What do you think UA's next move is when discounts expire?

[kittyboy]

We know they're dealing with an outdated platform and their incentives are about to expire, so do you think following Jan 1 that there will be even better deals introduced, or that pricing will simply return to \"normal\"?

I'm deciding whether to go full-bore and get 2 or 3 cards now before new years, or wait and see what happens next.

Thanks!

 

[Middleman]

Been wondering this same thing. I have a feeling that the new hardware platform everyone has been wanting is about to be announced at NAMM. It will not be backward compatible with the current plugs but they will create the same roster for the new platform.

Pure speculation on my part just wanted to point that out.

 

[A Gruesome Discovery]

I have no clue what's coming up, but one thing I do know is that UA has never punished me for taking advantage of a deal. Ever. If I were in your position, I'd just go for the cards. I just bought one, and also completed the Neve bundle. After the vouchers, I basically ended up spending only $20 more than I would have if I completed the Neve bundle without a new card. You can pretty much work out a way to buy all the plugs you want and get the UAD cards almost free, so no matter what they do in the near future as far as hardware goes, you won't get screwed if you play your cards right. <-EDIT: Oh god that pun was not intentional
EDIT #2:

It will not be backward compatible with the current plugs but they will create the same roster for the new platform.

If this turns out to be true, then forget what I said about UA in my post. That would definitely be some hardcore screwing.

 

[polygen]

judging from past experience i think it does not makes sense to assume that a new dsp device would render any plugin licenses obsolete.the plugs might need re-coding or recompiling to fit a different instruction set of a different processor, but that is a different story.

 

[Sid Chigger]

When is the next NAMM?

 

[billybk1]

When is the next NAMM?

The NAMM Show starts in three weeks.

 

[Resonant Alien]

It will not be backward compatible with the current plugs but they will create the same roster for the new platform.

Pure speculation on my part just wanted to point that out.

That, of course, is pure speculation, since none of us has any idea what CPU the new platform would use, none of us could possibly know whether the existing code will run on the new platform.

The important point is that they allow existing licenses to port to the new platform whatever it is, which of course they would have to, unless they are completely out of their minds and want to piss off a bunch of loyal customers.

 

[Nightowl]

I can understand UA being tight lipped about new products, but I just don't see them screwing their customers. They are far from being that kind of company.

As to what you should do, hmmmm ... its a tough call. I just bought a Flexi pack and with the vouchers and got the Neve bundle, and, wow, am I glad I did.

 

[billybk1]

I just bought a Flexi pack and with the vouchers and got the Neve bundle, and, wow, am I glad I did.

I just bought (2) Express Paks (and Neve bundle with my vouchers, thanks UA :wink: ) to compliment my exisiting (2) PCI cards. Whether they come out with a new card or not I am pretty well set with (4) cards already in my DAW and all of the exisiting plugins. Another thing, I don't think I could afford the new card anyway. If you are talking about a card with 4 or 8 times times the power of the current UAD-1 PCIe card then you are probably looking at spending Duende type bucks ($1800-$2500). I can assure you that UA is not going to cannibalize the sales of their just released PCIe card. It would have to be priced accordingly, especially as a new product. Most likely for the high-end studio crowd that are used to spending the big bucks anyway.

 

[coolout]

4 UADs and a Core Duo!?!?!?!

I'd agree that Billy's pretty well set.

 

[A Gruesome Discovery]

Looks like the promos expired, but the $100 crossgrade was extended again:
http://www.uaudio.com/webzine/2006/december/index9.html

 

[LFranco]

We know they're dealing with an outdated platform

Actually, I think it's the best "dongle" ever made that actually works. If anything, they should allow the use of more than 4 cards and perhaps cut down the price of a barebones card to say $200.

If UA were to allow the use of 8 cards in a system, and sell each card (project paks) at $200, I'd buy additional cards in a heartbeat.

 

[afone1977]

We know they're dealing with an outdated platform

Actually, I think it's the best "dongle" ever made that actually works. If anything, they should allow the use of more than 4 cards and perhaps cut down the price of a barebones card to say $200.

If UA were to allow the use of 8 cards in a system, and sell each card (project paks) at $200, I'd buy additional cards in a heartbeat.

8 card in one system with an expensive external chassis, is not really the solution i want... (hey people, hyper powered DSP just need one PCIe port !!!)

And I expect UA will use another DSP for is nexgen card,

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