New UAD v11.3.0 Release - UAD LA-6176 Plugin - Q&A with Will Shanks!

[Matt Hepworth]

UAD Software Version 11.3.0 — May 28, 2024

New in this release

• LA-6176 Signature Channel Strip featuring Unison technology
• Hemisphere Mic Collection support for new SD-3, SD-5, and SD-7 Standard Series Microphones
  

LA-6176 FAQ:

https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/26846900454164-FAQ-LA-6176-Signature-Channel-Strip

 

[Matt Hepworth]

11.3 is now live and we're happy to have @Will Shanks here for Q&A on this new beauty!

 

[Will Shanks]

Thanks Matt! Looks like the software is still being deployed, and unfortunately, PACE is down at the moment! LA-6176 Bill Putnam Jr. Signature Edition Channel strip will prevail...

In the meantime, here's the product page. The plugin is dual platform, so UADx and UAD-2/Unison. Incredibly, it is 20 years since we shipped the 6176. I have been at UA long enough to remember it being released. In fact, I built and tested the 6176 units when they first came out. There's a really great video with Bill Putnam Jr. in support of the plugin, check it out. https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/channel-strips/la-6176-signature-channel-strip.html

 

[Dazlermac]

The LA6176 looks great. I won’t a chance to try out until later/tomorrow.

Just a question about the modelling. The respective compressors are mk2. Has the UA 610 preamp been reworked to mk2?

 

[Matt Hepworth]

Hey Will!

Thanks for joining us and sorry about the PACE outage!

Can you clarify whether the LA-6176 is a LA-610 and 6176, or a 610, LA-2A, and 1176? I guess what I mean is is it the LA-610 compressor, or an LA-2A, which is a little different beast? Related, is the 6176 compressor different than the 1176LN (both hardware and software)?

 

[swaite]

I have had an LA-610 in the rack for nearly two decades now. It's been great all these years!

 

[Will Shanks]

Those are about the same question. Here goes:

The LA-6176 is built from algos of shipping plugins: The 610, the 1176 and LA2A. For those previously shipped plugins or collections of plugins, there are derivations within the code that provide the feature and circuit variations, and specific golden unit fits to give you the eras and flavors of the 1176 Collection, for example. The 6176 and LA-610MkII hardware units are certainly right in the family with the hardware 1176, LA2A and 610 hardware variations that came before, and we still ship all of these as hardware units. So similarly, there are some differences within the channel strip emulations as well. That means you will be able to put your 6176 or LA-610MkII hardware side by side with the plugin and get a great match (minor unit to unit variation notwithstanding).

To get a bit more specific:

• The 610-B in the LA-6176 plugin is based on the LA-610MkII hardware, which has about 6dB more total gain than the 6176
• The 610-B preamp in the LA-610MkII is the same as in the 2-610 and LA-610 silver units
• The LA-6176 adds 610 features over the UA 610-B plugin : 75Hz Cut, EQ bypass and dual Hi-Z Unison impedance (47k, 2.2M)
• The 1176 in the LA-6176 is based on the 1176 in the 6176 hardware
• The LA2A in the LA-6176 is based on the LA2A in the LA-610MkII hardware

But yes, the biggest benefit of the LA-6176 is you're getting both of our hardware channel strips in one plugin, really combining "UA's greatest hits" of analog designs in one "super strip" plugin. And is of course Unison enabled for Apollo.

 

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Just what I have been waiting for. This is going to go on a bunch of my unison recording chains.

jord

 

[machinated]

would one expect any differences with the hardware using the processes combined in the same unit, vs each having its own dedicated power supply?

Is connected each piece of gear in serial the same as combining each of them in the circuit path? Is there any transformer impedance interactions or behaviours that would be different?

 

[matjones]

Hey, do we get it for 'free' if we already own a 6176 hardware?
Gotta ask innit!

 

[machinated]

and for someone who already owns the 610 bundle, 1176 bundle and LA2A bundle, is the correct upgrade price £50?

 

[UniversalAudio]

and for someone who already owns the 610 bundle, 1176 bundle and LA2A bundle, is the correct upgrade price £50?

Correct. Or do the Analog Classics bundle for 99 if you need any of those.

 

[UA_User]

and for someone who already owns the 610 bundle, 1176 bundle and LA2A bundle, is the correct upgrade price £50?

Thats what it shows for me too.

Several options for getting this at a good price right now, the 'custom 76' bundle, the offer in 'my offers', and in the analog classics bundle.

 

[taliosanchez]

Correct. Or do the Analog Classics bundle for 99 if you need any of those.

Quick question here, Drew. Shouldn't the ACB be also $49 for those who are just missing the new strip?

 

[UniversalAudio]

Quick question here, Drew. Shouldn't the ACB be also $49 for those who are just missing the new strip?

No, you'd just do the 6176, no ACPB invovled.

 

[Mengelking]

I know UA doesn't announce future products, but I'm curious if whatever work was done on this new plugin would theoretically pave the way for a 610 / 1176 / LA-2A Luna console integration? If it were UA's intention to make a UA Console Emulation, could this new plugin be considered a first step in the process? @Will Shanks @Connor

 

[Quint]

Those are about the same question. Here goes:

The LA-6176 is built from algos of shipping plugins: The 610, the 1176 and LA2A. For those previously shipped plugins or collections of plugins, there are derivations within the code that provide the feature and circuit variations, and specific golden unit fits to give you the eras and flavors of the 1176 Collection, for example. The 6176 and LA-610MkII hardware units are certainly right in the family with the hardware 1176, LA2A and 610 hardware variations that came before, and we still ship all of these as hardware units. So similarly, there are some differences within the channel strip emulations as well. That means you will be able to put your 6176 or LA-610MkII hardware side by side with the plugin and get a great match (minor unit to unit variation notwithstanding).

To get a bit more specific:

• The 610-B in the LA-6176 plugin is based on the LA-610MkII hardware, which has about 6dB more total gain than the 6176
• The 610-B preamp in the LA-610MkII is the same as in the 2-610 and LA-610 silver units
• The LA-6176 adds 610 features over the UA 610-B plugin : 75Hz Cut, EQ bypass and dual Hi-Z Unison impedance (47k, 2.2M)
• The 1176 in the LA-6176 is based on the 1176 in the 6176 hardware
• The LA2A in the LA-6176 is based on the LA2A in the LA-610MkII hardware

But yes, the biggest benefit of the LA-6176 is you're getting both of our hardware channel strips in one plugin, really combining "UA's greatest hits" of analog designs in one "super strip" plugin. And is of course Unison enabled for Apollo.

Thanks for not sidestepping the obvious questions about the origins of the algorithms in the 6176. Great answer, and full of the right kind of info.

 

[Will Shanks]

would one expect any differences with the hardware using the processes combined in the same unit, vs each having its own dedicated power supply?

Is connected each piece of gear in serial the same as combining each of them in the circuit path? Is there any transformer impedance interactions or behaviours that would be different?

See my added notes in my second reply. You can compare the plugin directly to the hardware 6176 and LA-610MkII. Everything is accounted for in the refits to the hardware channel strips.

 

[FutureLegends]

Looking forward to comparing the plug-in to the hardware!
The LA-610 was the first higher end pre amp I got. The 6176 had been my dream pre amp for ever and last year I found a used one at a killer price and couldn't resist. Love both units, but the 6176 especially for vocals.

 

[sirthought]

It's nice to see a release that is DSP based, but this is a bit surprising.

I think all Apollo owners already get the 610b included with their purchase, as well as a legacy LA-2A and 1176. Many customers buy the MKII versions of those comps as their first purchases, but I think Century Tube Channel Strip is the 610 and an optical compressor. This new product just seems like repackaging of products we already have access to track with.

It would have been easier to make a native version of the 610b and show people how to create the chain for either tracking or mixing in post. I suppose if you are someone who doesn't own LA-2A or 1176, you can get some of that flavor in the channel strip, but if I'm spending my money for the first time, I'm getting the stand alone comps, because I wouldn't always want the preamp there and I already have a 610b.