By pressing the “P-DYN” switch, the EQ can be placed before the dynamics section in the signal path.įinally, we hit the output fader, which is the last part of the plug-in that employs analog modeling. The two mid-bands don’t offer shelving, but have a fully adjustable bandwidth from very wide to very narrow. By default, the high and low bands act as a wide or narrow bandwidth peaking filter (switchable using the “HI-Q” toggle) and can be switched to shelving mode by pressing the button labelled with the shelf icon. There are 4 bands of parametric EQ: High, High-Mid, Low-Mid, and Low. Using the default signal path, the next module in line is the EQ. When depressed, the EQ section is removed from the audio path and is used to trigger the dynamics for frequency dependent compression for de-essing and the like. In addition to all the standard controls, there is a side-chain eq button. All four of these functions can be found in the same module, with the expander/gate on the left, and the compressor/limiter on the right. While the EQ and dynamics sections can be moved around in the signal path, the filter section is static and always occurs directly after the input module.Īfter the filters, signal hits the expander/gate, and then the compressor/limiter. What you are left with is the preamp/line input, filters, gate/VCA dynamics, EQ, and the channel output fader.įrom there, your signal enters the filter section: There are low pass and high pass filters set to roll off 12 dB/octave. The 88RS channel strip models the most useful components of its physical counterpart, doing away with redundant aspects of the original like auxiliaries, bus sends, the monitor section, etc. And, as I was in the midst of a large mixing project I figured I’d have a great chance to run it through it’s paces in a real-world situation. When the opportunity came along to check it out, I was thrilled. Apparently, it sounded substantially better than before, and I found myself compelled.
Universal audio plugins review upgrade#
However, as I poked around the UAD site and read some comments there, I found myself surprised at how significant this upgrade seemed to be in the minds of other users.
![universal audio plugins review universal audio plugins review](https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UAD-Credit-Shutterstock@1400x1050.jpg)
In fact, I can admit I was initially a little disappointed as I had been looking forward to hearing a new version of the 1081 EQ! I was very surprised that they chose the 88R, given its relatively pristine character and less familiar sound. Given that UA’s last re-modeled plug-in was the Neve 1073, I assumed that the next batch of revamps would be something more along these lines-either the 1081 or the 31102. Today, such modeled tools are ubiquitous to say the least, and there are so many choices available that it boggles the mind. The Neve 88RS console was touted above earlier models for its transparency, and at that time, most plug-ins were already very transparent, simply by nature of being digital Back then, I was more interested in tools that would model the inherently non-transparent sound (read: nonlinearities, distortions, etc) of the analog world. The Neve 88RS console, on which the plugin is based. When the original version (now labelled “legacy”) of this channel strip was released 8 years ago, my response was one of interest, but I didn’t feel that it was a tool that I HAD to have. All in all a compelling MKII version for UAD-2 users to add to their arsenals. On top of that, the behaviors of the channel output fader and its associated transformer have been modeled as well.
![universal audio plugins review universal audio plugins review](https://producelikeapro.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/The-12-Best-UAD-Plugins-in-2021_4.jpg)
This allows it to be used in conjunction with the UAD Apollo interface’s preamp section.
![universal audio plugins review universal audio plugins review](http://blog.dubspot.com/files/2015/05/frontapollo.jpg)
This new version adds a more sophisticated modeling of the analog guts of the original, as well as adding a detailed model of the preamp which incorporates UA’s “Unison” technology. In recent years however, Universal Audio has adopted the practice of improving upon old plug-in code, creating even more accurate models of its early plug-in models.įollowing in the footsteps of updates to the 1176, Pultec EQ’s, Fairchild, and Neve 1073 is the new Neve 88RS MkII. Universal Audio’s emulation of the Neve 88RS channel strip was originally released in 2007, and has become a well loved tool in the UAD-2 toolkit.