UAD plugins - can't get them to sound even close to decent

[justFred]

Have a UAD Dream '65 pedal and it is excellent sounding.
So, saw UAD had a sale on plug ins, Dream '65, Lion, Ruby and Woodrow for $80. Luna the DAW that they were made for is free. Bought in.
Have been trying to get even remotely worthwhile.
Contacted UAD support and verified I have everything properly set up and using correctly.
Any suggestions or your opinion on these things would be appreciated.

 

[Mincer]

I haven't tried the plug-ins, but agree, the Dream '65 is fantastic. I love mine.

 

[beaubrummels]

What about it sounds 'wrong'? What were you running the Dream '65 into? Are you running the output of your Luna / '65 into the same amp/speakers?

 

[justFred]

What about it sounds 'wrong'? What were you running the Dream '65 into? Are you running the output of your Luna / '65 into the same amp/speakers?

Thanks,

The plugin sounds flat and unnatural, nothing like a '65 Blackface. The Dream '65 pedal does a very good job of accurately sounding like a '65 Blackface.

Both running thru the same studio monitor.

 

[beaubrummels]

Does the pedal have an IR or speaker emulation built-in that the plug-in doesn't have? Perhaps you could just EQ the plug-in or add a cabinet emulation to get it back to that sound?

 

[Securb]

Does the pedal have an IR or speaker emulation built-in that the plug-in doesn't have? Perhaps you could just EQ the plug-in or add a cabinet emulation to get it back to that sound?

I only use amp plug ins when I am making demos for the band but I do find I have to EQ them. Sometimes I will also run them through a preamp plug in for more warmth.

 

[Bill Dennis]

Have a UAD Dream '65 pedal and it is excellent sounding.
So, saw UAD had a sale on plug ins, Dream '65, Lion, Ruby and Woodrow for $80. Luna the DAW that they were made for is free. Bought in.
Have been trying to get even remotely worthwhile.
Contacted UAD support and verified I have everything properly set up and using correctly.
Any suggestions or your opinion on these things would be appreciated.

Turn down your input gain on the interface. That's a common issue

 

[justFred]

Does the pedal have an IR or speaker emulation built-in that the plug-in doesn't have? Perhaps you could just EQ the plug-in or add a cabinet emulation to get it back to that sound?

Thanks to all. Have spent some time with various EQ adjustments, trying out various microphone and speaker configurations. The plugins sound decent but certainly not and equivalent to the pedal itself.

Somewhat foolish on my part to expect an $80 four pedal plugin set to be a match for $1,400 worth of actual pedals.

 

[GilmourD]

Thanks to all. Have spent some time with various EQ adjustments, trying out various microphone and speaker configurations. The plugins sound decent but certainly not and equivalent to the pedal itself.

Somewhat foolish on my part to expect an $80 four pedal plugin set to be a match for $1,400 worth of actual pedals.

Well, in all fairness to the plugins, with the pedals you're also buying the little computers that the software is running on.

I'm wondering if there's some impedance weirdness going on where your interface doesn't like a direct guitar input.

What interface are you using and which input are you plugging your guitar into?

 

[justFred]

Well, in all fairness to the plugins, with the pedals you're also buying the little computers that the software is running on.

I'm wondering if there's some impedance weirdness going on where your interface doesn't like a direct guitar input.

What interface are you using and which input are you plugging your guitar into?

Running guitar into UMC202HD to Windows 11 to UAD Luna with plugin on mono track.

 

[Bill Dennis]

Thanks to all. Have spent some time with various EQ adjustments, trying out various microphone and speaker configurations. The plugins sound decent but certainly not and equivalent to the pedal itself.

Somewhat foolish on my part to expect an $80 four pedal plugin set to be a match for $1,400 worth of actual pedals.

They are running the same code. I would fully expect them to sound the same

 

[justFred]

They are running the same code. I would fully expect them to sound the same

Thanks. Guess I need to continue mucking about with EQ and input levels.

 

[GilmourD]

Running guitar into UMC202HD to Windows 11 to UAD Luna with plugin on mono track.

Ah, that might be it.

I used to run a UMC404HD before upgrading to a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. The UMC stuff is decent but the preamps do make everything sound somewhat flat. I did also often have clipping issues with certain guitars because the headroom just wasn't there.

 

[justFred]

Ah, that might be it.

I used to run a UMC404HD before upgrading to a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. The UMC stuff is decent but the preamps do make everything sound somewhat flat. I did also often have clipping issues with certain guitars because the headroom just wasn't there.

Thank you.
Can run the Dream 65 pedal through that set up and it sounds great. Maybe should try a Luna preamp as Securb suggests.

 

[Securb]

I use this boost/eq a lot to shape my plugins. It is a free download

The Sword - FREE EQ Boost Pedal Plugin (AAX, AU, CLAP, VST2, VST3)

The Sword is a FREE analog modeled EQ Boost pedal. Available as AAX, AU, CLAP, VST2, VST3 plugin.

www.audiority.com

 

[GilmourD]

Thank you.
Can run the Dream 65 pedal through that set up and it sounds great. Maybe should try a Luna preamp as Securb suggests.

It could be an impedance thing. The output impedance of the pedal is only 500 ohm while your guitar is several Kohm, depending on your pickups and pots.

Do you have any pedals with buffered bypass?

 

[justFred]

It could be an impedance thing. The output impedance of the pedal is only 500 ohm while your guitar is several Kohm, depending on your pickups and pots.

Do you have any pedals with buffered bypass?

UMC404HD has a switch for instrument vs line level out.

 

[GilmourD]

UMC404HD has a switch for instrument vs line level out.

And even with that it was still not ideal. That's kinda my point.

I did also have the 202. In fact I'm looking across my office at it on the shelf right now. LOL

I would suggest trying a pedal that's buffered in bypass mode or just a straight-up buffer in between the guitar and the interface to see if that helps with the plugin.