Waves MPX Master Tape

sheesh...  i already have enough GAS to supply the US for decades...  :) 

I have Waves platinum but haven't wupped since version 5 I think...  Which probably makes this cost more like $299 for me.

Oh well.

http://www.uaudio.com/sto...800-tape-recorder.html

this not do it for you Jim?

or Nomad factory Magnetic?

The UA Studer plugin is nice... but I'm not hung up on the sound of tape enough to spend $350. 
Lots of folks like Magnetic... but I didn't care for it.
I may not care for MPX either...  
But the comments from Bob (and the cost) have me wanting to check it out.

Lawdy!  I've got UA Studer and NF Magnetic.  I can't do this anymore...I just can't.  Lol.  

Do you know if there are audio demos on the Waves site??

 
I wish there were some audio demos...  

In case others are having problems installing it I had to run the Waves utilities to get it be recognized in X1.
Too early to be definite but it's doing some interesting things to the tracks. No crashes or cpu issues either.

I think many will like this, the introductory price of $99.00 is certainly fair & will probably go up to around $200.00.

Pray tell where did you find it at that price good sir?
 
PS:  Also, I have several other Waves plugs (some ver7 some ver8) do you just install the MPX only when installing or is there some special install procedure??  I really find Waves install method confusing at times.
 

Found & bought it for $89.00. It's already helped out on my projects. Loving it on track & mixing chores too.

 
Hi Carl,
 
If you get a free moment, could you post a before/after example?
I hate putting demo licenses on my iLok (can't remove them short of transfering the demo license to a second iLok)

Thanks Ol Pal!
 
Hmmm... in that example the MPX certainly thickened up the low mids.  
The Digi tape sim sounded pretty subtle by comparison...
UAD Studer also thickened the lower mids... but seemed to be a little less extreme than MPX.
Hard to know if the differences are due to plugin settings... or if the MPX is just that much more intense.

Hard to know if the differences are due to plugin settings...

This listening test is flawed from the get go, like comparing apples to oranges. Three very different tape emulation plug-ins and purposes. I am not sure why the A800 was even included. The UAD-2 Studer A-800 is designed to be used as a (24) channel 2" multi-track  tape recorder (nothing like the other two plug-ins in the test). The UAD A800 is a plug-in that you actually "mix" into (usually the first insert across every track in a mix) and then an instance on the mix bus. Simply slapping an instance on a final stereo mix does no where show the capabilities of what what this plug-in can do.

Another thing that troubles me in the video is the UAD A800 "Input" knob is completely turned down (all the way to the left) while the "Output" is slammed all the way to full on (all the way the to right). For the A800 this is very poor gain staging and usage, as the "Input" knob controls the amount "harmonic distortion/saturation" (how hard you are hitting the tape). You basically have cut out all the nice tape saturation from the A800. Not sure if it was naivete, laziness or done on purpose, but I think actually using the A800 the way it is intended would be a more appropriate "test". How about using a fresh clean mix with no FX (maybe 16 tracks or so)  and place an instance of the A800 on the first insert of each track and then a stereo instance on the mix bus.

With proper gain staging the "Input" should be showing some moderate activity on the "VU"meter, even dancing into the red occasionally like when hitting real tape on a reel to reel (the UAD "VU" meter is hardly even moving in the so-called test) which means it is doing next to nothing to the signal coming in, except cranking the "Output".  The "Output" is just a gain control (like a console volume fader). It is best used to compensate for the gain on the "Input" control.  As an example, if you move the "Input" to say 2 o'clock in many cases you would want to decrease the "Output" to say 10 o'clock to keep the proper gain staging while adding some nice harmonic distortion and color.

So while having shootouts and "tests" is all fine and dandy, I do not agree with the WizProDux's statement that this test "gives a good idea what each plug-in sounds like", at least as far as the Studer A800 goes, it does nothing of the kind. If and when UA releases their own  "1/4" stereo mastering tape deck" plug-in, then by all means do a proper shootout against the the two, but using the A800 in this kind of test and with bad gain staging to boot, shows me nothing about what this plug-in truly sounds like under proper usage. Let alone how the A800 actually compares to the other plug-ins.

Cheers,

Billy Buck

p.s. you can get it audiomidi.com for $89.99 plus a -$10.00 coupon.
$80 for this tool is a great deal.

@musicman - they are having sale this weekend - use the code "remember" in the coupon area

Unless your order is canceled I wouldn't worry about it. It always takes a day or two to get the registration from Waves when ordering from an online dealer. Plus with the holiday you'll probably have it by Tuesday at the latest.

It's a 7 day full demo & once you get your registration it will replace the one that's currently on your iLok.

yorolpal


It's not Tony that's "raising the stink" is it?  He's a pretty good guy.

YOU SIR, win the Kewpie doll prize !!!!!

Wow, odd, sorry if that causes you any grief musicman...  I have dealt with Tony in the past as well and ourolpal is right, he is a straight shooter.  Guess he was promised the lowest price or something...