Universal Audio UAD-2 Duo

The Universal Audio UAD2 Duo card is a PCIe card using two SHARC processors.

It is the midrange of UAD2 and is suitable for a project studio that wants to mix some native plugins and UAD2.

I use it with a Mac Pro Quad core to the mix of my music projects.

UTILIZATION

I use the plugins UAD2 with Logic Pro and I have no problems when using.

I just happened two three times the card is not recognized at boot, which required to remove and replace the card.
Since I launched the software automatically at startup, I have never encountered this problem.

UAD plugins generate latency, so do not place during the recording sessions, only the mix!

the number of instances possible by plugin is available at DU.
I personally am not in need of DSP power to the extent I also possesses good native plugins. But if you're mixing in full DSUs, it may be a little light, it is better to directly invest in a quad.

to give you an idea, my Duo card is mainly used for temporal effects, very greedy by nature. this gives:

Time effects (very greedy, 55% of DSP)
2 EMT140
2 EMT 250
1 EP34
1Mxr flanger

Treatments bus (very greedy):
2 Pultec
2 faichild

Other treatments (low fuel consumption as well):

4 transient designer
4 LA2A
51176Ln

This list of plugins comes largely in a duo card and already allows to obtain very good mix.

Alternatively if you already have good native temporal effects, you just buy the slice Neve88Rs and you put one on each track, something to manage 40 stereo tracks without problems.
The SSL E slice is also available, but the Duo card into cash that does 22 stereo instances.
In both cases, you have a plugin per track with gate, comp, EQ filters and high-quality, enough to mix very well also.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is as simple as opening a DMG and then put a PCIe card, then it works alone. In a mac pro is very easy and more.

The manual is available online, it is clear and detailed.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been 8 months since I use it almost daily.
Difficult to give an opinion on the card itself, it works very well.

The price / quality ratio is excellent for me since I got it for free by buying a LA-610 MKII.

In contrast, nine, this card is an investment, especially if one considers the fact that only five basic plugins (1176LN, LA2A, Pultec, and pro realverb ChannelStrip CS-1) are available. These plugins are great to start, but buying other plugins will quickly become a necessity.

The power of the card is sufficient for small sessions. Personally, I used the card primarily for treatment of Bus (Fairchild, Pultec) and for effects (EMT140, EMT250, EP34).
The remaining power is allocated to some treatments such as transient designer and LA2A.

Feel free to check the number of instances possible for a given plugin instance on the chart from the site of Universal Audio.

I also have an Apollo now, the two work perfectly together, which allows me to have all the power I need DSP.
I do it again without hesitation that choice with the promotion of LA610, otherwise I would have waited for my apollo directly quad.

Owner of a UAD 1 and frustrated by the limited number of rotatable plug the same time I've saved to spend on the new UAD 2 Duo ...
Mainly used for mixing and mastering a few, means mounted on a pc in 2007 (out of date!).

UTILIZATION

The drivers are super stable.
The number of cumulative effect depends on the resources, why we must rely on the UAD website which provides all information (chart instance).
FYI: Studer 800 20 mono as an insert on a project that seems to me not so bad ...

GETTING STARTED

The only regret for the implementation of the manual is in English, it must meet the installation procedure (the software first and then the map).
Procedure for "authorization" is pretty easy, even when the PC is not connected to the net.
I went without worry of the UAD 1 to UAD 2, keeping the card UAD 2 because I have only one port pcie ... the transfer of purchased plugins automatically.
The only difference with the UAD 1 is that to run the basic bundle of plug supplied with the card must still be the procedure of "authorization".

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost a week, no revolution because I was already a customer of UAD ... but access to the new plugins, the superior capabilities, quality plugs .... all meant that I do not regret my investment (found in less than 700 euros on the net).
Too early to judge the value for money ... but not much competition at this level.

What attracted me in DSUs, is the multitude of available plugs and still offers regular.

Embedded in a Mac Pro, it provides ...

I use it mainly for my mixes.

UTILIZATION

RAS

GETTING STARTED

Easy installation, the site to register the card and to download the file permission.
No need for manual use.

OVERALL OPINION

I'm at DSU for some years.

I have been for 2 or 3 years, the proud owner of four UAD-1 cards and the desire to free up space in my Mac Pro as well as having access to the new plugs I was naturally led to the purchase of this card UAD-2 Duo.

This card is great, it relieves the CPU of your computer and to manage projects mix with a lot of instances at the same time.

A second UAD-2 Duo tempt me well but one is enough for now.