UAD 1/2 favorite plugs

[mazz]

First off, great idea for a section, thanks Michael!!

Well, the UAD 2 card from Universal Audio is one of my go to pieces on every one of my mixes after I've finished composing.

For those that don't know, the UAD 2 card is a PCI card that goes in your computer and runs special plug ins so your CPU doesn't have to. The first version cards, the UAD 1 are still available but some of the newer plug ins won't run on it, but the bread and butter ones will. Check eBay for used ones. They have a laptop version as well now.

Universal Audio has modeled several classic processors incredibly well and having the ability to load up a rack full of Fairchild compressors (30 grand if you can find one!!!) is awesome!!

Anyway, UAD users, list your favorite "go to" UAD plugs. Here's mine in no particular order:

Fairchild compressor
1176 compressor
LA2A compressor
EMT plate reverb
Roland Space Echo
Roland Dimension D
Precision Maximizer
Pultec Pro Eq (use it a ton!!)
Moog filter
SSL buss compressor
Neve 1173 eq

UAD is some of the best stuff I've found to fatten up and give some analog juice to tracks and mixes.

Mazz

[matto]

Neve 1073 EQ
Harrison 32 EQ
Pultec EQ
EMT Plate
LA-2A Compressor
1176 Compressor
VCA VU Compressor
Fairchild Compressor

Precision Buss Compressor
Precision Limiter

These are in almost all of my sessions, the latter two on the master bus...

UAD stuff is killer, highly recommended...

[eeoo]

I lust after the UAD stuff but I have an imac, no pci slots...oh well. eo.

[jh]

Cambridge EQ
UAD 1176SE Compressor
Phasor
Precision Limiter

Fairchild and Pulteq are really nice but
they eat up a lot of HP. (I have UAD-1).

When I´ll get the UAD-2, I´m sure
my list of favorites will look a lot different

brw. Have you guys tried using EMT 140
in mono? Soooo RETRO That´s way cool

On lead vocals I´m (almost) always using
1176 (the "black version").
Attack: "a little over" 6
Release: between 5&7
Ratio: 12
In Cubase I put it in slot 6 or 7 and ride the fader to
control the amount of compression.
(In Cubase slots 6 and 7 are post fader slots)
This is actually "a trick" I learned from an
old school engineer I really recommend
giving it a try.

- JH

[rnrmachine]

I am jealous in a good way though, happy for you guys to have those. I do have some waves stuff that I use which I am glad to have. I will eventually get a UAD card, but I have to priortize until the royalty checks start to add up to something significant. hehe

I do have the SSL 4000 channel from waves, which I understand is in the UAD line up. Do any of you have both and can compare them? I do really like the Buss Comp too, that came with the package.

Rob

[mazz]

On lead vocals I´m (almost) always using
1176 (the "black version").
Attack: "a little over" 6
Release: between 5&7
Ratio: 12
In Cubase I put it in slot 6 or 7 and ride the fader to
control the amount of compression.
(In Cubase slots 6 and 7 are post fader slots)
This is actually "a trick" I learned from an
old school engineer I really recommend
giving it a try.

- JH

That sounds like a cool trick! Great tip!

The only thing is, I think you mean "pre fader". If it were post fader, you'd be changing the level of the entire track, but with pre fader, you would be able to dial in the amount of the uncompressed signal by riding the fader, but the compressed signal would always be heard. At least that's the way pre fader works on a "non virtual" mixer if I remember correctly! (some days better than others!! )

[elser]

Pultec Pro
Neve 1073
LA 2A
4k Buss Compressor

and really want the Plate Reverb and the Boss Chorus pedal when funds allow.

Anybody found a use for poor old Nigel?

[jh]

The only thing is, I think you mean "pre fader". If it were post fader, you'd be changing the level of the entire track, but with pre fader, you would be able to dial in the amount of the uncompressed signal by riding the fader, but the compressed signal would always be heard. At least that's the way pre fader works on a "non virtual" mixer if I remember correctly! (some days better than others!! )

Ummm...I think you got the idea, but...

No, I didn´t mean pre-fader. Pre fader means "before the fader" and post fader means "after the fader". And the whole idea is
that the compression is happening "after the fader". That way you can automate the signal before it gets to the compressor.
Usually vocals are so dynamic that a static setting doesn´t work that well.

- JH

[jh]

Anybody found a use for poor old Nigel?

Yeah...well a part of it. I´m using the phasor.

[mazz]

The only thing is, I think you mean "pre fader". If it were post fader, you'd be changing the level of the entire track, but with pre fader, you would be able to dial in the amount of the uncompressed signal by riding the fader, but the compressed signal would always be heard. At least that's the way pre fader works on a "non virtual" mixer if I remember correctly! (some days better than others!! )

Ummm...I think you got the idea, but...

No, I didn´t mean pre-fader. Pre fader means "before the fader" and post fader means "after the fader". And the whole idea is
that the compression is happening "after the fader". That way you can automate the signal before it gets to the compressor.
Usually vocals are so dynamic that a static setting doesn´t work that well.

- JH

I'm familiar with the terms, I'm just trying to understand the routing in your particular usage. I'm not a Cubase user either, in my Daw I can specify if a send is pre or post fader. So are you riding the send or the fader? Inquiring minds want to know!