UAD Precision Bundle

[Manolo Camp]

Fellaws

Years ago, i sold my UADs because of giving up everything blablayadayada.
Minutes ago i just buyed a UAD 1 Flexpack with a 500 $ Coupon *yippie* Will arrive in some days.

I believe the Precision Limiter beats my Waves L2, as i used it years ago. What do you think about the Precision MB Compressor, compared to the WAVES LinMB which i usually use in my Masterchannel?
I ask because the Precision Bundle costs exatly 500$ that fits the coupon.
I replace my WAVES Mastering Bundle without a squint of an eye (Online Translation) if the Precision Multiband does the work good.
Does someone use the Precision EQ?

Thanks in advance!

[D]

The Precision EQ IMHO is great. Perfect for the master buss, perfect for tracking. No color, just pure EQ.

[Manolo Camp]

Thanks D.
I just realized that there is a Precision Maximizer! I had good results with the LinMB+PrecisionLimiter instead of L2. But it seems as i raped the PrecisionLimiter as a 'Maximizer' !! Do i need the PLimiter if i get the Maximizer? I think the PrecisionMB and Limiter should do it on a K-12 Basis?
How does your Precise chain looks like?
I feel quite noobish now.

[D]

Thanks D.
I just realized that there is a Precision Maximizer! I had good results with the LinMB+PrecisionLimiter instead of L2. But it seems as i raped the PrecisionLimiter as a 'Maximizer' !! Do i need the PLimiter if i get the Maximizer? I think the PrecisionMB and Limiter should do it on a K-12 Basis?
How does your Precise chain looks like?
I feel quite noobish now.

A typical master buss mixdown might contain the Nebula2 or Nebula3 reverb (http://www.acusticaudio.net/), the Precision EQ, Neve 1073, and Helios 69. I might also use a Neve 33609, Pultec Pro.

Cheers.

[John Lance]

I just realized that there is a Precision Maximizer!

The Precision Maximizer is way different than the Precision Limiter and it is more of a coloration tool in my opinion.

When you get the new card and do your installation, read up in the pdf manual on the plugs in question and then enable the trial periods as needed on the items you want to try.

You'll get lots of information in just a comparatively few minutes worth of your time, and you'll be able to hear to your own satisfaction concerning differences that are or will be important to you.

The Precision Limiter is a very good level limiting tool. I use Voxengo's Elephant 3 more often though. I'll occasionally use the Maximizer to thicken something up. It purposefully adds harmonics to the sound being processed by it.

What it comes down to is how these plugs sound and work for you.

[Sam]

Hey Manolo,

I am a UAD addict as you may know - they are the only plugs I spend any real $$ on actually.

If all software based, my mastering chain will usually be: Neve 33609, Pmax, PMB, PEQ, PLIM.

Not all of them will always in circuit, but they are my usual go to boxes if the mix is good....I dont engage the limiter on the Pmax - but as said by John you can add some richness with Pmax as it adds harmonics, also you can get a soft clipping thing going by driving the input hard which is nice. But the PLim is better for final limiting I think....i get it round and bouncy with the Pmax and put it where it should be with the PLim - get me?

If I can use hardware where I am mastering, I usually swap the PEQ for a GML8200, and the 33609 for a hardware Neve 2254 or a Smart C2 depending on the material....

The PMB is a very, very, good MBC IMO....it is so versatile i end up pulling it out in nearly every mix I do, not just for mastering at all - if the mix is good in frequency balance then I usually leave the PMB out of mastering altogether, but many times it has saved me from floppy bottom end and ear tearing cymbals!!!

The precision series are great workhorses for me I must say....

Sam

[Sound Drifter]

A limitation I have found is with the precision limiter is with bass heavy rap or electronica style music. The extreme bass was causing artifacts with the precision Limiter. It happens more so with sustained sub notes.

I use this plug quite a lot in parallel buss compression, usually hitting the PM pretty hard.

[John Lance]

Maybe slightly off topic...

I've tried the Nuendo 4 Multiband Compressor on a few things and I am impressed with it. It definitely sounds much better than the multiband compressor that came with Nuendo 2 and 3. I've not yet tried this compressor in the output chain, and would probably try to avoid a multiband in that position in the first place.

The Nuendo 4 Multiband Compressor worked great for making some instruments sit into mixes where the instruments weren't going to make it otherwise. The original dynamics by the players on the instruments in question caused way too much variation in frequency content for the way the instrument needed to fit. It is so much better to catch this while recording, but the Multiband came through nicely and to the rescue.

I've been thinking myself of enabling the trial on the Precision Multiband to see how it would do in various situations.

[Manolo Camp]

Thank you all for your Input!
I decided to go with the PM-Bundle (EQ, MBC, LIM). One some first tryouts, i allready like the Interface of the MBC, coming from WAVES LinMB.It is much more intuitiv and the Oldschool-Buttons are easyer to manage. The meters and fast drawing of the 'WYSIWYG' CompressorScreen rocks and makes me more courageous with settings.
With the EQ i have to check more on other Material because i get so bored on my actual mix. I just supplemented it with the Cambridge EQ, very very nice to brighten things up. This EQs with the Voxengo Gliss EQ should fix my needs. Looking foward to use them on different material.
The Limiter in the final stage to set the Level to K12 - perfect. I prefer this chain to learn bringing the MAX-touch allready in the mix. But i will sure check the demo of the Maximizer.

@sam . thanks, i get you! That's what i was thinking, comparing the Maximizer and Limiter but did not know, that you can use it that way :) How creative it is to mix up different Chains to suffice different needs.

@SoundDrivter . I read the same about the limiter in the UAD Reviews. I think it depends really on the material. Limiting a strongSub/bass at the last Stage of the chain is late, me thinks. Will have an eye on that. Thanks.

@ John . I use the C4MB often with Bassinstruments (VSTi). I tend to play the Instruments with lot of different Velocitys, which change the sound. The C4MB does a good job to level that.

[Animus]

A limitation I have found is with the precision limiter is with bass heavy rap or electronica style music. The extreme bass was causing artifacts with the precision Limiter. It happens more so with sustained sub notes.

I use this plug quite a lot in parallel buss compression, usually hitting the PM pretty hard.

Yeah I noticed that too. Does weird things to your bass. I only really liked the EQ in the Precision series.