UAD Studer Tape Mixing Question

[UA User]

I have a few mixing questions for the tape users and @UniversalAudio.

1. Do you ever use the HF driver EQ or the Repro EQ controls (see pic below) on the UAD Studer tape plugin? If so, how are you using them and why?

2. Can one achieve the same result using EQ plugins before and after the tape plugin?

 

[bellows and brass]

1. Yes
2. probably.

 

[UA User]

1. Yes
2. probably.

How and why do you use those controls?

 

[mrufino1]

When something sounds harsh, Try putting the studer on 7.5ips (turn off auto calibrate first), then turn the bias all the way up and the HF eq knob all the way up. It will sound less harsh but with the highs back in that the bias knob takes out.

 

[UA User]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely try that.

 

[machinated]

Is it possible to manually bias the Studer (as you can with the Ampex, using the method in the manual)?

 

[UA User]

Is it possible to manually bias the Studer (as you can with the Ampex, using the method in the manual)?

Do you mean by using the bias control on the bottom left of the pic I posted?

 

[machinated]

Do you mean by using the bias control on the bottom left of the pic I posted?

Yeah, but not just the bias - basically all of the under the hood controls. There’s the auto cal mode but it’s quite fun to adjust yourself

 

[UA User]

Yeah, but not just the bias - basically all of the under the hood controls. There’s the auto cal mode but it’s quite fun to adjust yourself

Yes that’s what I was asking about. I’m curious in what situations you find that helpful?

 

[machinated]

Yes that’s what I was asking about. I’m curious in what situations you find that helpful?

different people have different ways of calibrating their machines. Rather than just turning knobs at random, itll be cool to have some kind of guided process to doing it, much like they did with the Ampex 102 plugin

 

[UniversalAudio]

I have a few mixing questions for the tape users and @UniversalAudio.

1. Do you ever use the HF driver EQ or the Repro EQ controls (see pic below) on the UAD Studer tape plugin? If so, how are you using them and why?

2. Can one achieve the same result using EQ plugins before and after the tape plugin?

1. Yes.
2. No, because they're not models of the Studer cards.

Have you seen my vid on it? It's got a few cool tricks up its sleeve.

 

[Bruce_Sokolovic]

1. Yes.
2. No, because they're not models of the Studer cards.

Have you seen my vid on it? It's got a few cool tricks up its sleeve.

I really need to start using this more.

 

[UniversalAudio]

I really need to start using this more.

Yeah, lots of great analog circuit modeling in there that does A LOT of heavy lifting for you.

You put this on every track and you instantly need 15-20% less subsequent processing.

 

[UA User]

1. Yes.
2. No, because they're not models of the Studer cards.

Have you seen my vid on it? It's got a few cool tricks up its sleeve.

Thanks, Drew! Great video.

 

[UniversalAudio]

Thanks, Drew! Great video.

Glad you enjoyed!!

 

[machinated]

different people have different ways of calibrating their machines. Rather than just turning knobs at random, itll be cool to have some kind of guided process to doing it, much like they did with the Ampex 102 plugin

Just to expand a little on my reasoning...

Slate VTM has a 16 track A827 and 2 track A80

Softube has a Studer of some kind

u-he Satin has various presets based on Studer's (A800/A827)

IK has an A80 multitrack.

They all seem to be approached a little different - IK seems to be heavily black box based, and has a lot more wow and flutter than others at "default" settings. I can get IK's A80 and Slate's A80 fairly close when using similar tape formulations and speeds. Softube seems to be more idealised, almost a totally opposite approach to IK. Satin isn't specifically modelling any one machine, but it gives parameters that allow you to approximate different ones.

Obviously each machine WILL sound different, but I'm curious how much of the differences are down to how each machine has been calibrated. Seeing as many plugins have adjustments for bias and drive/repro hf, as well as varying input level calibrations, I wonder if they can be set up in a more similar "apples to apples" way. Otherwise it largely feels like its comparing different ways of calibrating a tape machine more than anything else.

Curious if anyone with a good amount of tape experience can help.

and anyone with Satin, I implore you to use the Dolby compander circuit with your tape sim of choice in between. Its killer.

 

[UA User]

Glad you enjoyed!!

I have a question about the Cal Level control (see pic below). Is there any difference between lowering the Cal Level versus lowering the Input Gain control besides the fact that lowering the Input also lowers the volume? In other words, is the Cal Level just a way to adjust the input gain without significantly changing the output volume of the plugin?

 

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Yeah, lots of great analog circuit modeling in there that does A LOT of heavy lifting for you.

You put this on every track and you instantly need 15-20% less subsequent processing.

Which is one of the reasons why it is on my recording chain.

I have often referred to that video since it was posted. Indeed lots of ideas.

jord

 

[UniversalAudio]

I have a question about the Cal Level control (see pic below). Is there any difference between lowering the Cal Level versus lowering the Input Gain control besides the fact that lowering the Input also lowers the volume? In other words, is the Cal Level just a way to adjust the input gain without significantly changing the output volume of the plugin?

View attachment 18766

Cal level models what it sounds like to drive more fluxivity onto the tape whereas level controls how hard you hit the electronics.

 

[UA User]

Cal level models what it sounds like to drive more fluxivity onto the tape whereas level controls how hard you hit the electronics.

Thanks! One last question. Do you ever switch between the two Equalizer options (see pic)? Or do you normally leave that alone?