UAD 9.7 plugins

S
ome technology just
stays with you.
Maybe it was the
fi rst time you saw
an SSL E-series
console, or heard a
vocal compressed
through an 1176. The iconic white
remote control of the Lexicon 480L
Digital Reverb is one such device, a
staple of world-class studios. It’s also
the fl agship emulation in this latest
UAD software release.
The Lexicon 480L is famous for
its lush, rich tones; this is the fi rst
time an emulation has been
endorsed by Lexicon themselves.
There are ten effects types (halls,
rooms, ambience etc) and once
you’ve picked one, you can further
refi ne your choice. Thereafter, the
sliders control individual parameters
and there are pages of these, to let
you contour the sound. I could fi ll
my word allocation using words like
‘shimmering’ and ‘silky’ and still not
do justice to the quality here.
Next up is Softube’s Vocoder, an
homage to some classic vocal
processors. It can be used as a
simple approach to output volume
management, the Brainworx bx_
masterdesk Classic should prove a
hit for UAD too. Via six dials, two
compression modes and four tone
profi les, you can push output level,
tweak stereo imaging and control
transients. Simple, effective and a
super-quick way to apply a basic
form of mastering to your tracks.
In short, UAD v9.7 provides
high-quality processors aplenty to
add to its already mouthwatering
collection of class-leading effects.
‘fi xed’ audio effect, whereby you can
use a root note as a pitch for the
vocoded voice effect but it works
more effectively when triggered as a
MIDI effect, using Note On
messages to determine output pitch.
The ‘Bands’ options, coupled to the
waveforms in the Carrier Synth
section, combine to provide a wide
variety of potential fl avours, and it’s
quick work to create some great
sounding Vocoder treatments.
Among the most notable
categories are the channel strips,
with faithful emulations of SSL, API
and Manley among those modelled.
To their ranks, the AMS Neve DFC
(Digital Film Console) Channel Strip
is now added, of particular interest
to ‘for picture’ composers. The
channel strip offers four bands of
fully parametric EQ, two bands of
fourth-order fi ltering, with dynamics
handled by separate compressor,
limiter, expander and gate modules.
You can easily swap the processing
order of the active effects via the
fl ow diagram beneath the EQ
display; there’s extraordinary
fl exibility here. As a cost-effective,
THE PROS & CONS
+
Lexicon 480L is
everything you’d
hope for; getting a
classic vocoder
sound with Softube
Vocoder is lots of fun
The AMS Neve DFC
will appeal to those
writing to picture and
The Brainworx
bx_masterdesk
Classic sets a useful
balance between
price, ease-of-use
and output loudness
While less ‘essential’
to
FM readers, the
Suhr SE100
Amplifi er adds to
UAD’s impressive
collection of
modelled amps
-
UAD plugins aren’t
the cheapest; but
quality on this scale
never comes cheap
FM VERDICT
9.6
UAD’s star is on the
ascendant with this latest
release. The Lexicon 480L
is the highlight but all the
new plugins sound great
UAD 9.7 Plugins | Reviews
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FMU339.rev_uad.indd 103 28/11/2018 14:03