UAD Studio Edition
Customer Reviews
UAD Studio Edition
Only registered users can write reviews. Please, log in or create an account.
c. cowie
This Was A Major Surprise - The LA2 & Pultec Combo
I needed an affordable soundcard for some laptop work outside my main studio, so I opted for the UA Volt 1, the cheapest option available. That turned out to be a great purchase, well worth the price. Along with the soundcard, I received a bundle of free plugins, including the LA2. and the LA2A Gray and Silver compressors and the Pultec EQs. Over the years, I've accumulated numerous plugins, but I don't even install most of them anymore. For the past seven years, my go-to EQ has been Fabfilter, which is functional and does the job. For compression, I usually rely on Ableton's stock plugins simply because all my other comps are no better. I spent years searching for plugins with that elusive "mojo," and I had basically given up and made a decision I wasn't even going to bother downloading the bundle.
But one evening after using the soundcard for about two weeks I thought, OK I will check them out, expecting the usual underwhelming results. Plugins downloaded, fired up a session and to my major surprise, I found myself very quickly impressed. I started applying the LA2A compressors and Pultec EQs on various tracks and very quickly replaced all other comps and Eqs in the session with the LA2s and Pultecs. Just initiating the LA2's without adjusting anything seemed to hit the mark every time - and still does.. The EQ;s I was pushing to max and still track elements sounded good. However, I told my self its just my imagination, after all I've been here many times before and its probably just that placebo effect of thinking something sounds great and the next day I will know its just my imagination. But the next day the session still sounded good, and what I was hearing suspiciously sounded like Mojo. I was beginning to realise the plugins had genuinely helped me improve the sound. The mix had a vibe reminiscent of what I used to achieve with analog consoles, and the compressors added a cool, pumpy quality to the tracks. Even when over pumped, still sounded good - It was just more vibe.
But because years of reality hitting and the ultimate come down I was still thinking this newfound enthusiasm will wear off because that's what always happens. But, that's not what happened. I've continued to use the LA2A and Pultec plugins in every session since. I'm actually enjoying EQ'ing and compressing stuff - Imagine that!. Yes, I also hear that 3D thing others talks about in their reviews.. Coming from someone who had grown jaded with plugins over the years, believe me, this is a significant endorsement.
I don't know what magic the UAD coders have worked, but to me these plugins are very musical and have legit Mojo. And you know what's also great about them - no fancy flashy distracting Guis which force you to mix with eyes. Needless to say the coders have done a 10+ star job. I've never owned the original hardware, but have owned some emulations in the past and these plugins outshine others by all others I have tried or owned by a huge margin. The fact that I got them with a £100 soundcard, which also included a decent Plate Reverb, an Echo (not really my style), a channel strip, and a Synth, is incredible. But its the LA2A and Pultec plugins that are the true stars of the bundle though and its well worth picking up the Volt 1 just to get the plugins.. They are now my absolute and only go to EQ and Comps and only if I need to get very surgical will I fire up the Fab.
M. Breu
Oh Yeah!
This is great. Along with the other Moog plugins. You can take yourself to outer space and different dimensions with this thing, you can get all kinds of sounds from it. I love it, it's actually very addicting to play with.
M. Breu
Really Nice
A very lush sounding unit/plugin. Definitely that Lexicon sound. I like both Lexicon plugins available right now.
M. Breu
Great Saturating Compressor
Just as the title says, the tube warmth and saturation can really be heard with these guys. I really never hear anybody say they're using one of these compressors, it seems slept on. It's kind of a mix of all the popular studio compressors. They're good, if that's what you're asking for.
M. Janipka
Great emulation!
It's a great emulation of the hardware unit.
Its compressor is very useful. It can be transparent or have character.
The EQ is what you'd expect from the original unit. Warm character.The high frequency works wonders to give air to the track.
K. Purwin
Fairchild
Wspaniały! Jestem Bardzo Zadowolony!
J. Segundo
Beautiful organic sound - Studer A800
Quite useful in many ways. Warms up , distorts nicely if you want. Organic sounds. Beautiful!
E. Esper
Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb
This is A very Good reverb Works on Pretty Much Anything I use it On Easy to Use It looks and Sounds Just like the real thing As with Most UAD Plugins
T. Boćkowski
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Sounds amazing
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor sounds amazing , the best compressor for Drums.
Will give You punch , power and nice transients . Thanks for Universal Audio ))
L. Brown
A+
A+
D. Bassal
Seems better than the original
I never liked Lexicon reverbs when they were the big guy in town. They were a massive standard, and well, sounded... standard, which, in music production, is a very bad idea. In this plugin form, lost among many, many others, they have a place and a distinct personality, which make them usable again.
G. Pillsbury
ILOK is a internet Prison and total buuulllllshiiiiiit
This plugin is freaking amazing and a total waste of money because of their idiotic ILok system that needs constant Wi-Fi connection to their system. My PC can’t deal with the strain. I asked for a refund and their bot said. ‘No way’. A waste of my money, I bought IK Multimedia and will use that instead. Freakin idiotic waste of money. THAAAAANK YOOOOU! AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGH!!!!!
M. Ballarani
great rotary emulation
as a hammond player, I found this plugin great for studio recording, when it's not possible to have a real leslie.
it obviously sounds very good with real hammond organ, but it makes digital clonewheels sonding better too.
G. Healey
Smooooth
Something to reach for when you want quick smooth warmth. Very authentic sound. Just starting to play around and finding more lies beneath.
G. Healey
Smooooth
Something to reach for when you want quick smooth warmth. Very authentic sound. Just starting to play around and finding more lies beneath.
G. Healey
Full on
Nice, warm, vibe rich sounds with lots of extra goodies to sculpt and shape with.
U. Oehm
Alles Gut - Klasse B3 Orgel
Meine Sound-Vorstellungen werden erfüllt. Klasse B3. Ich hatte mal ein B4 VST2 Plugin von NI (das jetzt nicht mehr funktioniert) das mir noch besser gefallen hat. Die hat noch mehr geschmatzt.
N. Sayag
Wow
I’m doing a lot of voice-overs in my studio and this plugin replaces almost everything i used to have on my template . it sounds wonderful even on a cheap mic. you can’t go wrong with avalon…
D. Creasey
A High Quality Implementation
I've used LA-3A plugins for a long time, and have experience with emulations produced by multiple different companies. I typically use the LA-3A on drums for controlling tonality and punch. There is only one version provided, so it lacks the variations in character enabled by the different revisions in the UA 1176 Collection, and obviously the design does not have the controls of a 1176, so it is less flexible. However, compared to competitors' implementations, I've found the UA version of the LA-3A to be a bit cleaner and more tonally balanced. This is a high quality implementation.
M. Studio
Very Good Reverb
I really like this pure plate reverb, it's easy to use and the vocal sound blends into my mix