 11:24:58 (permalink)
    I've stopped buying the UAD stuff. 

    I'm in the process of moving to the real versions of most of their key plug ins. That said, the Studer800 plug in won't be replaced anytime soon. I would rather throw $300 at a pop, the current cost of the new ones, at compressors, mics and preamps purchases or, use it to save until I can have something better. After you invest a thousand or more in plug ins, which I have done over 10 years, and you still aren't getting the sound you want, it's time to move on.

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    #11
    tyacko
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    Re:UAD users - will you buy them (sight unseen)? 2011/04/28 12:46:47 (permalink)
    Beyond the first plugs I got with the voucher that came with my initial UAD card, I always demo the new plug-in before I lay down any money on them.

    I don't buy all of their plugs.  I buy the plugs I see will help me.

    Some of their plugs I bought where:
    Precision Buss Compressor
    Precision Limiter
    Helios EQ
    Manley Massive Passive
    Plate 140 (or whatever they are calling it now-a-days)
    Studer A800

    In all of these cases, I demoed them first.  Applied them to music I was mixing/mastering for a couple weeks and compared previous mixes to the ones with their plugs applied.  If I hear improvements I bought the plugs.

    I've definitely had cases where I tried their plugs and just didn't feel like it warranted a purchase (for example, Cambridge EQ, Fatso, and the Precision Enhancer).  Either I'm not using the things right or they just didn't apply to the music I'm mixing so I saved the cash.

    I'll demo the ones you've listed when they become available, but I most likely won't purchase them unless they improve my mixes in some way.

    Tom

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