UAD seems to be having a dilemma between maintaining their status as 'the premium brand' and a 'competitive' one when it comes to pricings. All over the place at times.

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

Competition, simple as that, Softube, Acoustica Audio, and some others are as good if not better than some.

@robertmazurowski5974

3 ай бұрын

Another issue is despite what politicians and central bankers say there is a crisis/recession. Poeple get layed off left and right, while everything is getting more and more expensive month by month. I think because UAD is premium they are doing these sales.

@tkelong3569

3 ай бұрын

I think they that they could turn a nice profit if they simply reduced the price of their products to a price that the average consumer could reach. Also, the need to stay competitive. Waves was on the same path at one point. Great plugins but were very expensive. Prices are now greatly reduced and the company seems to be doing well. Not a lot of people will pay $100 or whatever for a UA Pultec when they can hit up Waves for a Puigtec emulation for 29 bucks. At some point companies start to realize that they’re hurting their bottom line inflated pricing.

Plugin subscriptions are incredibly anti-consumer. And as an artist and producer who works on projects over a long period of time why would it be to my advantage to go with a plugin subscription? So I have to keep paying for years so I could have access to the plugins I've used? Software subscriptions are anti-consumer in general, but creative software subscriptions are also anti-art.

Really enjoy these Barry!

ha ha !!!!☺ I did exactly same thing; i saw the signature edition for $299 on sweetwater; went back to my spark and see that only 1073 was missing ; i cancelled my newly activated monthly spark subscription and went for the UAD bundle and also bought the soft tube British class A ; job done and I'm happy

@joev4483

3 ай бұрын

yep, me too

Yep thanks Barry always cool to check in on your clips, I am in the market for a few items, I usually buy from sweet water I’ll be sure to use your connect when I can save up or get a stock pop..take care

Thanks Barry . Great savings tip.

Barry, thanks for your channel! I bought the Signature bundle about a month ago. I am bothered that I can't get the 1073, so I've had to just get Plugin Alliance plugins to bridge the gap. (They just had a great sale...) I don't actually own any UAD-2 hardware, but have a Volt and am happy with it for now... Please keep giving us truth!

UA’s sales at different points of the year, sometimes with various coupons, have hooked me in over the years so I own quite a few. Spark looks great for people who aren’t fully bought into the Apollo system. But pricing can be difficult to navigate for everyone!

thanks Barry! Nowadays being lucid is a crazy thing 😂

Very good deal Barry. Glad you did it!

which sound card would you recommend to me i was in another studio we were using apollo x8 but now i want to start my please which sound card would you suggest

Great job digging for a a huge savings!

It depends on your use case and what makes sense for you individually. I can see subscribing to an "everything bundle" if I'm doing a lot of mixing work where I'm going to possibly need to have a plugin that will be on the session I'm sent. On the other hand, I personally don't do a lot of that work anymore since covid and I'm mostly just working on my own stuff so a subscription plan doesn't make a lot of sense for me at this time. One is not better than the other. It just depends on what you need.

Hey Barry, after watching your video I found UAD had a big sale season at a time and I got my UAD studio edition bundle with discount code for 200$USD. This saves me tons of subscription fees and got all the plugins I need. Thank you for your sharing!

They actually during Christmas had a $199 sale which is what got. JUST FYI. I think there is going to be a Summer sale in June I think something like that

I previously owned some UAD plugins then I saw the signature bundle was on sale for $299. I told UAD about it and they gave me a discount, got the signature for $150.

@DanBires

3 ай бұрын

how did you get it for 150?

@lisan_al-ghaib

3 ай бұрын

@@DanBires like I said, I told UAD about the plugins I already owned that were in the bundle then they just gave me a coupon. You need to file a ticket for it.

Thanks….it’s like knowing and deciding when to sell a property or to maintain a landlord position until the market is conducive to make financially gaining shift…way to go…the subscription has served it’s purpose well during I’m sure. Thanks for the heads up..definitely cannot decide nor control the responses of others….analytical is a benefit 🎉

if you want to buy the sweetwater bundle but already have a few of the plugins from the bundle, do you still pay for them?

I got a promo at the end of 2023 where if I paid $99 for a full year of Spark, I’d get a free UAD Volt. I sold that online for $175 and get the year of Spark for free + $75!

@KingYahuchanon

3 ай бұрын

Where did you get this deal?? 😨

@destroyerjazz

3 ай бұрын

@@KingYahuchanon UAD sent it to me directly last December since I was already a customer

UAD plugins are the most installed out of all the ones I am using.. UAD Connect had to be opened too often (I have 2 PCs running Cubase Pro 13), when you ignore that it quietly disables my plugins. last time the Gui just disabled and skewed a gray box on all instances but the plugin was still working (so i couldn't change any settings). haven't experienced anything like that with and other plugin manufacturers.

I definitely prefer to "own" the plugins rather than do the subscription thing. I just like to be one an done and not have keep up with the monthly payments. I actually keep a budget, so it's less clutter in my spreadsheet 😅

I chose the signature edition and just settled with learning how to use what I have and auturia fx collection 3

I have FX collection 9, Slate/SSL, UAD spark + UAD2 plugins and also many PA plugins to say the least. What I learned is that It’s all perspective and taste. Buying the Signature bundle is my next move later this year and letting go of Spark too. Not because I don’t enjoy and use the plugins… it’s because I had the realization that I have everything I need now to make the best mixes possible other than maybe so hardware but that’s optional. The UAD stuff mixed with all these other manufacturers is a complete and total package. Read the manuals and have fun mixing guys!

I got the year subscription at the end of last year for 99 dollar equivalent (about £85). I think it was a good way to try everything out properly. I'll certainly be buying some of them once spark has run out. But yeah, someone said below that the pricing is all over the place with UAD sometimes and I agree.

Yep I have been buying plugins when they are on sale. $300 for that UAD bundle is amazing but I was already down the rabbit hole by the time you posted this...lol. I only have the 1176 Collection and maybe the Distressor left to buy. I've also been buying a few here and there on Plugin Alliance when I see some good sales. I will say I'm keeping my Slate/SSL subscription because it's an amazing value for $16/mo to get all of Slate/SSL but we'll see when that changes.

Good video Barry 👍👍👍

Love the channel, Barry! Florida in the house! How do you like Voosteq’s Model N Channel?

Wow, that is a really good deal. If I didn't already have most of those, I would buy this bundle in a heartbeat. I think UAD's spark approach is to 'try' their plugins and see just how good they are, then to sell the actually plugin to you. Once you get so many *cough*, You start thinking your next interface, might just be a UAD, (maybe not this generation, but their next generation). If they come out with a product that competes well with Avid Carbon, (8 pristine Pre, 4 headphone, sub millisecond tracking) and they include AES... it would be hard for me to pass that up. Right now, I am on the fence between RME or UAD for my next interface, what UAD's next gen Apollos are will determine.

@derekstudt

3 ай бұрын

I'm a very pleased RME UFXiii user. I've had a PTHD rigs and a Lynx I/O w/Benchmark convertors in the past. I'm LOVING my RME interface. Also, TotalMix is killer and no where near as confusing as Barry made it out to be...for me at least. Give them a strong consideration for your next interface. I wish I'd had gone RME sooner.

Arturia, Softube, Pulsar, Acustica are all on equal footing as far as I'm concerned. The two best plugins by UAD are the Sound City Room and the Pultecs. Excellent. The rest? Are represented out there. The Lexicon reverb by Arturia is way better. Pulsar's Massive (Manley) is better. Softube's latest and free DBX is equally as good as theirs. Lindell's API is just as punchy. The list is long. Two things annoyed me abut UAD: 1) You need to be online to use the stuff that you own. Seriously? That means not working in a remote areas. 2) They slam your computer with over 650 demos? Made me sick to be treated like that. Besides the two mentioned, I'm out.

@masonthomassax

3 ай бұрын

Softtube smokes UAD at this point, in my opinion

@Tyrell_Corp2019

3 ай бұрын

@@masonthomassax Totally agree. The more Softube I own, the better my production gets. And the Weiss DS1-MK3? Anyone seriously taking up Mastering has it. There is nothing like it. I could go about the overall quality and care that they have for their base. Tops.

@JoeyFTL

3 ай бұрын

What do you mean by 650 demos?

@fremadethis

3 ай бұрын

I wouldn't say the Arturia Lexicon is way better. It just depends on the context of the mix. My default reverb template has the Arturia which is nice but when I need subtlety, the UAD one is much better imo. But I do agree that the Softube stuff is on par because its literally the same code as the UAD counterpart like the Chandler Bender etc.

@NyakzOTSD

3 ай бұрын

Softtube is really good tbh! Tbh most plugins are tiptop - it is simply about which one you like the most

I think that's the best thing is to buy them out right and hope they have support your os system it adds up when you have a subscription to all these companies

what bundle did you buy?

You are paying for the name brand faceplates not the sound. Mass hallucinations.

How do you get your vocals to sound like this. Can you do a tutorial and let us know what your using on the way in and also what your using in the box...

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

I have in the past. But continue to work on it. Maybe time to do another one.

Bro your a Life Saver💯💯💯

The only issue with the bundle is that I purchased single native plugins, then the essentials bundle only to discover I had duplicates. They need a complete-your bundle option so you don’t purchase multiple licenses for the same plugin

The Signature Edition on sale is their best package thus far. Spark was never worth it to me because you don't get to own the plugins.

Last month I bought the signature directly from UA for 249! One hell of a deal!

I keep Spark because they continuously add to the lineup. Got a great system so not really looking for CPU relief, but that’s also a benefit. I own a ton of UA plugins. Every one that they make that I wanted. Did that over time and now I’m good. However, it seems that these days they’re more likely to make a native version 1st and send it over to Spark. To be sure UA will come up with more great plugins and I’m looking forward to giving them a try.

@roburbon

3 ай бұрын

Hey, just wondering what CPU you're using and how much latency you get with UAD plugins? And are you able to track with plugins, without latency?

I often ask myself, “Is this guy CRAZY?” But if I’m actually paying attention to whatever it is you’re trying to get across to me, the viewer, there’s NOTHING crazy about the subjects upon which you elucidate. In other words, IT REALLY DOES MAKE SENSE! And I have a longtime relationship with Sweetwater, too.

Plugin Alliance is the best sub package out there hands down.

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

I don’t disagree!

So right, Barry. Either way, it is just a calculation of your budget. I personally don't need so much plugins so I buy perpetual licenses for my plugins, and that are just a few plugins that a frequently use. Maybe somebody else needs a lot of different plugins or their favorite plugin is in a bundle or subscribtion....so one goes for that. It is all about cost vs. benefit. Have a nice day everybody (and go outside sometimes to gain some sun) ;-)

Yeah I never will do a subscription for plugins but that was a good deal on the bundle. I have quite a few of UADs native plugins and have all of my bases covered so I'm pretty much out of the plugin market all together.

I bought the Signature Edition Bundle at the beginning of March for $249, an additional $50 discount that UAD was giving at that time. Great price for what I got :)

Since I pretty much own most of UAD plugins. I’ve never had to pay for the subscription. I bought them in small amounts over time, usually waiting for Black Friday or other sales.

@tkelong3569

3 ай бұрын

Same.

Or don’t bother and just use Harrison Mixbus. Since using that I have no use for the UAD plugs anymore and haven’t used them for years. Built in channel strips are gold in Mixbus 32C and the native plugins the best too.

@snoopywalker1881

3 ай бұрын

Harrison Mix bus is like $499?

@onomatopoeidia

3 ай бұрын

@@snoopywalker1881 bargain as I don’t need anything else. Got so sick of buying Logic again everytime they tweaked the look yet never fixed the show stopping bugs and been down the same road with Protools many times which both work out much more expensive without the quality of Mixbuss. Life is much better now.

Got the signature bundle for £150 about 6 months ago.

So many great options for free or much less. I don’t understand the hype nor do I understand the structure of UAD software.

Glad you were able to get off that subscription . I just hate them so much!! Thanks for sharing!! Much ❤ BJ!!

I don’t use UAD because of how intrusive their software is at sifting through your computer for personal information. They do sound good though, but I personally would rather keep my privacy than to use them.

The fact that UA has yet to release some of its best classic plug ins (like ampeg tape) and your paying a subscription is a disgrace. Long time user here with still 3 Octos on my desktop and my laptop using just ua connect with my purchased plug ins. UA has been way to slow releasing plugins to justify a monthly fee.

I have to use the Spark subscription bcuz I don’t own a UAD interface. I love the Pultec EQs, that organ and electric keyboard virtual instruments and that Studdard Tape Machine emulation

@kimearo6035

3 ай бұрын

You don't have to use Spark subscription for that. UAD is proving their plugins to native, meaning they don't require hardware anymore. Not all plugins are available as native versions for now. But the Signature Edition bundle mentioned in this video includes only the plugins that have been ported to native.

@PharaohLawLess1

3 ай бұрын

@@kimearo6035 Oh ok. I didn’t know that

I’ve been able to amass the collection thanks to sales and tons of coupons that go from to $299 to $25. Never needed spark. Glad to get the native versions still.

@jairrodriguez8523

3 ай бұрын

How?

kush plugins and melda production are my favorite

I tried UAD Spark Still have subscription but I compared to alot of the Plugin Alliance stuff and they are the same or in some cases better. I think I'll start purchasing the ones I try and like VS having stuff I won't use. In the end of the day if your source is good and you have great performances I don't think many could tell what plugins were used in a mix.... Thanks for the content

I think UA realized the market for a $350 plugin is long 8:15

That's a great deal. 2 years ago the Avalon Plug-in was $299 by itself. The Motown reverb was like $349, so you really got your money's worth!

@ILoveTelecasters

3 ай бұрын

The fact that they once were overpriced doesn’t mean they are well priced now

I canceled months ago… u ain’t lying

I’m happy i’m not paying monthly for any software

If I was starting over I wouldn't buy anything UAD. My Apollo dongles make having a laptop studio a moot point. Apollo Connect puts your recording computer on the web (which is annoying) and someday you will be paying somebody in India or Russia just to get your recordings back. I hate having to wade through a thousand plugs I don't want or need, to get one of the few that I own. Should be able to have a "MY UAD" folder that only shows what I own. I LOVE MY SOFTUBE! It's native. I own it. The ability to resize is AWESOME.

Great content as always Barry! (On a separate note, wondering if you have considered or are planning a video on your - 'youtube video creation workflow'?

Only a matter of time before UA charges us for update plans or upgrades in general like waves etc

UADs pricing dynamic and value to the user will have to change. They are still stuck in 2005. Even their spark subscription offers no customization choices. “This is what you get”. It’s not worth it. And every day their competitors get stronger and better and offer more value. UAD pull your feet out of the mud. And being us the value. Or we will just say no.

LOVE SOFTUBE!!!

I canceled my UAD spark cauz I was always having liscencing issue and around 1/3 of the plug-ins were never working, after trying to fix it and contacting UAD about it, nothing was resolved ... So i just canceled

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

They did have a lot of issues in the beginning, I have not experienced any of that for a while now.

@alexgrenier7383

3 ай бұрын

It never stopped on my side, maybe because I'm on windows 😅 🤷🏻‍♂️

Just get the UAD plugins in Native form. especially around the June when the have the Middle of the year sale and Their Christmas sale.

@BlackMan614

3 ай бұрын

The only problem is the limited offerings in native.

@brentharmonmusicproduction

3 ай бұрын

@@BlackMan614 Yeah but I am noticing the UAD is converting some of their plugin's over so it's just a matter of time on that.

@BlackMan614

3 ай бұрын

@@brentharmonmusicproduction Not necessarily. A number of their plugins are under license from other software companies - they may never be available native. I have more plugins NOT available native than UAD DSP versions.

Anyone else using analog obsession and continuously quite impressed with them?

UAD sales and pricing in general can be such a minefield - especially near Christmas. I think I'm done. Have the Apollo and all the plugs for sale - I'm ready to be a Soft Tube guy I think.

@mathewworkman1625

3 ай бұрын

Also - another great video Barry - keep it up!

@yahboytroy_300

3 ай бұрын

How much for Apollo brother?

@Funkybassuk

3 ай бұрын

I get it - please send it my way. I do use Softube Console One Mark II, which is great.

Own it

🎯🏆

This subscription thing is just not sustainable. These companies are draining our pockets. Everyone has a subscription plan now. It doesn't make sense... we can't sustain having a subscription for all the plugins that we use. What happened to purchasing plugins out right? Waves learned the hard way... you can't force people to be on a subscription plan. They really need to come up with a better more realistic model that allows them to still remain profitable between the development and release of new products.

Thanks for the clarification. For a moment, I thought UAD Spark had inappropriately touched someone.

Barry, set the macOS Dock to automatically hide. This gives you much more screen real estate.

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

Yeah, I’ve done that, I don’t like it. It irritates me, it’s a distraction every time my mouse goes down there. Different strokes for different folks. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have a couple of subs UAD included, my finances as of yet don't allow me to make this same decision you recently did, It's the one lump sum for me. I'm constantly checking deals though...

UA has spark for yearly sub for just native plugins but the dsp versions you still have to pay for those with no Sub. Why not just put them all together for 1 price.

I’m not trying to buy any more UAD plugins. That DSP crap is a load of bull. Can’t wait to get off of it. Already started with the interface. RME for the win!

Wait ! Didnt you own UA Plugs Before ? , they are Free ! On Spark if you owned them

@Funkybassuk

3 ай бұрын

That’s what I found

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

No I sold my UA plugins back when I sold my UA interface. So I did not own their plugins when I did this.

Only people who don't work with sponsors think sposors tell you what to say. That's not the case.

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

I’ve had people tell me what to say. It ended there.

Soft tube are good

Barry we trust you but you should’ve edited that Freudian slip 😅😂

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

😁

Im trying to sell my apollo just to get out of the uad ecosystem. Maybe it is time to go native

I bought UAD Ultimate 11 for $7 per plugin with a free upgrade to Ultimate 12

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

Yep great deal!

The majority of analog emulation plugin collections are for “consumers”. You can get better mixes with one basic bundle such as fab filter or even your daw native plugins. Those who slap 100s of neve, ssl, uad, waves plug ins on a mix hoping for better mix are like those who slap makeup on a pig to make it beautiful. plug ins are becoming the new makeup for musicians…

so does Acustica forget about UAD!

The decision doesn’t make financial sense, but to each his own

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

Single spend of .$300 and own them vs. $100 a year for life. The return on investment is achieved by year 4.

That’s exactly what I did as soon as I downloaded 2A for free

I see that on sale a month or so ago and bought the signature bundle. One of the best software purchases i made alomg with switching to Cubase Pro 13.

Barry I am shocked you even had a spark sub because if you own a lot of the staple UA Plugins you automatically have the native version it shocked me when I realized that I had 100% of every spark plugin already this is crazy I figured you already owned over a hundred UA plugins the complete bundle..hmmm

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

I don’t use Universal audio gear. I have used it, but that’s not today. I actually owned no universal audio plug-ins before a few days ago.

OZEMPIC!!!

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

You sayin’ I need to loose weight😜

@mentalprogram5256

3 ай бұрын

I'm saying u look like you lost weight. @@BarryJohns

never bothered with the UAD sub. I own most of them now. hoping they keep making incredible stuff. but in general their stuff (and most plugins) is getting cheaper.

Start level matching and paying attention to depth and you will see that UAD plugs are a dumpster in a snow globe. Polished trash. There are independent plug developers out there that wipe the floor with UAD plugs now a'days.

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

I guess I love trash!

@taviqmasteringonline2754

3 ай бұрын

@@BarryJohns We love what we love. All in the name of making music! I enjoy your platform! Keep doing you Mr. B!!!!🖖🏾

You're basically a car salesman, like most youtubers

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

Please…..,

@elevateaudioengineering4892

3 ай бұрын

@@BarryJohns Please try to make a vid where you're not selling something....

@thesoundmajors9858

3 ай бұрын

@@elevateaudioengineering4892 how tf is he "selling something" it's not a plug, it's literally understanding HIS audience spends money on things, here's an alternative way. If you knew anything about his channel most of his audience hates subscription models lol it's called bringing value.

Another paid commercial for UAD plugs...

If you buy the UAD-2 version of the plugin you get the Native version for FREE, period.

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

Very true but only viable for people who use UA DSP.

Imo, UAD is still in the S tier of plugin brands (with regards to sound quality) alongside Tone Projects, DMG Audio, Leapwing, Softube, Sonimus, Acustica Audio, Liquidsonics, and a few others... But I would put it at the very bottom of S tier, DMG Audio/Tone Projects at the top IMO. The stuff in the tier below (Airwindows, Noiseash, IK Multimedia, etc etc) is now so good, that you'd damn near be dumb to actually be paying for this stuff... All airwindows plugins are flat out free and the developer has some pretty good code nullifying typical digital problems (aliasing), and flat out has the BEST console emulation in the world of plugins... UAD imo is like Waves & Pro Tools... Good, standard, people been using it for 20+ years, but definitely not the best anymore.

After spending 1 year with UAD Spark, I am officially done. The amount of times these plugins have crashed, is just unacceptable. I'd say, if you have Waves (CLA-2A/CLA-76/Puigtec/ API's) you're pretty much set. But yeah, I am done.

I don't dig UAD. Pluginz are ok. Marketing and overall hype is aimed at people who like eatin' snake. Or at least like spending money 'n' time on things they don't actually need - when they would do better to spend that time 'n' testicle butter on getting a teacher to help them learn the Art of Mixing (which works with any DAW or Pluginz). :-)

Barry, so can you maybe make a video about your Sweetwater affiliation? Originally for almost a year you’d speak badly on creators like Colt and Andrew Masters for having a Sweetwater affiliation and I’ve noticed you’ve become exactly like them. Possible, offer some transparency and why you’ve not become like them. There’s lots of talk in the forums regarding you and many people want to understand why you’ve changed to be like them and endorse Sweetwater after consistently coming against those creators.

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

I have a video out about what changed my mind. Check that video out. I think it will make it all clearer. That said, I have never mentioned either of those guys in a negative way, I like both of them and my points were never about the individual but sweetwater regardless of the channel. My issue was that at that time sweetwater was over doing their presence. It’s not as in your face as it used to be, at least that’s my perception.

Not to mention their shit barely works on Windows, including Apollo

Want to compete? No monthly charge. Done.

click bait ... come on bro ... and the intro so painful with the stuttering as I'm panicking at the clickbait wanting to hear if UAD will withdraw the subscription model and break my tracks ...

@BarryJohns

3 ай бұрын

There are plenty of other channels to watch then. I disagree with you but you are free to have whatever opinion you want.

@cosmin_ofc

3 ай бұрын

@@BarryJohns ofc. i don't watch this channel, the video just popped up, obviously i clicked, spent my 20 seconds, gave the feedback. have a good day