I'm deciding between buying a UAD-2 DUO to get 1176LN and LA-2A for Free or saving the pennies for Tube-Tech CL 1B. As i never had the chance to hear UAD stuff in action i'm purely deciding after i heard Tube-Tech CL 1B which in my opinion is unbelieavable. I had the same "WOW" factor i got from Nebula 3 Pro with this plugin. So my question: UAD vs Tube-Tech Native what are the differences in sonic behaviour and quality? Are there things that Tube-Tech can do and UAD can't or vice-versa? Does the UAD Comps can hold and preserve the low end as Tube-Tech does for example?

Thank You

i havent tried softube so dont get mad at me when i vote UAD.. ever since i got the 1176ln and la2a i havent demo'd anything. now i dont really need anything... and im past the "honeymoon" stage

I have all the UAD compressors and also the Softube CL-1B. I would get the CL-1B.

Thanks for your input. While i do respect and appreciate your vote i must emphasize that i need a direct comparison from someone who experienced the sound of both sides to hear differences/similarities.

The first thing a friend of mine sayed about the UAD Comps when he purchased his UAD2 DUO is that they can deal with gain reduction in a more natural (preservative) and pleasant way than any other native comps.

So i believed in him blindly without questions until i demoed the Tube-Tech CL 1B and seeing/hearing it can do absurd levels of gain reduction while retaining the low end/punch in a pleasant/natural way compared to any other native plugins aswell.

If i haven't demoed the Tube Tech i would be buying the UAD-2 without questions but now i'm not so sure.. that's why i'm need of a more in-depth comparison between them. like which of them reacts more naturally/responsive to the sound? What about Harmonic Distortion\Sound Color? which can do gain reduction in a more real way than the other? And so on..

Thanks!

theres a funny pattern that goes on here too.. everytime something new comes out they always end up being compared to uad. And then the next thing comes along and again its compared to uad.

I think the reason for this is because UAD set a standard of sonic behaviour that native plugins can't touch. Until a new one comes out and then comparison threads like this one starts popping. I have seen people saying that The Glue and PSP Oldtimer are good enough to unjustify the use of UAD Comps but then i heard Tube-Tech and it just sounds miles ahead of these two and everything native i've heard. It was a shock just like Nebula 3 Pro for me. That's why i started this thread to get the facts right.

really?? hmmmmm maybe i have to try this plug

I have all the UAD comps and a real CL1B in the rack, and I still bought the CL1B plugin. Excellent sonics and easy workflow...that's why. As excellent as the older UAD comps are, the newer stuff ( CLA bundle, CL1B, OT, etc) is just breathing and wrapping the signal more like real hardware.

Thanks Kyle that's exactly the kind of detailed answer i'm looking for.

I should clarify that in the end i will end up buying a UAD-2 Duo aswell for the CPU saving factor among other plugins i'm interested in there, but i'm in a priority for investment in quality and sonic behaviour right now and CL 1B is proving to be a true-to-the-hype winner just like Nebula did (in regards to EQs/Reverbs/Consoles).

I use the CL1B plug all the time, and have been since Powercore. I have all the UAD comps and hardly use them at all, especially since the Waves CLA which wipe the floor with their UAD counterparts. UA needs to come out with V2 of all of their comps in my opinion - time to up the game and model the saturation and anomalies of the comps like their competition is doing now.

+1

Waves Classics + Waves CLA + CL1B = amazing heh

Sounds as if you think UAD plugins have some kind of magic native plugs can't have. They're all just digital you know...there's no reason native plugs can't sound as good as UAD.

No - I think the OP makes a valid point. For years UAD were miles ahead - and it is great that there are now brilliant native plugs coming through. It takes a while for everyone to catch on though. (and I seriously think UAD much as I love them are going to have to look at their pricing structure given the new competition)

I'd pick UAD just for the fact that their library has much to offer. The FATSO & EMT 250 are wild.

I'll add that I've been dealing with performance issues between UAD and Samplitude for a long time, and I'm actually considering dumping the UAD stuff. Every mix session becomes a problem solving session these days, and it keeps pointing to UA.

Between the CLA bundle, Waves SSL, the CL1B, Old Timer, and the newest IKM comps, most needs are easily met natively. I would just like some spot on Neve EQs in a native format, and I could probably let go of UAD.

I Have UAD-2 and Softube CL1B , of course the CL1B is better you've got to remember the UA 1176LN & LA-2A are over 6 years old now.

I own UAD-2 & TC Powercore and to be honest nowadays there seems no point in tying yourself to a DSP dongle the Native stuff outhere is superb.

As i sit here now waiting for snow leopard drivers for my powercore (i know the workarounds thats not the point)

Really ? i can't see any point in that , if the waves versions are better then isn't it better to just buy the waves stuff and let UA make some plugins nobody's got like Manley etc , updating the old stuff could put their plugin roster years behind schedule

Well it doesn't seem to make sense for UA to let everyone else come out with better plugins of their own gear when they are clearly able to up their game ala Fatso.

Dont know if you've tried AirEq and Softube Eq pack but these both have an analogue feel to my ears.

I would also love to try nebula as these are said to be superb but Im on a quad g5.

For me it's CLA, Tubetech, and UAD in that order.

CLA a better emulation than than Tubetech CL 1B and Neve 33609?

CLA is a emulation of the 1176, LA2-A and 3A hardware. CL 1B plug in is an emulation of the CL1B hardware so it's apples and oranges.

So your order has to do with what you like and not how well the hardware was emulated?

I think it is a combination of both. If you don't like SSL, who cares how well Waves SSL emulated the software. I have been to studio who have a hardware CL 1B and they told me the software really nails it, same can be said for the Waves CLA with their emulations by the way which will make me create a new thread.

In regards to Waves CLA vs UAD Comps from what i've read here and around i reckon that:

Waves CLA has a faster response and "natural" behaviour to the sound than the UAD Comps?
Also Waves CLA feature harmonic distortion where UAD Comps sounds more clean?

My only question now would be: Which of them hold it together more naturally when pushed? I think what i'm trying to say is which sounds thinner and which sounds fatter when pushed? Or are they matched up on this?

I think that if you demoed the CL-1B and really like it then that is enough of a reason to get it. There will always be something around the corner that is going come out and sound amazing and blow everything before it away - that's progress. Fortunately most plugins can be demoed nowadays allowing you to make a first hand comparison and see what's gonna work for you... but if you love the way something sounds and it enhances your work and inspires creativity... then that's all the comparison you need.


BTW I have the CL1-B plugin and have used the UAD2 on many sessions in other studios . I love the CL-1B plugin ... and think it sounds excellent no matter what I compare it to.

The Cl1b is what I've been waiting all along. I was really praying that someday this compressor could be emulated as close as possible as a plugin, but never in my mind would I have thought that it would exceed expectations. This is a dream come true for people like me who mix RNB and Hip-Hop music, and Rock too, who cannot afford the real hardware.

No I didn't say that. Emulations are great, both of them but for me the CLA is a lot more useful in mixing since I usually track with a Tubetech so I really don't need to go back to that in mixing -- the CLA gets the 'sound' I want/need easily ...

Strange UA are well known for good pricing , they are much cheaper than waves , Abbey road , softube etc.

People will be comparing every new compressor to UAD for a long time since it is established in people's minds. Remember how long people were swearing by the old Waves plug-ins until the truth became too obvious to ignore... The same thing is going to happen to us UAD:ers.

I basically agree that UA should focus on making new stuff that the other companies do not have. But, at the pace UA are going at the moment, and all the experience they have gathered over the years, making an upgrade to the 1176 and LA2A would not be a big deal for them.

Petter