UAD SYSTEM MANUAL SOFTWARE VERSION 7.0.1 Manual Version 130529 Universal Audio, Inc. 4585 Scotts Valley Drive Scotts Valley, CA 95066 www.uaudio.
NOTICES Disclaimer Damage Requiring Service This manual provides general information, preparation for use, installation and operating instructions for Universal Audio UAD Powered Plug-Ins. The information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice. Universal Audio, Inc. makes no warranties of any kind with regard to this manual, or the product(s) it refers to, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Welcome!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The UAD System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 5. Using Multiple UAD Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Plug-In License Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Authorizing Multiple Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLE OF CONTENTS Range Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Entering Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Out of range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Modes with Tempo Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 1 Introduction Welcome! Congratulations, and welcome to the UA Family! You now own the best sounding, most powerful sonic upgrade available for your DAW. The UAD-2 and version 7 software represents the culmination of a multi-year development effort delivering the latest in state-of-the-art audio processing technology and is the next evolution of the revolutionary, award-winning UAD Powered Plug-Ins & DSP Device Platform.
The UAD-2 also includes version 6 of the UAD software, which has major driver enhancements and an all-new UAD Meter & Control Panel. Version 6 features multicore-aware drivers, LiveTrack™ for low-latency tracking and monitoring through UAD-2 plug-ins, and L.O.D.E.™ [Live Optimizing DSP Engine], which dynamically balances the load on the UAD-2.
Features • High-bandwidth x1 PCI Express card (PCIe 2.0 compatible) • UAD-2 SOLO: low-profile, half-height, short PCIe card • UAD-2 DUO/QUAD/OCTO: full-height, short PCIe card • UAD-2 Satellite: DUO or QUAD in FireWire enclosure w/power supply • 1, 2, 4, or 8 Analog Devices SHARC floating-point processors • Multi-device support for up to four UAD-2’s in one system • Cross-platform for Mac and PC • Supports VST, RTAS, and Audio Units plug-in formats • 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.
The UAD System UAD Powered Plug-Ins is a hardware-plus-software system that consists of one or more UAD-2 DSP accelerator devices combined with the Powered Plug-Ins software. Various UAD-2 products are available to accommodate your particular computer system, processing needs, and budget. For the complete product lineup, visit our website at: • www.uaudio.com For a detailed overview about the UAD Powered Plug-Ins system and how it operates, see Chapter 3, “UAD System Overview.
Operation Manuals Documentation for UAD-2 and Powered Plug-Ins are separated by areas of functionality, as described below. The user manuals are placed inside the Powered Plug-Ins Documentation folder on the hard drive during software installation. All manuals are in PDF format.
Platforms Instructions in this guide that are platform-specific are indicated with a heading in red letters. Instructions that are identical regardless of platform are not differentiated. Windows Instructions specific to the Windows platform use this red Windows heading. Mac Instructions specific to the Mac platform use this red Mac heading.
Users Forum The unofficial UAD Powered Plug-Ins users forum, for the exchange of tips and information, is on the world wide web at: • www.uadforum.com Customer Support Customer support is provided by Universal Audio staff to all registered UAD Powered Plug-Ins users (see “Registration” on page 41 for details). Support Hours Our support specialists are available to assist you via email and telephone during our normal business hours, which are from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time.
CHAPTER 2 UAD Installation Overview UAD Powered Plug-Ins installation and configuration consists of four steps: • UAD software installation Download the latest installer from www.uaudio.com/download • UAD hardware installation Follow the instructions in this chapter • UAD device registration Add your device to your my.uaudio.com Account • UAD plug-in authorization Download and apply UAD authorization file These steps are detailed in this chapter.
System Requirements UAD Powered Plug-Ins require the following hardware and software: Windows OS • Windows 7 64-Bit Edition Mac OS • OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard, 10.7 Lion, or 10.
Latest Information & Software Updates Technical Updates Updated UAD technical information is regularly posted to the UA website. Please visit the UAD support pages for the latest bulletins: • www.uaudio.com/support Software Updates The installer disk in the retail package may not contain the latest UAD software. Check our website for software updates: • www.uaudio.
UAD Software Installation Install Software First If you are installing UAD Powered Plug-Ins for the first time, install the software before installing the UAD device(s). This is particularly important on Windows systems for “plug-and-play” functionality. If you are updating to a newer version of the software or installing additional UAD devices, it is not necessary to remove the previous UAD software or hardware from the system, but you should still install the newer software before adding new devices.
3. When installation has completed, power down your computer to install the UAD device(s) following the instructions on page 20. If the UAD device is already installed or you are updating, simply restart the system. 4. After restarting, the operating system will load the new drivers. Software installation is now complete. Proceed to the Authorization section (page 22). You can use the UAD Meter & Control Panel to verify installation (see “Verifying Installation” on page 26.
64-bit UAD plug-ins directory: • C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VstPlugins\Powered Plugins\ 32-bit UAD plug-ins directory: • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steinberg\VstPlugins\Powered Plugins\ Note: To ensure access to the mono (m) plug-ins, set the host application to use the directories above.
PCI/PCI-X PCI Express (PCIe) Figure 1. PCI and PCIe connectors are incompatible. UAD-2 PCIe Speed UAD-2 cards are “x1” PCIe cards. Although these cards can be installed into any speed PCIe slot (x1/x4/x8/x16), putting a them in any PCIe slot faster than x1 will not improve UAD performance. Installing the UAD Cards After installing the UAD Powered Plug-Ins software, install the UAD DSP card(s). Hardware installation is the same for all platforms.
7. Hold the card gently by the top edges, and line up its connector with the slot inside the computer. Figure 2. UAD-2 card installation in PCIe slot. 8. When the connector and slot are aligned, press the card into the slot with firm, even pressure. The card should “pop” into place. The top of the slot on the motherboard should be flush and parallel with the edge of the UAD card. 9. Secure the card with the previously removed screw. 10. Replace the computer case.
Authorize Plug-Ins Procedure This procedure provides only the step-by-step process for UAD authorization. A complete overview of UAD authorization, my.uaudio.com, and the UA online store is in Chapter 4, “My.uaudio.com.” Note: The following procedure requires an internet connection on the UAD host computer. To authorize from a system that is not online, see “Offline Authorization” on page 24. Online Authorization To download and apply the UAD authorization file when connected to the internet: 1.
Figure 3. The authorization successful window Offline Authorization Note: If the UAD computer is not connected to the internet, you will need to manually transfer the registration URL into the browser of a web-enabled computer. To download and apply the UAD authorization file if not connected to the internet: 1. Install UAD Powered Plug-Ins software and the UAD hardware using the procedures detailed in this chapter (the system must be operating properly). 2.
•If you don’t already have a my.uaudio.com account, you are directed to create one. Follow the instructions online. •If you already have a my.uaudio.com account, login with your email address and password. If your password is lost, the store can email it to you. 6. Your device will be automatically registered and added to your “My Systems” Computer group, and your authorization file is generated. 7. The authorization file should begin downloading automatically.
Verifying Installation The UAD Meter & Control Panel displays the current resource loads of the UAD DSP hardware device in realtime. It also contains the System Information panel, where UAD software and hardware installation can be verified to ensure the system is working properly. To confirm proper UAD installation and operation: 1. Launch 2. Open the UAD Meter & Control Panel application (see page 49). the System Information panel (see page 51). 3.
Software Removal To remove all UAD software from the computer: Windows 1. From the Windows Start Menu at, select: • Start>All Programs>UAD Powered Plug-Ins>Remove UAD Powered Plug-Ins 2. The Mac UAD software is removed. 1. Launch the UAD Powered Plug-Ins Installer application. Click through the splash screen and license agreement. 2. When you get to the install screen, select “Uninstall” from the drop menu. 3. Click the “Uninstall” button. The UAD software is removed. 4.
CHAPTER 3 UAD System Overview The UAD Environment The complete UAD Powered Plug-Ins environment consists of many components. These components are: • One or more UAD DSP hardware accelerator devices • The UAD device drivers • The UAD plug-ins • The host computer system • The plug-in host application software (DAW) • An audio hardware input/output interface and its drivers All these components operate together simultaneously within one computer to form the complete audio processing system.
UAD-2 Family UAD-2 is our second-generation UAD product line that offers many improvements over the original UAD-1; most notable is significantly increased DSP horsepower. Each UAD-2 DSP provides approximately 2.5x the processing power of the UAD-1, therefore one UAD-2 OCTO offers approximately 20 times the processing power of UAD-1. A variety of UAD-2 models are available to suit various processing and protocol needs.
UAD-2 Satellite The UAD-2 Satellite is available in DUO and QUAD versions and is enclosed in an attractive housing that uses an external power supply. It connects via Firewire, enabling Powered Plug-Ins on Mac systems that don’t have PCIe or ExpressCard slots. See Chapter 11, “UAD-2 Satellite” for complete details.
The UAD Software The UAD Powered Plug-Ins software consists of the UAD installer, the UAD plug-ins, the UAD Meter & Control Panel application, the UAD device drivers, and the user documentation. Installer The UAD Powered Plug-Ins software installer contains all the UAD software components (plug-ins, drivers, and documentation) and copies them to disk during installation. There is one UAD software installer for each OS platform (Windows and Mac).
The UAD Meter & Control Panel (page 48) is a utility application that is used to monitor and configure UAD device resources. It has two main windows: the UAD Meter, and the UAD Control Panel. UAD Meter & Control Panel The UAD Meter window (Figure 7 on page 48) displays the current DSP, program, and memory status of the UAD hardware in realtime. The UAD Control Panel window (page 51) has multiple panels that display and modify various system, plug-in, and global configuration parameters.
The DAW Environment The digital audio workstation (DAW) environment is a complete system where audio production takes place (either with or without UAD Powered Plug-Ins). The UAD system is an add-on to a computer-based DAW that can dramatically improve the sonic quality and performance of the DAW, while still working entirely from within the DAW.
Each host application has its own set of system requirements. In addition to the UAD-specific system requirements, the host computer must meet the host application system requirements. Because the host application environment is integral to the UAD system but is completely out of our control, we cannot claim compatibility with all hosts that may support use of the UAD plug-in formats. See “Qualified Hosts” on page 16 for complete details.
I/O Drivers The audio interface is a hardware device that requires a software device driver for the host computer OS. In addition to instructing the OS on how to control the interface hardware, the driver acts as a software “middleman” between the host application and the I/O ports. The host application uses the driver to access the I/O for signal routings.
CHAPTER 4 My.uaudio.com My.uaudio.com is the Universal Audio online store where UAD devices are registered to your account and UAD plug-in authorizations are obtained. Bundled plug-in coupons are redeemed at the store and optional plug-in licenses can be purchased at my.uaudio as well. This chapter provides details about UAD plug-in authorization and licensing, and the my.uaudio.com store. Important: All UAD plug-ins must be authorized before they can be used.
Note: UAD devices must be authorized to run bundled (included) plug-ins. See “Authorization Overview” on page 37 for details. Coupons Coupons included in UAD retail packages have dollar values that are as “good as cash” for buying UAD plug-ins at my.uaudio.com. Coupons are applied to your my.uaudio.com account automatically when you register your device by clicking the Authorize Plug-ins button.
Note: Without authorization, UAD plug-ins can be enabled to run for 14 days without functional limitations in a timed demo mode (see “Demo Mode” on page 40). Important: Your UAD device must be registered at my.uaudio.com to download an authorization file, and you need a my.uaudio.com account to register the device. Authorize Plug-Ins The registration/account/authorization process isn’t as complicated as it may seem.
System All the UAD devices installed in a single host computer system, and the UAD plug-in license status for those devices, is referred to as a “System” (formally known as “Group”) on the My Systems page at my.uaudio.com. When you click the “Authorize Plug-Ins” button, UAD devices in the host computer are automatically registered and added to a System. The UAD hardware identification numbers for each UAD device in a single host computer are stored in the same System. Authorization files generated at my.
• During authorization, the UAD plug-in license state is stored on the UAD-2 device. If the UAD-2 is moved to another computer, it is not necessary to reload an authorization file. Demo Mode All unlicensed UAD plug-ins include a free 14-day trial evaluation period. When the demonstration mode is activated, the plug-in will run without functional limitations for 14 days. Demo mode can be activated once only. After the demo trial period has expired, demo mode cannot be activated again on the same UAD device.
UA Online Store The UA online store at my.uaudio.com (Figure 6) is where optional UAD plug-in licenses and other UA products can be purchased. Promotional coupons are also redeemed here. All UAD device registrations and plug-in authorizations are managed here as well. My.uaudio.com can be accessed from most pages at www.uaudio.com by clicking the link in at the upper left of a webpage. The direct URL for the my.uaudio.com online store is: http://my.uaudio.com. Figure 6.
Login When you revisit my.uaudio.com, you are prompted to login to your account. Your email address is your account login; the password was specified when the account was created. If you forget your password you can have the store email your password to you. You have the option to stay logged in (via a browser cookie) if desired so you don’t have to keep entering the credentials. My Profile “My Profile” is where product registration details such as name and mailing address are stored and edited.
6. Verify the order on the confirmation page, then click Confirm Order once only. The transaction is processed, and the Checkout Success page appears. Purchased UAD plug-in licenses are issued immediately to My Systems. Any authorization file downloaded after this point contains the license for the newly purchased plug-in(s). 7. Download a new Authorization File by clicking the Download Authorizations button. The auth.uad2 file is downloaded to the location specified in the web browser preferences. 8.
CHAPTER 5 Using Multiple UAD Devices Overview Multiple UAD-2 devices can be used in a single host computer system for increased DSP capacity. The UAD-2 devices in the multidevice system can be mixed and/or matched in any combination (see “The UAD Hardware” on page 28). When multiple UAD-2 devices are installed in the host computer, the DSP and memory load of the devices are automatically balanced dynamically as UAD plug-ins are loaded and unloaded.
If you have one device during a plug-in purchase then later acquire another device(s) and add it to the same computer, simply download a new authorization file and it will authorize the additional device with your existing plug-in licenses. Your license(s) apply to all devices in the same computer system. Each individual device must be authorized in order to run optional plug-ins, however multiple installed devices are authorized simultaneously.
Windows The PCI specification provides for up to 25W per device, however some host systems don't provide this much power. When designing a computer DAW system, a common rule of thumb is to provide an extra 50%–100% of headroom over the estimated maximum total power draw of all components in the system. Note: Don’t skimp on the power supply unit. When building a custom system, a high quality sufficiently-rated PSU is critical for system stability.
Devices are disabled only while the UAD Meter & Control Panel application is open. When the UAD Meter & Control Panel is quit, disabled devices are re-enabled. Note: For optimum results, quit any applications using UAD plug-ins before disabling/enabling devices. If a UAD Powered Plug-In is loaded on a device then that device is subsequently disabled, an error message will be displayed. This occurs because a plug-in is assigned to a device when it is first instantiated.
CHAPTER 6 UAD Meter & Control Panel Overview The UAD Meter & Control Panel application is used to monitor UAD device resources, confirm the UAD system is operating properly, and configure the global UAD Powered Plug-Ins system parameters. The UAD Meter window displays the current DSP, program, and memory status of the UAD hardware in realtime. Figure 7 shows how the UAD Meter appears on when UAD-2 devices are installed in the system.
Note: The Quit, Minimize, and Menu button positions shown in Figure 4 are as they appear on Mac systems. The button positions are reversed on Windows systems, reflecting the conventions for each OS platform. Launching the UAD Meter & Control Panel Application Windows To launch the UAD Meter in Windows: 1. Double-click the UAD Meter & Control Panel shortcut that was optionally placed on the Desktop during installation. OR, 2. Access the application from: Start Menu>All Programs>UAD Powered Plug-Ins.
Note: If “No Devices Found” appears in the UAD Meter window instead of the expected buttons and gauges, then the UAD drivers are not communicating with the UAD hardware. If this occurs, double-check hardware and software installations and/or contact customer support. UAD Meter Elements Refer to Figure 7 on page 48 for these element descriptions.
Individual Loads The loads of individual devices in a multidevice setup (or the individual DSP loads in a multi-DSP UAD-2 device) can be viewed in the UAD System Information panel (see page 52). DSP The DSP gauges display the amount of digital signal processing resources that are being used by the UAD Powered Plug-Ins algorithms. DSP is the primary hardware “juice” that powers the UAD Powered Plug-Ins algorithms. When UAD plug-ins are disabled, DSP requirements are decreased.
Figure 8. Click the Menu Button to access the UAD Control Panel drop menu Once the main UAD Control Panel window is open, the individual window panels are accessed by clicking the title buttons (Figure 9). Figure 9. The Control Panel window panel buttons Note: The FireWire button is only displayed if UAD-2 Satellite or Apollo is connected.
Figure 10. The UAD System Information panel Plug-In Latency Section UAD plug-in latency is displayed here. The calculation is based on the audio I/O interface buffer size and the sample rate. The window uses this information to calculate and display the resulting latency in samples and milliseconds. Note: Displayed latency does not reflect the actual lowered latency value when LiveTrack mode (page 74) is active.
Note: The displayed sample latency number does not include the extra samples produced by upsampled UAD plug-ins. For more detailed information about the extra samples and latency, see Chapter 9, “UAD Delay Compensation.” Hardware Section Detailed information about each UAD device and its DSP is displayed in the Hardware area (Figure 10 on page 53). If you have several devices installed, use the scrollbar to see the other devices.
Save Detailed System Profile Clicking this button will generate a detailed UAD system profile and prompt you for a location to save the text file to disk. This file contains an even greater level of detail than the System Information panel, which can be useful for troubleshooting or if UA Customer Support requests this document when providing assistance.
Plug-In Column All currently installed UAD Powered Plug-Ins are displayed in the Plug-In column. Use the scrollbar to view the entire list if necessary. Status Column The Status column reflects the current state of each UAD plug-in.
Buy Column Clicking the Buy button adds the plug-in to your shopping card at the UA online store. See “UA Online Store” on page 41 for purchasing details. Tip: The BUY ($) button provides a quick visual reference to determine which plug-ins are authorized. Figure 11.
Configuration Panel The UAD Configuration Panel is where most of the global UAD settings and preferences are specified for all UAD devices. Refer to Figure 12 on page 58 for the parameter descriptions. The parameters that are displayed in the Configuration Panel are dependent upon the UAD hardware that is currently installed and the OS platform (Windows or Mac). For example, if you have only UAD-2 devices installed in a Windows system, you will not see Mac-specific parameters.
DSP Load Limiting Overview Without UAD Powered Plug-Ins installed, overloading the host system with native (host based) plug-ins can cause dropouts and possibly system lockup. Steinberg hosts, for example, provide a switch that allows you to trade latency for stability when the system is overloaded. Similarly, the UAD DSP load cannot exceed 100% without unpredictable behavior.
DSP LoadLock DSP LoadLock reserves the maximum UAD-2 DSP load required by each plug-in, even if certain plug-in features are disabled. This ensures there will always be enough DSP if those features are later enabled, or when automating parameters that affect the DSP load.
Important: If UAD-2 plug-ins are already loaded when the setting is changed, the host application must be restarted for the change to take effect. Mac Release all DSP resources on Audio Unit bypass Some Audio Unit hosts dynamically bypass plug-ins when they are not being used during playback, for example when no audio is present at the current playback position. During this dynamic bypassing, UAD plug-ins stay loaded on the device, which reduces glitches in playback.
On multi-processor machines Live Mode forces all plug-ins on tracks with UAD plug-ins (and any aux/buses fed by those tracks) to run on one processor only. To allow host-based (native) plug-ins to run on all processors under these conditions, deactivate this setting. Note: Changes to this setting do not take effect until all open sessions containing UAD plug-ins are reloaded. User Interface Settings Controls Mode This setting determines how UAD Powered Plug-In parameter knobs respond to adjustment.
Note: When Use Host Mode is checked, the UAD Meter user interface settings have no effect unless control mode is NOT supported by the host. Mac Toggle initial value modifier Holding the specified modifier key while clicking a parameter control will toggle between the value of the control when the editor was opened and its last edited value. This feature is not supported under Windows. This parameter also affects the “select + click” modifier.
For more information about FireWire and using it with UAD-2 Satellite and Apollo, see “FireWire Basics” on page 105, “FireWire Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP” on page 111, and “FireWire Bus Power” on page 112. Figure 13. The UAD FireWire panel Current Link Speed UAD System Manual The current speed of the FireWire link between the host computer and UAD-2 Satellite and/or Apollo is displayed here.
If the host computer has multiple FireWire buses (this is rare), up to two speeds will be displayed, with the values separated by a comma. Note: If the host computer supports FireWire 800 and the Target Link Speed is set to 800, but the Current Link Speed still displays 400, check the bus ordering of the FireWire devices. See “Mixing FireWire Speeds” on page 108 for information on how to properly combine FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 devices on the same bus.
Although the amount of FireWire bandwidth reserved by UAD-2 Satellite or Apollo depends on the UAD Bandwidth Allocation setting, the amount of DSP used by any UAD plug-in does not affect FireWire bandwidth (UAD plug-ins that use very little DSP require the same FireWire bandwidth as DSP-intensive UAD plug-ins). See “FireWire Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP” on page 111 for details.
Tip: If FireWire performance issues occur, leave a bit of unused FireWire bandwidth (headroom), so the total usage for all devices is less than 100%. To leave 5% of the bandwidth available for headroom in the example above, you’d enter 75% for UAD Bandwidth Allocation (20% bandwidth without UAD-2 Satellite + 75% for UAD-2 Satellite = 95% total FireWire bandwidth). This is especially applicable if using FireWire hard drives on the same bus for audio session data.
If the host computer has multiple FireWire buses (this is rare), up to two bandwidth gauges will be displayed, one for each bus. Used by UAD This number displays the percentage of FireWire bus bandwidth that is used by UAD plug-ins running on UAD-2 Satellite and Apollo. The number cannot exceed the value set by the UAD Bandwidth Allocation parameter.
Info Display This area displays helpful text about parameters in the FireWire panel. Hover the mouse over a FireWire setting to view the informational text. Help & Support Panel The Help & Support panel (Figure 15) contains numerous helpful weblinks to help you get the most out your UAD Powered Plug-Ins experience. The button names are self-explanatory. Click a button to launch the URL in your default web browser (you must be connected to the internet to launch the web pages).
CHAPTER 7 Using UAD Powered Plug-Ins Overview Once the UAD device(s) and Powered Plug-Ins have been properly installed, the UAD Powered Plug-Ins are accessed and used just like any host-based plug-in. All UAD Powered Plug-Ins can run concurrently with each other and with host-based plug-ins simultaneously, in any combination. 32-bit and 64-bit versions of UAD Powered Plug-Ins are installed and sample rates up to 192 kHz are supported. Resolution is limited only the by resolution of the host application.
Logic Pro Figure 17. Launching a UAD Powered Plug-In in Apple Logic Pro The UAD Plug-In Window One typical UAD plug-in window is shown in Figure 18. The graphical user interface (GUI) typically contains several control parameters for modifying the behavior of the plug-in, and display elements such as meters, for visual feedback. The UAD Toolbar (common to all UAD plug-ins) is also displayed.
Controls View Some host applications have an alternate plug-in display mode feature called Controls View, Parameter Mode, or similar terminology. This mode typically displays the control parameters as a list with simple sliders, switches, and menus (the appearance is controlled by the host), which some users prefer. Consult the host documentation for how to display this view. Figure 19.
The Settings menu provides a convenient way to manage your UAD plug-in parameter settings and access additional factory presets. To select the functions, click the folder icon in the Toolbar, then select an action from the drop-menu that appears. Settings Menu The Settings load/save feature supports presets but not banks. To load and save banks, use the host’s bank management feature (if available).
Windows The default preset location is inside the Presets folder, which is created within the folder specified during software installation.
Note: LiveTrack Mode is available exclusively with UAD-2 PCIe devices. When a UAD-2 FireWire device (UAD-2 Satellite or Apollo) are in use by the system, LiveTrack Mode cannot be used. Increased Host Loading using LiveTrack When LiveTrack is active, host CPU loading increases. The host load is directly proportional to the DSP load of the UAD plug-in(s) in LiveTrack mode, however host CPU is never used for Powered Plug-in processing.
Important: The 14 day demo period can only be activated once, and cannot be stopped or restarted during this period! We recommend you do not activate demo mode until you have the opportunity to thoroughly check out its sound and functionality. See “Demo Mode” on page 40 for more information. Disabled When “DISABLED” is displayed in red, the plug-in will not process audio.
Note: To increase resolution when adjusting rotary controls in circular and relative circular modes, increase the radius of the mouse relative to the knob while dragging (i.e. move the mouse farther away from the knob while dragging). Text Entry Parameter values can be modified directly with text entry. To enter a parameter value using text entry, single-click the parameter value text. The text value will highlight, indicating it is ready to receive a new value.
Table 2.
More Loading Notes • UAD DSP usage is proportional to the host application sample rate and system PCIe bus speed. Therefore, more plug-ins can be used simultaneously in a 44.1K session than in a 96K session, and likewise a higher speed bus will use less DSP load than a slower bus. • Bypassing individual components will conserve DSP on some UAD plug-ins.
External MIDI Control UAD Powered Plug-In parameters can be controlled by an external MIDI controller, if this feature is supported by the host application. Each host application has its own particular methods for external MIDI control. Consult the host application documentation for specific instructions on using external MIDI control with the application. Mono (m) UAD plug-ins UAD VST plug-ins with (m) in the name are a monophonic versions of the plugin.
Operating Levels Except as noted in Table 3 below, the internal operating level of most UAD Powered Plug-Ins is typically –18 dBFS. 0 dBFS is calibrated to +4 dBu with 18 dB of headroom, so 0 dBFS is the equivalent of +22 dBu in the analog domain. Table 3.
CHAPTER 8 Tempo Sync Overview The time-based parameters of several UAD Powered Plug-Ins can be synchronized to the tempo of the host application using the Tempo Sync feature. When Tempo Sync is activated, the time-based parameters that are available for synchronization are changed to note duration values, and will sync to the tempo of the host application using the displayed note value. Figure 21. The Tempo Sync feature within UAD DM-1L Note: Not all host applications support Tempo Sync.
Sync Activation To activate Tempo Sync, click the “Sync” button within the plug-in interface. The Sync button “LED” will illuminate and the time parameters will change from a time-based display to a note value (see Figure 21). Note: When Tempo Sync is activated, the plug-in will automatically switch the time or rate parameter(s) to the nearest available note value(s) given the range of the parameter in question and the current tempo.
Range Limits Some parameters in Tempo Sync mode cannot access the entire note value range in Table 4, because their maximum values would always be out of range above certain note values (assuming a maximum usable tempo of 300 BPM; 250BPM for Roland RE-201).
Out of range When a parameter note value is out of range of the current tempo note value, the note value is displayed in parentheses on a red background (Figure 22). Figure 22. Tempo Sync note value display Modes with Tempo Sync The UAD DM-1 and UAD DM-1L plug-ins (and DM-1 within CS-1) have a Mode menu that switches the plug-in operation between delay, chorus, and flanger mode.
CHAPTER 9 UAD Delay Compensation Latency & Delay Compensation When UAD Powered Plug-Ins are used, audio data to be processed by a Powered Plug-In is sent by the host application to the UAD device. The audio is then processed by the UAD device and sent back to the host application. This back-and-forth shuffling of audio data is called “buffering” and it produces a latency (delay) in the audio signal being processed. Latency is inherent in digital audio systems and it can be detected in certain situations.
Upsampled Plug-Ins Some UAD plug-ins use an internal sample rate of 192 kHz to achieve sonic design goals. This upsampling results in a larger latency than other UAD plugins. Therefore, they require more compensation to remain perfectly synchronized with other tracks. Note: Compensating upsampled UAD plug-ins is performed automatically by the host application when latency compensation is enabled in the host.
Upsampling Values Table Table 6 lists the additional latency produced by upsampled UAD plug-ins. Table 6. Upsampled UAD plug-ins with additional latencies Sample Rate (kHz) Upsampled Plug-In *EMT 250 Note 44.1 48 88.2 96 176.4 192 Precision Limiter 64 69 129 140 259 281 API 550A Neve 33609 FATSO Jr./Sr.
Live Processing The previous discussions of delay compensation applies primarily to playback and mixing of existing tracks. During recording (tracking), the primary concern usually centers around getting the absolute lowest possible latency out of your hardware and software combination. The lower the latency is, the closer you can get to a realtime, “ears match the fingers” performance situation in the digital environment where some latency is unavoidable.
CHAPTER 10 UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Overview ExpressCard™ is a computer expansion slot typically used in notebook computers. Utilizing a 2.5Gbps differential serial link, ExpressCard conveniently leaves slower USB and Firewire connections free for dongles, Audio I/O, and hard drives, while operating at full PCI Express bandwidth. UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop is a compact ExpressCard version of the UAD-2 SOLO card. The UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop brings all the power of the UAD-2 to portable digital audio workstation users.
ExpressCard Videos Our support website contains many helpful videos that explain how to install the hardware and software, register and authorize the product, obtain optional plug-ins, and more: • http://www.uaudio.com/support/uad/videos.html UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Instructions All instructions that apply specifically to UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop are in the “UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Details” section, beginning on page 92.
UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Details Features • UAD-2 Solo in a self-contained, compact ExpressCard/34 package (can be used in ExpressCard/54 slots with included adapter) • 44.1-192k DSP Audio Accelerator for notebook computers • Ultra-fast (2.
• http://www.uaudio.com/support/uad/downloads/ • If the UAD software is already installed, the UAD Meter & Control Panel has a convenient button that links to the updates page (“Check for Updates” on page 52). ExpressCard/34 to ExpressCard/54 Adapter The UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop device uses the ExpressCard/34 form factor. When the device is installed in systems with the wider ExpressCard/54 slot, the enclosed ExpressCard/34 to ExpressCard/54 adapter should be used for the most reliable connection.
4. The LED on the SOLO/Laptop will initially flash red/green, indicating the hardware is powered by the computer but the UAD drivers are not yet loaded. Within a few seconds of inserting the device (or after startup is complete, if inserted when powered down), the LED should glow steady green, indicating the UAD drivers are loaded. UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop is ready for use.
Important SOLO/Laptop Notes For maximum system stability and reduced possibility of data loss, please observe these operational requirements when operating UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop: Sleep Important: Close sessions and remove UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop before sleep! Before putting the computer into system sleep/hibernate/standby mode, quit all UAD host software and remove the UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop device. Otherwise, unpredictable behavior and/or loss of session data could occur.
CHAPTER 11 UAD-2 Satellite Overview UAD Powered Plug-Ins via FireWire UAD-2 Satellite is a UAD-2 DSP accelerator that connects to the host computer via FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 and hosts UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins on Mac OS X and Windows 7 systems. Unlike previous UAD-2 PCIe products, UAD-2 Satellite is a completely external unit with power supply that does not require a PCIe or ExpressCard interface.
Technical Updates Updated technical information and the latest UAD software is regularly posted to the UA website. Please visit the UAD support pages for the latest UAD-2 Satellite support bulletins: • www.uaudio.com/support/satellite UAD-2 Satellite Instructions All instructions that apply specifically to UAD-2 Satellite are in the “UAD-2 Satellite Installation” section beginning on page 98.
Satellite System Requirements To use UAD-2 Satellite, your system must meet the minimum “System Requirements” on page 16. UAD-2 Satellite Installation Install Software First The software installation procedure for UAD-2 Satellite is the exact same procedure as those for UAD cards. Install the software before the hardware unless you are updating a previous installation. Refer to “UAD Software Installation” on page 18 for detailed procedures.
External Power Supply UAD-2 Satellite includes an external international DC power supply with changeable AC connectors to match the AC socket in various countries (Figure 23). Figure 23. UAD-2 Satellite external DC power supply and changeable AC connectors To change the AC connector: 1. Press and hold the button on the AC connector marked “PUSH.” 2. Rotate 3. Insert the AC prongs counter-clockwise to remove the connector. the desired connector and rotate clockwise until it snaps into place.
Connecting UAD-2 Satellite Important: Install the UAD software before connecting UAD-2 Satellite (see “UAD Software Installation” on page 18). UAD-2 Satellite may be connected before or after the system is booted. To connect UAD-2 Satellite: 1. Ensure that the UAD Powered Plug-Ins software is already installed and that the system was powered down after software installation (Mac systems can be hot-plugged after restarting). See “UAD Software Installation” on page 18 for specific instructions. 2.
UAD-2 Satellite Operation After the UAD Powered Plug-Ins software is installed (page 18) and UAD-2 Satellite is properly connected to the computer via FireWire (page 98), the system is ready for use. Refer to other chapters in this manual for software operating instructions. All UAD-2 Satellite operations (except for hardware setup) are similar to the operation of other UAD-2 devices. See “Important UAD-2 Satellite Notes” on page 103 for exceptions specific to UAD-2 Satellite.
Existing UAD Licenses If you already have another UAD device, you can share those UAD licenses with UAD-2 Satellite. UAD-2 Satellite is automatically added to your existing system at my.uaudio.com. If you already have four other UAD devices in your my.uaudio.com system, a new system group is created in compliance with the UAD software agreement (licenses can only be shared between up to four UAD devices).
System Sleep System sleep while UAD-2 Satellite is active is not supported. Before sleeping the system, quit all plug-in host applications (including the UAD Meter & Control Panel) and disconnect UAD-2 Satellite. After wake, UAD-2 Satellite may be reconnected. Important: Quit all hosts and disconnect UAD-2 Satellite before system sleep.
• See “Mixing FireWire Speeds” on page 108 for important information about using FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 devices on the same bus. • Although “Hot Plugging (Mac only)” on page 102 is supported on Mac systems, disconnecting UAD-2 Satellite when UAD plug-ins are running could cause unpredictable behavior. Quit all UAD hosts and the UAD Meter & Control Panel before disconnecting or powering down UAD-2 Satellite. Important: Do not disconnect UAD-2 Satellite while UAD plug-ins are loaded.
FireWire Basics FireWire (also known as “IEEE 1394” and “i.Link”) is a high-speed serial data interconnection protocol that is used to transfer digital information between devices. FireWire is commonly used to interconnect computer systems to hard drives, audio interfaces, and digital camcorders. A complete discussion of FireWire is beyond the scope of this manual, but some of the main points and how they apply to UAD-2 Satellite are covered below. FireWire vs.
Note: UAD-2 Satellite is a FireWire 800 device. See “Mixing FireWire Speeds” on page 108 for more information about using FW800 and FW400 devices on the same FireWire bus. FireWire Connectors FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 devices use different connectors (Figure 27 below). The connectors are not interchangeable; this helps to differentiate between the two device speeds. FW 800 (9-pin) FW 400 (6-pin) FW 400 (4-pin) Figure 27.
Additionally, UAD-2 Satellite can function as a FireWire hub, by using the unused ports on the unit to connect other FireWire devices as in Figure 31. Note that UAD-2 Satellite does not supply FireWire bus power to downstream devices; see “FireWire Bus Power” on page 112 for details. Computer FW Hub FW Audio Interface External HD UAD-2 Satellite Figure 28. FireWire bus connections via a hub Computer UAD-2 Satellite FW Audio Interface External HD Figure 29.
Connections The ability to connect and disconnect FireWire devices while power is applied (or not) is part of the FireWire specification. UAD-2 Satellite supports “hot plugging” on Mac systems only. Note: See “Hot Plugging (Mac only)” on page 102 for detailed information. Mixing FireWire Speeds Although FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 devices can be connected to the same FireWire bus via a hub or daisy-chain, special precautions must be observed to maximize bandwidth in these situations.
It is possible to configure a FireWire bus to run at both FW400 and FW800 speeds simultaneously if the host computer bus is FW800, supporting maximum throughput for a mix of FW400+FW800 devices. This is accomplished by putting any/all FW400 devices AFTER any/all FW800 devices in a daisy chain (see Figure 34 on page 109).
Figure 35. The UAD Meter with UAD-2 Satellite Important: FireWire bandwidth is unrelated to UAD DSP loads. See “FireWire Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP” on page 111 for details. Sharing Bandwidth If UAD-2 Satellite is the only device on the FireWire bus, UAD processing traffic can use the entire bandwidth of the bus. However, if other FireWire devices are on the bus, the amount of bandwidth used for UAD traffic must be reduced so those devices will have enough bandwidth for their processes as well.
Figure 37. The UAD FireWire panel (control descriptions are in Chapter 6) FireWire Bandwidth vs. UAD DSP The amount of FireWire bandwidth used by UAD-2 Satellite depends on the number (the quantity) of UAD plug-ins that are loaded on the device; the amount of DSP used by a UAD plug-in (the quality) does not affect FireWire bandwidth at all. In other words, each UAD-2 Satellite plug-in instance uses a fixed amount of FireWire bandwidth, regardless of how much DSP a given UAD plug-in uses.
FireWire vs. PCIe The maximum possible data throughput even at FireWire 800 speeds is only a fraction of what is possible with PCIe. Therefore, if very high UAD plug-in counts are required, UAD-2 PCIe cards provide an alternate solution. FireWire Bus Power Some FireWire devices can be “bus powered” which means the device derives its operating electricity from the FireWire bus itself without a power supply of its own.
FW800 Computer The externally powered FireWire repeater must supply bus power! Powered FW400 repeater UAD-2 Satellite (externally powered) External HD 1 (externally powered) External HD 2 (bus powered) Apogee Duet (bus powered) Figure 38. Proper connection of bus powered FireWire devices This example uses the Apogee Duet, a popular audio interface with one FireWire port that can only be bus powered.
CHAPTER 12 History Bill Putnam Sr. The name M.T. “Bill” Putnam retains a unique status in the audio industry hall of fame- it's legendary even among those who are considered to be legends themselves. Called the “father of modern recording” by no less a luminary than Bruce Swedien, and a “visionary, responsible for motivating new thinking,” by respected studio engineer Tom Hidley, Putnam was a true renaissance man in the world of sound and music.
Universal Audio. It wasn't long before the company relocated to Chicago, and it was there, in 1947, that Putnam recorded what is generally accepted to be the first “pop” record to use artificial reverberation. The founder of the group The Harmonicats, Jerry Murad, wanted to record using an echo chamber like he'd heard on effects in spooky radio mysteries.
With all this success, Universal Recording went through several incarnations, with the dream version completed in 1955. At that time it was the most advanced and largest independent recording facility in the country attracting top producers like Nelson Riddle, Mitch Miller and Quincy Jones. It was also at that time that Bruce Swedien went to work for the studio. “It's absolutely true,” he states. “Bill Putnam was the father of recording as we know it today.
“I Can't Stop Loving You” was recorded there, as well as Sinatra's “It Was A Very Good Year,” and The Mamas and The Papas' “California Dreamin'”. The United Western studios, still in existence today as both Cello Studios and Allen Sides' Ocean Way Recording, are still considered to be some of the best sounding rooms ever built. Universal Audio and UREI Meanwhile, upstairs in the 6050 Sunset building Universal Audio was thriving, and changing names.
they were saying that stereo was a waste of time. But Bill could see the potential, and around 1959 he started recording everything with feeds to two control rooms, one for a stereo mix, one for a mono mix. In late '58, '59 and '60 everything Bill did was recorded in both stereo and mono. “When stereo hit big around '61, none of the record companies had any catalog. But Bill did — he had two and one half years worth.
The basic concept of a compressor/limiter, is of course, relatively simple. It's a device in which the gain of a circuit is automatically adjusted using a predetermined ratio that acts in response to the input signal level. A compressor/limiter “rides gain” like a recording engineer does by hand with the fader of a console: it keeps the volume up during softer sections and brings it down when the signal gets louder.
After several unsuccessful attempts at using F.E.T.s in gain reduction circuits, Putnam settled upon the straightforward approach of using the F.E.T. as the bottom leg in a voltage divider circuit, which is placed ahead of a preamp stage. The output stage of the 1176 is a carefully crafted class A line level amplifier, designed to work with the (then) standard load of 600 ohms. The heart of this stage is the output transformer, whose design and performance is critical.
Pros Talk UA Both the 1176 and the LA-2A remain in daily use. Busy engineers and producers’ comments about both the 1176 and the LA-2A demonstrate their impact on the industry: Mike Shipley: Mike Shipley (Def Leppard, Shania Twain, Blondie): “I grew up using 1176s – in England they were the compressor of choice. They're especially good for vocals, which is also what I primarily use the LA-2 for. Most anything else I can do without, but I can't be without at least a pair of 1176s and an LA-2A.
musicians, including orchestra and string dates. Among his recent credits are work with the Goo Goo Dolls, Alanis Morissette and Green Day. Sides brings his different perspectives into play when he talks about using the 1176. “The 1176 is standard equipment for my sessions. I just used them last night, as a matter of fact, on a project for singer Lisa Bonet that Rob Cavallo was producing at Ocean Way. We were recording drums and I used them on the left/right overheads as effects limiters.
Jim Scott Jim Scott shared a Grammy for Best Engineered Album for Tom Petty's Wildflowers. He's also known for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Natalie Merchant and Wilco. “I use 1176s real conservatively and they still do amazing things,” he comments. “I'm always on the four to one button, and the Dr. Pepper – you know, 10 o'clock, 2 o'clock, and it does everything I need. “I always use them on vocals.
“My big mentors were Andy Johns and Lee DeCarlo and Ron Nevision because they were all Record Plant guys. I learned how to make a rock and roll record from them. Although over the years it's become my own thing, my style still tends to be that Record Plant style, U87s, 1176s, LA-2As, 47 F.E.T.s...it's what I like.” Mike Clink Producer/Engineer Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses, Sammy Hagar, Pushmonkey) also comes from the Record Plant school of recording.
Thank You We would like to thank you again for becoming a Universal Audio customer. We urge you subscribe to our email lists so we can keep you informed about UA product developments and promotions. Email preferences are set in your registration profile (see “My Profile” on page 42). We always like to hear from our customers and welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have any questions you can email us at: • info@uaudio.
INDEX Demo Activation 40 Numerics 1176LN 119 Demo Mode 40 Desktop 49 A Accessing Meter Functions 50 Account 41 Adjusting Parameters 72, 76 Always On Top 49 Audio Interface 34 Authorization 22, 35 Authorization File 38 Authorization Notes 39 Authorization Overview 37 Authorize Plug-Ins 38 Authorize Plug-ins button 55 Authorize Plug-Ins Procedure 23 Authorizing Multiple Cards 44 Automation 79 automation 79 Detailed System Profile 55 Disable Current 50 Disabling Cards 46 Disconnect 102 Documentation Overvi
INDEX Hot Disconnect 102 MIDI Control 80 Hot Swapping 102 Misc Settings 69 Mixed UAD System 44 I Multicard DSP Loading 46 I/O Buffers and Latency 35 Multiple UAD Cards 44 Info Display 63, My Profile 42 69 Install Software First 17, 93, 98 Installation 15 My Systems 38 My.uaudio.
INDEX Release all DSP resources on AudioUnit bypass 61 UAD ExpressCard Products 90 Resource Gauges 50 UAD Hardware 21, resources 70 UAD Meter & Control Panel 32, 28 48 UAD Nomenclature 13 S UAD Plug-In Window 71 Satellite 96 Satellite System Sleep 103 Screen Shots 13 UAD Software 31 UAD Software Installation 18 Scroll Wheel 77 UAD Toolbar 72 Settings Menu 73 UAD-2 Family 29 Shortcuts 77 UAD-2 LED 26 Software Installation 18 UAD-2 Satellite 96 Software Removal 27 UAD-2 Satellite Notes 10
INDEX UAD System Manual - 129 - Index
