Very Short Review: Universal Audio Sound City Studio UADx Plugin.

[László]

I've been taking it easy for the last several days, and had some time to try out some new plugins. Here's one that's great, and on sale.

UA released a plugin called Sound City Studio earlier this year that has a ton o' wizardry that just works. It makes your craptastic home studio tracks sound like they were recorded in Sound City's main room, in which lots of platinum albums were recorded.

It's in the UADx format, meaning, you don't need UA gear to run it. It'll run in most any DAW.

If you have decent tracks to start with, you can put 'em in a world class studio. Works great with virtual instruments, too. I waited for it to be on sale. And now it's on sale for $39 on UA's website. If you do any recording, just freaking buy it. You'll thank me once you spend some time getting to know it.

"They'll curse you for other things."

"That's OK, now shut up."

I've been messing around with it, and I think it's both easier to use, and a lot more flexible than the Ocean Way Studio UAD plugin that they came out with several years back, which I also have and paid a couple of hundred bucks to get.

The sound quality is terrific. there are built in EQ and dynamics, and even Sound City's echo chamber. You can run everything through the emulations of the studio's mics, or bypass them (I tend to bypass the mics).

Here's a well known YouTuber who's done a nice demo. You can watch it on Youtube but not here. However, the link will take you there.

 

[Jcub]

I have found it works best as a bus effect (set to reverb) when you want to get your “band” in one room. For solo pieces, I use it as a direct effect. For electric guitar, it also includes some great cab emulations. The graphics really help neophytes like me navigate all the features (there are a ton). The presets are excellent starting points.

I set the amount of overall effect at the point where you notice it and then I back it off slightly. If you go overboard, you get a phasey, unnatural sound.

It is well worth the 14 day free demo at least and at $39 it is a no brainer, in my view. I paid more and still think it was worth it.

 

[László]

I have found it works best as a bus effect (set to reverb) when you want to get your “band” in one room.

I haven't had it very long, but I like it best that way, too.

I set the amount of overall effect at the point where you notice it and then I back it off slightly. If you go overboard, you get a phasey, unnatural sound.

Agreed.

I'm that way with most reverbs and delays as well, unless it's a delay or a reverb that can be set up unmask the signal like iZotope's Cascadia and Aurora. Or a ducked delay like the Eventide stuff.

I do sometimes use reverbs and delays for ambient sounds on the electronic stuff or electric guitar, but it's unusual.

For several years in my career I disdained any artificial reverb or delay unless specifically requested by the clients, but that was a bit over the top.