UAD-1 Plugs

From what I hear the Fairchild plug is about as good as a simulation gets. Probably more useful for the money than the Pultec plug.

IMO EQ plugs are not as dramatically distinct one from the other as compressor plugs. None of them sound like great hardware, they just mimic the curves as you "twist" the "dials." If it mimics the curve of a $50K piece of hardware, who cares? It's not very exciting. There are much cheaper EQ plugs with their own curves that don't result in a track any less vital. What I want in an EQ plug is that I like the way the controls work so I can get results fast, period.

However, if a plug mimics the compression characteristics of a $100K compressor (not to mention one weighing ~200 lbs), THAT's sxciting. For my money I'd want excitement!

 

FWIW, I hardly ever use the Cambridge, but use the Pultec, LA2a, and Pultec-Pro all the time.

 

Can the UAD plugs be purchased/downloaded to a computer where you burn them on a CD and install on an off-line computer?
I'm trying to use a PC without internet access if possible. thanks

 

>>IMO EQ plugs are not as dramatically distinct one from the other as compressor plugs. None of them sound like great hardware, they just mimic the curves as you "twist" the "dials." If it mimics the curve of a $50K piece of hardware, who cares? It's not very exciting. There are much cheaper EQ plugs with their own curves that don't result in a track any less vital. <<

I'm not sure i agree (although i'm super biased in favor of the UAD). The Pultec, for example, will add a certain something (coloration? mojo?) when simply strapped across a mix, "on" but EQ not engaged. (discounting the roughly 1 dB boost this will cause through careful gain compensation). There are a couple of long threads on just this aspect of the Pultec plug on the UAD Forum. Some folks do the same with the Fairchild (which is obviously not an eq).

As to having to pick 2 UAD plugs, that's a toughy. It would depend on the nature of what you'll be mixing most of the time.

I use the LA2A a lot, but it's a bit billowy and slow, which is where the 1176 comes in. I'd probably pick the Fairchild above both, but not without 2nd thoughts.

I use the Cambridge a LOT, much more than the Pultec, which i also love.

Then again, i've not heard a plate from any software, plug or rack, that delivers the goods like the UAD EMT Plate.

[Next up, the Space Echo. bastards! I'm keeping mine for some head to head comparisons...]

 

OK, makes sense. A plug will still process the audio even with the dials at zero, therefore some degradation will occur. Maybe they even modeled that zeroed out state to sound like a Pultec, who knows. If it's a pleasant "something" to your ears that''s all that matters.

 

Can the UAD plugs be purchased/downloaded to a computer where you burn them on a CD and install on an off-line computer?
I'm trying to use a PC without internet access if possible. thanks