Rob[at]Sound-Rehab
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high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
I'd like to pool what you guys are using in terms of top quality mixing plug-ins. Personally I frequently find myself going to emulations of pultec and fairchild 670, but I'd like to expand my options with serious guns of similar impact (some with vintage flavour, but not exclusively) So I'm not looking for yet another compressor / EQ, but something that may make a real difference. It should come with good presets, but still sound great when dialing in something different (which I've noticed not being the case with some of the cheaper tools that sound horrible once you leave the presets) Well, I had an eye on the UAD stuff, but their arsenal is large and too pricy to buy the entire suite of the shelve (hence I'm keen on recommendations) ... plus I keep coming across complaints about the stability when used with Sonar. So are there still problems with the latest versions? Your input is much appreciated Rob
GOOD TUNES LAST FOREVER +++ Visit the Rehab +++ DAW: Platinum/X3e, win10 64 bit, i7-3930K (6x3.2GHz), Asus Sabertooth X79, 32 GB DDR3 1600MHz, ATI HD 5450, 120 GB SSD OCZ Agility3, 2x 1TB WD HDD SATA 600 Audio-Interface: 2x MOTU 1248 AVB, Focusrite OctoPre, (Roland Octa-Capture) Control-Surface: VS-700C VSTi: WAVES, NI K10u, FabFilter, IK, ... (too many really)
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bitflipper
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 09:50:15
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UAD stuff is high-quality, with the added advantage of taking some load off your CPU. The disadvantage is that you can't install the plugins on your laptop and take them with you to the beach without buying another piece of UAD hardware. So if you're not looking for equalizers or compressors, what are you looking for? Something novel and unique? The elusive "sound-gooderizer" plugin? Give us a hint.
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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AT
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 09:56:01
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Although I don't have it, the UAD stuff is what most of the professionals I know use - that and Waves if they don't have UAD. Not a large pool I know, so take it for what it is. The basic UAD stuff (that comes w/ the card) is good. Most people get the classics (they are hardware classics for a reason) - the 1176, optical etc. Once you get the card you can demo the product for two weeks (I think) and see what you like before spending your cash. For my own stuff, I use mainly the PC stuff - including the softube bundle and the opto comp. That pretty much covers eq and compression. I have the nomad stuff too that I'm fond of. Their blue tubes package is good for a change up in tone - the time based stuff is very good and useful and the pultec/fairchild models are good for a thicker tone. You could probably get most of the effect from the blue tubes channel strip. The newer Nomad stuff is supposed to be a step up in emulation - the neve etc. But I am finding I'm using more and more clean stuff for mixing. If you get your "tone" when recording you can then use digitial toys to control volume issues and cut (and boost a little) eq frequencies. Saturation and distortion, I find, are best left to the analog realm. Not so spikey. I think you'll find the UAD stuff like everything else - most users have no problems (many users here have no complaints) along w/ a few w/ glitches of varying intensity. Just be sure to be able to take it back if it doesn't work and gets you frustrated. Personally, I'm wary about spending more money on more digital comps/eqs since what I have already seems to work. I woudl like to be blown away and have to get something, but so far I'm unconvinced. @
https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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Jim Roseberry
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 10:56:06
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I'm partial to models of 1176, LA-2A, SSL Channel, SSL Comp, Pultec, and Phoenix Verb (Lexicon heritage) If you don't go the UAD route, Waves an IK Multimedia make great native plugins.
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yorolpal
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 11:32:07
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I find myself using my extensive UAD arsenal less and less these days. I've said it before...if you want a great set of top notch tools, look no further than FabFilter. If you want character and color then peruse UAD, WAVES and Nomad Factory. And, oh yeah, do yourself a favor and checkout the Maag EQ4. Yummy. But, like Bit asked, what exactly are you after??
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Eddie TX
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 11:38:24
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Other than EQ and compression, plugins that make a difference include reverbs, delays, tape sims, and saturators. I'll mention two of each that I like, one cheap and one pricey: Reverb: Valhalla Vintage Verb / NI Reverb Classics Delay: Sonitus / Waves H-delay Tape: Toneboosters Reelbus / Slate VTM Sat: Softube Saturation Knob / brainworx bx_saturator Have fun! Cheers, Eddie
Sonar X3 Producer / Win 10 The future exists in all directions.
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Middleman
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 12:22:05
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The UAD line has gone off the deep end regarding pricing, the accountants have moved in to derive maximum value at the cost of number of users. $300 or more for plugs ins that provide a narrow range of capability is not going to continue to knock down the market. That said, I have a lot of the earlier line and have to say there are a few go to plug ins that make it to every track. 1. Pultec for drums or vocal duty 2. 1176 because sometimes I'm tool lazy to hook up my hardware 1176 when I'm just trying some ideas. 3. SSL Channel strip because it always can take the vocal over the top when needed. Adds excitement. 4. The 224 reverb is the best ITB reverb I think in the market 5. The Studer tape emulation, occasionally. That's it. I can do the rest with the EQ and plugs that come in the box. A lot of my UAD plug ins just don't get used anymore because many are heavy handed sonically and you only need color in a few places in the mix, not on everything. There are not problems with UAD and Sonar by the way except when you try to mix 32 & 64 bit plugins. You are asking for trouble.
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vintagevibe
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 12:39:26
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Jim Roseberry I'm partial to models of 1176, LA-2A, SSL Channel, SSL Comp, Pultec, and Phoenix Verb (Lexicon heritage) If you don't go the UAD route, Waves an IK Multimedia make great native plugins. When I first got my UAD I liked the 1176 an LA2A until I heard the IK versions. Then UA came out with the new version and started giving the originals away for free. IMO they are throwaways and of little value compared to others on the market. Full discloser: I sold my UAD with about 10 plugs after being tired of the dongle. I had a UAD-2 solo and if I wanted more than 2-3 instances of a reverb it would cost me $300 and I still would not get as many instances as I want. I think their whole DSP paltform is a terrible deal for allut bthe the highest end studios. Years ago 2 things were true that are no longer true: 1) we needed hardawre DSP assistance, 2) UAD had the best plugs around (they are still good but there are many equal quality choices now) OK I'll shut up now.
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Rob[at]Sound-Rehab
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 15:59:12
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Thanks all. That was exactly the kind of feedback I was aiming to get. Gives me things to think about and eventually demo. Any more ideas - thoughts - controversies ... I'd take it ;-)
GOOD TUNES LAST FOREVER +++ Visit the Rehab +++ DAW: Platinum/X3e, win10 64 bit, i7-3930K (6x3.2GHz), Asus Sabertooth X79, 32 GB DDR3 1600MHz, ATI HD 5450, 120 GB SSD OCZ Agility3, 2x 1TB WD HDD SATA 600 Audio-Interface: 2x MOTU 1248 AVB, Focusrite OctoPre, (Roland Octa-Capture) Control-Surface: VS-700C VSTi: WAVES, NI K10u, FabFilter, IK, ... (too many really)
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Dave Modisette
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 16:11:22
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I'm mostly using the UAD-2 with the usual suspects - LA2A, LA3A, 1177, Pultec Pro EQ, Cooper Time Cube, Fairchild etc. I also use the Waves CLA compressors which is more of the same when I run out of UAD muscle. I like the Slate Virtual Tape Machine a lot. EareVerb by EarReckon is my goto verb. I have the Waves Gold collection and I'm starting to use pieces of that from time to time. I think the Cakewalk ProChannel plugins are good when I'm working in SONAR X2 but I can't use those in Samplitude Pro X.
post edited by Mod Bod - 2013/05/10 18:34:17
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clintmartin
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 16:23:20
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I'm basically using the tools within Sonar X2 to mix. Once I'm happy I'll export the project and finish it off in T-racks Deluxe (It's not neccessary to export, but I like to). Fab Filter is some great stuff. Ozone 5 and T-racks are more my speed as far as cost goes. I think it's easy to underate the tools in Pro channel. I know have been quilty of it.
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IK Obi
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 16:53:05
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batsbrew
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 17:15:49
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Sonico
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 17:25:09
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I use waves CLA Compressors, SSL, API, Vintage, and JJP analog legends collections for eq and compressors. That and the Softube Tube-Tech Cl 1b.
Desktop: Intel Core i7 3.60Ghz, 16 GB Ram Windows 10 64bit Laptop: Intel i5 2.3Ghz, 6GB Ram Windows 10 64bit Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Presonus Faderport My Music
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The Band19
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 22:57:29
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Fabfilter and Izotope all the way baby.
Sittin downtown in a railway station one toke over the line.
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vintagevibe
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 23:10:07
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Mod Bod I'm mostly using the UAD-2 with the usual suspects - LA2A, LA3A, 1177, Pultec Pro EQ, Cooper Time Cube, Fairchild etc. The only thing I miss from my UAD is the Pultec Pro. I REALLY wish IK would add the mid bands like the UAD.
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Jeff Evans
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/10 23:57:54
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Kev999
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/11 01:13:38
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FreeFlyBertl Well, I had an eye on the UAD stuff, but their arsenal is large and too pricy to buy the entire suite... Although some of UAD's plugins are very overpriced, their cheaper ones are really good quality too. Even some of their free ones (e.g. RealVerb) make a UAD card worth having, if you can pick one up for a reasonable price.
SonarPlatinum∞(22.11.0.111)|Mixbus32C(4.3.19)|DigitalPerformer(9.5.1)|Reaper(5.77)FractalDesign:DefineR5|i7-6850k@4.1GHz|16GB@2666MHz-DDR4|MSI:GamingProCarbonX99a|Matrox:M9148(x2)|UAD2solo(6.5.2)|W7Ult-x64-SP1 Audient:iD22+ASP800|KRK:VXT6|+various-outboard-gear|+guitars&basses, etc. Having fun at work lately
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vintagevibe
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/11 13:44:35
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Kev999 FreeFlyBertl Well, I had an eye on the UAD stuff, but their arsenal is large and too pricy to buy the entire suite... Although some of UAD's plugins are very overpriced, their cheaper ones are really good quality too. Even some of their free ones (e.g. RealVerb) make a UAD card worth having, if you can pick one up for a reasonable price. Those giveaway plugs are only average and will cost you at $300 and you will be limited as to how many you can run at once. For $300 you could get the Waves Ren Maxx bundle, Softybe Mix bundle or T-Racks. Much better quality and bang for buck IMO.
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Kev999
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Re:high quality mixing plug-ins (UAD vs. other options)
2013/05/11 20:15:57
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vintagevibe Kev999 ...a UAD card worth having, if you can pick one up for a reasonable price. ...will cost you at $300... That's why I mentioned reasonable price. Recently, since the release of the Octo card, there have been a few used UAD-solo cards available. I picked one up for $160.
SonarPlatinum∞(22.11.0.111)|Mixbus32C(4.3.19)|DigitalPerformer(9.5.1)|Reaper(5.77)FractalDesign:DefineR5|i7-6850k@4.1GHz|16GB@2666MHz-DDR4|MSI:GamingProCarbonX99a|Matrox:M9148(x2)|UAD2solo(6.5.2)|W7Ult-x64-SP1 Audient:iD22+ASP800|KRK:VXT6|+various-outboard-gear|+guitars&basses, etc. Having fun at work lately
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