The WORST Plugin I have EVER USED! - UAD API Vision Channel Mixer
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- Опубліковано 2 чер 2022
- The UAD API Vision channel mixer is the absolute worst GUI I have ever seen on a plugin. It makes the plugin unuseable and overly complicated. The uad Spark bundle should have just left this one out.
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#uad #api #plugin
BEFORE LEAVING A COmMENT!, watch the video until the end. YES the most important thing is how a plugin sounds! I specifically say that at the end of the video. 😂
Also, YES I have used the real thing
YES I still think this plugin design is dumb
YES I think this plugin sounds fine
Have a good one guys, catch you in the next vid!
I'm watching this video on a phone screen and I can read everything just fine.
I see where you’re coming from but I couldn’t disagree more. I don’t have an issue seeing anything and I love the fact that I get to play with an aesthetically accurate digital version of the physical hardware. That’s where the romance lies for me. It’s also the entire business model for UA.
The romance? for a plugin? Come on now....
@@diyrecordingstudio this coming from the guy that lost his mind over a drop shadow effect. I’m simply seeing the positive side of what you’re freaking out about
@@Samwize999 right? this guy is a simpleton. Lame. Love uad plugins
his is the best one, you need to get....its by Alex B Engineering through Nebula.....
ua-cam.com/video/rhVymPFJ5i0/v-deo.htmlsi=-unc0_lCJqlTUS-a
Nebula "Acurately" Live analog sampled 2 API channels from the Visionary Console $300,000 and the Plugin...is $50 and sounds Wonderful......
Its like being able to run your final mixes through a $300,000 API console for a 50 dollars....why would you spend $400 with UAD on a API bundle...LOL
its next level......you could have saved all your money with the 500 series units...by using a full nebula line up....
Ive got analog gear...and nebula plugins...are making my gear sound "High End" for a fraction of the cost......
Ext....my STA Retro Nebula Plugins....$30 and sound 95% of the Hardware Unit thats $2000
Nebula...blows that shttt out the water.....LOL....
one of UAD's best plugins by far, I use it all the time, not the best GUI but not a dealkiller for me
Honestly I think it's the most straight forward and easiest to use channel strip. Which is partly why I love it so much.
Ears not eyes. Ears.
I think it's a great design. I feel that if I ever come across the hardware, at larger studios than the one I work at now, I could navigate the controls and have a decent idea of how an API console operates. It's a great learning environment for newer audio engineers who might be intimidated by a large 48 channel console.
This strip from UAD simulates exactly what you see in the real world. I think the GUI is really clear and super nice.
Well shit, how does it sound?
Something that doesn’t hog CPU and “sounds” good is WAY more important to me than aesthetics. They are trying to make shit tactile as if you can reach out and “feel” the console…which makes no sense. If I can only “see” it, I shouldn’t have to dig about with the mouse in a sloppy GUI. The other case is give me something that looks good in retina resolution, i get that…but drop shadows? 🤦🏻♂️ people who say they don’t mind it are the ones who just paid out the ass for the plugin and I empathize!
Yeah I agree with you. The drop shadows were probably the craziest part for me too. I would love an api version that was 2d, flat, and easy to read every dial, switch and button.
They should offer two GUIs a lookalikie to keep the snobs happy and a useable modern interface. But of course being a Cubase user you could always open the remote control editor and use that as your plugin interface. A knob per function with the values displayed. You don't have to use remote control function to assign stuff to extremal hardware - it can be used as a GUI in its own right.
That’s actually a great idea.
Analog Obsession plugins not only sound good but look great
I agree its bad managment of space BUT LOL ,Have you ever worked on an API vision or legacy axs console? Everything it super TINY. The preamp, filters, comp & gate are 200 series slots which are SO SMALL, about 1/3 the size of a 500 series and the EQ is a 500 series slot. API is like the mini audio company everything is small. We use to say leprechauns designed API consoles. LOL SSL, MCI, Harrison, and Neve were way better at space management.
Yeah they definitely are small. I also prefer the tactile feel of the other consoles. Part of why I like the CAPI stuff in 500 series.
In contrast to the comments below, I have to agree ... this thing is a mess ... just to be topped by the licensing mechanisms.
UAD ... an offering to be avoided, including their interfaces.
Thanks! It’s not my most popular take. But I still think this plug-in design is pretty silly. Most people get raged in the comments without watching the whole video or looking at my pinned comment.
Just gotta have a laugh I guess. Thanks for the comment!
so just the visual design you have an issue with? cos I think this sounds fantastic. I like GUI tbh, would be an idea to have a boring view for people who want to read all the settings though I guess. I think part of the 'magic' of using hardware is NOT having an exact grasp over how much you're tweaking things rather than agonising over the exact 0.1db's... so I guess it's just down to personal preference.
I think stepped controls are great, there is just a lot of text that is unreadable for some people. I took this into work to show my colleagues, a surprising amount of them struggled to read the switches especially. Just poor design. It sounds great though, i agree with you there.
I did not notice all the issues with the way it looked but just struggled a little to read the numbers on the plug in. Thank you for brining that out. You however did not mention the sound of the plug in at all. The modeling of the output fader which the legacy did not have definitely adds a little more weight to the signal, however the mic pre does not add any character, just a little more dynamic attack. The new Blackbird API Vision A5 channel strip mic pre adds character like a real mic pre. The UA which came out about 10 years ago originally is showing its age.
his is the best one, you need to get....its by Alex B Engineering through Nebula.....
ua-cam.com/video/rhVymPFJ5i0/v-deo.htmlsi=-unc0_lCJqlTUS-a
Nebula "Acurately" Live analog sampled 2 API channels from the Visionary Console $300,000 and the Plugin...is $50 and sounds Wonderful......
Its like being able to run your final mixes through a $300,000 API console for a 50 dollars....why would you spend $400 with UAD on a API bundle...LOL
its next level......you could have saved all your money with the 500 series units...by using a full nebula line up....
Ive got analog gear...and nebula plugins...are making my gear sound "High End" for a fraction of the cost......
Ext....my STA Retro Nebula Plugins....$30 and sound 95% of the Hardware Unit thats $2000
You make sense out of it one or two times, then you're familiar with it for the next adjustments and the next instance. Also, can you not increase the size? On my version (v1.4.1 native), I have it adjusted to 125%, but you can go up to 200%.
thats weird ...lol ...ive use this for years its as simple as it gets the knobs are clearly labeled ...but then again i just listen as i tweak and works great!
Honestly I have no problem with the sonics of this plugin. The GUI is horrible though. Reading the tiny text on the switches though, i think is unnecessarily difficult.
@@diyrecordingstudio I bet you complain about everything, miserable person
How much worse does the plugin sound as a result of the look??
As bad as the mix sounds because you can’t read anything on the plug-in.
@@diyrecordingstudionever touch the knob you can’t read- this rule will help you to improve your mixes😆
I disagree with (“they don’t need to look like the original hardware”) but I do agree that plugins should have an option to turn on or off the drop-shadows, or come with an enlarge setting for those who’s vision may not be 20/20.
Yes, a great Idea there that having a switch to turn off certain graphical interpretations would be great. I should also probably clarify, what I said/meant was they don't have to look "Exactly" like the hardware. I did say that it's great to know what gear you're actually looking at by it representing the original look/feel. The GUI representation just could be a lot better!
you didn't even know what drop shadows were until this turd had to start crying about it...........
Not one mention of does it sound good???
GO-TO plugin for me. It is insane
Fair enough. Didn't dig it at all myself. Out of interest, What do you like about it particularly?
That you can’t read the plugin, you can’t blame UAD, this channel strip is totally amazing and colorful, couldn’t disagree more about this video.
There's a solution...never hear about glasses? 😂
I don't have a problem with people having their own opinion and I even feel his points are valid IF you're one to let these things bother you. But as others say tho in my words - aesthetics especially in a creative endeavor, are important and if it helps inspire then let it be. My father always treated a car as 4 wheels..transportation and I carry that with me but know what...when I walk up to my car or my house or whatever and it lights up my eyes and spirit, I find that wonderful and human - be it practical or not. And yes the small print hurts my 64yo eyes too but I don't dwell on it. After time I just learn the settings.
I think it's cool to make the software look like the hardware especially for people who's familiar with using the Hardware so they can can feel right at home and those who are not familiar with using the hardware can feel like they're having the experience or at least the illusion, my tip would be make it resizable so we can read it I know this video is a year old but I just had to make my little comment😂😂
I've no real world experience with the real deals so I've been assuming these are emulations of the hardware with the need for the engineering experience to understand. Have to admit I have not gotten a handle on it and did better recordings on my 80's Tascams. Maybe I was just younger, quicker, better voiced back then. But now I end up just flipping switches and dials in frustration. I use the most simple plugins for ease of use.
So...are these letterings and icons real emulation or cramming in tons of info into a small space artificially?
This is what the real API consoles are like. Everything is quite small and crammed in there, because all of their preamp, eq and compressor modules are in the 500 series format which is smaller than traditional modules found in a mixing console.
The hardware is excellent though, but i feel there is no need to emulate the physical limitations of a piece of hardware when creating plugins. Thats just silly.
This an old video, possibly when you reviwed it it wasnt resizable. On Uad native its resizable. After resizing makes it eminently readable. I use this and its incredibly useful.
Re what each section and buttons actually do there are plenty of excellent tutorials right here on UA-cam.
Yeah thanks for the update, I am aware they changed this. Regarding the strip and how it works. I'm familiar with the real real hardware and understand how it works. I build clones of this exact hardware too. I just think the design is silly when its digital. There is no need to display tiny switches just because the hardware looks that way. From a design point it makes no sense to copy the flaw from the real thing over into digital when you can just make the visuals easier to use.
A hot take, maybe. not everyone agrees, but it's an opinion i still stand by.
haha. This is my most used strip plug in by far. Versatile, and great sound. The mic pre crunch and the graphic Eq make light work of fattening and sweetening up the drum bus. Just wish the compressor had a mix control. IMO blows away the Softube American.
my guy needs to get some glasses haha
Why can't they make adaptive windows as well, so we don't need to use magnifying glasses
I get the point. But I have zero issues with the API channel strip. There are others which are much worst like the SSL from UAD.
I don’t mind it, I kind of like the vintage look but I also like the fab filter style plugins… as long as it sounds good
I don't mind the sound, but workflow is my biggest issue. If i have to think, look harder or squint to decide what something is as a parameter, forget about it.
@@diyrecordingstudio So you work with audio and you don't mind the sound but the visual instead? Wtf..
Less time squinting and more time quickly adjusting the sound. @@wolfgangpowers736
Erm how does it sound though? lol.... welcome the new gen of UA-camrs lol
I think it sounds great!
I think you’re just trying to get comments bro. This plugin if FIRE and looks AMAZING! This looks and sounds authentic! Why did you buy it? I’m sure you had a chance to demo it before you bought it.
you did a very good job! I am always angry and confused about uad plugins. And looks like they don't much care about this problem. Why not to make a scallable gui as a simpliest way? why so everything small as hell? are they working on tv screen or at the cinema?
Nope, didn't convince me...
Looks fine to me!!!!
This is crazily wrong. Lets not even talk about the incredible sound of it which I prefer it to all my neve and ssl channel strip plugins. But the GUI is amazing. i even chose it for it. as someone who worked with the analog version of it. I couldnt believe they released the plugin as the real one with all its meticulous details. If you guys have an apollo you can even tweek the preamp knob and make it respond with the virtual knobs to feel the sensation if you guys know what I mean, well to say "worst plugin ever used" I guess you are totally wrong or maybe you are not a fan of analog gear. All in all this plugin is not made for guys like you I suppose. That is why maybe. because what you are saying is verifiably wrong, just look at the comment section or just ask sound guys around and see if your opinion is even shared.
Audio plugin UX is terrible. The UAD vision strip is a go-to for me, but thankfully I already know what’s what. But I’m constantly squinty to see plugin values. I’d love for plugins to have alternative GUIs we can switch to. Accessibility is important, and plug-in makers fail on this miserably. Special shout out to Valhalla plugins for accessibility and clear UX.
Yeah Valhalla definitely get this right! I love their vintage verb. What do you usually use the vision strip on? Certain tracks? Whole mix?
@@diyrecordingstudio I route all audio tracks to instrument buses, and the API Vision Strip usually goes on each of those. Sometimes I'll use the 1073 instead. But the API is my go-to on everything to get that cohesive thing going across the mix.
In Cubase you can switch to a generic interface or use the build in remote editor and pick when type of control you want for each function - most people assume this is just for assigning stuff to remote external interfaces but it can be used as a clear standalone GUI for any plugin.
I agree. I tested this plugin during one of my purchase cycles. I didn't get it because it wasn't necessary for my use case, but had I decided to get it, I would certainly dislike looking at it every time. UAD and other plugin developers need to be more progressive and thoughtful with their user interface design and experience for the end user. They are really behind the times here in that regard. Getting that sweet "old sound" out of "classic" and "iconic" emulations and conversions of old golden gear doesn't have to come with the sacrifice for even the most basic digital design principles and elements necessary for screen legibility in the GUI.
100%. Can’t agree with you more.
The WORST plugin review I have EVER WATCHED!
Is this the only UAD plugin that you have this issue with?
Yeah, I've love the others in the spark bundle. Their la2a and 1176 compressor and Neve 1073 emulations are very good. This one was just terrible.
@@diyrecordingstudio only Terrible on gui but it sounds great
bro needs some cheese
Plugin Alliance LINDELL 50 BUS + WAVES API 550 B OR 560 + DMG 25K GREAT ALT MASTERING CHAIN....will sound just as good or better!!!
yeah defiinitely! The waves api stuff is still pretty decent. I love the 560!
why is your complaint not about the sound...... please make videos that makes the world a even better place ......than complaints........ uad api vision is very nice......it is one of my favorite on guitars and vocals
cmon guys just use your ears this plugin is the best in the box preamp ive ever use
you're right!
Stumbled on this video.
Lol. what?
That plugin is great
Hi Clayton. Sounds fine. Horrible GUI AND Functionally flawed was the point.
@@diyrecordingstudio I understand, I just don't agree. I find it very easy to use and I certainly don't have 2020 vision.
The PA version might be laid out better for you. Its certainly bigger. but it doesn't sound anywhere near as good.
I guess it just matters what you value more.
Clayton, buddy. I’m not here to yuck anyone’s yum. If it works for you, great. These things are just tools. This is just one I wouldn’t reach for. But if you love it, awesome.
Merry Christmas to you and your crew at the brain mate.
So no scaling?
Doesn't appear to no.
Sorry for the hate, but, have you ever tried a real API channel strip? They are messier in real life, so for me this plugin is a win! If it sounds great, who cares about the GUI. Renaissance waves plugins are horrible but sound fantastic :)
Sure have. Replicating the smallness in the GUI just seemed nuts to me. Plugin sounds fine though.
This video was a disaster.😂
Ever since the invention of the 4K montior I can read shit on most plugins.
yeah you're right this plugin is a big no especially for someone with eyes issues (me)
Yeah I know a lot of engineers and colleagues that really struggle with this one for sure! Such a silly issue to create in a digital plugin.
It's the sound that matters!
Yup, but they just made their plugins resizable soooo….
just read comments...yeah...looks like people still like to eat shit and happy with it. but things goes better now. Slate almost there with everybody else. So uad has to change and create scallable sparx blugins. so we will be good in a while)
Thanks for the comments. Yeah it’s ok, not everyone has to agree with my opinion, but I find the functionality of this plug-in particularly annoying. I can read most of it ok, but I have colleagues that absolutely can not.
Cheers again
@@diyrecordingstudio in my studio screens 1,5 meters away.
I have hundreds of mixing and more then mastering. This plugin is the one of the best channel strips of UAD plugins. I know GUI is important but not so much. Sound is much important for me not GUI. I am using it easily I think that this video is your own personal thoughts only thats i don't agree.
not a single word about the sound??
I am soooo glad you did this video
Haha! This fucking rules.
My friend the fact that you don't know how to use it doesn't mean is the worst. Always use your ears when mixing, don't be an engineye be an enginear.
John, buddy. I’m very familiar with api gear and how this channel strip works. It’s just silly to design SOFTWARE, exactly the same as HARDWARE. Especially when there is small text, tiny switches and adding useless things like drop shadows.
Software, hardware, whatever it is, it’s a tool. Function is important in any tool. Why copy things that are a limitation of the hardware?
You do realize..audio is hearing not seeing right?
Never once crossed my mind...
Don’t care, API preamp go brrrrr
PA ALLIANC, WAVES API EQ AND DMG......$250 VS UAD $350 AND I honestly think UAD plugins sound very brittle and Digital.....
I've heard the converters can sound brittle fr sure but the using the spark plugins natively, particularly the neve 1073 and the compressors so far have sounded decent. The API I'm not diggin though. none of the mojo i'd expect.
I don't like the Horizontal view, wtf.
Me either.
What if you make it bigger, or you could just trust your ears 👍
Are you a designer?
Guy working on Cubase and try to say some haha
I like it
Something wrong with this guy
this video is ridiculous, the plugin looks exactly like how the vision channel is on the console. Thumbs down man. No audio clips. I can think of 100 plugins that required a little learning to use, that's why it's called engineering.
😆 I really thought I was gonna learn something from you about it instead of lame complaints. Mate get some glasses if you cant see or get a larger screen. What a cry baby. This plugin rocks!!!
Just resize the plugin. Problem solved.
I think this is all rather over critical for the sake of it. You're pointing to things that are perfectly legible (in that we can easily read them) and calling them illegible. What a waste of time here.
I don't think you have 20/20 vision bro, sorry.
nobody cares about the look ...its sounds great on guitars especially
Sound is most important i agree with you there, but for me, next is workflow. The dials and switches are horrendous on this. hard to read, and for some of my work colleagues, actually impossible to read unless on a massive screen. So for them completely unusable.
I'm watching this on a smart phone and can read the numbers ... I personally love the way it. Looks
This rant is completely unnecessary. If you ever used an API console you'd appreciate the things you are actually complaining of. There are good design reasons for these things to be like they are, which is something could come as obvious speaking of API. If you are new to plugins, then you might learn that is not the same designing a new VST plugin, and emulating hardware through a plugin VST. If you like a different approach, that's great, do it yourself. Complaining about classic design just makes you look very amateur, it's like I don't believe the level of entitlement on has to have to just name the video after 'THE WORST PLUGIN' and then you pretty much complain about how API designs its classic hardware. At least run plugin doctor and say something useful that's not about shadows in knobs.
Boy you just buy Neutron 4 and you're golden.
Sorry, but unfortunately I can't understand what's ridiculous. it is what it is -
I don't know what you want to read every time. you do it once and you know it... once you work with it a few times you quickly feel at home.
👍
Sorry dude, "Worst plugin I have EVER USED..." Only am I thinkin of this is a clickbait title?.... And I 've found nothing funny to laugh at this stuff - moreover I could change the dimensions of the GUI in percent.
I'm new at this scene, so I 've read and checked all of features and parameters of UAD plugins -- the hardware was designed in a different world, and UA was spot on not just the sound but the design as well.
But I see your stance, if you don't like it you can choose from a bunch of different vendors' softwares...
this is a crap review, i'm hesitating to buy the plug in, it sounds great to me. and I control it with my komplete kontrol. I thought you were talking about sound problems. and you don't just say bullshit, put on glasses or the monitor closer
Whatever.....
You need glasses
If I didn't know better, I'd think perhaps you've got issues with your display there - I have absolutely zero problems reading/discerning anything on the plugin
Your opinion very important for uad ))) , very funny, you trying to give your ui scores to replicas vst plugin about visual ui , as it stupid - you waste peoples time, am I wrong ?
fam i think ur blind😭because i never had that issue
I don't understand the complaints. You only need to read it once and even then it's not difficult. Plugins come with user guides for a reason. I've never seen a new plugin and automatically known what everything does without either watching a video or reading the user guide.
Why don`t you make a video with what this plugin sounds like, instead of complaining how it looks, that would be really useful. I just can`t believe you would waste your time making this video explaining to everyone about the fun part of the plugin, are u kidding me that I would spend my hard earned money on buying a plugin for fun use? seriously?
Functionality is just as important as how good it sounds. That’s alright Garfield. You don’t have to agree. Go have fun. 👍
I`m sure you must be having a 20/20 vision, I don`t. Lollll I literally take a magnifying glass to see the inscription on the controls, and I dont really care that i do that, it`s the character of that plugin that matters and I think thats freaking awesome. And yeah brother I trust my ears better than the controls which I see just once to figure out what lies where, Manual Manual Manual, please read it before you use it, trust me it`s enough to show you once how to.
I would watch a comment on the plugin by someone focusing on their good ears rather than bad eyes.
My eyes are fine… however many engineers I know would struggle with this plug-in based on that problem alone. It’s funny how many people need to defend this plug-in. Bad design is bad design, end of story.
If a tool makes a job harder for people, then it is failing at its purpose.
@@diyrecordingstudio Sorry for a mean comment. But it takes 5 seconds versus 8 minutes to criticize the gui. Anyone can demo the plugin and not buy it if they don't like how it looks. I would expect the review to focus more on the sound as I really wanted to learn. TBH my eyes are not perfect but I can still orient myself even seeing your vid in a smaller youtube part of the screen. Besides, which engineer needs to read what's written on their equipment every time they use it?
Just my opinion, If you don’t find it useful, fair enough. There’s enough people that agree though.
You are getting roasted imo because this video was just a knock off of another youtuber who got famous for ripping on plugins.
Insufferably smug commentary. Can you say "insane" and absolute nonsense" a few more times?
I wear glasses and don’t have any of the issues you mention, even when working on a 15” display. I’m disappointed that you decided to ridicule the GUI, calling the Plugin a “mess” and “weird”, and never bothered to give your opinion on how it sounds.
As far as not understanding the text on the GUI I’d suggest reading the manual is always helpful in these situations, and if drop shadows upset you, well, ummm, use your ears.
Perhaps you don’t have 20/20 vision? I argued till I was blue in the face with my wife about not needing glasses till I tried hers on.
Learn how to use an API console before you make criticism
I love this plugin! It looks exactly like an API console!
The Aesthetic is familiar and I completely understand it
This guy hasn’t got a clue, This is how not to make a plug-in Review. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Worst plug-in ever? Nope
Worst plug-in review ever! Lol
Woah…. Jamie, buddy, I hope you didn’t brain damage yourself any further with all the forehead slapping you got going on there.
Read the comments. I’m not the only one that feels like drop shadows, tiny text, and almost invisible switches is bad design. Let alone completely unnecessary in a plug-in.
A tool should make a job easier. If it gets in the way, or is difficult to use, it defeats the purpose.
I love api gear. I’ve built a bunch of api clones too. I teach on a bunch of api hardware too. Despite what you may think, I do know what I’m talking about. You can have your opinion though mate. All the best.