Was wondering if you ve tried the new api 2500 from uad i assume you ve tried the waves version it s really something.
Waves api 2500 vs uad.
The uk was pumping out quality records in the 60s and 70s with some pretty unique sounds.
This is the one plugin i miss the most since i moved away from the uad ecosystem.
I often get asked about how does the uad api 2500 compares to the waves api 2500.
Settings are real world settings all the way around.
The api 2500 is emulated by universal audio and waves.
At the 6db boost the analog api 550a is a nice punchy sounding eq that doesn t smear the transients and retains a nice vintage punch to the kick it has a slightly different more open lush or spacious top end than the uad or waves this may be due to subtle differences between the two analog units component tolerances compared to the uad and waves plugins which would be.
I heard the waves vs hardware and there is a big enough difference but not the uad version.
Also there are very interesting things coming out of acustica audio of nebula fame lately.
The argument for waves would be that you get far more plugins for the money and arguably they re on the same level as the uad however the cpu load is probably going to end up being quite high.
Uad does have the external dsp processing however no education discount less frequent sales so the cpu load is lighter.
Their coral lime and sand compressors are among the most hardware like plugins i ve ever used.
I have had the waves one for many years but i never really got along with it.
Much of that sound can be traced back to two studios.
As soon as i bought the uad one though i was in love.
Vs the exact same with all waves versions including waves api 2500.
Here are the drums with all uad 550a eq plus the uad api 2500 on kick snare overheads and drum buss.
Secondly it emulates the original classic compressor accurately capturing everything including the all discrete signal path with signature thrust circuitry technology.
The uad has more character than the waves version which is thinner in comparison.
The uad api 2500 finds a spot in our list for several reasons.
Other consoles while they aren t modeled as often as neve ssl or api there are a few other console emulations worth mentioning.