UAD plugins 2024?

I still use the compressors quite a bit when mixing.  33609, DBX 160, LA-2A, LA-3A, 1176, Distressor, sometimes the 175/176.  Also some of the reverbs (Hitsville, Capitol Chambers, etc) that are pretty unique.  I have a bunch of UAD plugins and for the most part I still really like them and use them.  The things that have made me less likely to use one...  1) they can't decide on pricing 2) they only offer thunderbolt anymore, and cater to Mac 95% (vs 5% for Windows) so I'm out of the game   3) I found many of the same plugins were available (in native format) from PA or Softube directly at much less $  4) UA support is dicey - a robot at best.  So I've replaced my Apollo 16 but I'm keeping my PCIe Quad card (and plugins) for now, although many times I am using the native version of the plugin, if it exists.    

I bought many of the UAD plugins thinking "I'll never be able to buy the real thing", and while that is still sometimes true, manufacturers like Stam and Audioscape, and a few others blur those lines with their clones.  But they still cost a lot more than the plugins, and of course the sound is possibly a trade-off depending on how they are used (and sometimes the plugin sounds just as good - again depends on how it is being used - I know there are some things only hardware can do).

Would you sell the Quad satellite if you did not lose the plugins?

Eddie is the developer behind Kiive, and several other companies’ products. 

His compression and saturation chops are a cut above that of UAD. Check his stuff out if you’re not familiar. 

You only lose those tethered to the satellite: you can keep what you purchased.

Or check how many UA plugs you regularly use and see how many are native: could sell outright and rebuy a native bundle like Signature on sale, worked out well here.

Distressor, Api Vision and 480 see regular use. AMS RMX/DMX, SDD-3000, DBX160, Pultec and 76A from time to time.

Context is everything, are there better versions of about 90% of UA’s offerings in 2024? Yes, but you’re going to be hunting for individual plugins and won’t get all the deals. Viewed as an ecosystem UAD is hard to beat, add in deals and coupons very hard to beat.

I can confirm that using native plug ins does not require you to keep ua hardware.

Be aware, tethered plug ins, those that came with a hardware device automatically transfer to new owner uad2 AND uadX.

You can retain any plugs you purchased and run only the native versions of those, if you have no hardware.

Again, I’d recommend inventorying which plugs you actually use and confirming which of those are native.

Review how many of those are in which ua bundles, for example Signature was on sale last Christmas below $200 usd, so there is an argument for selling everything for highest price and buying back native , when on sale.

I find myself using their 1176 but not the LA2A for whatever reason. I think that’s all I own.

I have the Pulsar 1178 too and it’s just different. Something about the UAD is more evocative of my time with hardware, but also I agree that it’s not like, amazing it anything. (Which would be a fair expectation considering how much people used to hype UAD).

I am not thrilled with how they handled the transition to their new pricing model, but I like having the native and DSP options so I can use as much of whatever as I want. I feel like I can trust UAD plugins to do what they are supposed to do without issue. I am not as plussed on them as I once was because there are lots of good options now (I dont think there were as many a few years ago), but they are still excellent and essential tools.

i still use my UAD plugs often, but I feel like that's mostly to save my CPU and use my Octo instead - especially on giant projects (my comp is a beast but no match for 150+ channels and 80 min long projects).

I would definitely miss Ocean Way, but not much else. I do like their 1176s. not that I've A/B'd them to others, I just know how to get something I like quickly with them. I do use those, the pultec, EMT140 and the massenberg eq (I know I can have native) on every session. sometimes the LA2A or LA3A, others here and there. funny cuz i own an awful lot of them

Despite my issues with the company itself, I'm keeping the UAD plugins I own. I already paid for them, and would get pennies on the dollar trying to sell them anyway. Also, I genuinely like quite a few of the plugins, especially the reverb and delays. For those plugins that run on DSP only, I'll probably always keep a Satellite or Apollo around to be able to run those. I just don't think UA will probably continue to be the center of my system going forward, like it was before, as I don't want the center of my system based around a company I don't trust. Eggs are definitely getting taken out of that basket.

But the reverbs and delays? Yeah, for sure. And some of the comps and eqs too, though it's more hit or miss there, as there are definitely other plugin makers which have bested UA there these days, especially compared to the older UAD comps and eqs.