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If you’ve seen my video tutorials, you know I tend to mix with a lot of UAD plugins.
Free with new UAD-2 PCIe QUAD/OCTO and Satellite QUADs This new bundle includes all of the plug-ins in the Analog Classics bundle, plus the new 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ, legacy Fairchild 670 Compressor, and UA Precision Enhancer Hz plug-ins.
Here’s a roundup of my ten go-to plugins as well as some mix tips for each.
Upgrade Your Studio with FREE UAD Unison Preamps Buy any new Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII, Apollo Twin USB, Apollo X (Twin X, x4, x6, x8, x8p, x16), or Apollo Firewire between July 1st and September 30th, 2020 and receive up to nineteen top-selling UAD plug-ins and Unison preamp/channel strips — including the all-new Neve ® 1084. What I'll say is they've very intentionally given away the decent models for free with the interfaces, and the ones that are truly accurate cost an arm and a leg. I prefer to use the Plugin Alliance stuff over most UAD plugins nowadays, with really only the Fairchild 670 (when I don't use SPL Iron) and the LA-2A as mainstays for me.
1. Studer A800
If I had to choose just one plugin from UAD, this would be it. It’s a mainstay on my drum buss and other sub-aux tracks. It can also really warm up a master buss and is excellent on lead vocals and close-miked drums.
There are so many tonal options with this plugin—it’s like an EQ, compressor, saturator, signal destroyer all in one.
Tip: Experiment with the “bias setting”—try bringing it down to just before the signal starts breaking up, and then push the input for instant vintage saturation and excitement.
2. Neve 33609 Compressor/Limiter
This compressor, which models the classic Neve hardware, is a regular on kick, snare, drum buss and master buss.
If you’re looking to “glue” multiple sources together and add instant excitement without killing your dynamic range, this is my favorite compressor.
Tip: Send your bass in parallel to the 33609 and push the input to add excitement and vibe, while still maintaining the dynamics of the original signal.
3. Neve 1073
Depth, clarity, bite, mayhem—normally I choose a specialty EQ to add one of these qualities to my audio, but the 1073 can achieve all of it and more. It’s super smooth and I’d describe it as “forgiving” on vocals, but it works on pretty much anything.
Tip: Use this in Unison in conjunction with an Apollo interface, and set it to mic level when recording electric guitar (make sure to turn the output way down) for the most absurd, fuzzy, 70’s lead guitar tone I’ve ever achieved in the box.
4. Manley Massive Passive
The original hardware unit is one of the most widely used equalizers in mastering. Try this plugin, add a generous amount of 12 or 16 kHz to the two-buss and you’ll see why.
Tip: Run this in parallel on lead vocals or a vocal aux, and add a substantial amount of gain (anywhere from 1 kHz to 27 kHz) to add whatever the vocal might be missing—whether it’s bite, clarity or air. Be mindful not to push the volume of that aux track too much. The high-end is unmatched.
5. Harrison 32C
A great Swiss Army Knife equalizer. Intuitive, and easy to use, but also full of character and interesting tones.
Tip: Whereas the upper midrange of most plugin equalizers can be harsh and brittle, this EQ is really pleasing in that range. Try it on electric guitars, with a couple dB of gain (anywhere from 1 – 3 kHz) for bite without the fatiguing quality that other plugins can sometimes add.
6. LA-2A Collection
Despite having minimal controls, this emulation of the classic hardware compressor is extremely versatile. The fact that you get several variations makes the collection even more powerful.
Tip: These compressors have their own unique tonal characteristics in addition to being adept at managing dynamic range. Experiment with the different versions in the collection before reaching for an equalizer.
7. Ampex ATR-102
This tape emulation plugin is perhaps even more versatile than the Studer A800 given that it has a built in delay and additional tape characteristics. For warmth and midrange vibe, I’ll reach for the A800. For clarity and sheen, I usually choose the ATR-102.
Tip: Experiment with the Wow, Flutter and Noise features to make your VST synths sound more “drifty” and analog.
8. dbx 160
Use it on snare. It’s “that” sound, instantly.
Tip: Seriously: snare drum.
9. Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
It can be intimidating to use this one for the first time if you’re not familiar with the original hardware unit or well-versed in compression, but get past the initial learning curve and it’s one of the most versatile plugin compressors.
Tip: To retain and even enhance the bass response of program material, make sure to engage the sidechain function, and choose the “steel” transformer setting.
10. EMT 140
Another emulation of a classic unit, this is one of the only reverb plugins that “feels” like a piece of hardware.
Tip: Between the different plates, input filter and EQ settings, you’ve got a ton of options. Try doing something drastic like adding 12dB somewhere between 1 kHz – 6 kHz with the plugin’s EQ engaged for any track you want to really stand out. I feel confident “pushing” a lot of these plugins, and the EMT 140 is no exception.
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If you've seen my video tutorials, you know I tend to mix with a lot of UAD plugins. Here’s a roundup of my ten go-to plugins as well as some mix tips for each. 1. Studer A800 If I had to choose just one plugin from UAD, this would be it. It’s a mainstay on my drum buss and other sub-aux tracks. It
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The Neve 1073 is arguably one of the most popular preamps in the history of recorded music.
Originally introduced as part of the 80 Series consoles in the 1970s, these colorful preamps are known for their fat, warm sound and rich low end.
Vintage Neve 1073 preamps sound amazing, but their limited feature set and astronomical price tag push many engineers towards digital alternatives. In this roundup, we’ll break down the top five plugins based on the Neve 1073 to help you figure out which one is right for you.
1073 Design
The original 1073 preamps utilize a very streamlined design. In addition to a single gain control knob, which can be used to drive signals until they saturate, the 1073 also features a three-band semi-parametric EQ and selectable high-pass filter.
The top EQ band controls a fixed shelf at 12 kHz. The midband controls a bell curve with selectable frequencies at .36, .7, 1.6, 3.2, 4.8, and 7.2 kHz. The low band controls a shelf with selectable frequencies at 35, 60, 110 and 220 Hz. The selectable high-pass filter can be set at 50, 80, 160 or 300 Hz. Each band offers +/- 16 dB of gain.
About the audio files …
We put some of our favorite 1073-style plugins through the paces on drums, bass, guitars and vocals with the following settings:
Drums
- HPF at 50 Hz
- +4 dB at 110 Hz
- +2 dB at 1.6 kHz
- +2 dB at 12 kHz
Bass
- HPF at 50 Hz
- +4 dB at 60 Hz
- +6 dB at 700 Hz
- +6 dB at 12 kHz
Guitars
- HPF at 80 Hz
- +4 dB at 110 Hz
- +8 dB at 3.2 kHz
- +4 dB at 12 kHz
Vocals
- HPF at 80 Hz
- +2 dB at 110 Hz
- +4 dB at 3.2 kHz
- +2 dB at 12 kHz
Here are the unprocessed audio files …
Drums
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Drums_1.wavBass
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Bass_1.wavGuitar
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Guitar_1.wavVocals
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vocals_1.wavUAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection
UAD offers “the only authentic end-to-end circuit emulation” of the Neve 1073. The UAD 1073 captures all of the original’s unique circuit behaviors, including all 10 clipping points from the preamp and EQ stages for that classic gritty class‑A saturation.
The UAD 1073 also utilized UAD’s Unison technology, which allows you to use the plugin while tracking.
In terms of features, the UAD 1073 sticks very closely to the original design. The only new features are an impedance switch and a switchable -20 dB pad.
Drums – UAD
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Drums_2.wavBass – UAD
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Bass_2.wavGuitar – UAD
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Guitar_2.wavVocals – UAD
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vocals_2.wav“The Sound of ’73” – UAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Plug-In Collection
The Neve 1073 is arguably one of the most popular preamps in the history of recorded music. Originally introduced as part of the 80 Series consoles in the 1970s, these colorful preamps are known for their fat, warm sound and rich low end. Vintage Neve 1073 preamps sound amazing, but their limited f
Slate Digital FG-73 Preamp + FG-N EQ + VCC
Slate has a plugin for everything, and in this case, they actually have three plugins dedicated to emulating the legendary sound of the 1073 preamp.
First, the FG-73, available as part of the Virtual Console Collection, offers simple drive and trim controls for emulating the dual-stage red band preamp of the 1073.
The FG-N, available as part of the Virtual Mix Rack 2.0, is a modified version of the 1073 EQ with variable frequency controls and an additional midrange bell. It also features a variable gain control with an optional “drive” button for added grit — similar to the FG-73.
Finally, the Virtual Channel and Virtual Mixes plugins, both available in the Virtual Console Collection, feature Brit-N settings for emulating the channel circuitry and summing characteristics of using running a signal through a Neve console.
*For the purposes of this test, the VCC (in Brit-N mode) and FG-73 plugins were used with settings at default. Drive set to 6 (10 o’clock); Input and Out set to zero. The FG-73 is set to 20 (the minimum setting).
Drums – Slate
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Drums_3.wavBass – Slate
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Bass_3.wavGuitar – Slate
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Guitar_3.wavVocals – Slate
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vocals_3.wavSlate Digital VIRTUAL PREAMP COLLECTION – Real Analog Preamp Tones For Your Mixes!
The Neve 1073 is arguably one of the most popular preamps in the history of recorded music. Originally introduced as part of the 80 Series consoles in the 1970s, these colorful preamps are known for their fat, warm sound and rich low end. Vintage Neve 1073 preamps sound amazing, but their limited f
McDSP British-E
6020 Ultimate EQ is a collection of ten 500-series style equalizer models, including the British-E EQ, based on the 1073. Although the British-E is only a small portion of what this powerful plugin has to offer, it does an amazing job of emulating the sound of Neve EQs.
British-E features more versatile filter shapes than the original design with three fully variable bands: a high-shelf, a midrange bell, and a low shelf. It also includes a fully variable high-pass filter.
The most unique thing about this plugin is that it does not include markings for frequency or gain controls, forcing you to rely on your ears. For these examples, I attempted to match the settings as best as I could by ear.
Drums – McDSP
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Drums_4.wavBass – McDSP
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Bass_4.wavGuitar – McDSP
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Guitar_4.wavVocals – McDSP
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vocals_4.wav6060 UMC Module #3 – British-E
The Neve 1073 is arguably one of the most popular preamps in the history of recorded music. Originally introduced as part of the 80 Series consoles in the 1970s, these colorful preamps are known for their fat, warm sound and rich low end. Vintage Neve 1073 preamps sound amazing, but their limited f
IK Multimedia EQ 73
The EQ 73 by IK Multimedia is a “true to the original” reproduction of the 1073, including all of the gain stages, circuit designs, EQ curves and preamp behaviors. IK have also emulated the preamp/EQ interaction, which “truly defines why this unit was so special,” according to them.
Aside from the addition of stereo and mid-side processing, the EQ-73 also stays true to the original feature set.
Drums – IK Multimedia
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Drums_5.wavBass – IK Multimedia
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Bass_5.wavGuitar – IK Multimedia
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Guitar_5.wavVocals – IK Multimedia
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vocals_5.wavFree Uad Plugins For Mac
NEW in T-RackS Custom Shop – EQ 73 & EQ 81 – Two classic, legendary British channel strips
The Neve 1073 is arguably one of the most popular preamps in the history of recorded music. Originally introduced as part of the 80 Series consoles in the 1970s, these colorful preamps are known for their fat, warm sound and rich low end. Vintage Neve 1073 preamps sound amazing, but their limited f
Free Uad Plugins Crack
Acustica Audio GOLD2
GOLD2 is much more than a simple preamp emulation. It includes six different equalizers, two compressors, seven preamplifiers and advanced routing emulations.
The GOLD2 package includes individual plugins for the preamp, EQ and compressor modules, as well as a channel strip version. Each plugin also includes a zero latency or “ZL” version for use during tracking.
Get Free Uad Plugins
While GOLD2 doesn’t introduce any new features to the 1073, it offers circuit emulations for several Neve consoles for added versatility.
*For the purposes of this test, only the H073 module and H073 summing were used.
Drums – Acustica
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Drums_6.wavBass – Acustica
Free Download Uad Plugins Crack
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Bass_6.wavGuitar – Acustica
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Guitar_6.wavVocals – Acustica
https://theproaudiofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vocals_6.wavAcustica Audio Gold2 Demo on Kick – Snare – Bass – Rhythm Guitar [British Channel Strip]
The Neve 1073 is arguably one of the most popular preamps in the history of recorded music. Originally introduced as part of the 80 Series consoles in the 1970s, these colorful preamps are known for their fat, warm sound and rich low end. Vintage Neve 1073 preamps sound amazing, but their limited f
Honorable Mentions
This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are dozens of emulations of 1073-style preamps and EQs.
Waves have an excellent version designed by the legendary Andrew Scheps called the Scheps 73. It offers the exact same controls as the original with the addition of “a little-known 10 kHz midrange band discovered in the original 1073 schematics but operable only on the rare 1078 channel strip.”
The Stillwell 1973 Equalizer is a very affordable 1073 “tribute”. While it doesn’t model the 1073 exactly like many of the other plugins on this list, it “takes the best features and reduces them down to their essence.”
Unique Recording Software’s N-Series EQ does a great job of capturing the 1073 sound, but it also utilizes features from multiple Neve modules. The URS N4 offers four fully parametric EQ bands, as well as high-pass and low-pass controls, and a gain knob for dialing in distortion.
And that’s just scratching the surface! What are some of your favorite Neve 1073 emulation plugins?