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FEBRUARY 25, 2003
Audio Powerhouse
Version 3 of Universal Audio's UAD-1 works in multi-card configuration and has Direct X support
By Frank Moldstad
 | | LA-2A interface. Click image to see it in use with Sound Forge 6.0 |
In addition to the high-class production values these plug-ins can add, they also have the advantage of being in an adjustable format that can be automated and edited. That's something the originals don't have.
But there's much more to the UAD-1 than vintage analog recreations. It also comes with an assortment of other plug-ins, including high-quality reverbs. First, there's Kind of Loud  | | RealVerb Pro in SONAR (click image for larger view). |
Technologies' RealVerb Pro, a very smooth digital reverb that was originally released as a ProTools plug-in (UA acquired Kind of Loud Technologies in 1999). But what's got UAD-1 owners looking ahead is the pending release (April 2003) of DreamVerb. A new flagship stereo reverb, it will be available as a free download. Universal Audio describes it as extending the capabilities of RealVerb Pro "with a new algorithm, more tone-shaping tools, and more dynamic control of the reverb timing characteristics."
Rounding out the existing UAD-1 plug-ins are the CS-1 Channel Strip -- comprised of the EX-1 EQ/Compressor, the DM-1 Delay Modulator, and the RS-1 Reflection Engine -- and the Nigel Guitar processor.
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The nice thing about the CS-1 is that it uses only one insert  | | CS-1 channel strip with SONAR (click image for larger view). |
even when all three of its modules are employed. Each of the three modules has a bypass switch, so the CS-1 functions as a true digital channel strip, and it can be applied to many channels simultaneously without tapping out the UAD-1's processor. It’s a welcome addition to your arsenal, and is nicely responsive between the three modules. When you change a parameter in one module, it alters the overall sound with some pleasing results. The EX-1 particularly is an excellent compressor. The only problem is, in a rack that has the Pultec, UAD-1, LA-2A and DreamVerb in it, the CS-1 might be overlooked. Still, it’s very useful to have the option of a channel strip.
 | | Nigel with SONAR (click image for larger view). |
Nigel, meanwhile, is a sort of channel strip for the guitar, with emulations of speaker cabs and amplifiers, a compressor/gate, and five more modules called Phasor, Mod Filter, Trem/Fade, Echo and Mod Delay. Again, each of these functions can be applied independently or in combinations.
With so much packed into Nigel, the interface is slightly confusing at first, but when you get the lay of the land and start twirling knobs, you can get guitar processing effects similar to a Line6 POD. It's a handy thing to have around for livening up a dully-recorded guitar track, and it can also be played live. Plus, you can get interesting results by running any track through Nigel and turning knobs. It’s great on a keyboard, and vocals can get pretty twisted when processed through Nigel by manipulating the Color and Bent knobs in the unit’s amp module (Preflex) .
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