UAD Plug-Ins vs. Analog Hardware

In this video, watch multi Grammy-winning producer and engineer Jacquire King (James Bay, Kings of Leon, Tom Waits) compare vintage analog hardware to Apollo & Unison / UAD plug-ins.

A longtime fan of Universal Audio plug-ins and analog gear, multi-platinum record producer and engineer Jacquire King put Apollo’s pioneering Unison™ mic preamp technology to the test in a live session at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio G with electronic-soul artist Jamie Lidell and a cast of all-star players. Sit down and get Jacquire King’s insights into mixing, recording, and tracking through Unison mic preamps with Apollo interfaces in this video.

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0:37 - Introduction
1:06 - About Unison Technology
2:00 - Setting Up the Session
5:16 - Setting Up: Interview with Jacquire
8:24 - Take a Listen For Yourself: The Shoot Out
11:00 - The Wrap Up
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☞ UA Audio Interfaces Used
Unison-enabled plug-in processing captured with an Apollo 8p
Hardware processing captured with an Apollo 16

☞ Plug-ins Used
UAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection
UAD API Vision Channel Strip
1176 Classic Limiter Collection
dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter
Teletronix® LA-2A

☞ Hardware Used
Teletronix LA-2A
1176 Classic Limiter
dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter
Neve 1073 Preamp and EQ
API 212 Preamp and 550L EQ

☞ Microphones Used
Sennheiser 421- Kick Drum
SM57 - Snare
AEA R88 - Drum Overheads
Neumann U47 - Bass
Shure SM7 - Vocals
SM57 and U67 - Guitar

♫ Song Info ♫
“Walk Right Back”
Performed by Jamie Lidell & The Royal Pharaohs
Recorded Live at Blackbird Studio G in Nashville, TN
Recorded and Mixed by Jacquire King
Mastered by Richard Dodd

The Royal Pharaohs:
Drums - Daru Jones
Percussion - Brandon Newsome
Backing Vocals - Shonka Dukureh
Keys - Gerald Jenkins
Guitar - Marcus Machado
Bass - Owen Biddle
Trumpet - Marion (OJ) Ross III

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About The Universal Audio Apollo Artist Sessions
Ever wonder how award-winning producers and engineers use Universal Audio gear for multi-Platinum results? Universal Audio’s Apollo Artist Sessions reveal how the pros transform live tracking sessions into fully produced and polished records using UA Apollo interfaces and UAD plugins.

Watch the entire series of Apollo Artist Sessions and gain valuable production insights, witness exclusive behind the scenes footage, and break the barriers of what you thought was possible with an audio interface.

Click here to see all of the Apollo Artist Sessions:

Learn more about award-winning UAD Powered Plug-Ins:

Learn more about the award-winning Apollo Audio Interfaces:

About Universal Audio Inc.
Founded in 1958 by recording pioneer Bill Putnam Sr., and refounded in 1999 by Bill Putnam Jr., Universal Audio is best known for its classic, hand-built analog hardware and advanced UAD Digital Signal Processing technology for recording, mixing, and mastering audio. Headquartered in Scotts Valley, California, UA is focused on merging the best of vintage analog and modern digital technology, following its rich recording heritage and motto, “Analog Ears. Digital Minds.”

©2018 Universal Audio, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, pricing, and availability are subject to change without notice. The "Universal Audio" name, UA "diamond" logo, “Apollo,” “Apollo Twin,” “UAD,” “Powered Plug-Ins,” and “UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins" are trademarks of Universal Audio Inc. *All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

[dulla]

ok HOLY SHIT, that technique giving the lead vocalist another mic routed to a track with delay and a bit of reverb to get that effect on the words he wants is FUCKING GENIUS, first time ive seen it in my life

[ManchesterMusic]

However people feel about the shootout, kudos to UA's marketing team for producing this clip and providing a slick, professional and reliable "shootout" themed video in response to the heaps of non-associated YouTube reviewers who often fall short on providing a valid, professional 'shootout' of UAD's gear vs other companies software. So much misinformation and poorly produced content out there, it's refreshing to see something objective and also pretty scientific in its approach.

[BeauStephenson]

The amazing thing about this video is that it shows you how powerful software really is. For my own personal studio, I have an absolutely kickass tracking chain that is completely analog that I use to grab some tasty vocals, keys, bass, and guitars with. But then when I'm mixing, these plugins blow the lid off of it. Hybrid all the way for me. Analog gets me the big, fat, juicy, silky tones into the box, then the plugins open up creativity without limits. Match made in heaven if you ask me.

[chaseleslie]

Everyone saying there is a 5% difference, and I am not shilling for UAD, I just don't see it. Try closing your eyes and see if you can tell when it switches. As an audio engineer with 15 years of experience, I would be hard pressed on a test. I could not say with a bit of honesty that I could tell you when the A/B changes without watching the screen. I could not tell more than a 2% difference, if that, to be quite honest. I can promise you spending years honing your craft and perfecting your skill, and zoning in on the requisite talent and creativity will make radical changes, 300% changes in your songwriting. Some kid with $700 worth of gear in the basement could outdo 98% of us if they have the talent & willpower.

[deadscenerecords]

I don't own any outboard hardware outside of mics. My entire rig is UAD. But to my ears, the real hardware reigns superior... by about 2-5% depending on source (could be due to tolerance differences of what is modeled). It has more beef, air, and dynamic quality. There are tricks to deal with this disparity, however, that I've discovered over time. And I have absolutely zero regrets about going all in with UAD. I appreciate the unflinching honesty of this comparison. I am a mastering engineer with a pristine listening environment. I doubt lay persons could tell the difference between these takes at all. It's a very subtle but not trivial disparity to analog purists. It takes scruples and great products to do something like this and come so remarkably close. Very impressive. UAD deserves to be extremely proud. I can't say I'm shocked to hear a difference, but I'm actually blown away that it isn't more apparent. Bravo!

[hyperluminalreality]

I really like that vocal technique with the effect mic in hand. Very impressive. Sweet result.

[bobsykes]

This comparison is a great! I first listened to it on a MacBook Pro 16" laptop. I was shocked that the vocal tracks came through as more forward and real over the laptop speakers in the analog gear recorded tracks than the DSP processed ones throughout the this entire test. Then I listed through an Apollo x6 Thunderbolt 3 interface, using Sennheiser HD 800S headphones and Cardas Clear headphone cable. The analog signal path still had more forward, punchy voices, but with less space and air. The DSP processed tracks had a more open sound, cleaner and more transparent highs, but they didn't put the vocal as much in your face as the analog recorded tracks. The most surprising thing for me was how much better the all of the vocals came through the laptop speakers with the all analog recording chain. Thank you for doing this.

[ZakiWasik]

I could only hear a distinct difference on vocals and guitar. I can't say one sounded definitively better than the other. It really just sounds like two vintage units each with their own sound signature. Amazing!

[Shawneverette]

The UAD is brighter and a little edgy compared to the hardware. Nothing that could not be fixed with eq. They both sound great.

[fullalbums]

I'm waiting for a plugin emulating apollo interface

[theaudiocooker]

I've listen back and forth quite a bit on this one through my Focal Twin6's so a reasonable monitoring system. Also ran some blind tests too. The hardware definitely has a lovely sheen to it that the plugins are missing. There's still a little bit of magic that's not been captured by the modelling process.

[ZenonMarko]

Superb comparison. Fantastic musicians, arrangement, productions as well.

[j.sherwoodowl]

my takeaway: if your musicians, room, and mics, and technique are amazing, not much else matters.

[xaosnox]

This video worked. It got me on the UAD train. I have to admit, I was a cautious convert, and I still think it really sucks that they give you the "Legacy" versions of the plugins when you buy the MkII hardware, but you just can't beat the new UAD stuff. The advantages over hardware outweigh any quality differences by a thousandfold, especially in today's world of lossy distribution. I've got world-class quality that fits on my desk. I can say one thing for sure, though. I'll never, EVER use their de-esser after listening to the videos they produce! Everything sounds so gorgeous—until there's an "s" in the voice over! Best de-esser ever made is donationware. Airwindows DeEss has replaced FabFilter Pro-DS as my "go to" de-esser. It's brilliantly done. Doesn't compress the frequencies. It smooths out the harsh waveforms of sibilance instead. I crank it up all the way, run all the processing on the vocals that add sibilance, then add just enough of the dry signal back to get a natural sound, and it sounds a million times better than any of these UAD videos!

[hansimeyer]

I have been waiting and hoping for a proper comparison like this one for years! Well done! Great emulations, no doubt!

[bartni]

this makes me want to buy more hardware than plugins

[THEKITPLUG]

To be fair, they did not use the exact hardware that the plugins were engineered from. Each hardware unit will have tolerance differences so obviously there will be difference with the plugins. Still amazingly close to accurate. Im completely sold on the Plugins.

[adam]

They both sounded good and pretty much the same to me. I'd be happy having the emulated versions in my rig.

[TomMontalk]

The differences people are hearing is mostly EQ related. I put a slight tilt EQ on the plugin samples and they're now almost indistinguishable from the hardware versions. Except for the background vocal clips, which were different performances with different levels, so what's chain versus what's performance is hard to say there.

[kieranhurley]

just goes to show you can get 95% of the sound for a few 1, 000 but could spend 80, 000 plus getting that final 5% of the fidelity