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Post by guitfiddler on Feb 16, 2018 13:33:58 GMT -6
Now that is a nice hardware plugin!
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 16, 2018 15:20:13 GMT -6
Wraparound or die
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Post by Guitar on Feb 16, 2018 15:23:17 GMT -6
I love the colors. haha.
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Post by Vincent R. on Feb 18, 2018 19:00:15 GMT -6
Ok guys. As promised, I recorded a quick sample for you guys of what the Helios Unison Preamp sounds like. I used my TLM67 internals inside my U87ai, since a lot of you have asked about what the TLM67 mic actually sounds like. I thought I'd kill 2 birds with one stone. I also used my Behringer phantom power box so I could split the signal for comparison. I split it 3 ways; Helios, 1073, and the stock Apollo preamp. 1073 was set to low impedance, which is how I generally use it. I didn't play with the Helios at all. I just opened it and adjusted the gain. I did 4 samples. I open with spoke voice, then a pop tune at about 6 inches from the mic, I croon at maybe 8-12 inches, then I sing a little opera about 2 ft from the mic. Gain was set at 40db on all pres for all takes. For those of you who don't know, the UAD Unison preamps allow you to record through the UAD emulations. In order to further match the preamp being emulated the impedance is also adjusted to match the original sampled preamps, causing the relationship between the microphone and the Unison pre to be similar to that of the hardware unit being emulated. Enjoy. www.dropbox.com/sh/s3oklmosd91ejnk/AACOXb7HEeIo8R_l3TegiUtLa?dl=0
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 18, 2018 19:53:50 GMT -6
I have to admit...there is VERY little difference in those files in my short listen to them.
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Post by wiz on Feb 18, 2018 20:52:19 GMT -6
I concur
Cheers
Wiz
PS nice pipes
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 18, 2018 21:14:30 GMT -6
Think I'm passing on this one...
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Post by Vincent R. on Feb 18, 2018 21:33:26 GMT -6
I concur Cheers Wiz PS nice pipes Thanks. Yeah, it’s pretty subtle. The Apollo pre really works fine on its own; clean, full, etc. I think I prefer the 1073 or I’m used to it. I use that one a lot. It’s less subtle to compare the UA610 or Manley against these due to the tubes that are being emulated. I still prefer a hardware preamp, but these still work fine.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 18, 2018 21:52:58 GMT -6
Yeah - I thought the 610B was pretty thick - or at least demonstrably different than the others...the A doesn't have much headroom at all.
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Post by johneppstein on Feb 19, 2018 11:31:42 GMT -6
I keep wondering when UAD will get creative again and start making new products with new designs. I think classic plug-in emulations is a limited market in the long run. They have the clout to bring new things to market. Certainly they can go beyond strict emulations of plug-ins. For instance certain emulations work so hard to imitate the originals, they even emulate things like API's awkward dials. Why not offer a second GUI, one original, one modernized. I wonder why did UAD leave Burl and Dangerous Music to create a whole new part of the market, when their 2192 was the basis for Burl's designs. They could do something like Heritage did with their new Elite preamps. I think it would be cool if you could get a UAD LA2A, 1176, LA3A for under $900. I read many stories of how a very small business takes up the part of the market that's "too small or not profitable enough" for the big boys, only to grow up to challenge them head to head. It's like they don't see the thin ice right under their feet until it's too late. Which classic records were done with the Helios? I've mainly heard of records made with Neve's, API's, and Trident's, but rarely Helios. I noticed in UAD' video one or two classics, but it goes by too fast. Exile on Main Street and (I think) Beggar's Banquet, to start.
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Post by Vincent R. on Feb 19, 2018 13:49:17 GMT -6
Yeah - I thought the 610B was pretty thick - or at least demonstrably different than the others...the A doesn't have much headroom at all. I like the A better sonically, but it distorts so easily I can barely use it. The B is darker than my Solo 610, but it's not the rack unit. It's the stand alone unit.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Feb 19, 2018 18:35:22 GMT -6
Thanks Johneppstein. I bet I'm not the only one here who wore the grooves off Beggar's Banquet !
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Post by Guitar on Feb 20, 2018 15:18:52 GMT -6
The 1073 sounds a little darker... wonder if that's just the impedance you selected.
I guess the EQ is the "bigger" question after this shootout.
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Post by keymod on Mar 2, 2018 4:44:55 GMT -6
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Post by Martin John Butler on Mar 2, 2018 8:36:22 GMT -6
Great job there Vincent, they were subtle, but clear differences there. This is the reason I do multiple tracks when I'm comparing things, one track alone is difficult to judge by. After all, it's the same mic, same vocal, same room, same level, how much different can it be?
I'm a 1073 lover too, I use the Stam SA73 to track with, but in this case, I preferred the Helios. The UAD 1073 sounded more compressed and darker, the Helios reminded me of those Disney movies like Beauty and the Beast, where the vocals shine, yet are clear as day.
I'm really not so into plug-ins these days, my system is bone simple now, SA73 > Apollo> DAW, but if I had to track with the Apollo alone, I think I'd get the Helios. I have a hunch with multiple tracks the difference will become apparent.
Of course there are still plenty of plug-ins on my tracks, reverbs, delays, compressors on the 2 bus, but I've cut back considerably. The better the preamp and mic, the less I seem too need later.
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Post by matt on Mar 2, 2018 11:34:50 GMT -6
Had to purchase, as an owner of the legacy Type 69 I couldn't resist. Plus they flowed a $100 coupon my way. I try and not get sucked into the hype, but there it is.
First use was on a lead vocal, adding +4 on top. Added a nice edge to the performance.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 2, 2018 13:14:07 GMT -6
Had to purchase, as an owner of the legacy Type 69 I couldn't resist. Plus they flowed a $100 coupon my way. I try and not get sucked into the hype, but there it is. First use was on a lead vocal, adding +4 on top. Added a nice edge to the performance. If I had gotten the $100 coupon I would have gotten it...
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Post by Martin John Butler on Mar 3, 2018 9:01:21 GMT -6
Hmm, I haven't seem any coupons since.. uhh.. forever.
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Post by Guitar on Mar 3, 2018 11:03:10 GMT -6
Same here, it's really slowed down my UAD buys...
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Post by guitfiddler on Mar 4, 2018 2:59:48 GMT -6
I don't know, still trying to figure out UA strategy. Seems like if you have some UA gear registered, but you quit buying they send you more vouchers? I filled out a survey recently and told them how pissed off I still am, being a first adopter of the Apollo on firewire and didn't get a free Thunderbolt card like everyone else did. I got a $100 voucher then the $50 voucher, then the $25 voucher just the other day. I haven't bought a UAD plugin since, has it been 2 years now? I have yet to buy my UA dongle after selling my Silverface. I am just waiting to see if they are going to offer something that I would be tempted to buy. I was hoping they would bring something new to the table other than an underpowered lowly interface. March isn't over yet, maybe they will surprise me? So far, UA has been under delivering for me, and I am just waiting, hoping to be surprised.
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 4, 2018 5:52:35 GMT -6
No offence but it just isn’t accurate to say everyone got free tbolt cards, cus they didn’t:).
Early adopters of any product get the deal they bought and later purchasers get their deal.
People who got tbolt cards bought when apollo was then about 3+ years old and when UA knew it had the bf with integrated card coming, so in effect it was discounting one or the other as a sales come on with an older interface.
If you fill out the survey UA always gives you a $25 voucher but it seems to have given a lot of people $150+ in total coupons as a number of people at UA are saying the same.
Convenient, if you are shopping as UA has another sale on now and people are getting premium plug ins for $25-50 out of pocket.
I sold all my UA stuff but in fairness to them over the last 5+ years while the list price of plugs are high , the actual price can be a lot lower with the combo of coupons and it’s onging sales and discounts even though it’s playing round the edges with the rules: tightening things up.
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 4, 2018 5:54:30 GMT -6
Hmm, I haven't seem any coupons since.. uhh.. forever. You have to go into your account and load something I think to see your coupons ?
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Post by guitfiddler on Mar 4, 2018 6:01:40 GMT -6
No offence but it just isn’t accurate to say everyone got free tbolt cards, cus they didn’t:). Early adopters of any product get the deal they bought and later purchasers get their deal. People who got tbolt cards bought when apollo was then about 3+ years old and when UA knew it had the bf with integrated card coming, so in effect it was discounting one or the other as a sales come on with an older interface. If you fill out the survey UA always gives you a $25 voucher but it seems to have given a lot of people $150+ in total coupons as a number of people at UA are saying the same. Convenient, if you are shopping as UA has another sale on now and people are getting premium plug ins for $25-50 out of pocket. I sold all my UA stuff but in fairness to them over the last 5+ years while the list price of plugs are high , the actual price can be a lot lower with the combo of coupons and it’s onging sales and discounts even though it’s playing round the edges with the rules: tightening things up. Sorry, to be more accurate. If you buy into Universal Audio they don’t always treat their customers evenly. You would of thought that the first adopters of their interface would of got a free thunderbolt card, but they give people who only buy an interface at a certain time a free card. Well, I bought mine at the beginning and I know a lot of others that left the platform just because of this bs they pulled. I just felt compelled to tell them again on this recent survey. I might just sell the rest of my UA stuff come to think of it. I haven’t been using their product since I sold my quad silverface & my pci-e quadcard and tbh I haven’t missed the platform one bit. I felt like they just forgot about loyal customers that have spent thousands on their platform. I guess it’s good I got out when I did. I was wanting to hear the new Blackface and was thinking about giving it a go, but I just don’t think I’m going to give UA my money this time around! I liked the workflow, but the sf just wasn’t on par with my other gear. It was l the weakest link in my studio and I had to use an external clock just to get it near the ballpark. Coming from a company that had the 2192, I was really disappointed when I heard the sf Apollo for the first time. I liked the workflow, but stand alone, sounded like absolute garbage compared to Lavry/Apogee16X/DBox. I’m still really bent over it, but that analogy is accurate. I guess I’m not playing nice today, and I’m not in a bad mood. Every time I see that UA emblem I think if I buy into their dongle platform again, are they going to leave me in the dust again when they decide to give the deals to only a certain crowd at a certain time? That next card is coming out soon...Usb-C/Thunderbolt 3, are they going to pull the same stunt?
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 4, 2018 8:40:11 GMT -6
I get it but the apollo wasn’t advertised or released with the tbolt card people had to buy it. There is something to be said for not being an early adopter? I know people who had 2 apollos who bought 2 cards: drag ! Oh well all water under the bridge, but I do think the apollo mkiii will be killer!
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Post by guitfiddler on Mar 4, 2018 11:38:54 GMT -6
I get it but the apollo wasn’t advertised or released with the tbolt card people had to buy it. There is something to be said for not being an early adopter? I know people who had 2 apollos who bought 2 cards: drag ! Oh well all water under the bridge, but I do think the apollo mkiii will be killer! No use in beating a dead horse...UA doesn’t care, if they did care about their customers that paid thousands they would of responded. They had the opportunity to reach out, but It just fell on deaf ears. Maybe by Mk iii all the issues will be worked out of the system...we will see...
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