Charlemagne Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Hello, So far I've only been using the Logic plugins along with software synths for my productions (apart from guitars and vocals which are through a UA 6176). I tried out IKMultimedia's T-Racks plug-ins, but I didn't really find them all that different than the stock Logic ones (slightly different color on the vintage emulations, but only if I tried to hear for that and even then, it was barely there in my opinion). And I've read that plenty of people are using just Logic plugins to mix (like Greg Kurstin on the last Lily Allen record). So my question is are the UAD plugins worth it and if so, why? What makes them better than the Logic plugins? I'd be looking at the UAD 2 Solo laptop card btw if I went that route. Cheers, C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkgross Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I have a UAD 2 Quad card. LOVE IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonwagner Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 The UAD stuff not only gives you massive horse power the plug ins sound freaking amazing. So worth the money imo. There really is no way to compare the neve channel strip to any of the eq or compressors in the logic plug ins. Don't get me wrong they are great but the Neve and other plug ins from UA are just so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashermusic Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 They are great. They have more "mojo" if you will than the Logic plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlemagne Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 Thanks - so they are "great", but in what way? In what way are they better than the Logic plugins? What exactly is "mojo"? They color the sound in a pleasant way? Is that a better sound or just a different sound? The CPU-saving aspect is one good point (although is a UAD 2 Solo good enough for that)? Appreciate the help guys! Trying to figure this out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fader8 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Thanks - so they are "great", but in what way? In what way are they better than the Logic plugins? Could you be more specific about which UAD plugs you're interested in? Tough to go into detail about all of them. But if you pick a few it'd be easier to discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlemagne Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 Say the Cambridge or Precision EQs vs. the Logic EQs (since I support all of these are supposed to be clean)? Are the UAD ones better and if so why? I've read numerous threads about digital eqs being pretty much the same in terms of sound. Now what about the Neve and Pultec EQs? Or say the LA-2A vs. Logic's Opto compressor mode or the Transient Designer vs. Enveloper? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fader8 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Say the Cambridge or Precision EQs vs. the Logic EQs (since I support all of these are supposed to be clean)? Are the UAD ones better and if so why? Better? Hmm, no. Different is a better word. Cambridge has an unsurpassed selection of LP/HP filters but its clinical approach to peak filtering is similar to Logic's EQ. Precision EQ has a great interface for mastering work. Not sure how they're doing the math differently, but for the same settings the Prec EQ sounds less brittle than either Logic's channel EQ or the Cambridge. I've read numerous threads about digital eqs being pretty much the same in terms of sound. Now what about the Neve and Pultec EQs? Definitely different animals with those. Tailored phase response and bandwidth even at null settings, asymmetrical filters and different gain/Q coupling, peak/trough asymmetry. Q changes with frequency, etc. A very different user experience. Some filtering articles I have in process here: http://fader8.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=44 Or say the LA-2A vs. Logic's Opto compressor mode or the Transient Designer vs. Enveloper? I don't think the LA2A and Logic's optical comp compare, really. If a track calls for this kind of dynamics, I can get the sound I want with the LA2A. I love the enveloper plug, but it's very clinical. That's a good thing most of the time, but the SPL Transient Designer tends to be more musically applicable sometimes. The SPL TD has some kind of smart release shape going on if I'm not mistaken. Some of the other plugs in the UAD arsenal don't have Logic counterparts, like the LittleLabs IBP, Fatso, Precision Enhancer, Precision Maximizer, (which I prefer to the Sonnox Inflator) all of which are very good if that suits your production style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlemagne Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Thanks fader8 - the articles on that site are REALLY helpful. Thank you for doing them!! I understand better how the UAD plugins are different. I guess without trying them it is hard to fully grasp whether I need them and how I would utilize them in a mix (for example, do I stop using Logic plugins all together or do I substitute in the UAD ones when I need some color - and then how much color is enough, etc.). Also, it is hard to really grasp why they are more "musical" as you pointed out. Maybe I'll find a used UAD 2 laptop card sometime in the future... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamthecrank Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Thanks for that synopsis, Fader8. I wish there was some way for me to integrate the UAD plugs with my iMac, but alas... nope. Not right now, anyway. Do you have any experience with the new Waves version of the LA-2A? I could actually use that plugin (since it doesn't require a PCI card or expansion slot like the UAD's) .. but haven't read much about the experience. http://www.waves.com/Content.aspx?id=5250 cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teta Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Hey Charlemagne, if you go and get that UAD Solo Laptop, let us know what you think. I have been thinking about getting one, but havent yet invested in it. Would be nice to know if its worth it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fader8 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Do you have any experience with the new Waves version of the LA-2A? No. While I have a few Waves plugs, I tend to avoid them as the cost of ownership of those plugs is prohibitive. I have 2 of their small bundles, out of which there are 2 plug-ins that I like to use. Yet when I move to Leopard, I'll have to fork over about 300 USD to Waves to make these 2 plugs work again. Considering I already had to do that a couple years ago already, these 3 simple plugs are becoming the most expensive bits of software on my Mac! Given the selection of plugs available from other firms that are as good or often better, Waves is getting phased out here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electronathan Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Some of the other plugs in the UAD arsenal don't have Logic counterparts, like the LittleLabs IBP, Fatso, Precision Enhancer, Precision Maximizer, (which I prefer to the Sonnox Inflator) all of which are very good if that suits your production style. I love the Inflator but recently I decided to switch things up on a drum bus, so I used Logic's AdLim set to OptFit instead and I was pleased with the results. I find with 3rd party plug-ins you get them and love them and explore them like crazy.... and then you go back to the stock plug-ins. That's my experience anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikromero10 Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I have a question about the UAD 2- Solo as well..... I know it made for the lappy, but I read that I can buy the UAD Xtenda and also use it in my Mac Pro. Is that true? Also, whats the difference between the UAD-2 Solo, the UAD Xpander Xpress, and the UAD Xpander Xpert???? Thanks in advance troops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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