Question: UAD Plugs and DP's bypass?

[James Steele]

Okay... new UAD-1 owner here. Project Pak so far and evaluating plugs. I have a question.

I'm listening to Plate 140 and it's quite cool. I put instance on an Aux and am using a send on a vocal track to buss it to the Plate 140 Aux. What's interesting is when Plate 140 is on the Aux, bypassing it by using DP's plug-in bypass button seems to retain some latency. The vocal sounds doubled. Yet if I use the Plate 140 on/off button to bypass the plug, no latency.

Also if Plate 140 is turned off with it's on/off button... if I click DP's plug-in bypass button, the doubling effect is there. I'm guessing that I'm hearing some sort of hardware latency due to the card when using DP's bypass?

[Frodo]

What's interesting is when Plate 140 is on the Aux, bypassing it by using DP's plug-in bypass button seems to retain some latency. The vocal sounds doubled. Yet if I use the Plate 140 on/off button to bypass the plug, no latency.

Also if Plate 140 is turned off with it's on/off button... if I click DP's plug-in bypass button, the doubling effect is there. I'm guessing that I'm hearing some sort of hardware latency due to the card when using DP's bypass?

Sounds like bypassing via DP also bypasses delay comp, but bypassing the plugin with the plugin leaves DP's comp intact.

[James Steele]

Ahhh... thanks... I thought that's what might be going on. It's a very, very slight doubling.

[Frodo]

Sure thing---


And by the way-- Welcome to UAD-1 world!

You may feel neither here nor there about Nigel (considering...), but I really love these plugins. I also love the way UAD-1 tech support treats its customers-- and the deals and incentives they offer all the time are great.

One day, you'll get an e-mail from them telling you that you have been given a $20 coupon if you want to buy another plugin. It could be more than that, even. I really love the fact that while coupons may expire, the UAD$ never expire and are usable on discounts as well. I went bonkers last month getting comps and will jump into some EQs before the sale runs out this month (I'd had over 800$UAD just sitting around collecting dust).

I really want a third card, now!!

[James Steele]

Thanks! I'm driving myself nuts now, wishing I'd waited and ordered the Flexi Pak... as I'm so torn as to which plugs I want to buy. I love Plate 140. I read how you said that Altiverb's 140 IR is pretty close, but I think Plate 140 is a bit more pleasant to my ear.

I spent an inordinate amount of time comparing Plate 140, CSR Plate, Altiverb's EMT 140 IR, and the PoCo MegaReverb. Plate 140 seems to top them all in terms of "density" and the ability to have more of the effect without "smearing" the sound.

As for the rest of the pack, it's hard to say as they all seem to suffer from a lack of dimension and depth when compared to Plate 140 and I'm sort of non-plussed now with all of them. So in away, the rest of them are almost a 3-way tie. If I had to give an order to the rest of the pack, I'd say Altiverb, MegaReverb, and Classik Studio Reverb Plate bring up the rear. But again, they're all tightly bunched, but behind 140.

Any way, I wish I'd never heard the darned thing... 140.... because I want it now. I also like Precision Limiter a lot, which is a bummer because I have T-RackS, Final and Inflator, but PL seems "cleaner." I did listen to Precision Maximizer, and although it gives some quick gratification, it strikes me as a Inflator-type plug, and something that as Hopiway wrote in another thread seems to have some artifacts... it could be useful in specific situations.

One eye-opener was the Neve 33096! It was very cool, but my God the processor usage. 66% of my single card with one instance! I'm using a G5 with one of those AMD controller chips that aren't ideal, so I don't know if I'd fair better otherwise. It could also be that I need to arrange my PCI cards differently. My PCI-424 is in the slot furthers from the AGP slot, and then comes the UAD, then the PoCo Element. I might be better off putting the UAD on the slot where the 424 is (which I think is it's own bus) and letting the 424 share with the PoCo.

Also, I don't know if the UAD-1 is PCI-X or just PCI. If the latter than it's okay where it is sharing a bus with the PoCo.

Oh well... I tend to babble. Having a good deal of fun. Also, I definitely hear a difference between the 1176SE and 1176LN on same settings on a vocal track. I'm going to have to let the 1176LN go for now as a purchase until later though. I've actually dialed in a usable setting on the PoCo VoiceStrip plug. Too bad I missed the compressor sale... I'm not lusting for EQs which is the November thing.

Any way... decisions... decisions. I want the Precision Limiter and the Plate 140 for sure. Next up... playing with the LA-2A demo. I don't know if I have the patience to wait and see if December will be the reverb special or not.

[James Steele]

Just did a little more of my reverb comparisons and feel I need to clarify. All the other verbs are very good and I feel like I was too harsh on CSR and the Altiverb Plate IR... they're all VERY GOOD and in some occasions, for effect, I'd prefer them perhaps, but honestly Plate 140 just has a little extra something the others don't that puts it out front for me.

[azusa749a]

James, as a guitarist how can you overlook Roland RE-201.
Of all the Neves, 88RS eats the least cpu. You can have many instances at same time.

[chrispick]

Thanks! I'm driving myself nuts now, wishing I'd waited and ordered the Flexi Pak... as I'm so torn as to which plugs I want to buy. I love Plate 140. I read how you said that Altiverb's 140 IR is pretty close, but I think Plate 140 is a bit more pleasant to my ear.

Yeah, the UAD Plate 140 stands above it, I think. I think it's a great reverb. Not perfect for all sources, but then what is? Mostly, it just sounds like rich, vocal plate. That's how I work it.

One eye-opener was the Neve 33096! It was very cool, but my God the processor usage. 66% of my single card with one instance!

Yeah, that plug is nuts. I'm not all that fond of it, in fact. It really only serves as two-buss comp, and I think it makes things sound a little bit boxy. The Neve EQs are really nice though.

Also, I definitely hear a difference between the 1176SE and 1176LN on same settings on a vocal track. I'm going to have to let the 1176LN go for now as a purchase until later though.

I think one can get good mileage out the 1176SE. The LN shines the most when pushed hard (like crunching kit overheads). Often, I'll start by throwing in the LN, then switching it with the SE later to see if it makes that much difference in the whole mix. Many times, the SE proves good enough.

Next up... playing with the LA-2A demo.

The LA2A is great on lead vocals. It's pretty much the de facto vocal comp in many studios, right? Easy to set too.

I wish I could afford a hardware 2A just for tracking vocals.

Anyway, make sure you test the LA3A too. It lacks the tube/analog vibe of the 2A (as it should, of course), but you can run a bunch of instances of it. And it sounds good on bass guitar tracks, I think. It's a lighter touch than the 1176s which impart a bit of edge to the sound (which is why I like them on guitars).

[James Steele]

James, as a guitarist how can you overlook Roland RE-201.

Money! Tell you the truth, I haven't listened to that demo, but up to this point I've been pretty happy with Audio Damage's DubStation for guitar delay. And also learning to just not have any.

The coolest thing I picked up on for a big lead guitar sound was mda Detune. I'm not sure if I heard about it from Chrispick. What I've found though is if you put Detune on an insert it's a little too wide and spread and the center falls out. So I put Detune on an Aux track, and then pan my lead guitar center, use a send to buss to the Detune aux and then bring up the Aux until it feels wide without feeling like the center is collapsed.

Of all the Neves, 88RS eats the least cpu. You can have many instances at same time.

Yeah, I messed with the demo of that too and it sounds cool. I just have limited funds to spend, so I think Precision Limiter and Plate 140 will get me started for now! Thanks for the suggestions!

[Yiannis]

1073 on bass.....

[James Steele]

Thanks Chris! I just dinged my credit card again and popped for the Plate 140. I now have that and the Precision Limiter. I'd love to get the LA-2A but I gotta stop for now before I'm completely broke!

[albertors]

Hey James, my studio is entirely UAD-powered so if you need anything just let me know.

I find myself using the ENABLE/DISABLE blue dot in DP's Tracks window. That button completely mutes the track AND unloads the UAD-1 plugin you are using from the DSP usage bar, completely.

The bypass button might save you some DSP power but it doesn't work all the time for me.

With one card you can easily complete the EQ process for drums, for example, and then bounce the tracks. At that point you DISABLE (=remove the blue button) those tracks inside the TRACKS window, in DP and you get all the DSP power back for the next mixing step. This allows you to keep the plugin in place, in the drums channel strip. No need to save/recall presets, open/close/apply/remove plugins etc. (although I constantly save presets in a specific song-related folder, just to make sure).

Just as it happened to me, you might benefit from the following, quick facts:

• 1073 - Fantastic on bass, can work wonders on drums as well, obviously such a fantastic EQ that you can use it for everything but those are its strong points;
• 1081 - Fantastic for drums, most prefer it to the already-excellent 1073 for this purpouse. Can work wonders on pretty much EVERYTHING and it's probably the one EQ that has the best combination of musicality in its sound, versatility and effectiveness.
• Helios - Truly magical. I love this EQ. Neves are the polite guy who studied jazz and talks chords to the band, this one is the "I don't know what I am playing pal, just figure it out for yourself" bandmate I've always loved because as most say 'it's all about the vibe'. This one works perfectly for everything, gives its best when you use it as a Boost EQ to get the meat out of everything. Drums and Guitars are probably among his best victims. Get this, like the Neves, and you'll make your DAW be a console, believe me. You'll never treat it as a multi-track digital space anymore.
• Pultec - Fantastic for vocals. Don't bother getting the pro, there's not much use for it and the normal version sounds fantastic already. This is a 2-band only but try and load it flat and listen to how it changes the sound. It colors it, yes, but it sounds good. It's one of those holy grails of mixing that can make everything sound better just by passing through the unit. The way it boosts or attenuates frequencies is fantastic. High frequencies problems like cymbals, sssibilants and general harshness can be tailored perfectly with this. I'd rather use this than a specific de-esser in the first place.
• Plate 140 - Easily recognized as one of the best reverbs available. Not an IR, not a VSS3, but wow, this thing does sound great by itself...truth is most people don't believe it can be better than other PowerCore verbs because it's so simple compared to those others that it tricks your mind. Get this and your reverb needs are done, for everything (especially considering the usefulness of RealVerb Pro).
• 1176LN and LA-2A - Get these. They work on everything, literarily. The first has more character and balls, the second is more transparent but with these two your channelstrip compression is 90% done.
• Fairchild - If this was an idol we should sacrifice a hundred animals every week to keep it quiet. It's FANTASTIC for guitars and bass, and also gives a fantastic compression like no other thing can do. It's dense but quite transparent if you want and enhances transients so smoothly. It's perfect for glueing things together, too.
  
  You want to use the Fairchild on a track that stands on most others, already..like a guitar solo, for example, or a strong melodic strumming acoustic guitar. If this track is already prominent in the mix and has to be put on top of others, the Fairchild puts in on a throne of importance BUT makes it respectful to the tracks below. The 1176LN and LA-2A are better for things that tend to be BELOW the mix but need to cut or nail through. LA-2A is perfect for vocals, nothing can beat it. 1176LN makes tracks cut like arrows through a wall of sound. It made my kicks, snares and Hammond organ bass lines appear in the mix so clearly with NO change in amplitude. I personally love it when the kick and snare cut through like nails but keep their place in the mix, even if there's a wall of distorted and effected sounds on top.
• Cambridge EQ - Beware: it can be hard to make it sound musical. This guy is surgical and gets into action when surgical things are needed. Musically speaking he's a tech, not an artist. The Helios and Neves are. Best High Pass and Low Pass EVER built into an EQ, fantastic for final mud-removal or frequency corrections (ever happened that the Overhead cymbals do not sound right? Cut a little around 5k with the Cambridge and that's it, makes it sound fantastically cleaner. Do this AFTER the Helios or Neves got the meat out of a sound.

These are the most important plugs I could write about in less than 5 minutes. UAD rules and I prefer it over PowerCore or Duendes. They are much more musical and "alive" than everything else on the market right now (although there are excellent plugs out there, as well!)

I've not tried the Precision EQ and Maximizers but the whole Mastering bundle is considered by professionals I know probably the best. It's the one bundle some pros have used, loved, then changed for new, more hype-y products..and I've listened to them talking to me like: "that kind of saturation, that kind of distortion, that kind of smooth EQ, that kind of etc.etc..still sounds to me as the most 'expensive, classy and musical'-sounding. I can only quote that because I haven't used them myself..but I have the guys who told me that into high consideration.

So when are you planning to buy your 2nd UAD? I am haunted by that..

[TnMike]

Anybody tracking "through" these AUD compressors/channelstrips or is the latency too much?
Not even sure if it is possible.
Thanks...

[TnMike]

UAD-1 ...sorry

[albertors]

I've used the Preflex (amp modeling from the Nigel plugins bundle) in the UAD for two guitarists during a tracking session. DP buffer set at 64. I didn't get any complaint. Actually they really loved the sound and went for it for their whole record.