It can be used as a gate, an expander, a limiter or a simple de–esser. The Mighty ’Miteĭesigned in conjunction with Softube, the Valley People Dyna–mite emulation is a relatively straightforward to use, yet very characterful, dynamics processor. True filth is on offer in all its forms, though for me, the more subtle end of the scale works best. I’m not normally a fan of excessive distortion unless it is tamed by a speaker emulator, but it can be put to good use, for example, to add life to limp snare drum sounds, where several flavours of excess are readily available.
Vocals can be made to sound larger than life without the distortion becoming obvious, but there’s enough gain on hand to get downright dirty if need be. Used in moderation, the Culture Vulture plug–in can be used to impart a tape–like fullness to parts such as bass, drums or vocals, while the Pentode modes can add edge to guitars and snare drums. While modelling such a non–linear device is extremely difficult, the UA team seem to have got very close to capturing the character of the original. Of the three distortion modes, Triode is well suited to gentle warming, while Pentode One mode adds a bit of an edge and Pentode Two mode dirties things up even more. The Mix control wasn’t present on the original, but seems a sensible addition given today’s appetite for parallel processing, as is a stereo linking control to maintain a stable image when processing stereo signals. Low–pass filters switchable for 9 or 6 kHz are also available to smooth the highs. With Bias set anticlockwise, the distortion is fairly predictable, but turn it clockwise and things get very ragged! Overdrive adds extra gain, and again, is best saved for deliberate nastiness. This unique device has now joined the phalanx of hardware modelled for the UAD2 and Apollo platforms, and as with all UAD plug–ins, Apollo users can record through it in real time as well as apply it at the mix stage.Ī Dry/Wet mix control allows the plug–in to be used for parallel processing, while the character and extent of the saturation are controlled by a valve Bias control in combination with a Gain control, Overdrive switch and three switchable distortion modes. Its high–gain valve circuitry offers a number of controllable distortion flavours that range from subtle warming to decidedly unsubtle grit. Culture Clubĭesigned by UK engineers Vic Keary and Nick Terry and reviewed back in SOS August 2003 ( the Thermionic Culture Vulture must be one of the most exotic distortion devices ever created.
#ALL UAD PLUGINS SOFTWARE#
Once the software is updated you get two weeks to play with each of the new plug–ins after you first launch them, so you’re able to give them a thorough workout before deciding if you need them or not.
#ALL UAD PLUGINS UPDATE#
UA’s latest update to the UAD2/Apollo software includes four new plug–ins emulating items of high–end studio equipment: the Thermionic Culture Vulture, the Valley People Dyna–mite, the Tonelux Tilt and the Unison–assisted Neve 1073 preamp/EQ.
The interaction between the microphone and input stage can thus be modelled in a way that is not possible in software alone - though UA’s preamp plug–ins are still very effective for processing tracks that were already recorded through non–Unison preamps. Unison is a combined software and hardware technology that allows various aspects of the analogue preamp audio path within the Apollo unit to be configured to work alongside a plug–in, with the aim of emulating the true performance of the original hardware. This was described in detail in our June 2014 review of the Twin ( and has since been rolled out on existing Apollo units through a UAD software update. When Universal Audio launched the Apollo Twin interface a few months ago, they gave users a first opportunity to experience their Unison preamp emulation technology. Universal Audio’s catalogue of virtual vintage plug–ins continues to grow.