The Future of UAD-1 DSP Cards

[peter893]

When will we see a revision of the UAD-1 DSP card ?
UAD-2 -- UAD-1MKII -- UAD MKII

1. More processing power
2. PCI-X compatible @ 133mhz
3. An upgrade option for current 1st generation UAD-1 card owners.
4. Full G5 & 64-bit compatibility / optimization
5. Convolution pre amp emulator plug-in (Focusrite Liquid-Channel)
A plug-in of this type would require much more processing power.

please add to the list of what you would like to see in a possible revision of the UAD-1, hardware wise.

I agree the plugins themselves are great ! LA2A, 1176, Plate-140, Fairchild and the others, big thumbs up ! But the processing power, compatibility and new plugins are what will make me stick with UA.
Buy more UAD-1 cards for more processing power just doesn't cut it for me.
This AMD 8131 chipset can't be all to blame. The current UAD-1 card does not seem to be designed for future technologies at all. At one time it may have, but that time has past.

I know the UA staff can't and wont comment on unannounced future projects, but I little insight from the staff on what the near future may hold would be much appreciated.

On a personal note:
My plan for the following year includes a G5 purchase. Crossing my fingers for dual core cpus to be released sometime this year. Top of the line may include all PCI X slots and the AMD 8131 chipset.

Peter

 

[tlkshowhst]

How about full compatibilty with all G5 models and Pro Tools? Oh, I forgot it's supposed to be already.

 

[peter893]

tlkshowhst,
Full G5 compatibility is already up there.

Peter

 

[guitarz]

Don't forget more DSP power to accomodate surround/higher sample rates we'll certainly hear more of as we push further into the 21st Century...

 

[guitarz]

tlkshowhst,
Full G5 compatibility is already up there.

Peter

Not for "AMD" G5s!

 

[Trace]

tlkshowhst,
Full G5 compatibility is already up there.

Peter

Not for "AMD" G5s!

Its compatible, but the Computer itself is Crippled! There is no flaw in the design of the UAD-1. Its the darned AMD Chipset in the Mac motherboard. If not for that all things would work as they should. IF you read anything on the problem you would see that its not UA's fault.

 

[guitarz]

tlkshowhst,
Full G5 compatibility is already up there.

Peter

Not for "AMD" G5s!

Its compatible, but the Computer itself is Crippled! There is no flaw in the design of the UAD-1. Its the darned AMD Chipset in the Mac motherboard. If not for that all things would work as they should. IF you read anything on the problem you would see that its not UA's fault.

I don't care WHOSE fault it is. It is simple a fact that UAD-1 (based on what must be an aging processor/chipset itself) does not work 100% with any but the low end G5 computers. The fact that Apple continues to rely on the AMD chipset for (I believe now three) straight revisions makes it quite clear that UAD will have to be the one to find the solution (hopefully with Apple's help).

That said, UAD-1 work fine for my studio. I was just adding to the "wish list", that's all...

JP

 

[peter893]

Are you guys reading the first post ? ?
You are listing things that are already in the request list.
1. More processing power
2. PCI-X compatible @ 133mhz
3. An upgrade option for current 1st generation UAD-1 card owners.
4. Full G5 & 64-bit compatibility / optimization
5. Convolution pre amp emulator plug-in (Focusrite Liquid-Channel)
A plug-in of this type would require much more processing power.

please add to the list of what you would like to see in a possible revision of the UAD-1, hardware wise

 

[The Beatsmith]

what kinda upgrade option would you hope for?

a discount on new cards?

also, would be good to be able to use the new cards on machines with standard pci slots too? I guess that's a must really....

 

[peter893]

Powercore has got their upgrade going on for the PCIMKII
http://www.tcelectronic.com/PCIUpgrade
so, yes a discount on the new card just like Powercore.

i think that it would be a given that the new cards would work in older PCI slots, ha but you never now I guess.
---------
guitarz, your statement couln't be more wrong.
To blame Apple for the issue with the G5 and UAD is not correct.
Powercore DSP cards don't have these issues.
It has to do with the way UA designed the UAD-1. UA makes DSP cards for computers, they need to make sure there product works correctly with the new technologies. Thats why it may be time for a new Card.


Peter

 

[danickstr]

ability to take advantage of the pci-x 2Ghz clock rate would be even nicer than 133.

chaining on each card would help

 

[cowudders]

To blame Apple for the issue with the G5 and UAD is not correct. Powercore DSP cards don't have these issues.

Man, Powercore Elements have severe initialising problems in combination with the UAD-1 in PCI-G5s. Ranging from not working to reboot x4 ...

Don't ask me why I know that, .... please.

cheers,
bernd

 

[guitarz]

---------
guitarz, your statement couln't be more wrong.
To blame Apple for the issue with the G5 and UAD is not correct.
Powercore DSP cards don't have these issues.

Reread my statement. I'm not specifically blaming Apple -OR- UA. I'm merely stating that Apple is apparently not going to change their chipset (and there are already so many "AMD" G5s in the field anyway), so it lies on UA's shoulders to remedy the UAD-1 problem with or without Apple's assistance.

Are you guys reading the first post ? ?
You are listing things that are already in the request list.

But it's not like you haven't picked anything that hasn't been discussed here before either...

 

[peter893]

Your right i ment Trace. sorry about that.

But it's not like you haven't picked anything that hasn't been discussed here before either...

Dont be a dick.
Im trying to discus about HARDWARE revisions NOT a software revision.

 

[MPC]

come on everyone be nice.......

peter, I'm betting UAD give us something new for winter NAMM (maybe we should start a pool?!) That's just an educated guess. I did talk to someone at UA at a show awhile back and he hinted at a firewire product, maybe he was just playing with my mind, but he gave me no real info at all.....and I tried!

One thing for sure is UA seems to be always working on something, a good thing, we should be seeing those Roland plugs soon. And your idea about a preamp emulator makes sense given that UA makes some great preamps themselves, so I'll cross my fingers for that one to.

As for the hope for better PT compatibility, don't hold your breath, at least the other software companies co-operate with UA for delay comp etc. Digi isn't exactly going to jump through hoops and go out of their way to allow better integration of a product that would compete with PTHD. BTW have you seen Waves entry into the world of UAD/Powercore-like products?

A new product may also solve that AMD problem. You guys can't blame UA for that at ALL, remember UAD 1 came out considerably earlier than G5 did. That's our bad luck unfortunately. Plus, that AMD problem seems to exist on the PC side as well, if you were unfortunate to choose a MotherBoard that uses it, lucky for PC uses they can change their Mobo, we can't....bummer. I'm a big proponent of the best workaround IMO, Magma chassis......I know for some that is not a desireable option, but for the professional user it's a real boon and it allows for the maximum 4 UAD plus room for some TC PoCo, all the power of PTHD without the cost and hassle of being hemmed in to Digidesign's proprietary world.

 

[superspy1]

are you saying that if i get a magma or sbs chassis i can use a 2.7 dp which has teh amd chipset and i wont get the issues that i would if i put my uads direct into teh pcix slot

surely the magma runs off a pci card doesnt it so wont you get the same problem?

 

[guitarz]

Dont be a dick.
Im trying to discus about HARDWARE revisions NOT a software revision.

Thanks for taking the forum down a level. :? \
And yes, all these HARDWARE ideas have not only been thoroughly discussed before, but fall under the "no duh" category. If you don't want to discuss any of them in detail, well then, why are you here?!? Send an email to UA or something!

:roll:

 

[MPC]

Magma chassis reduces the AMD 8131 problem a great deal. I'd say UAD performance is better by around 20% with magma. Plus, it seems, at least in my case to help the problem of multiple card performance when using more than 1 UAD card inside a G5.