well, that's why my system is so outdated. Because I wait for the technology to be worth crap before I buy it! (computer technology that is). For instance, that new system that Opus and folks have been talking about for the 2nd quarter of 2003? I am just as anxiously awaiting it... because my 533fsb 3.0 ghz computer I'll build at that time will be a smokin' deal.
Anyways, back to the topic... I am more curious than anything. I believe that most folks with the outboard gear hanging around are not going to be purchasing a UAD-1. I can respect that and feel that is reflected in the lack of response to this topic (that, and perhaps my poorly chosen title for the post).
Most people can't walk up and compare a UAD with its hardware counterparts, so I was curious if anyone had and what they thought. Not just for my purposes, but for the knowledge of others that do not have the luxury of doing a taste test. I've heard nothing but great things about the UAD-1 so basically I'm just a waitin' for that UAD-2 so I can pick one up! Cheap.
TC Powercore? I like the idea of having both, but deffinately think that PCI is going to change and thus, the hardware will too. Hopefully it will be backwards compatible, but you just never know. As the technology improves there is this prevailing attitude that the previous technology has somehow gotten worse. I don't buy into that theory. Sure I would like to have the latest and greatest, but that makes about as much sense as investing in a boat. (no offense to any boat owners out there...)
Still, I can't afford the analog counterparts. So I watch prices fall, keep my ears open and learn so that I don't make the mistakes I have made in the past when it comes to purchasing gear. Really, you can do everything you need to do in a computer these days. And for those of you who think that you can't, it IS done everyday in every possible genre you can imagine. I mean, jeeze, how good does that analog outboars pre sound on an mp3 track anyway? The average consumer just doesn't seem to care. Sooner or later the technology market is going to settle on a standard that is a cross between functionality, consumer demand, and profit margin. That will probably leave us at 24bit 96khz accross the board for a while.
although, my friend that just took a 7 hour road trip with Rupert Neve said he had a chance to check out that 1 bit system (I forgot which big boy develped that one) and said it sounded pretty darn good.
Said he and Rupert just talked about BMW's, though. He said 7 hours and no audio topics came up... and he enjoyed that. I guess that's what happens when those guys have been doing this as long as they have.
But I digress...
so, I was curious if anyone had done an AB test. Of course I know the analog is going to win everytime. Of course I know I can't afford 8 1176's for mixdown. Of course I can afford a UAD or Powercore card. Even more so when I buy one in about 6 months when something new and improved is out there. That still won't make the UAD sound any worse than it does now. However, it would be nice to hear exactly the type of shootout mentioned for the bomb factory plugs. I wouldn't expect that the UAD would sound better than the real deal, but would be interested to know how close it gets. And not an opinion like, "it sounds like a good compressor". I know it's a good sounding compressor. But how close does it get to the real deal? Pretty damn close? Not close at all, but sounds pretty damn good? Sounds ok, and pretty darn close? Certainly captures the essence and tonal characteristics, but probably loses about 15% of the character of the real deal?
Certainly sounds analog, but not like an 1176?
Doesn't sound analog at all?
I wouldn't be hanging on to a 100fsb athlon 1ghz with 512megs of pc133 if I was interested in investing in what is hot on the market now. Hell, for 1000 bucks I can build a nice 533fsb 2.26ghz pIV with two 8meg cache 60 gig hard drives with all peripherals. Now that I have seen the posts for the new standard coming out next year, though, it just makes sense for me to hang with what I have (it does still sound the same as it has for the last two years...) and piece together the above mentioned system when I can pick it up for 500 bucks.
what was I talking about, again?
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