How do I spend my Flexipack $500?

[Rich_Elam]

I've seen plenty of \"which compressor?\" threads, so I apologize up front.

I only have a project pack, no extras, and I'm waiting for the delivery of my flexipack. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to get an LA2A. What else is essential?

Do convolution reverbs render the Plate 140 less of a \"must have\"?

I'm thinking maybe the LA2A, Fairchild and 1176LN - with $50 left over to force yet another purchase, probably the Cambridge.

I have a Powercore, which covers my reverb needs, and I use Ozone for mastering purposes, though I'm sure the UAD is better.

The demos are good, but I feel like there's not enough time to really reach a decision - plus I like everything I've tried, so I need insight from folks who've used them all for a while.
There are at least a couple of folks here who I know have given this plenty of thought, so the feedback would be much appreciated.

BTW, I mostly do electric guitar-centric rock music, if that's a big factor.


Thanks!

 

[Akis]

I'd go for 1176LN, LA-2A, Fairchild and add $26 to get the Pultec Pro. Then the Plate 140 and the Roland Bundle.

 

[Rich_Elam]

Thanks! I should have added that I have the Pultec Pro. It was free when I purchased the project pack; I forget that it's not normally included.

 

[Rich_Elam]

BTW Akis, I'll assume your response means you don't think convolution options are a replacement for the Plate 140 plug. I'll keep that in mind. I hadn't demoed it yet, so I'll A/B versus some impulses I have.

 

[Akis]

I'm not a fan of convolution in general, I usually prefer algorithmic reverbs. However, I haven't done this particular comparison between the Plate 140 and EMT 140 impulses.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Somebody else recently added a Flexi Pak to his Project Pak & wound up getting the 1176LN for free when he registered the second card. Hopefully this will happen for you, as well, since the 1176LN is the standard for electric guitar. Personally, my most used UAD plug-ins when mixing, in order, are Cambridge, LA2A, 1176LN, & Roland CE-1, but I'd probably use the Plate 140 if I had more cards & didn't already have the Powercore VSS3.

 

[Rich_Elam]

I won't hold my breath on the freebie 1176LN (purchased the FlexiPak at JRR Shop , BTW), but stranger things have happened. If it does happen, I wonder if I should contact UA? Their prices seem fair enough already, it would suck if a glitch in their latest release was giving away product.

The Cambridge is sort of a maybe for me, after the three compressors. Since I'll have some money left over, I'll probably put it toward that. I don't know how long I'm allowed to hold onto the $50 balance, but I'll check.

 

[Akis]

Your balance from the Flexi Pak voucher doesn't expire. :wink:

Now, re: the 'free' 1176LN, to be honest, I think I'd keep it...

 

[Rich_Elam]

I know what you mean, it would be tempting. If UA were a big company that wasn't giving me much for the money (like Steinberg?), I definately wouldn't say a word.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

I just figured it was some new promotion they're doing, sort of like how Project Pak users were getting free Pultec Pro's or LA2A's at different periods of time. Regarding Cambridge, I'm fond of it for its filters & only really use the bands because it's already loaded, it's my most used UAD plug-in for the simple fact that I use filters on every single channel. The bands are not spectacular sounding but they're good enough for dipping out problem areas.

 

[Rich_Elam]

The Cambridge is probably in my future, it's just a matter of when.

It just occurred to me that it would really suck if I blew my $500 bucks, and then that first Neve plug comes out (and rocks). Ah, it's probably months away...

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

AFAIK, the voucher doesn't expire. Double-check with UA on that, though.

 

[Rich_Elam]

Wierd thing.

When I registered my second card, the LA2A and 1176LN were listed as being authorized for the new card, and only the new one. Their demos had expired prior to installing the new card, and I hadn't yet purchased them.

I was curious, so I loaded up my DAW and opened up a bunch of 1176s until the DSP usage hit 50%. Once it did the system got weird and slowed way down (stopped really), until I unloaded one to get it back below 50%. I guess it really did only run on the one card.

I didn't know it was possible to authorize for only some cards in a system, nevermind that it shouldn't have been authorized for either one in this case.

I bought the partially authorized plugs, now they work on both cards.