Plugin Deals and Discussion Thread

octatonic

AntonHunter said:

colourofsound said:

Free UAD 1176 until 28th: https://www.uaudio.com/ua-1176-classic-fet-compressor.html

I’m also tempted by the classic bundle; you can get it for £53 at the moment. Anyone use the native UAD stuff; is it decent?

I use the Logic built in plugins a bit; be good to know how they compared

I keep getting tempted by their bundles, but I just snag whatever freebie they're offering every six months. I'm enjoying their LA2A and Plate Verb, and occasionally using the Century Tube Channel Strip too.

Going to snag this one when I'm back at my computer, at least this way I can properly learn how to use it rather than just grabbing loads at once.

But yeah, I really rate what I've tried from UAD, and people I trust do too!

I have all the UAD plugins and several pieces of hardware that they model.
UA are the best at plugin modelling but there are differences.

For instance I have a pair of Distressors- the UA plugin doesn't react the same as my Distressors do.
Nor does the UA Fatso plugin.
or does the 1176LN

They are close and I, when I have time, can provide a bunch if sound examples to support this.

But this is why- every hardware compressor is going to have some small differences from every other hardware compressor, because that is how hardware works.
My Distressors are slightly different to one another, one is slightly higher output, which I can compensate for easily when working in stereo.
That is part of the fun of it.

I have 4x API 512 preamps here- they are all different ages and they sound a little different to each other.
The older ones have a softer top end.
Part of the joy for me with using analogue hardware is learning the small differences between each of my bits of kit. 
I have one API 527 that I really like on snare, one I prefer on bass etc.

Plugins always sound essentially the same, which is fine- they do the job.
But it isn't the same experience as using the hardware that they are modelling, at all.

I still use them, because I can't justify owning 20 x 1176's or 5 x LA2a's etc.
Using the UA plugins has lead me in the direction of buying the hardware though.
When i find a plugin I really, really like I usually end up buying the hardware.

roberty

I was using the UAD API 550B plug on every guitar track so I bought one

octatonic

roberty said:

I was using the UAD API 550B plug on every guitar track so I bought one

I prefer the 550A as a broad brush to work quickly but the 550B is really nice.

Check out the Neve 1084 (rather than the usual 1073) too.
The UA model of that plugin is actually pretty stellar- Eric Valentine talks through it on his channel.