UAD Plug-ins available native

Compared to better, newer native plugins (eg Molot GE, MDWDRC2, Powair), low distortion older plugins (Oxford Dynamics, Renaissance Compressor, Kotelnikov GE, DSM 3), or modern hardware? It doesn’t have to be an LA whatever or an 1176 clone. Even bang for buck hardware like fixed up Aphex, ART, BSS, or Drawmer?

Absolutely nothing. In fact, they and most other emulations and clones are noticeably worse behaving and often sounding in every way.

NO ONE has said UA SHOULDN'T have ported to native - we're just saying it sucks that what cost us thousands now costs someone hundreds. Thats all.

I agree...not much more to say about it all. It initially rubbed me the wrong way. Those that weren't rubbed the wrong way won't be convinced by me to be rubbed the wrong way...I'll get over it.

Threee months ago they offered Spark for 99 cents for three months. In the past few days they've seen a massive number of users cancel that sub before it goes to $20 per month and uninstall their product. Only they know the actual numbers, but if they could double their user base simply by changing from a subscription offer to a perpetual offer, it's not surprising they'd take a swing.
I used the trial to compare Spark to more recent native plugs, then cancelled. I liked some of the newer stuff in the bundle and would consider getting a perpetual license for those, but there's an equal amount of stuff included I already prefer using a different native plug for.

It’s down market till we see everything native, if that ever happens, my hunch is it won’t happen.

Fair enough. I am operating under the assumption that that is the direction they are moving, but I actually have no basis for that belief.

If this is what they are going to do with what they used to call “legacy” plug-ins, then it’s just a down market move. And if that is the case, no complaints here because I really like having native versions for my laptop.

Hey Mark, I’m like you in that when I made decent income doing audio I couldn’t justify the expense of UAD (my TDM rig was paid off and working fine).

So when I got the cheap $1/month sub to Spark it was with the thought that I could end up needing their LA2A etc.

Been using it for a while and I’m really not sure these live up to the hype.

Good? Sure. But better than what I own? Probably not.

Anyway, one month of Spark is a pretty decent way to delve into this. I don’t particularly like software demos as I feel like I’m fighting the clock.

I totally understand your position, Dan. I have most of the plugins you mention, and some of them I like a lot. But I also actually happen to like the way LA-2As (and 3As) and 1176s sound in the real world, and I don't think anyone has truly nailed them in software, so that's why I'm interested.

I generally prefer hardware wherever possible, but it's not always possible.

I know some folks like Dan with disagree with me, but I've tried several Pultec, LA-2A, and 1176 clones and I prefer the UAD versions hands down. That's not to say I don't like other options, but these three are still goto tools in my opinion. 

With the Pultec I felt there was nothing in the Waves. There's the iZotope vintage EQ that is essentially the Pultec curves but no special sauce. The Real-Tech was the closest in my mind. But once I heard UAD's I felt the tone mojo kicked up instantly. 

There are a gazillion compressors so I'm getting less interested in owning several if I can find a way to get the sound I want with a few. The LA-2A is about the fastest way to get a big and simple sound. The 1176 is also dead simple. I own things like Unisom and it's got every tone in there but it takes a master's degree to learn all of what it can do and how and when to employ it. The simplicity of these, plus that they sound great just seems ideal, especially when you want to track in real time with Apollo. 

Their stuff like Manley Massive Passive and Vari-Mu...those we never needed to track with, so if the Pulsar stuff is quality (I haven't bothered to try it) then I think there's no reason to pony up the UAD tax. I bought three Sonnox plugins in UAD format that I kind of regret now because I don't need them in DSP format and I know the only way I'm getting them native is to buy them again. 

But their API channel strip sounds wonderful. Yeah, you could buy competitive clones and it's only opinion which is better. But the fact I could track a full session with that (or the 1073 or Helix) had real value to me. 

Yeah but good hardware and the cleaner plugs sounds effortless. They built or programmed what they could and what worked even if every optical detector or fet was different or they had to do things a certain way on late 90s CPUs.

The thing with the plugin emulations and clones is most of them just don’t work, including the UAD ones. Optical compressors all speed up with greater gain reduction. The dbx 160, attack speeds up and release slows down. The plugins don’t really do this.

its got nothing to do with old prices?

This happened only a few weeks ago, why are you okey with ua offering its least invested client , its best price for Ultimate 11 at $1200 and at the same time expected the most invested client to also pay $1200 for fewer plug ins?

Companies should reward their best customers, not punish them.