UAD v6.0 Pro Tools Enhancements FAQ

As of UAD Powered Plug-Ins Software v6.0, we're happy to announce enhanced Pro Tools compatibility, which streamlines the way UAD Powered Plug-Ins are categorized and function inside Pro Tools. Here are some commonly asked questions on these new features, to help give you an idea of what to expect with the powerful combination of UAD plug-ins and Pro Tools.

How does the functionality of UAD Powered Plug-Ins in Pro Tools differ from previous versions of UAD software?

There have been many improvements, almost too many to mention. Here are some highlights:

Removal of the previous VST to RTAS adapter
Plug-In Category support, so every plug-in is placed in the logical category (EQ, Dynamics, Reverb, etc.)
Better support for Pro Tools automation – parameters now properly display and automate in the automation lanes
Improved Plug-In Preset handling
Compare Button works properly
Support for all control surfaces (including Artist Series, C|24, 003, and more)
Support for ICON Integrated Console (including Custom Fader view, Channel Strip view, EQ & Dynamics layouts)
Pro Tools transport control (space bar) now works properly on Windows OS
Works for both Mac & Windows (including Mac OS X 10.7 Lion)
Works for both UAD-1 and UAD-2
And more... here's the complete list.

Important: Pro Tools automation data for discrete (non-continuous) UAD plug-in parameters will be lost by performing this update. Please view the RTAS support page for specific details.

Do UAD-2 plug-ins still use the VST-to-RTAS Adapter?

As of v6.0, the FXpansion VST-to-RTAS Adapter has been removed and we are now in total control over how UAD-2 works in Pro Tools. This means that many of the features and functionality that customers have asked for in Pro Tools can now be addressed and it also means that we will make further improvements in the future as a part of our regular development cycles.

Where will the UAD-2 plug-ins show up in Pro Tools?

If you are using a native Pro Tools system like Pro Tools 9 or HD Native, the plug-ins will be under the "Plug-In" menu of the "Inserts" section. If you are using an HD TDM system, the plug-ins will be under the "RTAS" menu in the "Inserts" section.

Is delay compensation an issue with UAD plug-ins in Pro Tools?

No. As of Pro Tools 9, all major versions of Pro Tools have Automatic Delay Compensation (ADC) as standard. All UAD plug-ins properly report their latency to Pro Tools for proper phase alignment. For non-HD users, we strongly recommend upgrading to Pro Tools 9.

What happens with the Mellowmuse ATA plug-in in v6.0?

Previously, the Mellowmuse ATA plug-in was included with all UAD versions, but as of UAD Powered Plug-Ins v6.0, we are no longer including it since all major versions of Pro Tools have automatic delay compensation.

Are there any settings I should change in the UAD Meter & Control Panel application for use with Pro Tools?

Yes. If you haven't done so already, you should launch the UAD Meter & Control Panel Application.

Click on the down arrow next to the UAD logo on the meter and select "Configuration."
Under "Controls Mode," select "Linear" from the pop-up menu.
Uncheck the "Use Host Setting" check box.
Under "Toggle Initial Value Modifier," select "Option" from the pop-up menu.

Following these steps will make UAD plug-ins work more like other Pro Tools plug-ins.

Do UAD plug-ins work on Pro Tools control surfaces & consoles?

Yes. We have added custom layouts for all surfaces that work with Pro Tools including ICON D-Control ES, ICON D-Command ES, Artist Series Controllers, C|24, Control 24, 002, 003, Command 8, Pro Control & HUI. ICON Surface support includes all layout types including EQ, Dynamics, Custom Fader Plug-in view and Channel strip view.

I have many Pro Tools sessions with UAD plug-ins, will my sessions open when I upgrade to UAD v6.0?

Yes. All sessions will recall with the correct static settings. However, UAD plug-in automation data for discrete parameters will be lost. Please view the RTAS support page for specific details.

This loss of automation happens because the old VST adapter would incorrectly translate discrete parameters (like ON/OFF switches for example) as continuous parameters. With the old VST adapter, automated switched parameters would behave like a rotary knob, instead of a switch with just two possible positions. Since we have direct control over every parameter in UAD v6.0, we have redefined every parameter to be the correct type. Hence, they no longer look the same to Pro Tools, and the automation data is lost. If you require automation data to survive the upgrade to v6.0, we recommend printing the automation data as an audio file.

So it says RTAS support, does that mean it runs natively on the host processor?

No, we use RTAS as a mechanism to view, edit, save and recall the UAD plug-ins in Pro Tools, but the actual audio processing is still performed on the DSP of the UAD card. We are the only authorized third-party DSP solution for Pro Tools.

How many plug-ins can I run in Pro Tools with a current UAD-2 system?

It depends on the plug-in because some plug-ins use more processing power than others. But for a full list of instance counts, go here.

Which UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Cards will work with v6.0 in Pro Tools?

All current UAD-2 solutions work with v6.0. This includes UAD-2 PCIe, UAD-2 Satellite, UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop.

Does UAD-1 have the same improvements for Pro Tools in v6.0?

Yes. UAD-1 also has updated Pro Tools compatibility.

Do your plug-ins support TDM hardware?

No. UAD plug-ins only run on UAD DSP Accelerator cards. There is no planned support for Pro Tools HD DSP cards at this time.

Is AudioSuite offline processing supported with v6.0?

No, this is something we are looking at, but AudioSuite is not supported in the v6.0 release.

Will there be future improvements to UAD Software support for Pro Tools?

Yes! Now that we are official Avid developers, we have added Pro Tools compatibility to our development environment. We will be able to maintain and improve Pro Tools compatibility on an ongoing basis, just as we do with VST and Audio Units support.

Where can I find technical details about UAD software with RTAS and Pro Tools?

For the latest up-to-date compatibility and technical support information, please visit our RTAS Support Page.

— Lev Perrey