Universal Audio (think twice before investing)

[tridelica]

It seems that the evolution of computer audio will be toward more native processing, and less proprietary hardware-based processing. This sounds cliched, but the end listener does not care which flavor of virtual Neve preamp is coloring the song they are listening to, especially if it is a busy pop or rock mix. In fact, some modern songs sound big on pasted-on color, and small on authenticity.

Tracking through effects like UAD seems to defeat the purpose of software plugins, which is to avoid making tracking mistakes that cannot be undone. No matter how great a plugin sounds during tracking - even if it emulates a holy grail, unobtanium, once-in-a-lifetime audio contraption from yesteryear - it often doesn't sound so good come mixdown time.

[bluedot]

I wanted to love the UAD ecosystem. I was using an Apogee Element, and heard so many good things about tracking through the UAD plugins - I picked up an Apollo 8 and an octocore processor. I am on Mac, using thunderbolt.

I compose for film, and when not - I have this pesky habit of making complex electronica with 40+ tracks. I work in Ableton Live - and only use Pro Tools for deliveries when I must.

There I was, mixing away - and CRASH. A cryptic UAD error. I couldn't figure out what plugin to turn off as the error didn't tell me which one was in bork mode. It dropped everything. Locked up. Not just the plugin, not just the octobox - but the whole system. To pour some salt in my wounds, it mangled the Ableton Live file (First time in 10+ years!). I couldn't even reopen it.

After a couple reboots - I unplugged the UAD Apollo and octobrick - plugged my Apogee back in, and I was able to load the file.

The Apollo was back in the box that night - and the Octobrick for sale on Reverb.

I'm using a Motu 828es currently. I love its software, but I miss the bullet proof stability of the Apogee. I think I will go back soon.

[Arpangel]

I'm using a Motu 828es currently. I love its software, but I miss the bullet proof stability of the Apogee. I think I will go back soon.

I’m using an 828, been using it for years, rock solid, never crashed, just gets on with it.
Quality is fine, more than good enough for any application, I’ve never had a reason to think about buying anything else, more to the point, it’s also very reasonably priced.

[bluedot]

I’m using an 828, been using it for years, rock solid, never crashed, just gets on with it.
Quality is fine, more than good enough for any application, I’ve never had a reason to think about buying anything else, more to the point, it’s also very reasonably priced.

Is it the es thunderbolt version? Mine goes out of sync occasionally and sometimes gets crackly. A quick reboot solves it. About once a week it occurs, but for $900 - what a deal. It sounds as good as the Apogee did to me. I appreciate having the MIDI. I had used a couple 828 MKII for a decade until FW800 got flakey with adapters from the new macs.

[dbfs]

I have no problems with uad, I have tried with a quad, sold it. Then bought an octo, tried it and sold it. recently tried an octo again and returned it. Im fine with native. To me I could there somerhing I did not like with uad sound. It actuallt annoys me slightly that I can't see why some many love the uad plugins.

I must say though that the uad plugins never gave me any problems.

[MOF]

I’ve been using a secondhand UAD Silver face Apollo Core2 duo (for a number of years), originally on Firewire, then Thunderbolt (when I upgraded my iMac) and I’ve been very pleased with it, no issues. I recently upgraded to the X4.

[ets]

I have a first generation firewire Apollo. I got it when it first came out several years ago and have never had any issues at all. That said, I have assiduously resisted the sales and come ons for buying their plugs, with a few exceptions. TBH, my plug ins are not the weak link in my music production chain, and I have a problem seeing past their wildly skeuomorphic interfaces to the actual sound of the plug. Its better for my listening not to have a faux aged set of dials or spinning tape machine and pseudo VU meters, and just to listen. So when the time comes to replace the UA, I will look more at the quality of the A/D and preamps, and probably save myself several hundred bucks by not buying a UAD.

[Arpangel]

I’m using an 828, been using it for years, rock solid, never crashed, just gets on with it.
Quality is fine, more than good enough for any application, I’ve never had a reason to think about buying anything else, more to the point, it’s also very reasonably priced.

Is it the es thunderbolt version? Mine goes out of sync occasionally and sometimes gets crackly. A quick reboot solves it. About once a week it occurs, but for $900 - what a deal. It sounds as good as the Apogee did to me. I appreciate having the MIDI. I had used a couple 828 MKII for a decade until FW800 got flakey with adapters from the new macs.

Mine is a bog satandard 828 MK11, I’m running it connected through a FireWire to Thunderbolt lead, it’s always worked fine, not one issue so far, touch wood!
I only got it because it was given to me free of charge, free things always sound better anyway!

[ConcertinaChap]

After a couple reboots - I unplugged the UAD Apollo and octobrick - plugged my Apogee back in, and I was able to load the file.

Interesting the way these things work. Personally I'm very happy with my UAD gear but wouldn't touch Apogee with an unusually long barge pole. Reason being the way they dropped support for the Apogee Ensemble like a red hot steel ingot when Apple dropped support for Firewire thus cutting the resale value of my unit in half overnight.

CC

[uselessoldman]

I think people must be COMPLETELY BONKERS to buy into their products. They remind me so much of the Apple marketing model, you buy our stuff cos we are who we are and we know u love us. To say you FORCED to pay a premium price for both their hardware and software is a massive UNDERSTATEMENT, its not exactly unique, but I use the word forced specifically cos as I said you have to be bonkers !!

[muzines]

No one is FORCING anyone to buy anything.

If you don't like a product, or can't justify paying the price the manufacturer is asking, you don't buy it. UA are not going to send the boys round and break a few legs because you didn't buy their latest plugin.

If *no one* buys the product, then maybe it's not an appealing product, or the price is too high - and the manufacturer will adjust accordingly or go out of business. Because UA *haven't* needed to do that, and are investing heavily into their UAD product line (for years), it would suggest business is good, and plenty of people are finding enough value in their products to buy them.

The good news is that these days, there are plenty of alternatives for most of them at a variety of more palatable price points (especially with all the sales).

[resistorman]

Back when computers were weak and add on processing cards made sense I bought a couple of Mackie UAD cards. I also bought the Focusrite Liquid Mix devices. They sounded great! But when machines and native plugins evolved and it was faster to render natively I felt trapped and cut my losses. I couldn't take any of those great sounding plugins with me... I got good work from them so only mild regrets. But I'd never invest in a closed system now... it's a golden age of algorithmic alchemists utilizing increasingly powerful native systems at shockingly good prices.