UAD cards and Processing power?

[jkhuri44]

yo dudes,

you dudes know what the deal is with UAD cards? i've heard stuff like some of the more DSP intensive plugins...ie. Neve 33609 (whatever number it is)...take up almost 1 whole card...?


if thats the case, what is the DSP usage like on some of the smaller plugins like...an 1176, etc...

for these cards to be really useful, do you need something like 3 or 4 of em??

[toddd]

hey jamil,

i run one, and as with anything, you find yourself wanting more. it normally gets to the stage with me where i find myself running the dsp intensive plugs (even a couple of 1176's start to chew up the juice) only on the busses and critical tracks such as snare and vocal. somewhere between the uad card and native plugs i normally get by. i'm considering getting another one, i really like the mastering plugs they've released recently - not for mastering per se - but the precision limiter and eq are very handy on drum busses (but you can only have one stereo instance of each per card!!), very transparent and you can't really hear much 'squashing' with the limiter until you're really pushing it.

hopefully ua will keep putting these original plugs out, rather than just copying old ones all the time. but overall, i'm quite happy with mine.

ps, haven't tried the neve channel yet, so can't really comment.

hope that helps, todd.

[rob]

this info is available on the UA web site

here's their chart



....which is really hard to read with the grey turtlerock background

you'll find it on the UA website here:

http://www.uaudio.com/support/software/UAD/charts.html

Rob

[Aearth]

The UAD plugins are very good and if you are running low on power use the SE format pluggers. Or buy more DSP cards....they're cheaper than Digi TDM process cards.

nIC

[jkhuri44]

im thinking of buying a PCI bay plus 4 of the buggers...then connect that to my comp...otherwise i'd just fill up all the PCI slots in my comp and be left stranded.

not sure what that means for the hole in my pocket yet, but ill work it out...:P

[Kris]

I wouldn't be going anywhere near the UAD Card myself. There are far too many good plug ins to waste a PCI slot (or 4) on a card.

[jkhuri44]

hrmm....i havent heard the stuff yet, but everyone i know thats used em swears by em...

but hey, i dont have a spare mill. hanging around, but these UAD thingo's could prob get me 90% there.. :P

[TimS]

I'm moving to a newer and more powerful PC soon (desktop system rather than laptop) and I'm considering maybe getting the UAD cards also.
Having the processing done by an external card and not loading your CPU is a good thing.
From what I've seen and heard of Peter's (Tunetown) UAD cards, I'm pretty impressed so far.
JK, I dont think you'll be disappointed.
Sure there are other great plugs around, but they load your CPU as well..

[Kris]

With a current Dual or Quad core computer you won't have any issues putting a load on the CPU. I can have 48 channels of Waves SSL plugs plus a bunch of Space Designer reverbs and a dozen soft synths going and the CPU load doesn't get much past 10%.

If you get the UAD, get it because it has a specific plug, not because you're worried about CPU load..... it's a non-issue these days.

[Bent my VU]

I wouldn't buy the UAD at the moment - a new one is well over due

[heathen]

If they do bring out a new card it would be good if the card can access more cpu power from the computer it is in. Or just make the card just the actual dongle.

I'd be really grumpy knowing I had x processing power and not being able to use it. I would have bought a Duende long ago as well if it were not limited to 32 plugs per unit.

But yeah they are good plugs from what I've heard when people bring me stuff to work on.

Can you "freeze" tracks with the UAD card?

[jkhuri44]

yeah, apparently u can freeze with the UAD stuff....i fink...

[TimS]

With a current Dual or Quad core computer you won't have any issues putting a load on the CPU. I can have 48 channels of Waves SSL plugs plus a bunch of Space Designer reverbs and a dozen soft synths going and the CPU load doesn't get much past 10%.

If you get the UAD, get it because it has a specific plug, not because you're worried about CPU load..... it's a non-issue these days.

Yeah, I understand Kris.
I'm going to a Intel Quad Core 6600 - actually I have the machine already, but we bought it as a family PC for intenet and games and stuff - just convinced the missus to swap it and use my laptop for internet, facebook, emails and games - plenty powerful enuf for those things..

My laptops CPU feels the pressure when theres alot of plugs loaded - Intel M 2.0GHz processor in a Dell Inspiron 9300 (top of line 2yrs ago) - however I try not to use too many - using a few VSTi's these days, which are still resource hogs at a minimum..

The UAD stuff sounds pretty good - will aim for one when I have finished with my outboard purchases..
T..

[Simon B]

for pro tools tdm it takes up half your time delay blocks.....

[Kris]

good call Tim... didn't realise you were running a laptop. Understandable to worry about CPU load in that case.

[tunetown]

I run a quad core Opteron and still hang a Magma chassis off for my 4 UAD cards. Regardless of native power they truly are exceptional plugins.
Whilst I'd love them to go native,I'd hate to have my investment devalued. I'm sure they will come up with a UAD2 in the not too distant future and hopefully a great crossgrade offer to reward their loyal customers.

Don't be put off by the old cards, they still give you extra power without chewing your existing cpu and with freeze functions can really assist your mixes. Their compressors are first rate. Their EQs are superb.

I highly recommend these plugins.

Cheers

Peter

[jmedigital]

Is UAD actually working on UAD2? I know there has been rumours for quite a while now.

It's sounds like your pretty set on the UAD stuff but there is another option coming out next month that you might want to have a look at as well.

http://www.sonic-core.net/en/home/xite.html

Soniccore are re-born Creamware. Not as well known as UAD but, for example, their scope DSP cards and fx were used in Fairlight Dream systems.

It's a very very powerful DSP system in a rack case that you can hook up to your laptop or desktop. Might be a bit pricey though.

Community is here:-

http://www.planetz.com/forums/

I run on the older Scope DSP boards. Similar vintage to the UAD.

Stuart.

[tunetown]

Plenty of discussion here.....

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end ... ile-3.html

Cheers
Peter

[graemeh]

I have the Ultra pak - it's beautiful! I use most of the plugs intermittently but the La2a on vocals nearly all the time.

Just bussing into the Fairchild with an absolute minimum of compression makes my mix more coherent, and that alone is worth the money for me.

That said, I was on their website recently and UA warned Mac 8 core owners that the cards were problematical with that system running Leopard. This may have been fixed by the recent OS update.

[jkhuri44]

i got a quote on a Magma 4 pci expansion solution...

i got a nasty number.... $2500...


thats not right, if i can build a computer with 8 PCI slots for less than half that?!?

is that what u paid Peter?? or do you have some secret IT source?? :P

[tunetown]

Buy second hand. I got a 7 slot PCI magma for $800 inc GST in Aus. That was 2 years ago. I'm sure you could find one cheaper now.
I know where there are some cheap ones in the US if interested. They're 110 volt however.

Cheers
Peter

[TimS]

JK,
There was a Magma chassis on GS recently for WAY less than that - however, not sure if he shipped internationally.
They come up on Ebay every now and then too..

[jkhuri44]

now we're talking...800 for 7 slots is more reasonable..
but still...800 second hand is still a bit too much for something this simple...damn IT..hehe

[tunetown]

I've just made a call to my secret IT... I may have tracked you one down for the right price. I'll know more early next week. It'll be a second hand PCI 7 slot.

Cheers
Peter

[jkhuri44]

hey , thanks pete! :)

[Damien]

anyone know where i can get a PIC chassis with a PCIE (for a mac) card..

damien

[TimS]

JK,
One on ebay at $250Au
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350075287832&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BID_Stores_IT&refitem=330249588690&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m184&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

[tunetown]

The one on Ebay doesn't come with the host card. Pretty useless without it. Not sure how hard they are to find or how much.

Cheers
Peter

[jkhuri44]

theyre about 700 i think...for a computer, less for a laptop.

thanks though Tim :)

[tunetown]

Don't forget the grey flat cable is also really hard to find. Make sure you get it when purchasing second hand.

Cheers
Peter