UA Spark

[Kurt Cowling]

Anyone jump on this deal from UAudio? Native versions (no UA hardware needed) of a selection of plugins plus native versions of any plugins you already own. It’s a subscription. I might go for it as I had a bunch of UA plugs I owned on a PCI system that I haven’t been able to use since 2016.

[James Steele]

Anyone jump on this deal from UAudio? Native versions (no UA hardware needed) of a selection of plugins plus native versions of any plugins you already own. It’s a subscription. I might go for it as I had a bunch of UA plugs I owned on a PCI system that I haven’t been able to use since 2016.

I receiving that mailing as well! Very interesting indeed. I was going to post about it here, but I'm glad you beat me to it!

I recall that I might have seen some verbage on their site implying that native plugs might be available on a individual basis (no subscription) to replace the hardware-dependent plugs a user might already have purchased. That's good news to me as I'm really hoping to retire my MacPro5,1 this year in favor of some flavor of Mac Studio and if I don't have to buy a Thunderbolt Satellite unit to keep running my UA plug-ins, that would be good news. I might WANT to down the line, but it might be that the Mac Studio will have the horsepower to run these native and eliminate (at at least, delay) the need for dedicated DSP.

I also can't help but read this as UA saw the "writing on the wall" in terms of their business model where their plugs were tied to dedicated hardware. The potential power presented by Apple Silicon is probably pushing them in this direction. I guess if they can make the sound as good or better than the DSP-dependent versions of their plugs, they'll be fine. Also, I can see them trying to push the subscription model, because my impression of the native plug-in marketplace is that the average price of plug-ins is lower than what UA charges for their hardware-dependent plugs. If they're going to have to start swimming in the native waters, they're going to have to compete with what's out there.

[James Steele]

Just saw this. Haven’t watched yet.

UPDATE: Just watched. According to the video all static plugs pass the null test.

[nk_e]

Anyone jump on this deal from UAudio? Native versions (no UA hardware needed) of a selection of plugins plus native versions of any plugins you already own. It’s a subscription. I might go for it as I had a bunch of UA plugs I owned on a PCI system that I haven’t been able to use since 2016.

I receiving that mailing as well! Very interesting indeed. I was going to post about it here, but I'm glad you beat me to it!

I recall that I might have seen some verbage on their site implying that native plugs might be available on a individual basis (no subscription) to replace the hardware-dependent plugs a user might already have purchased. That's good news to me as I'm really hoping to retire my MacPro5,1 this year in favor of some flavor of Mac Studio and if I don't have to buy a Thunderbolt Satellite unit to keep running my UA plug-ins, that would be good news. I might WANT to down the line, but it might be that the Mac Studio will have the horsepower to run these native and eliminate (at at least, delay) the need for dedicated DSP.

I also can't help but read this as UA saw the "writing on the wall" in terms of their business model where their plugs were tied to dedicated hardware. The potential power presented by Apple Silicon is probably pushing them in this direction. I guess if they can make the sound as good or better than the DSP-dependent versions of their plugs, they'll be fine. Also, I can see them trying to push the subscription model, because my impression of the native plug-in marketplace is that the average price of plug-ins is lower than what UA charges for their hardware-dependent plugs. If they're going to have to start swimming in the native waters, they're going to have to compete with what's out there.

I think you are absolutely spot on about the “writing on the wall” thing.

I signed up for the free trial opening day, but have yet to successfully connect with the servers for any amount of time. UAD says all should be well by 4 April, but are being evasive on whether or not they will extend the trial period. In the meantime, I have not been able to “try” anything.

It’s also unclear as to whether or not you need a subscription to get the plugin equivalents. The literature says/implies that you do not, but in trying to get the equivalents, I needed to sign up for a subscription. Might just be a launch day rough edges sort of thing. There would be howls from the existing community if they required us to pay a subscription for the plugins we already own at a premium price. (Free is the best. I could understand a small nominal fee for the native versions. But requiring a subscription would be a non starter here.)

Hopefully they get it fixed. I’m currently running a PCI uad2 in a breakout box. It’s finally stable. But when I move to Apple Silicon, it will be nice to be able to take UAD with me without a breakout box.

[tremo]

It’s also unclear as to whether or not you need a subscription to get the plugin equivalents. The literature says/implies that you do not, but in trying to get the equivalents, I needed to sign up for a subscription. Might just be a launch day rough edges sort of thing. There would be howls from the existing community if they required us to pay a subscription for the plugins we already own at a premium price. (Free is the best. I could understand a small nominal fee for the native versions. But requiring a subscription would be a non starter here.)

There's a long thread on GS, with a UA rep participating, where it's been clarified that for the UAD plugins you own, you will get free native versions as they become available. They'll be authorized via iLok. UAD plugin owners (and therefore, UAD hardware owners) won't have to pay a subscription fee, although it looks like you'll need to use the Spark app to download your native plugs. As a UAD customer you should find a Spark account (not a subscription!) already set up for you at the UA site.

But you're right, things are a bit chaotic now because of UA getting "hammered" (their word) with traffic.

[Killahurts]

There's a long thread on GS, with a UA rep participating, where it's been clarified that for the UAD plugins you own, you will get free native versions as they become available. They'll be authorized via iLok.

This is GREAT news! My UAD Quad PCIe is nearly 12 years old. When I got the new Mac Pro a couple years ago, I remember wishing for this very thing because the computer can run rings around that old card in its sleep, and because it's only a matter time..

Ilok is my licensing weapon of choice, so that's cool too.

That null test above gave me an idea- I have a couple plugins that are both on UAD, and from Plugin Alliance. I think the Elysia Alpha Compressor is one. I may do a null test to see if those are actually 1:1 (PA told me they were).

[nk_e]

There's a long thread on GS, with a UA rep participating, where it's been clarified that for the UAD plugins you own, you will get free native versions as they become available. They'll be authorized via iLok.

This is GREAT news! My UAD Quad PCIe is nearly 12 years old. When I got the new Mac Pro a couple years ago, I remember wishing for this very thing because the computer can run rings around that old card in its sleep, and because it's only a matter time..

Ilok is my licensing weapon of choice, so that's cool too.

That null test above gave me an idea- I have a couple plugins that are both on UAD, and from Plugin Alliance. I think the Elysia Alpha Compressor is one. I may do a null test to see if those are actually 1:1 (PA told me they were).

Please post your results! I'd be interested to know myself...

[nk_e]

Just an update: Everything is downloading and installing now!

Also, the trial begins with the installation of the plugins, not the creation of the subscription account. I'm showing 14 days of trial time left even though this stuff has been "in process" the last several days.

Cheers all.

[dix]

I ignored the UA email about this, and this thread at first, thinking UA were just trying to sell me a subscription. But wow! This is big, good news.

I wish they’d done it before I bought a gd Thunderbolt satellite, but still welcome none the less. The tb satellite sort of felt like a $700 dongle at this point, since the M1 Max didn’t need the processing help. Removing complexity from my system will be worthwhile in the long run. ….even if I’m out the $. the cost of doing business i reckon.

[HCMarkus]

I was ready to simply abandon UA; my UA plugins are limited in number and I just don't really need them. That said, if I can get gratis native versions of the few I regularly use, I would be happy.

BTW, still "Rosetta-required".

[dix]

BTW, still "Rosetta-required".

Very weird considering the non-natives are UB. I guess I’ll wait to use them, since I do have a satellite.