Universal Audio UAD-2 Satellite Quad Review

Satellite Info: http://vespers.ca/free/ Review of the Universal Audio UAD-2 Satellite Quad, firewire DSP accelerator card for mixing and mastering with powered plugins.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• universal audio
• uad
• uad-2
• satellite
• quad
• duo
• flex
• dsp
• vespers
• video
• review
• music
• mixing
• mastering
• plugin
• vst
• au
• firewire
• ableton
• live
• powered plugins

[TheSupaninja420]

Been lusting after this for a while but not sure if it's worth it. No noticeable latency with these plugs?

Also what is the best latency settings for Ableton? Right now I'm at 14.5ms overall latency with 300 sample size buffer. No audio interface, just straight from the audio jack on my iMac to my monitors. I don't record either, just straight ITB. What do you suggest?

Also at 24 bit 44800 is this good?

Please do more videos demoing some of these plugins. Thanks, nice crystal necklace!

[DJVespers]

@TheSupaninja420 Hey hey. In regards to latency, these plugins don't like to be run at very low buffer sizes. Use 512 samples or more. I never notice latency issues with them, but then again, I don't typically use them for tracking, I use them for mixing. Every modern DAW has latency compensation built in so you shouldn't notice it at all.

I would def consider getting an external soundcard for your Mac. Using built in audio is not advisable for pro audio. The D/A converter is brutal.

[DJVespers]

@TheSupaninja420 Oh, and def produce in 24 bit. I use a sample rate of 44.1 K. There's no 44.8 K, did you mean 48K? It all depends on the sample rate of your recordings and samples. If they're in 44.1 K then upsampling to 48 K in Ableton will cause negative impacts to your audio quality as Ableton's sample rate conversion algorithm is real time, and thus lower quality.

[vincentmack37]

i think they included different power adapters because they figure people in other countries may want to buy the unit not just because north americans may want to travel with it lol

[DJVespers]

@vincentmack37 You make a very good point ;)

[MistaMase102]

wow, just checked the price - a liiiiiittle too expensive lol. i think i might just get windows 7 64bit and upgrade my ram, its probably my cheapest n easiest option.

[DJVespers]

@MistaMase102 I think you missed the point on this. The extra processing power is great, but it's the quality of the plugins that's the real benefit with this unit. They're hands down the best sounding analog emulation plugins in the industry. And you can't get them to run on anything except UA cards.

[rjk1482]

What's your gut feeling about the UAD Apollo?

[rharold]

What would you recommend for PC? UAD-2 QUAD DSP? What are the price ranges on these badboyz, including your Mac Hardware? I've seen many people get into hardware plugins over the years and they seem amazing -- more recently I've seen yourself and Dave Pensado demonstrate them on youtube. cheers V.

[RobertCella]

Don't know if this got asked earlier in this thread....but after clicking 5 pages of comments back.....is there an equivalent bundle of plug-ins: I'm working with an HP laptop, so no firewire for me. How does any of the Waves stuff stack up? Other options?

[TheSupaninja420]

@DJVespers Yes sorry I meant 48k. You thinkthe D/A converters matter if I'm not actually recording anything into my comp? It might sound better through my monitors but the actual audio will remain the same either way right? That was the impression I was under.