Urs tape saturation

[Xzault]

I am demoing this plug and it seems really good, anyone else try this out yet ?

[Dan Worley]

I have it and use it and I've been extremely happy with it.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[Kubi]

URS Saturation 2.5 is indispensable for me. I use literally about two dozen instances or more on every project. A game changer.

[labman]

Superb

[Xzault]

I just bought it, I really like it I'm using if for my master track using the buss presets and tweaking them, how are u guys using it

[Dan Worley]

I use it on individual tracks mostly.

But, you know, whatever sounds good. I've used it on sub busses, too.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[mhschmieder]

We discussed it a few months ago, but maybe not in a dedicated thread. You might search for that as several people who own and use the plug had some helpful advice regarding best practices.

I personally found that it colours and distorts the material in every case, even at light settings, so decided not to buy it. I like to preserve the overall integrity of the spectral footprint of material, even with saturation.

I'm finding tape saturation in iZotope Alloy, while imperfect, adds the warmth I'm looking for, with minimal impact on the overall frequency content.

Certainly this plug is the most complete in its coverage of tube saturation. The Nomad Factory one is probably the most complete in covering tape saturation. I never tried that one, but it was part of several recent too-cheap-to-be-true sales on overall plug-in suites.

I think this URS plug is on sale until end of February, as the earlier sale got extended.

[Phil O]

..I personally found that it colours and distorts the material in every case, even at light settings, so decided not to buy it...

I must agree. I listened to the audio samples on their website and they just sounded bad to me. The "before" sounded better than the "after."
I dunno, maybe it's just me.

Phil

[Dan Worley]

..I personally found that it colours and distorts the material in every case, even at light settings, so decided not to buy it...

I must agree. I listened to the audio samples on their website and they just sounded bad to me. The "before" sounded better than the "after."
I dunno, maybe it's just me.

Once you work with this plug-in you learn how to dial it in. It's like any other tool: You need to spend some time with it to learn how and when to use it and all its idiosyncrasies. The presets can be a bit heavy handed but they give you the overall sense and flavor of that particular saturation and then you dial it up or down or around from there. It's a combination or melding of the different levels and flavors of saturations that make it special, not so much a per instrument/track basis.

At least that's what I've experienced.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[KEVORKIAN]

..I personally found that it colours and distorts the material in every case, even at light settings, so decided not to buy it...

I must agree. I listened to the audio samples on their website and they just sounded bad to me. The "before" sounded better than the "after."
I dunno, maybe it's just me.

Phil

You can't trust those demos. I get much nicer results working with the plugin on my system.
I consider it to be pretty subtle. I generally use it on Rock and Electronic material though so those sources are already somewhat complex with distortions.

My new favorite is Soundtoys' Decapitator (currently in a free beta). On subtle settings it adds a sense of depth and darkness to the signal that is really amazing.

[dix]

..I personally found that it colours and distorts the material in every case, even at light settings, so decided not to buy it...

I must agree. I listened to the audio samples on their website and they just sounded bad to me. The "before" sounded better than the "after."
I dunno, maybe it's just me.

Phil

I can't find the examples on their website. Can someone please provide a link?

Thanks

[Dan Worley]

..I personally found that it colours and distorts the material in every case, even at light settings, so decided not to buy it...

I must agree. I listened to the audio samples on their website and they just sounded bad to me. The "before" sounded better than the "after."
I dunno, maybe it's just me.

Phil

I can't find the examples on their website. Can someone please provide a link?

Thanks

I don't know where those are. I've never heard them. I would suggest downloading the demo and giving it a spin. The true test will be using it on the tracks you're working on.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[mhschmieder]

Haha, I got worse results dialing things in myself than what I heard of their on-line demos. Guess I have a lot to learn about using sat plugs.

[KEVORKIAN]

Haha, I got worse results dialing things in myself than what I heard of their on-line demos. Guess I have a lot to learn about using sat plugs.

There is nothing to learn on the URS plugin. You either like the results you get or you don't. That said, I believe that the source material matters very much with the use of saturation plugs. We all record differently and in many cases for different audiences so what is acceptable within a mix is highly subjective. I find that in a dense rock/metal mix that the character it imparts is very favorable. If the surrounding instruments were cleaner then I might feel differently.

[mhschmieder]

That may answer it then, as I work very rarely in the Metal and Rock genres.

I will be recording a few local Metal bands later this year -- originally planned for late last year but there was some personnel upheaval so things had to be delayed.

Maybe I should look into this for that context. I already know the guitarist, who is quite young (and poor), wants much of the processing and effecting to be ITB vs. recording a Marshall stack with Godlyke pedals.