YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS?

[Plec]

I've had the UAD for quite some time now. I use two cards in my system and I mix analogue on an Otari console with a nice collection of high-end hardware, so the UAD is sort of a complement for me when I run out of hardware to patch in. Although there are a suite of plugins I ALWAYS use on the UAD-1 that I just can't find any replacement for, digital or analogue (for my budget).

Top UA plugins that I CAN'T do a mix without!

1. Neve 1073
2. Fairchild 670
3. Precision EQ
4. Cambridge EQ

What's your most important tools?

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

I've been working in a UAD-less studio lately, getting mixes that I'm still very happy with. It's amazing how much can be done with nothing but high pass filters, compressors, & delays when the instruments are recorded well in the first place (the studio has plenty more equipment than that, of course, but nothing I trust or feel comfortable with). I can't master anywhere but my own place, though, so I guess that makes the Precision EQ the one UAD plug-in I can't work without.

 

[baronluigi]

for me, it's the Fairchild

 

[Guest]

1. LA2A and 1176LN
2. Plate 140
3. Precision EQ/MultiBand/Limiter (on mastering stage)

 

[Newtown]

1. Neve 1073
2. Neve 1073
3. Cambridge EQ
4. Precission Series @ Mastering

 

[Shane]

Mixing:
1. LA2A
2. 1176
3. Fairchild
4. Plate 140

Mastering:
1. P-Lim
2. Pultec Pro
3. P-EQ
4. P-Multiband Comp.

 

[lordward]

My ears :-$
But don't tell anyone, I don't want the whole world to steal my tricks.

Lordy out.....

 

[macmusic78]

i would never have thought that of all the plugins it would be the precision limiter that i use the most instances of... maybe because logics build in limiter isn´t so great....
Apart from that i like the la2a on vocals... everybody likes the fairchild - but i still have to discover its magic....

 

[neil wilkes]

Can't say, as it really depends greatly on exactly what I'm doing.
Vocals - LA2A, no question of it.
Apart from that, it really does depend on what I'm doing.

 

[Guest]

1073-SE, fairchild.

 

[Guest]

1. LA2A and 1176LN
2. Plate 140
3. Precision EQ/MultiBand/Limiter (on mastering stage)

Now it's changed....

1. LA2A and 1176LN
2. NEVE 1073SE
3. Plate 140
4. Precision EQ/MultiBand/Limiter (on mastering stage)

Yeah, NEVE 1073SE is really great EQ.
I didn't realize the 1073 is MUST HAVE item!

 

[bitman]

The LA2A and REQ4

 

[JuergenW]

mostly using Hipass-Filters of Cambridge and Logic's Channel EQ... apart this my mostly used are these:

1) Pultec Pro, 1073, PMB (for de-essing and heavy signals)
2) UAD-Compressors (LA2A for clean tone, 1176 for agressive tone, Fairchild for saturated tone)
3) Dimension D (on bus for spreading images)
4) Realverb Pro (only for early reflections), Plate 140
5) Logic Tape and Stereo Delay

Mastering (ITB - different chains)
Always: P-Limiter. Also: Precision Plugins, Dimension-D (sometimes on a bus for
a wider image), 1073, rarely Fairchild and LA2A

 

[PodBoy]

Top UA plugins that I CAN'T do a mix without!
1. Neve 1073
2. Fairchild 670
3. Precision EQ
4. Cambridge EQ

Since I'm new to the UAD party, I'd like to ask your opinions on experiences with the various EQs available.

I have 600 new flexibucks in the bank
- NEVE is at the top of list (I love the character and air it added when I tried the demo;
-a Precision Bundle is also possibe (the compressors for sure), that would include the P-EQ; this i assume is considered a very neutral sounding EQ.
- What would the Cambridge bring to the table and what are the relative merits/drawbacks of each? Pultec?

Currently the plugs I have are LA2/LN1176/Fairchild/Plate140/Roland bundle/Dreamverb

 

[Plec]

I think it's pretty tough to be without either of the EQs to tell you the truth. Here's my opinion though..

Neve 1073:
This is basically your broad toneshaper with lots of character. Sweet, thick high-end with big bass and very smooth, aggressive midband without sounding harsh. The SE version sounds fantastic also.

I use this EQ on a lot of stuff that I want sounding \"special\" and put somekind of \"wow\" factor to it. The highpass filter is also really good!!

Precision EQ:
I think I would like to describe this EQ as neutral and smooth. It does have it's own character but yet it doesn't color the signal as much as the other EQs do. You have a max of 8db cut or boost in each band, so it's not your supersurgical notch filter. I really like to use this EQ when I have some semi-surgical stuff to do in the mids of my more important elements like if the vocal just has 3db to much edge at 3K, this EQ really takes care of that in a very transparent way. Likewise if something has to be brightened up in a transparent way.. this EQ really does this well!

Cambridge EQ:
Probably my most used plugin EQ ever. I'm still surprised everytime I start tweaking it how great it sounds, especially if you consider the price tag. This is my main EQ for tweaking stuff in the mix that sits more in the background. It's also my main supersurgical EQ that I use frequently to smooth out my main sounds.

Pultec Pro:
Never been that supercrazy about this one... First of all I've never really quite understood the benefit of doing really narrow boosts in the midrange. I've really tried to get it working for me, but everytime I use the midband section to boost I think it sounds horrible. I like the mid-cut band on some stuff though. Really cool character there. As for the main filters.. I've always considered the UAD Pultec a bit too grainy for me. I do use it on some occations but I really do like the high-end sound of the 1073 a lot more in general.

 

[Mark Edmonds]

Mastering (ITB - different chains)
...Dimension-D (sometimes on a bus for a wider image)...

That is a bizarre choice of "mastering" tool if you don't mind me saying.

Mark

 

[JuergenW]

Mastering (ITB - different chains)
...Dimension-D (sometimes on a bus for a wider image)...

That is a bizarre choice of "mastering" tool if you don't mind me saying.

Mark

You´re totaly right - this is very bizarre. But try it softly on a sum -
you need to locut the dim-d return to around 250 Hz.
As said I use it only sometimes on clients material - this is UK style processing :wink: