UAD plugins in 2021?

If you have a good relationship with a retailer/friend, maybe see if you could demo a unit and try the plugs, UA has a 14 day demo: only your ears will really answer your question .

When I can run a 50 channel mix with several VST instruments at 32 buffers, I’ll consider it. But that day is a long way away.

I think I would struggle to get mixes done without UAD plugs. my comp is no slouch, but being able to off-load a ton of DSP to my Octo means I'm rarely in situations where my computer is crapping out.

Also, their plugs are top notch. Don't get me wrong, plenty of great native stuff out there, but I often just stick to UAD as it's easier to dial things in - though this could certainly be due to familiarity.

Worth noting - if you are buying into it, see if you can snag a used card with plugs someone else bought on them. Will be far better bang for your buck! In my early years of UAD, I would often buy used cards with plugs, dump the plugs to my UAD account, and then re-sell the card. I'd often end up getting 4-5 killer plugs for maybe $75 when all is said and done.

I was one of the biggest “complainers” on that other UAD that Guitar mentioned. However, my complaint was more about the timing of a purchase of an Apollo with a USB connection being rendered obsolete just over a year after purchasing it. I also have an OCTO usb. I wanted to dump all of it while I was feeling kinda “pissy” about the whole situation but, I am still using the OCTO and the plugs I have a lot of the time, especially on rough mixes. I got a different interface, set the Apollo to the side and will just not buy anything else from UA.


However, if I had a computer with Thunderbolt, I would seriously consider UA again.

But then you are running a total system as expensive as UAD. If I have a large mix going and later in the game decide I need to punch something in, what's helping more? Using the DSP, or turning off a bunch of native plugs or figuring out what to freeze? The DSP has me worrying much less in that situation.

I opened a project this last week and it had a UAD Neve 1084 on it, and I remember thinking about how great it sounded. Would it be same as an outboard nevish eq? No way. E.g., my heritage 73eq jrs. kill the UAD Neve eqs. But since I bought my octo card so many years ago, and invested in some of these UAD plugs - well - it still has its purpose. But what I do not understand is why they have not updated their cards by now. Computers are so much faster than when I bought my Octo, and one can put plugs on a superfast SSD with incredibly low latency access, etc., I am not sure I would have bought the Octo today. I do like the suggestion about buying UAD used with plugins included. Cheers!

If you can get by with the limitations of the DSP platform UAD is probably one of if not the most consistent sounding family of plugins. If you count the cost of DSP, even with the coupons. Can you finder cheaper native substitutes? Yes but not in a one stop shop, that’s were UAD has the advantage.

I use the plugins everyday, but sold my interface. If you have good preamps I don’t think the interfaces are worth it. If you’re just starting with no pres the interfaces are great.

As far as the plugins I like having the off load affect because my computer needs it. I’m aware I’m spending the top top premium to do this though because DSP is expensive. So I’m torn for the plugs, I personally dig them but they’re expensive

This is all true. There's better interfaces out there, but feature-for-feature Apollo is a professional tool especially appealing to someone starting out. Tons of pros use them still.

The DSP is expensive too, yet for some people it's effective in their workflow.

If I was starting over again I don't know if I would go down that road. But many of the better plugins cost a lot of money and don't offer DSP advantages, so I don't think going the UAD is the worst move.

I do wish they might partner with someone like Valhalla or Soundtoys to get some modern approach in there.

If I hadn't gone UAD and knew what I know now, I probably would have bought the Fab Filter bundle. That's just as expensive.

I won't even go near Luna until it can do everything I can do in Logic. UAD's Apollo system has served me well and it did exactly what I needed it to do flawlessly.

But if I was starting again I would go with a better sounding interface and use an assortment of other brands of plug-ins. The only thing UAD has made I "can't do without" is the ATR-102, which just makes everything better. I'm sure in time I could find one tape sim I liked. Yes, the EMT-140 sounds great on some things, but I have a dozen other reverbs that sound great, many with excellent plate reverbs.

I don't use the preamps ever. Only if I was tracking a group live could they come in handy.

I resent not being able to sell or trade my UAD plugs. I have so many I don''t use, or I thought I liked but found I didn't really like them, the API 2500 comes to mind and the Massive Passive EQ. I would really like to have a few of their new ones, but they're just not enough bang for the buck.

One day I'll just get a better interface and buy an octo to run the plugs I do have in a mix, unless I could get a fair price with all the plug-ins. I can see that I could let them go without too much worry.

Love the UAD plug-ins. There are lots I bought that I really never use unfortunately, but the ones that I do use are indispensable, and not really available in native. If I had to go back in time, I would have never bought into the Apollo thing. While it’s a solid converter, you are paying for a lot of features that at least I never used. As far as the plugs go, just hunt down a used satellite online somewhere. Every once in a while you’ll see one at a great price. Never ever buy the plugins at full price. Wait for sales and demo several times if possible to see if you reallllly need it. Also, check for native solutions at lower costs. Some of my must haves at this point are...

Manley Massive Passive. I use it on almost every master, and sometimes busses. It’s really smooth and natural sounding.

Capital Chambers. Wow. Never heard a plug-in verb better.

1176/LA2A - Every mix somewhere, although there are lots of great native options in this department.

Neve Compressors/Neve 1073eq - I just love these.

There are lots of others I use, but those are first call on every mix.