UAD Software version 5.2 released

[Animus]

Hello UAD Fans,

UAD Software version 5.2 is now available for download. Version 5.2 includes 14-day fully-functional trials of the new Harrison 32C Channel EQ, and Little Labs Phase Alignment Tool. Version 5.2 also includes UAD-2 support for all Powered Plug-Ins, and Pro Tools support for UAD-2 with auto delay compensation.

Pro Tools RTAS Support with Mellowmuse ATA
UAD-2 is now fully RTAS compatible. As a special bonus, UAD-2 users will also receive a free license for Mellowmuse ATA. Mellowmuse ATA provides automatic delay compensation for Pro Tools LE, even for regular plug-ins, with ease. UAD-1 users may download Mellowmuse ATA for the special price of $39.00.Visit our promo page for details

Harrison 32C Channel EQ
Partnering with Harrison Consoles Ltd., Universal Audio recreates the Harrison four-band 32C channel EQ plug-in derived from the prestigious Harrison 32 Series console. Countless hit records have been made with Harrison consoles for artists from Abba to Sade. Most notably, the 32 Series is the desk with which many Michael Jackson records were produced, including Thriller—the biggest-selling album recording of all time.

The Harrison 32C EQ is modeled directly from Bruce Swedien’s own console, and is enthusiastically endorsed by the Grammy-winning Producer/Engineer. The Harrison Powered Plug-In even includes presets made of Swedien’s favorite EQ settings. Swedien continues to use the 3232C console as he has for over 25 years, calling the desk “marvelous sounding” and commenting, “The addition of Harrison EQs within Pro Tools is a Godsend.”

From Bruce Swedien’s own Harrison 3232 console
Harrison licensed and authenticated
Colorful 4-band EQ with high and low cut filters
Favorite EQ presets from Bruce Swedien
“Auto-Q” automatically adjusts the effective bandwidth
Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool
The Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool easily eliminates the undesirable hollow comb-filtered sound when combining out-of-phase and partially out-of-phase audio signals. Designed as a phase problem-solving device, the award-winning Little Labs IBP (In-Between Phase) has established itself with audio engineers as not only a "fix it" tool, but as a tool for manipulating audio phase as a creative, tonal color tool. Whether combining direct and miked signals, acoustic guitar and vocal mics, drum kit mics, or multiple split-guitar amps, the recorded audio signal phase can be quickly and easily controlled with the Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool. Universal Audio’s “Workstation” version of this indispensable tool is optimized for the DAW environment and expands upon the original design with a continuous Delay Adjust control that provides a perfect digital phase alignment option.

Continuously variable phase between 0º and 180
Choose best mic position, without regard to phase
Improves multi-mike setups and DI/microphone combinations
‘Phase Center’ switch allows control of low or high frequency sources
“Delay Adjust” adds continuous digital phase control (plug-in only)

Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool
The Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool easily eliminates the undesirable hollow comb-filtered sound when combining out-of-phase and partially out-of-phase audio signals. Designed as a phase problem-solving device, the award-winning Little Labs IBP (In-Between Phase) has established itself with audio engineers as not only a "fix it" tool, but as a tool for manipulating audio phase as a creative, tonal color tool. Whether combining direct and miked signals, acoustic guitar and vocal mics, drum kit mics, or multiple split-guitar amps, the recorded audio signal phase can be quickly and easily controlled with the Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool. Universal Audio’s “Workstation” version of this indispensable tool is optimized for the DAW environment and expands upon the original design with a continuous Delay Adjust control that provides a perfect digital phase alignment option.

Thanks for your support of Universal Audio!

[messianic]

Actually, since you posted on UAD, I much like their forum layout with announcements available at the top of each sub-forum while in view, much much better than the standard layout of Stickys.

In this case, a Poll will always be at the top so as to encourage participation.

It would be great if this place could borrow from the best elements of other forums around the world to make something truly unique and special.

Thank you

[Animus]

Good suggestions. We are still getting used to this new forum software and there are a lot of options in there. We will poke around. We will eventually get there. Sit tight.

[Animus]

Just figured out how to do Announcements properly. Check the test announcements in the General Forums.

[messianic]

Maybe it would be good to have all the announcements in the Topmost forum instead of thoughout, just a thought.

I wonder if that is possible.

[Animus]

Anything is possible. :) I need to consolidate all those announcements with the new function.

[Animus]

And about the topic..... damn, the UAD2 is just freaking awesome. Great plugins and power, and great company. I couldn't work without them. I am trying to figure out what to use my coupons and vouchers for. I was hoping Fatso would be out by now. The new Harrison is pretty cool but not discounted like the rest of the plugins right now. Been demoing the Precision Multiband and I am liking it better than Waves L316.

[Sid Chigger]

I agree Animus.. Love me some UA Plugs.. Long time UADdict here.. Haven't had a chance to try the Harrison yet.. I have the rest of their EQ's so I'm not sure I actually NEED ano.. I'll demo the Harrison soon enough though, and knowing me, I'll get it.. LOLOL

[Sam]

Hey Stacy - have you been sweet with 5.2? I havent installed it yet as I was in the middle of stuff until 2 days before christmas....The native RTAS support is a good thing! I have one of my old UAD1's in the PTHD3 machine so I will have to see how that goes - the UAD1 will run the Native RTAS plugs yeah? or is that UAD2 only? The wrapper thing is so clunky!!! I want it gone from my life!

I have to agree, the UAD2 is awesome. I have a Quad and nearly all the plugs....I never reach for a native plug anymore. In fact I just own a few VSTis, and melodyne as far as my native cataloge goes now....I couldn't live without the RE201 - it is in every mix I do. Lots. CE1 is awesome. Neve EQ is the most analogue sounding plugin EQ I have ever heard - I mix on a Neve board so I know the sound well :)

The comps are great as far as plugin comps go. The best I have heard. And I do end up doing quite a bit of 'soft mastering' if the client cant afford the big bucks to get sterling to do it. The Plim, PMB, Pmax along with the outboard C2 and GML8200 make a pretty deadly mastering chain actually :D

UAD finally made be buy plugins - maybe that says something....I used to just steer clear of putting cash into plugs and only buy analogue EQs and would painstakingly run all my tracks through 9098's and 1064's and record them back in if we were mixing in the box. This is no more due to UAD.....only for a snare drum or a lead vocal maybe...

I am a self professed fanboy - and you will never change my mind Vin!!!!! hahaha

Now to see if 5.2 installs smoothly....ghost here I come!

[Animus]

Watch the authorization scheme. THe new way always throws me for a loop since you have to be connected to the internet or actually copy the url address and paste it if your DAW is offline.

[Sam]

yep I already got bitten by that new scheme...it sucks balls. I want the old way back again, it was so much simpler and foolproof. This way can seriously feck the driver and machine if it goes at funny...I had to download a new auth file about 15 times once as it kept screwing the auth process...not much fun running between 2 comps with a USB stick 15 times!!!

Apart from that I am still a fanboy and UAD defender :D

[TAFKAT]

The native RTAS support is a good thing! I have one of my old UAD1's in the PTHD3 machine so I will have to see how that goes - the UAD1 will run the Native RTAS plugs yeah? or is that UAD2 only? The wrapper thing is so clunky!!! I want it gone from my life!

Hey Sam,

I am not convinced they aren't still using some level of added arbitration / wrapping. The Product page is listed in the header as AUD RTAS Adapter, unless that hasn't been updated. This doesn't really sound that different to what we have been navigating with the wrapper in terms of the added latency. At least they are supplying that Mellowmuse ATA automatic delay compensation plug-in. The big question is whether they are still causing native CPU munching , as the older wrapper did.

Digi would certainly not be overly comfortable with having DSP powered Native RTAS plugins , thats for sure.

[Sam]

Hey Vin,

AFAIK v5.2 adds native RTAS support of their plugins. No more wrapper etc...

I will have to check in on the CPU munching with v5.2 - but it sure was an issue with earlier versions....

I haven't had the CPU munching issues many other seem to have had with the VST versions either...I was running 112 fully enabled 88RS's with ~15% VST hit at 96 samples...

see http://www.chrismilne.com/uadforums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=10314

No one seemed worried enough to do anymore testing it seems...just a few who say they cannot reproduce my results (albeit they have different machines :D )

[Animus]

112? Jeeesh. Was that just a bench or a real project? :)

[Sam]

Haha...I just used the DAWbench DSP universal as a template and replaced the Md5's with 88RS's... :)

In a real project it would be equal parts 1081, 88RS, RE201, DimDog!, CE-1, 1176, Plate, Pultec, 33609 and Fairchild :D - stir briskly and extrude through stereo mixbuss with C2 and GML8200 inserted. Enjoy! :cool:

Sam

[Animus]

I absolutely love the NEve plugs myself. 33609! Best non-hardware comp ever. Outboard at the final stage is the key though. I use a Dangerous 2buss on my DBox, to a Massive Passive to a GSSL turbo. Analog goodness.

[Sam]

Yep....for me, shit has to hit some transformers somwhere along the line....or some x-factor is missing...., i still run bass out through the 1064's even with no EQ in sometimes, vocals through a real pultec often with no EQ dialed in as I have my vox EQ very precisely on the 9098/distressor combo - it seems to give a sort of solidarity that is not really so easily tangible...cant explain it - but it sounds almost like a record until it hits the C2 and the GML - then I go...."ahhhhh" and print the bitch!

UAD are the closest plugs to analogue sound I have ever heard. Now we just need them to do a RMX16/15, Lexi 480L/224XL next...Fatso will be cool, but we need some good algo verbs and delays now!!! I have some $$ and i want them swiped from my hand by UAD for some noice FX! They did such a good job with RE201 and Dimdog it freaks me out what they could give us with a LARC GUI :D

[Animus]

Yeah I really wish they would license from Lexicon but Lexicon seem hell bent on running themselves into the ground. I thought the plugin system for the PCM96 was a step in the right direction, though mac only! wtf!. But what they should do is develop a dsp card solution or just license to UA. That is the only way I think they will really survive.

Sam, did you check out those Acousticas impulses I posted in the vst forum?

[TAFKAT]

Hey Vin,

AFAIK v5.2 adds native RTAS support of their plugins. No more wrapper etc...

I will have to check in on the CPU munching with v5.2 - but it sure was an issue with earlier versions....

I haven't had the CPU munching issues many other seem to have had with the VST versions either...I was running 112 fully enabled 88RS's with ~15% VST hit at 96 samples...

Hey Sam,

I am still not convinced that there isn't added arbitration tho, I doubt Digi left the door open that easily.

I'll do some digging with my source at Digi... :-)

Re the CPU munching, thats with the VST native plugs , we need to ensure that the same behaviour is consistent with the RTAS variants.

Also , on the same note , while we had great success on your system with the UAD2 , it doesn't seem to be consistent with not only the reports at the UAD forums, but even the recent review in SOS. So it does point to it being systematic to a degree..

I don't have the answer, I don't think anyone does at this point, not even UAD, and I wouldn't trust the some of the so called authorities at the UAD forum.. :-(

I'll be interested to hear how the RTAS works out on your rig...

Peace

[Sam]

Stacy - I did see the post but I dont own Altiverb as yet, and right now I dont really want to drop US$ on a convo reverb as thats about AU$1600 for Altiverb Pro - and I would want the 5.1 ability if I bought it as I am getting more and more 5.1 work. I am still using good ole W5 there and its doin great :) I cant use those impulses with W5 can I? I haven't really gotten that far into it as I have a 480 and 224 in the room anyways :D

Vin - yeah we will have to see. Not sure how we have such a good UAD2 result on my rig, some genius must have built it - I dunno :cool:

I will keep all youse posted

[neilwilkes]

......I dont really want to drop US$ on a convo reverb as thats about AU$1600 for Altiverb Pro - and I would want the 5.1 ability if I bought it as I am getting more and more 5.1 work. I am still using good ole W5 there and its doin great :) I cant use those impulses with W5 can I? I haven't really gotten that far into it as I have a 480 and 224 in the room anyways :D



Just to jump in here.
W5 will indeed import user IR files with no problem at all - you can use the IR as either an ER or a tail.
W5 in Nuendo 4 is still problematic - must be used in a 5.0 FX/Group or it will fail, of course. In N3 this is not an issue.

AltiVerb's "5.1" is actually Quad in the main, with a fudged centre;. Will report back on how good it is when I update my stock one to a surround version. Next purchase for me is a UAD-2 Quad though - I will be dumping one of my UAD-1 PCIe cards as am out of slots. Sad, but possibly a magma will be in my future too as even though it is but a UAD-1, I have 3 of them and am fully loaded with all except the Harrison/Little Labs thingy as I have been avoiding 5.x until I go to a UAD-2 or want a new plug, and the Harrison is a real easy buy for me.

[Animus]

Stacy - I did see the post but I dont own Altiverb as yet, and right now I dont really want to drop US$ on a convo reverb as thats about AU$1600 for Altiverb Pro - and I would want the 5.1 ability if I bought it as I am getting more and more 5.1 work. I am still using good ole W5 there and its doin great :) I cant use those impulses with W5 can I? I haven't really gotten that far into it as I have a 480 and 224 in the room anyways :D

Vin - yeah we will have to see. Not sure how we have such a good UAD2 result on my rig, some genius must have built it - I dunno :cool:

I will keep all youse posted


You don't have to use Altiverb. you can use Pristine Space or SIR as well.

[Sam]

Cool neil thanks! Maybe i should drop some coin on those L300 IR's afterall then Animus, I do love the way lexi verbs can add soo much 'space' with so little 'reverb' if ya know what I mean.....I am kind a delay man at the heart of it I suppose.....too much verb makes me seasick :D

and Neil, dont be sad about losing a UAD1 mate...with a quad in there you wont miss it at all!!! With v5.2 all plugs have been ported to UAD2 so the UAD1 is just a little extra sugar on top. I just mix now and dont even open the UAD meter ;) I took out a UAD1 so now I just have UAD2 Quad and 1 UAD1 - and that is plenty for me so far. If they start doing some 5.1 plugs ever, I would just buy another Quad and a 2 slot PCIe chassis and stick em in there I think. I cannot fathom needing more than 2 quads!

[TerryG]

I just pulled the trigger on a Quad Flexi that'll fit in my new box... might be selling my Magma chassis and four UAD-1's as a package deal if anyone is interested.

[MattiasNYC]

I pulled the trigger on a Quad Flexi about a couple of months ago. Yesterday I did my final "shootouts" and spent my $800.

I got the 88RS, the VCA VU, the Roland RE-201, the Helios, and the Plate 140. But man was it hard to choose!

Me is be happy puppy.

[TerryG]

IMO the 88RS is the single most important must-have plug in the UA lineup. You're going to love it.

I'll probably be getting the Precision Bundle and Harrison with my vouchers.

$1799 - $270 = $1520 (thanks to the 15% "Group" discount at JRRShop)
When considering the $500 Flexi coupon and the $250 "pre-2009" bonus coupon, the Quad itself only cost me about $770...
(at least that's the psychological game I'm playing between the emotional and logical sides of my brain to justify it.) :D

[TerryG]

I'd been sitting on my vouchers and waiting for a day like this...:wink:

Wow... just dropped in on the UAD forum and discovered the March Promo... everything 20% off in one transaction, plus an extended GRAMMY $25 off promo until March 5th.

I just used my $750 in vouchers to get $948 worth of plugs (the Harrison, Precision Bundle, and SPL Transient Designer) and still have $11 left over... Nice!

[Sam]

I have to say - UA is one company I always feel warm and fuzzy with after doing business....I haven't EVER had a horror story, or not had someone there who will give me the time of day to hear out an issue or question...

[Sound Drifter]

IMO the 88RS is the single most important must-have plug in the UA lineup. You're going to love it.

I'll probably be getting the Precision Bundle and Harrison with my vouchers.

$1799 - $270 = $1520 (thanks to the 15% "Group" discount at JRRShop)
When considering the $500 Flexi coupon and the $250 "pre-2009" bonus coupon, the Quad itself only cost me about $770...
(at least that's the psychological game I'm playing between the emotional and logical sides of my brain to justify it.) :D

I did the same exact thing when I bought my quad and I'm still sitting on a left over voucher.

I sometimes regret buying it when I look at Pro Tools systems and see how convoluted UADs integrate with it. 2 times I almost bought into Digi. 2 times I came to my senses. :icon_cool: